Arkansas sophomore Daniel Gafford is going pro, head coach Mike Anderson announced on Monday (video link via Nikki Chavanelle of Rivals). Gafford, who is hiring an agent and forgoing his remaining college eligibility, won’t play for the Razorbacks in the NIT, per Anderson.
Gafford, a 6’10” center, projected as a mid-first-round pick in 2018’s draft, but elected to return to Arkansas after his freshman year rather than declaring for the draft. With 2019’s draft class not considered as deep as last year’s group, there was a belief that Gafford could improve his stock and potentially be a lottery pick with a strong season.
While Gafford improved his numbers in his second year as a Razorback, averaging 16.9 PPG and 8.6 RPG in 32 contests, his didn’t make the sort of major strides observers had hoped for. His stock has slipped a little, as he now projects as an early second-round pick, per ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Twitter link).
As ESPN’s Mike Schmitz explains, Gafford isn’t a reliable play-maker or scorer yet, and his defensive fundamentals are still “a work in progress,” though his athleticism is tantalizing. The young big man ranks 35th overall on ESPN’s big board.
who the heck told him too turn pro. “G_” league here he comes
His EGO!
You and davidkaner don’t get it. For some guys, they need instant money for their families. They are happy as a second round pick because they can go overseas and make money to get their families out of terrible situations. It isn’t ALWAYS about developing in college to make the NBA specifically.
Exactly, OMG his floor is making a couple of million bucks.
Some players should stay 4 years get a degree , get stronger & improve physically & mentally. He was one of these guys but it’s his choice & it’s a bad one.
Shoulda have turn pro last year, mid first round sounds better than early second, sometimes gambling on oneself doesn’t work. Mid first round isn’t bad life is full of regrets for some of this young men.
NBADraft.net has him going at 20. I wouldn’t worry too much about the bad decisions this soon to be multimillionaire made.
The success of last year’s drafted centers is good news for this year’s hopefuls. They ALL worked out! A center with mixed evaluations like Gafford will benefit. Teams will want one of their own, even if it turns out to be a predictable mistake– like perhaps ,Gafford.
1.Ayton, 4.JJJ, 6.MoBamba, 7.WendelCarter, 25.MoritzWagner, 27.RbtWilliams, 36.MitchelRobinson. 100% hits. And all with mostly traditional games though Wagner is already expanding & could play forward.
30.AmariSpellman and some players after Robinson are undefined 4/5 but probably not sizable enough for the 5… Spalding, Vanderbilt etc.
They haven’t all worked out. And it is far too early to say ones that are not in the rotation will never…
Yes they have. So there.