Kentucky guard Davion Mintz has withdrawn from the draft and will return to the Wildcats for another year, per an ESPN report.
Jalen Wilson (Kansas), Orlando Robinson (Fresno State), Josh Mballa (Buffalo), Moussa Cisse (Memphis), Stanley Umude (transferring to Arkansas from South Dakota), and Alex Morales (Wagner) are also pulling out of the draft in order to return to school, according to a series of tweets from Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.
The NCAA’s early entrant deadline is July 7, so players who declared for the draft and are testing the waters will have until next Wednesday to either withdraw or keep their names in the pool.
Here’s more on the draft:
- Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports takes a look at a dozen college programs whose rosters for 2021/22 will be affected by key decisions made on or before the July 7 early entrant withdrawal deadline.
- Nebraska guard Dalano Banton will remain in the 2021 draft, he told Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link). Iowa forward Joe Wieskamp and Evansville wing Sam Cunliffe are staying in the draft too, while Coppin State wing Koby Thomas has also signed with an agent and will go pro rather than returning to school, according to Rothstein (Twitter links).
- Illinois big man Kofi Cockburn and Oral Roberts forward Kevin Obanor have entered the transfer portal but are remaining in the draft for now, according to reports from Adam Zagoria of ZagsBlog.com and Jeff Goodman of Stadium (Twitter link). Obanor has worked out for the Warriors and Cavaliers and has auditions lined up with the Sixers and Magic, per Goodman.
- Oregon guard Chris Duarte tells Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that he believes he should be a lottery pick in this year’s draft.
Anyone else feel that Kofi Cockburn is really underrated ? The guy looks like a legit NBA big to me. At the very least a late 2nd rounder considering the dearth of C’s in this draft. I would understand if he returns to school to transfer to Kentucky to raise his stock, but I think he definitely gets picked.
I hope Cockburn doesn’t transfer. Was looking forward to him battling Hunter Dickinson from Michigan.
He’s entered the transfer portal and two of Illinois’ Assistant coaches went to Kentucky, so I’m just reading the tea leaves here.
Keep reading the tea leaves. No more room on current UK roster.
kofi and ayo would of ruled the big10 this coming season. would of increased their draft rankings next year compared to this years strong class. this $#!+ sucks.
ILL did win the conf. turny title.
Cockburn must move his feet better; may need another challenge to have a shot at improving.
His brother is better. Rooster Cockburn