Jan Vesely will not be entering the NBA Draft

I know what your first thought was after reading the title to that post: who the hell is Jan Vesely?

Vesely is a 6'11", 20 year old from the Czech Republic that currently plays for BC Partizan in Serbia. He is also one of the top NBA prospects in Europe. Incredibly mobile and athletic for his size, Vesely is still quite raw, but has all the tools that would make him an ideal for the NBA. He is a combo-forward through and through, with the size of a four but the physical gifts of a three. At 6'11", he plays at the top of his team's press, can knock down a three, and has enough handle to go coast to coast. (Read Draft Express's scouting reports on him for much more thorough and knowledgeable analysis.)

Most outlets had Vesely projected has a possible top ten pick, and many considered him a lock for the draft. In comparison, this would be like Greg Monroe (another guy projected in the 8-18 range in this year's draft) opting to keep his name out of the draft.

Vesely only averaged around 8 ppg this season with Partizan, but watch this mixtape and tell me he doesn't have the potential to be an impact player in the league:



Vesely currently plays professional basketball in Europe, meaning that he will never be allowed to set foot on a collegiate court, but his decision to keep his name out of the NBA Draft could send some pretty significant ripples through college basketball.

You see, Vesely would have been a certain first round pick. Without him in the mix, that means that a guaranteed contract has opened up. As a result, there will be some border line first round picks that are going to be sliding up the draft boards.

Take Devin Ebanks, for example. Ebanks and Vesely are similar prospects. Outstanding physical gifts -- height, length, athleticism -- that need to be developed. Right now, Ebanks is projected to go in the dreaded 20-45 range.

Will Devin Ebanks move up enough draft boards to force his decision?
(photo credit: WVU Sports)

But with Vesely gone, does that mean that Ebanks becomes a more coveted prospect? Ebanks has yet to sign with an agent. Does Vesely's decision influence whether or not he decides to remain in the draft? Are Ekpe Udoh and Al-Farouq Aminu now locks for the lottery? Maybe the team that would have fallen in love with Vesely instead decides to go a different route, and takes a guy like Gordon Hayward or Jordan Crawford, which results in those players deciding to keep their names in the draft.

Whatever the case ends up being, Vesely's decision not to enter the NBA Draft this season will open up a spot in the first round. After spot in the first round only makes it more likely that some of the player's that have yet to sign with an agent will keep their name in the draft.