Draft Decisions: Lee, Briscoe, Dorsey, Blackmon

Kentucky forward Marcus Lee won’t be eligible for the 2016 NBA draft, with the school announcing today in a press release that he’ll remove his name from consideration. While Lee isn’t headed to the NBA, he’s also not returning to Kentucky, as head coach John Calipari confirmed that the senior-to-be will transfer to a school “out west” to be closer to his family.

“We talked it through together and discussed the team next season, which he said had no bearing on his decision,” Calipari said. “I also told him he was a semester away from graduating. With that said, he was still adamant that, after the combine experience, a year off and regrouping would be the best thing. As always I support my players and their decisions.”

Lee isn’t the only player to make a decision this morning. Here are a few more updates on underclassmen in advance of today’s deadline to retain NCAA eligibility:

• Lee may not be returning to the Wildcats, but Isaiah Briscoe will be. As the 6’3″ guard explains to Evan Daniels of Scout.com, he is withdrawing his name from draft consideration and returning to Kentucky for his sophomore season, since he thinks it’s the right call for his long-term future.
• Tyler Dorsey has joined teammate Dillon Brooks in making the decision to return to Oregon for the 2016/17 season, sources tell Jon Rothstein of CBSSports.com (Twitter link). Dorsey, who will be a sophomore, worked out for Utah and Denver while he was testing the draft waters.
• Indiana’s James Blackmon Jr. has decided to return to school for his junior year, a source tells Jeff Rabjohns of Peegs.com. The decision has since been confirmed by Indiana. Blackmon will be looking to rebound from an ACL injury after undergoing surgery in January.
• Blackmon’s teammate, Troy Williams, won’t be joining him in Indiana next season — Williams had decided to stay in the draft, a source tells Gregg Doyel of The Indianapolis Star (Twitter link). Rothstein confirms (via Twitter) that Williams is forgoing his remaining college eligibility and signing with agent Stephen Pina of ASM Sports.