More underclassmen are declaring for the 2014 NBA Draft as the deadline approaches, with the two Arizona stars, Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson, joining those who have already made the choice. Michigan also lose two big time players in Nik Stauskas and Glenn Robinson III, both leaving after two years.
Everyone is still waiting to see what happens with both Julius Randle of Kentucky and Jabari Parker of Duke, although the both of them are expected to enter the draft.
Aaron Gordon, Freshman, Arizona
Aaron Gordon will only be 19 and one month old when the next NBA season begins, but he’ll be one of the highest picks in the next draft thanks to his athleticism and impressive one season with Arizona. The Pac-12 Freshman of the year, All-Pac-12 first team and a third-team All-American, Gordon averaged 12.4 points and 8 rebounds not to mention an impressive performance in the NCAA tournament.
Nick Johnson, Junior, Arizona
Gordon’s teammate isn’t likely to be eve taken in the first round, but no one seems to think that another year in college with help him in that. He averaged 16.3 points per game during his Junior season, helping him become a first team All-American and winning the Pac-12 player of the year, but his potential doesn’t seem to excite teams too much heading into the draft, and being a nephew of hall of famer Dennis Johnson isn’t going to help him.
Gary Harris, Sophomore, Michigan State
It is very rare for Tom Izzo players to leave Michigan State early, but times are a’changing. Harris had a strong second season at East Lansing with 16.7 points per game and excellent per-40 minutes numbers. He shoots well from beyond the arc and is a very good defender, and will most likely end up getting picked in the top 15.
Nik Stauskas, Sophomore, Michigan
A Consensus second team All-American and the Big Ten player of the year in 2014, Stauskas didn’t have too much to play for except a national title, which he was very close to getting to during his first two years at Ann Arbor. He averaged 17.5 points per game last season while shooting 44% from beyond the arc through his college career. He’ll be taken between the 15th and 25th pick, with many predicting him to be a better version of a shooter like J.J. Redick.
Glenn Robinson III, Sophomore, Michigan
His dad was the number one pick in the 1994 NBA draft. Robinson might not even make it into the first round. He is one of those players that offers potential – a 6’6 small forward with great athleticism and length, but he is inconsistent at almost everything that has to do with skills and even effort, which makes him likely to be a high second round pick unless he impresses in the workouts.
Other underclassmen and international players: Kyle Anderson, Sophomore, UCLA; Jabari Brown, Junior, Missouri; Jahii Carson, Sophomore, Arizona State; Semaj Christon, Sophomore, Xavier; Jordan Clarkson, freshman, Missouri; Joel Embiid, Freshman, Kansas; Tyler Ennis, Freshman, Syracuse; Jeremi Grant, Sophomore, Syracuse; Alex Kirk, Junior, New Mexico; Zach LaVine, Freshman, UCLA; James Michael McAdoo, Junior, North Carolina; Eric Moreland, Junior, Oregon State Johnny O’Bryant III, Junior, LSU; LaQuinton Ross, Junior, Ohio State; JaKarr Sampson, Sophomore, St. John’s; Marcus Smart, Sophomore, Oklahoma State; Roscoe Smith, Junior, UNLV; Jarnell Stokes, Junior, Tennessee; Noah Vonleh, Freshman, Indiana; T.J. Warren, Sophomore, North Carolina State; Andrew Wiggins, Freshman, Kansas Dante Exum, Australia; Mouhammadou Jaiteh, France; Artem Klimenko, Russia; David Michineau, France; Vasilije Micić, Serbia.