College hoops players who should have stayed in school

Bassey's draft status is all over the place. Some have him sneaking into the first round, while others have him going undrafted. Bassey has talent, but it is raw. He is big and already a solid rebounder and rim protector who is known to throw down some massive dunks. Of course, he did that in Conference USA and not against the kind of competition he will see in the NBA. He's not good on the pick and roll — offensively or defensively. Whoever drafts him will need to work with him before he can be a rotation player. 

Bolden was a McDonald's All-American who headed to Duke, but he hasn't had the kind of career that some of his more high-profile teammates have had. Bolden has been a solid interior player for the Blue Devils but not one that, frankly, anyone truly feared. He is understandably leaving because Mike Krzyzewski has brought in another great recruiting class and Bolden will likely lose his starting job. Still, would staying for your senior season at Duke as a leader be worth more than toiling in the G-League or elsewhere trying to earn a living? 

Bone is the fourth Vols starter to either leave the team via graduation or leave early for the NBA. He isn't projected to be drafted, so he'll have to earn his way onto a roster another way. He is passing on returning to Knoxville where he could become the unquestioned leader and have a bigger opportunity to show off his offensive ability. Bone is a lightning-fast point guard who will certainly get a look somewhere, but he is foregoing a chance to be a star on a Vols team that could use one after losing Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield.

Brazdeikis had an outstanding freshman season and has decided to become a one-and-done. It's a bit stunning since he's a likely second-round pick at best and could turn into a non-factor like Mo Wagner was in his first season with the Lakers. I get that Michigan lost a lot of talent from last year's team and that John Beilein bolted for the NBA. But the cupboard isn't bare, and Brazdeikis could've benefited with at least one season under Juwan Howard, the new head coach. Howard may be a novice, but he knows how the NBA works and could have further prepared Brazdeikis to have quicker success in the Association. 

Brissett's numbers dipped as a sophomore, and he was wildly inconsistent, yet he is deciding to leave Syracuse for the NBA Draft. He was the Orange's leading rebounder last year and could find a fit somewhere with his work on the glass. Unlike some on this list, he did perform well in the G-League combine and even showed a nice three-point shot, which was missing in college. Can he keep that up during individual workouts, or will that inconsistency come back to bite him again?

When Brooks initially announced his plans to declare for the NBA Draft, he openly admitted he wanted feedback from scouts about what he needed to work on and then go back to Houston ready to break out — except that Brooks liked what he heard and decided to stay in the draft. Brooks is talented and is a great rebounder for his size, and he has improved his overall game. In a draft with a lot of guards with similar skills, will he be able to set himself apart? 

Coffey was going to be the focal point of the Golden Gophers next year but instead decided to stay in the draft. A team could take a flier on him in the second round due to his size (he is 6-foot-8 and can play at point guard) and is a good scorer. He's also 22, which can be a turnoff for NBA teams who are looking at a higher ceiling. Another season may not have furthered his development much, but it would have given him a chance to shine...something he failed to do at the G-League combine. 

Harper had a sensational NCAA Tournament, as he helped lead Auburn to its first Final Four. A performance like that and the mass exodus that happened afterward can make it less tantalizing to want to return. Harper is just 5-foot-11 but plays hard and aggressive. Still, his height could scare scouts from drafting him, and he'll have to prove himself again in the Summer League and possibly the G-League. While he may not have much left to prove in college, taking a victory lap wouldn't have been a bad idea. 

Konate is a big guy — though not super tall — who is physical in the paint and a great shot-blocker. Can he continue to be just that kind of player in the NBA at 6-foot-8? No, staying at West Virginia another season won't make him taller, but he could work on his offensive game, which is improving but not reliable in being able to guard quicker players away from the basket. Right now, he would be a high-energy guy who will make a nice block or two but doesn't offer more than that. 

I get it. Krampelj has already graduated, he is 24 years old and he's suffered multiple ACL tears during his Bluejays career. The Slovenian probably won't get drafted and will most likely pursue an overseas career. If he went back to Omaha for one final season, he'd be on one of the most talented Creighton teams since the Doug McDermott era and enjoy what looks to be one of the most competitive Big East seasons in a while. Just a selfish feeling by me, but I would love to see him be a part of that after having such a tough time over the last four years.

Hear me out on this: Lawson will enter the 2019 draft on a higher note than he would the 2020 draft. That doesn't mean he'll enter as a better looking prospect. Due to injuries and suspensions, Lawson became the Jayhawks' go-to scorer and de facto star. If he returned next year, he wouldn't be the post presence he was last season because of the return of Silvio De Sousa and Udoka Azubuike. That would force Lawson to play on the perimeter more and, honestly, that would be for the best. He needs to develop an outside game if he plans to have a lengthy NBA career. Plus Kansas will be talented and playing with a huge chip on its shoulder next year. He could really improve his draft stock. 

Nowell struggled at the NBA combine and failed to stand out. Despite the fact that many projections have him going undrafted, he is staying in the draft. The Pac-12 Player of the Year could have led a Huskies team that has a nice recruiting class coming in to join a program that has some momentum. Nowell leaving impacts that and probably hurts his opportunity to continue to show what he can do. 

Shittu was part of a promising recruiting class in 2018 that didn't pan out. For his part, Shittu would play all 32 games and average 10.9 points and 6.7 rebounds for a Commodores team that went 0-18 in SEC play. He's not a shot-blocker (just 16 all season) and went 1-of-18 from three, so he lacks the ability to be a stretch four and doesn't really have the chops to be a defensive stalwart. Shittu is the classic example of a high school player hell-bent on being a one-and-done no matter and will pass on learning under new Vandy head coach Jerry Stackhouse. 

Tucker was one of the top graduate transfers on the market and concurrently committed to transfer to Memphis while also declaring for the draft. He decided to stay in the draft, which is understandable. He averaged over 20 ppg last year and had already graduated college, so he is taking what he feels is the next step. Still, he may not get drafted and had a rare opportunity that most in his position don't get: He was part of a huge stockpile of talent that Penny Hardaway's Tigers accumulated this offseason to take a shot at a Final Four. Tucker was a rotation guy for Florida Gulf Coast for two seasons before transferring to Little Rock last year. 

Wooten is an athletic big man who can block shots, clean the glass and is quick enough to switch on ball screens. He's a hustle guy who, if he gets with the right coaching, could be a steal of the draft. If he gets drafted (he could sneak into the first round if someone falls in love with his potential), it will be on that potential since he lacks a lot of offensive qualities. He's not a perimeter shooter nor does he have a great back to the basket game or footwork required to be a factor on offense. He's also a dismal free-throw shooter, though he did improve on that this past season. He could use another year at Oregon to refine his offensive game.