Draft Decisions: A. Jackson, Edey, Beekman, More

Andre Jackson Jr., who helped lead Connecticut to a national title, has opted to keep his name in the draft rather than return to the Huskies for another season, writes ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

Jackson is projected to be taken late in the first round or early in the second round, Wojnarowski adds. The junior shooting guard ranks 32nd on ESPN’s big board and is projected to go to the Pacers with the 32nd pick in the latest mock draft by Jonathan Givony of ESPN.

“My time at UCONN has been filled with ups and downs but through it all I built relationships with my teammates, coaches, friends and fans that will last forever,” Jackson wrote in a Twitter post. “I’ve made so many memories playing in that jersey and I will miss it. But I’ll always be a husky. Thank you.”

Jackson averaged 6.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.3 steals in six tournament games and was believed to have raised his draft stock significantly, although questions remain about his outside shooting. He took part in the draft combine and went through individual workouts with several teams, including the Hawks, Celtics, Nets, Pacers and Trail Blazers, according to Wojnarowski.

Dozens of draft decisions were announced Wednesday ahead of the 11:59 pm EDT deadline to return to school without losing eligibility. Most late deciders opted to pull out of the draft, but a few prominent names will remain in the pool. They are:

• Chase Audige, G, Northwestern (senior) (Twitter link)
• Jaylen Clark, G, UCLA (junior) (story)
• Armaan Franklin, G, Virginia (senior) (Twitter link)
• Chris Livingston, G, Kentucky (freshman) (Twitter link)
• Malachi Smith, G, Gonzaga (senior) (Twitter link)
• Jordan Walsh, F, Arkansas (freshman) (Twitter link)

National Player of the Year Zach Edey will withdraw from the draft and return to Purdue for another year, according to Jeff Borzello of ESPN. The 7’4″ center averaged 22.9 points and 12.9 rebounds as a junior while shooting 60.7% from the field. Even so, his draft status wasn’t certain as he’s No. 47 in the ESPN rankings.

Another prominent player pulling out of the draft is Virginia’s Reece Beekman, the ACC’s reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Givony reports. Beekman hopes to boost his draft stock for 2024 after coming in at 43rd in ESPN’s rankings. “I’ve decided to go back to UVA to work towards being a first-round draft pick next year and finish my degree,” he said.

Here are some more players who decided late Wednesday to take their names out of the draft:

• Trey Alexander, G, Creighton (sophomore) (Twitter link)
• Dylan Cardwell, C, Auburn (junior) (Twitter link)
• Davonte Davis, G, Arkansas (junior) (Twitter link)
• Rayj Dennis, G, Toledo (senior) (Twitter link)
  • Note: Dennis is transferring from Toledo
• Hakim Hart, G, Villanova (senior) (Twitter link)
• Coleman Hawkins, F, Illinois (junior) (Twitter link)
• DaRon Holmes, F, Dayton, (sophomore) (Twitter link)
• Sion James, G, Tulane (junior) (Twitter link)
• Dillon Jones, F, Weber State (junior) (Twitter link)
• Miles Kelly, G, Georgia Tech (sophomore) (Twitter link)
• Judah Mintz, G, Syracuse (freshman) (Twitter link)
• Dillon Mitchell, F, Texas (freshman) (Twitter link)
• Olivier Nkamhoua, F, Tennessee (senior) (Twitter link)
  • Note: Nkamhoua is transferring from Tennessee
• Zyon Pullin, G, UC Riverside (senior) (Twitter link)
  • Note: Pullin is transferring from UC Riverside
• Antonio Reeves, G, Kentucky (senior) (Twitter link)
• Terrence Shannon Jr., G, Illinois (senior) (Twitter link)
• Jamal Shead, G, Houston (junior) (Twitter link)
• Keisei Tominaga, G, Nebraska (senior) (Twitter link)
• Nae’Qwan Tomlin, F, Kansas State (senior) (Twitter link)