Draft Notes: Brazile, Bradshaw, Traore, More Early Entrants

Arkansas junior forward Trevon Brazile won’t be playing for new Razorbacks head coach John Calipari next season. Brazile tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he has decided to forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2024 NBA draft.

“I’m 100 percent into the draft,” Brazile said. “Arkansas made a big hire with John Calipari. I’m happy for the program, but the main thing for me is keeping a one-track mind. I am going out for my dreams in the NBA.”

The No. 42 overall prospect on ESPN’s big board, Brazile had an up-and-down season in his return from ACL surgery, averaging 8.6 points and 5.9 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game while shooting .488/.353/.695.

According to Givony, Brazile is a candidate to improve his stock during the pre-draft process, since NBA evaluators are intrigued by his combination of length and mobility, as well as his ability to space the floor on offense and protect the rim on defense.

Here are several more draft-related notes and updates:

• Freshman center Aaron Bradshaw is one of several Kentucky players entering the 2024 draft. He announced on Instagram that he’ll test the waters while retaining his NCAA eligibility and also will enter the transfer portal. Bradshaw averaged just 13.7 minutes per game in his first college season, registering 4.9 PPG and 3.3 RPG. He’s the No. 73 prospect on ESPN’s top-100 list.
• French forward Armel Traore, the No. 80 prospect on ESPN’s board, has declared for the draft, he tells Givony (Twitter link). A 6’9″ forward with a 7’3″ wingspan, Traore has had a productive season for Blois Basket in France’s top league, Givony notes.
• Initially thought to be testing the draft waters, Miami forward Norchad Omier has hired an agent and intends to keep his name in the draft pool, as Michelle Kaufman of The Miami Herald details.
• The following players are also among the early entrants for the 2024 draft. They’re testing the waters unless otherwise indicated:
  • Jabri Abdur-Rahim, G/F, Georgia (senior) (link via Joe Tipton of On3 Sports)
  • Michael Ajayi, F, Pepperdine (junior) (Twitter link)
  • Jalen Blackmon, G, Stetson (junior) (Twitter link via Jeff Borzello of ESPN)
  • Walter Clayton Jr., G, Florida (junior) (Twitter link)
  • Jalen Cook, G, LSU (senior) (Twitter link)
    • Note: Cook’s announcement doesn’t say anything about retaining his NCAA eligibility, so we’re assuming he intends to go pro.
  • Robert McCray, G, Jacksonville (sophomore) (Instagram link; hat tip to RookieScale.com)
• Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has updated his 2024 mock draft following the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament. Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham and Reed Sheppard are the top NCAA players in Wasserman’s mock, coming off the board at No. 2 and 3, respectively.