Fred Sims

Cole, Wieskamp Headline G League Draft Pool

Norris Cole and Joe Wieskamp are among 128 players who are eligible for the annual NBA G League draft, which will take place on Saturday at 1 p.m.

Cole, 34, played for Miami, New Orleans and Oklahoma City during his NBA career, which spanned 2011-17. He’s played for a variety of European teams since, most recently JL Bourg in France. He also played for Team USA this summer.

Wieskamp was waived by the Spurs on Monday. Wieskamp, 23, was drafted 41st overall in 2021 by the Spurs and spent most of his rookie season on a two-way contract with the team. He was converted to a rest-of-season standard contract in March, then re-signed with San Antonio in August on a two-year deal that includes a guaranteed $2.175MM salary for 2022/23.

Jared Rhoden, who was waived by both the Trail Blazers and Hawks this preseason, is another prominent name on the list.

Here is the full list of players eligible to be drafted, as provided by a G League press release:

Name (Position, School)

Draft Notes: B. Brown, Govan, Lakers, Bulls

Kansas State junior guard Barry Brown will be returning to the Wildcats for his senior year, he confirmed in an announcement today on Twitter.

“Although the process was more than enjoyable, I have decided to withdraw my name from the 2018 NBA Draft,” Brown wrote in a statement. “Thank you to everyone who supported me, and I am looking forward to finishing my senior season as a WILDCAT!”

Brown, who had workouts with the Lakers and Nets, averaged 15.9 PPG, 3.2 APG, 3.1 RPG, and 1.8 SPG for Kansas State in 2017/18. He’ll look to build on those numbers in his senior season before becoming draft-eligible again next spring.

Here are more draft-related notes and updates:

Draft Notes: Adel, Doncic, Derrickson, Sims

After announcing last month that he would test the 2018 NBA draft waters, Louisville forward Deng Adel has decided he won’t be withdrawing his name. Adel tells Shams Charania of Yahoo Sports (Twitter link) that he’ll remain in the 2018 draft pool and will be hiring an agent as he begins his professional career.

Adel, who tested the draft waters in 2017, improved his numbers across the board in his junior year with the Cardinals, averaging 15.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 2.8 APG with a .448/.350/.786 shooting line. However, he doesn’t rank within the top 100 on Jonathan Givony’s 2018 big board at ESPN.com.

Here are a few more of today’s draft updates:

  • Speaking of Givony, he has a brand-new mock draft up at ESPN.com today (Insider-only link). The names at the top are familiar, with Deandre Ayton going No. 1 to the Suns and Luka Doncic going No. 2 to the Grizzlies. However, there are more changes further down in the first round, with this year’s draft class beginning to take shape.
  • Elsewhere at ESPN.com, Mina Kimes has an excellent in-depth feature on Doncic, the top international prospect in this year’s draft class. While Doncic hasn’t officially made an announcement indicating he’ll enter the 2018 draft, it’s viewed as a given, with his mother having previously said the Real Madrid star will be eligible.
  • Georgetown junior forward Marcus Derrickson announced today on his Instagram page that he will go pro. Derrickson, who averaged 15.9 PPG and 8.1 RPG with an impressive shooting line of .505/.465/.863 in 2017/18, intends to forgo his senior year and will hire an agent to make it official.
  • Chicago State guard Fred Sims Jr. has informed ESPN’s Jeff Goodman (Twitter link) that he’ll enter the draft and will seek out an agent, forgoing his remaining NCAA eligibility. In his junior year, Sims put up 14.2 PPG, but struggled with his shot, making just 32.2% of his attempts from the floor.

Draft Notes: Simmons, Fultz, Fox, Evans

Kobi Simmons has declared for the draft and won’t return to Arizona, according to journalist Adam Zagoria (Twitter link).

“Kobi Simmons, with the support of his family, has decided to declare for the 2017 NBA Draft,” Wildcats coach Sean Miller said. “All of us here at Arizona thank him for his freshman season and wish him continued success as he pursues his professional career.”

The 6’5″ guard hired Aaron Turner of Verus Team Management to be his agent, Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com tweets. Goodman adds that Simmons will work out for teams as a point guard. Jonathan Givony of Draft Express has Simmons as the 67th best prospect in the draft.

Here’s more on the upcoming draft:

  • Markelle Fultz, who attended Tuesday’s Sixers game, wouldn’t mind playing for Philadelphia, Jordan Hall of Comcast Sportsnet relays. “I think it would be a great atmosphere, so it would be cool,” Fultz said of playing home games at the Sixers’ home arena. The former Washington guard, who said he believes he’ll be the first player to come off the board in June, added: “I always trust the process.”
  • De’Aaron Fox has chosen an agent. He’ll be represented by Happy Walters of Catalyst Sports, Givony reports (Twitter link).
  • Jawun Evans will be represented by ASM Sports, according to Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders (Twitter link). Chad Ford of ESPN.com ranks the Oklahoma State product 37th among this year’s prospect.
  • ASM has also signed Xavier’s Edmond Sumner and Clemson’s Jaron Blossomgame, Daniels reports (Twitter link).
  • Fred Sims of Chicago State has declared for the draft, Goodman reports (Twitter link). Sims is currently not ranked by Draft Express.