Big-time talents from Kansas, Xavier and Houston make NBA Draft decisions

Kansas freshman guard Gradey Dick announced on ESPN’s NBA Today on Friday that he has decided to enter the 2023 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining NCAA eligibility. Jonathan Givony of ESPN has more.

Dick had a solid year in his first and only college season, averaging 14.1 PPG and 5.1 RPG with a shooting line of .442/.403/.854 in 36 games (32.7 MPG) for the Jayhawks. He projects as a potential lottery pick, according to Givony, who has Dick ranked at No. 11 on his latest big board. Givony describes the 6’8″ wing as a player with “a high floor and plenty of upside left to tap into.”

Meanwhile, Xavier guard Colby Jones announced on Instagram that he’ll enter the draft following a junior year in which he posted 15.0 PPG, 5.7 RPG, and 4.4 APG with solid shooting percentages of 50.9% from the floor and 37.8% on three-pointers. He will forgo his remaining eligibility, as well, he confirmed to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (Twitter link).

Givony, who ranked Jones as the 29th overall NBA prospect, writes that the guard's “passing ability and all-around feel for the game” are two of his most appealing traits as a prospect, with the evaluation adding that he has also shown defensive toughness.

Finally, Houston guard Marcus Sasser also intends to jump into the draft pool and forgo his eligibility. The announcement he made on Instagram includes no indication that he is leaving the door open to return to school.

Sasser averaged 17.0 PPG, 3.0 APG, and 2.8 RPG on .438/.399/.826 shooting across 48 games (31.1 MPG) during his final two years with the Cougars. He currently comes in as the No. 36 prospect on ESPN’s top-100 list.

Here are more of the prospects who recently declared for the 2023 draft:

Expected to remain in draft:

• Yuri Collins, G, Saint Louis (senior) (Instagram link)
• Jacob Toppin, F, Kentucky (senior) (press release)

Testing the draft waters:

• Charles Bediako, C, Alabama (sophomore) (Twitter link via Jon Chepkevich of RookieScale.com)
• Reece Beekman, G, Virginia (junior) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
  • Note: Beekman is the No. 58 prospect on ESPN’s board.
• Tyrese Hunter, G, Texas (sophomore) (Twitter link)
• Paul Mulcahy, G, Rutgers (senior) (Instagram link)
• Jahvon Quinerly, G, Alabama (senior) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
• Jamarion Sharp, C, Western Kentucky (senior) (Instagram link)
  • Note: Sharp is also entering the transfer portal.
• Steele Venters, G, Eastern Washington (junior) (Twitter link via Chepkevich)
  • Note: Venters is also entering the transfer portal.