It wasn’t necessarily a shock when Cassius Winston declared he would be returning to Michigan State for the 2019-20 season. Even walking out of their loss to Texas Tech, Izzo noted that Winston was the leader in the locker room, encouraging everyone to keep their heads up; it didn’t seem like the words of a player on his way out of the team.
Well, that hunch was correct, and last week the reigning Big Ten Player of the Year declared he would be returning to the Spartans for his final season. Winston cited that he was returning because he had more to accomplish, but I think he also might be helping himself out with the decision.
In his 2019 NBA Draft Prospect Big Board, Sam Vecenie of The Athletic had Winston ranked all the way at the bottom of the second round at #55.
This isn’t dissimilar to the story of Denzel Valentine. A four-year contributor, he made his mark on the national basketball conversation in his junior season but was still considered to be lacking athleticism needed for the NBA and was projected as a late-second round draft pick. However, after choosing to return for his senior season, Valentine truly broke out and was ultimately drafted #14 overall by the Chicago Bulls.
I truly believe Cassius Winston could follow a similar path. If he can get a little bigger, stronger, and faster this summer he could easily fly up draft boards.
