Justin Johnson

Draft Decisions: Flagler, Murphy, Muszynski, Aimaq, More

Baylor junior guard Adam Flagler is withdrawing from the 2022 NBA draft, he tells Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports (Twitter link). Flagler tested the waters and received feedback on his draft stock before deciding to return to school.

“I heard exactly what I needed to be able to show more of what the NBA is looking for, so that this time next year, I will be preparing to get drafted,” Flagler said, per Jeff Borzello of ESPN (Twitter link).

Flagler technically has two years of NCAA eligibility remaining, but it sounds like he’s planning to rejoin the Bears for just one more season.

Here are several more updates on early entrants‘ draft decisions ahead of the NCAA’s June 1 withdrawal deadline:

  • A pair of Belmont seniors, Grayson Murphy and Nick Muszynski, intend to pursue professional careers and won’t be returning to school to use their last year of college eligibility next season, tweets Rothstein.
  • Big man Fardaws Aimaq, who is coming off his junior year at Utah Valley, is withdrawing from the draft and transferring to Texas Tech, tweets Jeremy Woo of SI.com. Aimaq ranked third in the country with 27 double-doubles in 2021/22, Woo notes.
  • The following players are also withdrawing from the draft, according to various reports:

Draft Updates: Kamagate, Prkacin, Flagler, More

French center Ismael Kamagate has put his name in the 2022 NBA draft pool, agent Bouna Ndiaye tells Jonathan Givony of ESPN (Twitter link).

The 21-year-old big man has boosted his draft stock this season with his play for Paris Basketball — he has averaged 11.8 PPG, 6.3 RPG, and 1.5 BPG in 30 games (27.4 MPG), shooting 64.8% from the field. According to Givony, Kamagate – the No. 35 prospect on ESPN’s big board – is a potential first-round pick.

Meanwhile, Croatian power forward Roko Prkacin, who shows up on ESPN’s top-100 list at No. 62, has decided not to enter the draft, agent Matej Mamic tells Givony (Twitter link).

Viewed as a borderline first-round pick in 2021, Prkacin opted to withdraw from the draft at last July’s deadline, but his stock took a hit this season when he missed a significant chunk of the year due to an ankle injury. With a bounce-back performance in 2022/23, he’s a potential first-rounder in the ’23 draft, says Givony.

Here are a few more updates on early entrants:

  • Baylor junior guard Adam Flagler will enter the NBA draft while maintaining his NCAA eligibility, he tells Givony (Twitter link). After winning a title with the Bears in 2021, Flagler became a full-time starter in 2021/22 and averaged 13.8 PPG and 3.0 APG on .438/.387/.741 shooting, earning a spot on the All-Big 12 second team.
  • Florida A&M senior guard MJ Randolph will test the draft waters this spring, he announced on Thursday (video link via HBCU Gameday). Randolph was named the Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year in 2021/22 after he put up 18.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and 3.5 APG in 30 games (38.6 MPG).
  • Coastal Carolina senior swingman Vince Cole is entering the draft, he announced on Instagram. Cole, who averaged 15.2 PPG with a .390 3PT% in 33 games (30.7 MPG), will hire an agent and go pro, as Scott Eisberg of WCIV in Charleston relays (video link).
  • Texas-Rio Grande Valley wing Justin Johnson has announced (via Twitter) that he’s declaring for the draft while maintaining his final year of college eligibility. Johnson, who transferred from Southern Miss in 2021, averaged 17.7 PPG and 6.7 RPG on .501/.333/.679 shooting in 31 games (34.8 MPG) as a senior.