The NBA has released the official list of early entrants for the 2019 NBA draft, announcing in a press release that 233 players have filed as early entry candidates. Of those prospects, 175 are from colleges, while 58 are international early entrants.
That number falls just short of the previous record for early entrants, established in 2018. Last year, 236 early entrants declared for the draft, though ultimately only 91 of those prospects remained in the draft by the final deadline.
This year’s total of 233 early entrants also figures to shrink significantly by May 29 and again by June 10, the two key deadlines for players to withdraw their names from the draft pool. But it still looks like that pool will remain crowded, with the eventual number of early entrants almost certainly exceeding 60, the number of picks in the draft.
Our list of early entrants is now up to date and can be found right here. Here are today’s updates:
College underclassmen:
The following players were listed on the NBA’s official breakdown today, but weren’t yet noted on our own list.
- Darius Bazley, F, Princeton HS (OH) (N/A)
- Moses Brown, C, UCLA (freshman)
- Caleb Daniels, G, Tulane (sophomore)
- James Dickey, F, UNC Greensboro (junior)
- David DiLeo, F, Central Michigan (junior)
- Davon Dillard, G, Shaw (NC) (junior)
- Jason Draggs, F, Lee College (TX) (freshman)
- Aljami Durham, G, Indiana (sophomore)
- TJ Gibbs, G, Notre Dame (junior)
- Tony Goodwin II, G/F, Redemption Christian Academy (N/A)
- Jayce Johnson, C, Utah (junior)
- Sacha Killeya-Jones, F, North Carolina State (junior)
- Martin Krampelj, F, Creighton (junior)
- Trevor Manuel, F, Olivet (MI) (junior)
- Davion Mintz, G, Creighton (junior)
- Devonte Patterson, F, Prairie View A&M (junior)
- Lamar Peters, G, Mississippi State (junior)
- Cletrell Pope, F, Bethune-Cookman (junior)
- Nik Popovic, F, Boston College (junior)
- Austin Robinson, G, Kentucky Christian (sophomore)
- Ayinde Russell, G, Morehouse (junior)
- Kevin Samuel, C, TCU (freshman)
- Josh Sharkey, G, Samford (junior)
- Justin Smith, F, Indiana (sophomore)
- Jalen Sykes, F, St. Clair College (Canada) (junior)
- Marlon Taylor, G, LSU (junior)
- Donnie Tillman, F, Utah (sophomore)
The following players reportedly declared for the draft or planned to, but weren’t named in the NBA’s official announcement today. As such, we’ve removed them from our list.
- James Banks III, F, Georgia Tech (junior)
- Samson Froling, F/C, Creighton (freshman)
- Kadre Gray, G, Laurentian (Canada) (junior)
- Vance Jackson, F, New Mexico (sophomore)
- Anthony Lamb, F, Vermont (junior)
- Devontae Shuler, G, Ole Miss (sophomore)
- Xavier Sneed, F, Kansas State (junior)
- Jeremiah Tilmon, F, Missouri (junior)
- Breein Tyree, G, Ole Miss (junior)
International players:
The following players were listed on the NBA’s official breakdown today, but weren’t yet noted on our list.
- Adrian Bogucki, C, Poland (born 1999)
- Leandro Bolmaro, G, Argentina (born 2000)
- Panagiotis Kalaitzakis, G/F, Greece (born 1999)
- David Okeke, F, Italy (born 1998)
The following international players reportedly declared for the draft or planned to, but weren’t named in the NBA’s official announcement today. As such, we’ve removed them from our list.
- Kevin Cham, G, France (born 1998)
This is why high school kids being eligible is a terrible idea.
The only way the HS eligibility even makes a little sense is if they change the G League rules and don’t count those players on NBA rosters AND expand the draft to 4 or 5 rounds with guaranteed NBA deals to the first two rounds and guaranteed G League deals to the last three. If these players don’t want to give themselves a little security by way of a college degree, at least the NBA should give them some type of actual security.
pay college athletes + allow athletes to accept endorsements + allow athletes to get drafted and remain in school
1. They get paid already in scholarships. And don’t say that’s nothing because there are a LOT of people drowning in student loan debt that would have loved to have the free ride they get.
2. No. No reason for it whatsoever.
3. That’s a good idea in theory, but the logistics won’t let it work. Colleges have a limited number of scholarships and if they remain in limbo you are hurting someone else. And there is also the constant potential of a player just leaving to go pro at any moment. The Randolph Morris situation at Kentucky several years back proved that would not work.
I suspect some of these guys (HR listed 10) declared just to impress family & friends or to get a girl. “Baby I’m pro. I just declared yesterday.”