2010 NBA Draft Early Entrants: Who helps themselves the most by returning to school

The NBA Draft's Early Entry deadline came and went on Sunday. Today, we will provide you with a bit of fodder over how some of this year's decisions could sway the 2010-11 college basketball season. For a complete list of this year's crop of early entrants, click here.

I am not opposed to early entry into the NBA Draft. In fact, I often support the decision of many of these kids to enter the professional ranks. When the opportunity to become a first round pick presents itself, there is no reason for me to protest against a kid pursuing his dream and making a (substantial) living. If you are blessed enough to be an NBA-worthy talent, there is no reason not to cash-in on your ability.

The issue I have is with the kids that stay in the draft when it would suit them best to go back to school for a year. I understand that this season is unique, with a potential NBA lockout looming, but there are still players who may be able to move up draft boards -- and possibly earn themselves a guaranteed contract -- by returning to school.

While it is a less-than-ideal format this year (and believe me, that is putting it lightly, but that is another post for another day), the ability to test the waters is great for these kind of players. In a perfect world, they can work out for NBA scouts, see where they stand in terms of the NBA Draft, and either continue on with their efforts to lock up a guaranteed contract or return to school and work on the specific aspects of their game that need improvement to up their stock as a draft pick.

Which players should pull their name out of the draft? Note that we are only considering guys that we deem potential first rounders one day. There are a lot of players with their names in the draft that clearly need to head back to school, or simply tested the waters because they are a junior.


Chris Wright, Dayton, junior: Wright has always been a sensational athlete. You don't get the nickname "Top Flight" easily. Wright is 6'8", strong, athletic, and built in the mold of the power wing/combo forward that has become a trend in today's NBA. As a junior, Wright finally started to show some flashes of a developed perimeter game, which he will need in order to become an NBA player. Every player in the NBA is an elite athlete. To warrant a first round pick, you need to bring something else to the table.

Chris Wright, if he's smart, will return to Dayton and get up a lot of jumpers this summer.
(photo credit: Dayton Daily News)

But Wright isn't quite there yet. He jump shot, ball-handling skills, and instincts on the perimeter still need some work. If he can put in the work this summer, and develop himself like, say, Quincy Pondexter did this year, he should be able to work his way into next year's first round. This season, it is very likely that he will fall into the second round.


JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore, Purdue, juniors: Moore is the obvious one here. While he is a very good player at the college level, he lacks the ideal size and athleticism of an NBA two guard, and he isn't a point guard. Simply put, I'm not sure if the NBA is in Moore's future.

Johnson, on the other hand, has the potential to be a first round pick if he comes back. 6'10" and athletic with a soft touch on the perimeter will catch a lot of eyes. But Johnson's issue is his strength. He's just a slender guy, weighing right around 215 lb with a frame that doesn't exactly look like it can add a lot of size.

Johnson isn't a first rounder this year. If he decides to stay in the draft, he will be in that mix of guys looking to steal one of the last 10 picks of the draft. Given his limitations and the quality of talent in the 20-45 range, odds are good that he slips into the second round. But if he spends a summer in the weight room and showcases a better low post game next season for what should be a very good Purdue team, he would likely be a first round pick in 2011. Johnson has gone from the JV for his high school team as a junior to a potential NBA pick in four years. He clearly works hard and is willing to put in the effort to make himself better. The NBA can wait another year.


Keith Benson, Oakland, junior: Benson, like Johnson, is a borderline first round pick this year. Like Johnson, he is tall, long, and athletic with a soft touch on the perimeter. And like Johnson, Benson lacks the strength that is required to be a post player in the NBA.

The talent is there for Keith Benson.
(photo credit: The Oakland Press)

Benson averaged 17 ppg this past season, but too much of that came from the perimeter. While he does have a foundation that should lead people to believe he can improve -- he has excellent footwork, for example -- he needs to get stronger and tougher. In a lot of cases, he is forced to be a perimeter shooter and a face-up big man not for a lack of post moves, but because he lacks the strength and the toughness to hold position on the block and finish those post moves. The strength and toughness issue shows through on the defensive end as well. Benson has first round potential, but he is much more likely to realize that potential if he waits for the 2011 draft.


Samardo Samuels, Louisville, sophomore: Samuels was a top five recruit coming out of high school, and certainly hasn't failed to be a very good player for Rick Pitino. I don't think anyone can complain when they are getting 15 and 7 out of a sophomore.

The problem is that Samuels doesn't really project as an NBA player. He is only 6'8" (and that may be generous) and is comparatively an underwhelming athlete -- he isn't overly quick or explosive. Samuels can survive at the collegiate level because he is strong, understands how to hold position, and has some effective post moves. But with his lack of a perimeter/face-up game, a 6'8" low post player is a long shot at getting picked in the first round, if at all. If Samuels decides to return to Louisville, he could very well be the best post player in the conference, if not the Big East player of the year.


Devin Ebanks, West Virginia, sophomore: Ebanks is a bit of an enigma. Standing 6'9", he is long and pretty athletic. But the issues with Ebanks aren't his tools, it is how he uses them. At times, he looked like he was capable of taking over games this season, but there were also times he looked absolutely lost.

I don't think Ebanks really understands how to play basketball. There were a number of times late in the season where he simply lost track of how much time was left on the clock, or looked completely lost on the offensive end. There is also the issue of an early season suspension and a perimeter game that is really lacking. Ebanks came into the season as a potential lottery pick, and his stock only dropped during the year. Leaving now, he may even end up in the second round. If he can come back and get people talking about his strengths, not his weaknesses, then he may boost himself back into the lottery next season, especially with the likelihood that his role will be expanded without Da'Sean Butler.

Other notable names who could benefit from an extra year in school:

• Avery Bradley, Texas, freshman: Everyone knows how good Bradley can be defensively, but he had an up and down season on the offensive end. With Damion James and Dexter Pittman graduating, Bradley would have the chance to be the focal point offensively. Its a double edged sword, because another inconsistent year could end up the label of strictly a defender.
• Terrico White, Ole Miss, sophomore: There is a lot to like about White. He has two guard size and athleticism, and has shown the ability to play the point (as a freshman, when Chris Warren was injured). He's a potential late first rounder this season, but could move up into the lottery if he goes back to school and has another good year.
• Manny Harris, Michigan, junior: Harris has first round talent, but it is tough to warrant using a first round pick on a guy that couldn't lead his college team to many wins, especially when the late first round is so loaded. Harris has a variety of skills, ut is still maturing as a player and a person as well as learning the game.
• Kenneth Faried, Morehead State, junior: I really like Faried's game. He's 6'8", he's athletic, he's energetic, he plays hard, he attacks the glass. He's the kind of blue-collar player that is going leave everything he has on the floor. Faried is probably never going to be a go-to scorer, but he doesn't need to be to find a spot in the league. He may not improve his stock all that much if he comes back, but he would likely go higher in the draft next year simply because there won't be as many people in front of him on draft boards.