The big names announcing they’ve had enough of college basketball keep pouring in, as Trey Burke from Michigan joins the likes of Cody Zeller and Michael Carter-Williams to expand a list of very impressive underclassmen declaring their eligibility for the 2013 NBA draft.
A player has until April 16 to enter and still be able to withdraw his name from the draft, maintaining his eligibility for another season of College Basketball. The final date to enter to declare eligibility for the 2013 NBA draft is April 28, 60 days before the draft.
Trey Burke, Michigan, Sophomore
The national player of the year didn’t really have much left to play for after a sophomore season of averaging 18.6 points and 6.7 assists per game, bringing the Wolverines back to the national front, leading them to the national title game, losing to Louisville 82-76 despite a very impressive game from their star, scoring 24 points. Burke is a definite top 10 pick, maybe even rising up to the top 5, depending on teams needs.
Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse, Sophomore
Carter-Williams might not be the most impressive of scorers, but if it’s defense, athleticism and great passing you’re looking for in your point guard, the Syracuse player, reaching the final four with the Orange this season and played his best game in the Sweet Sixteen with 24 points against Indiana. It’s hard to determine just how high he can climb in the draft, but anything from a low first round pick to being in the top 10 won’t surprise anyone.
Gorgui Dieng, Louisville, Junior
The only thing that is going to hurt Dieng from being a top 20 draft pick is his age, entering the NBA at 23. Other than that, he offers the raw talents most African-born centers bring to the table -excellent defense and monstrous wingspan, but a lot to improve on offensively, although he is a more NBA ready player than someone like Hasheem Thabeet. Dieng averaged 9.8 points, 9.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks in his final season with the Cardinals, helping them win the national title.
Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State, Junior
A 6’5 wing player, Franklin lacks the long range shooting ability you’d like to see from an NBA starter, but he still is one of the more athletic and exciting players entering the 2013 NBA draft after three seasons with the Aztecs, averaging 17 points per game on his final year, helping his school get past Oklahoma in the second round of the tournament (21 points) before getting upset by Florida Gulf Coast. He’s likely to be a top 20 pick for a team that needs quick firepower from the bench.
Cody Zeller, Indiana, Sophomore
Zeller should have been projected to go higher than a 10-15 pick according to recent mocks, but he didn’t improve as much as expected during his sophomore season with the Hoosiers, that ended in disappointment, despite winning the Big Ten league title. Zeller averaged 16.5 points and 8.1 rebounds in 2013, but like his brother (although he is a much better player), needs to add a few more pounds to his frame to become more than a backup center in the NBA.
Other players who have also declared early – C.J. Aiken (Saint Joseph’s), Lorenzo Brown (North Carolina State), Archie Goodwin (Kentucky), Ricky Ledo (Providence), C.J. Leslie (North Carolina State), Amath M’Baye (Oklahoma), Eric Moreland (Oregon State), Tony Mitchell (North Texas), Norvel Pelle (L.A. City Prep), Marshawn Powell (Arkansas), Russ Smith (Louisville), Tony Snell (New Mexico), Adonis Thomas (Memphis), Deshaun Thomas (Ohio State), B.J. Young (Arkansas), Victor Oladipo (Indiana), Shabazz Muhammad (UCLA), Ben McLemore (Kansas), Allen Crabbe (California), Anthony Bennett (UNLV), Steven Adams (Pittsburgh), Myck Kabongo (Texas), Phil Pressey (Missouri), Isaiah Sykes (Central Florida).