With the withdrawal deadline for the 2019 NBA draft early entry list now passed, we have a more clear idea of who could soon get selected.
Last season, there were several players who ranked in the Top 100 based on our aggregate mock draft that decided to return back to school. Among those prospects, three of them (Kentucky’s PJ Washington, Maryland’s Bruno Fernando and Purdue’s Carsen Edwards) now could be first-rounders.
There were several others (Missouri’s Jontay Porter, San Diego State’s Jalen McDaniels, St. John’s Shamorie Ponds and Michigan’s Charles Matthews) who went back to school and likely improved their draft stock.
Included below are the top-ranked prospects who could have a similar future next season with increased work and preparation towards the goal.
Neemias Queta, Utah State (Big)
Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 53
The Utah State center recently measured at 6’10.75″ without shoes. But he had to match up with the 7-foot-5 Tacko Fall during his first five-on-five scrimmage at the NBA Combine. Queta, who was considered a Top 50 prospect, was held scoreless on four attempts with just four rebounds.
However, the 9-foot-3.5 standing reach that Queta recorded was three and a half inches longer than what Anthony Davis had in 2012. Queta has an NBA size and after the very tough look during scrimmages, another year in college to work on his offensive production will be beneficial.
Perhaps the number one thing that scouts and executives will want to see from him is increased productivity as the roll man in a pick-and-roll offense. Queta won’t be able to rely on his lengthy frame to post up against smaller defenders as a pro but if he can become more prolific in PnR sets, it will be far easier to incorporate him into a modern offense.
Otherwise, expect him to add more strength to his build and better touch on his shooting moving forward. Utah State could easily be ranked Top 25 in the preseason as potential favorites to win the Mountain West Conference.
Charles Bassey | Killian Tillie | Devon Dotson | Jordan Nwora | Andrew Nembhard
Charles Bassey, Western Kentucky (Big)
The decision for Charles Bassey to return to Western Kentucky was perhaps the most perplexing of all. He had his Pro Day earlier this week and for all intents and purposes, the big man seemed like a lock to be selected at some point in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Bassey was considered the No. 6 overall prospect in the country coming into his freshman year, ranked just one spot behind Zion Williamson. Assuming that Bassey would have been a one-and-done en route to start his professional career would have been beyond safe.
While his draft stock had slipped a bit, NBADraft.net still projected him in the first round as recently as the day of the early entry withdrawal deadline. He was the third-fastest big man to compete in shuttle runs at the combine but struggled during the scrimmages, shooting just 1-for-6 from the field.
His closest comparison would be Maryland big man Bruno Fernando, who was in a similar position last year but went back to school and now projects as a late first-rounder.
Neemias Queta | Killian Tillie | Devon Dotson | Jordan Nwora | Andrew Nembhard
Killian Tillie, Gonzaga (Forward)
Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 42
It was odd that Killian Tillie pulled out of the 2019 NBA Draft Combine but was the first sign that he may have been leaning towards returning to school. He dealt with health concerns last year and his draft stock has arguably never been lower.
The French-born forward averaged 12.9 points per game as a sophomore and last season, that scoring rate dropped to just 6.2 ppg. After Tillie notched the second-best Player Efficiency Rating in the West Coast Conference in 2018, he failed to make the Top 20 leaderboard as a junior.
For the 6-foot-10 forward, going back to school and getting healthy enough to lead Gonzaga without Brandon Clarke and Rui Hachimura will be a big test. However, if he can rise to the occasion, he will likely have an NBA deal waiting on the other side.
Neemias Queta | Charles Bassey | Devon Dotson | Jordan Nwora | Andrew Nembhard
Devon Dotson, Kansas (Guard)
Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 66
Among the prospects who submitted their name to the 2019 NBA Draft early entry list who eventually decided to go back to school, early intel suggests that none currently have better draft stock for next season than Dotson.
He still likely projects somewhere behind guards Tre Jones (Duke) and Ayo Dosunmu (Illinois) among all non-freshman in 2020. But his decision to stay at Kansas may yield him a spot in the latter half of the first round next year.
Another contributing factor for his likely rise is a projected increased workload following news that former Top 10 recruit Quentin Grimes will enter the transfer portal following a disappointing freshman campaign with the Jayhawks. Grimes (as well as Lagerald Vick and Dedric Lawson) was one of several high-usage players under coach Bill Self last season who will not return to Lawrence next year.
Perhaps the biggest knock is that the upcoming draft class is littered with an abundance of point guards. But if Dotson can find a way to separate himself and further improve on a campaign in which he finished with the fourth-most assists in the Big 12, his first-round future is far from unreasonable.
Neemias Queta | Charles Bassey | Killian Tillie | Jordan Nwora | Andrew Nembhard
Jordan Nwora, Louisville (Forward)
Aggregate Mock Draft Rank: 45
After a freshman year in which he shot 43.9 percent on three-pointers, Louisville forward Jordan Nwora nearly tripled his output from long distance as a sophomore. That decision yielded some good news coupled with bad news.
Nwora took home the Most Improved Player Award in the ACC, recently won by Atlanta Hawks big man John Collins when he was at Wake Forrest. Unfortunately, however, the Louisville forward dropped to 37.4 percent from long range.
His draft stock was not in a bad place despite the decreased accuracy and he seemed likely to at least be a second-rounder. But unfortunately, an injury kept him sidelined for the 2019 NBA Draft Combine and he was unable to help himself catapult his way into the Top 30.
Next season, he can be one of the most productive shooters in the country. If he can knock down his catch-and-shoot jump shot at an efficient enough rate, he will likely have a role in the league considering his 6-foot-8 frame.
Neemias Queta | Charles Bassey | Killian Tillie | Devon Dotson | Andrew Nembhard
Andrew Nembhard, Florida (Guard)
The Canadian-born prospect seemed to be trending in the right direction during the pre-draft process, though not quite far enough to warrant keeping his name in the draft. He seemed to be a consensus choice in the Top 100 on draft big boards with appearances on lists from Sports Illustrated, CBS Sports and The Athletic.
But he never quite scratched the surface to see his name on mock drafts. Of course, that is far from a perfect evaluation of his pro status and one far more indicative was his invitation to the G League Elite Camp.
There, however, he was a bit underwhelming during scrimmages. Nembhard nearly averaged as many turnovers (2.0 per game) as he did points (2.5) and assists (2.5) while in Chicago. The good news, though, is that he is a young and developing prospect with enough potential to emerge as one of the better non-freshmen in 2020.
Honorable Mentions
AJ Lawson, South Carolina (Guard)
Jalen Pickett, Siena (Guard)
Kaleb Wesson, Ohio State (Forward)
Myles Powell, Seton Hall (Guard)
Jarron Cumberland, Cincinnati (Guard)
Xavier Sneed, Kanas State (Guard)
Neemias Queta | Charles Bassey | Killian Tillie | Devon Dotson | Jordan Nwora |
