Andrien White

Draft Notes: Chatman, Fernando, White, McDuffie

Detroit redshirt junior Kameron Chatman, who initially entered the draft without an agent, is officially going pro after testing the waters, his father tells ESPN’s Jeff Goodman (Twitter link). Chatman, who will sign with an agent, spent his first two college seasons at Michigan but saw limited minutes with the Wolverines. After transferring to Detroit and sitting out the 2016/17 campaign, Chatman had a breakout season this past year, averaging 17.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 2.1 APG with a shooting line of .472/.414/.849.

With the NCAA’s early entrant withdrawal deadline just two days away, we’ve got more draft updates to pass along:

  • Maryland forward Bruno Fernando is headed back to school for his sophomore season, the program announced today in a press release. “I think Bruno learned a lot during this process, and it will only make him a better basketball player,” head coach Mark Turgeon said in a statement. “We’re really excited to have his energy and passion in our locker room next year.”
  • Charlotte guard Andrien White, who tested the draft waters without an agent, is withdrawing his name and returning to school for his senior year, he confirms to Jon Rothstein of FanRag Sports (Twitter link).
  • Rothstein also passes along an update on Wichita State’s Markis McDuffie, tweeting that the 20-year-old forward will rejoin the Shockers for his senior season. McDuffie, who is withdrawing from the draft for a second straight year, will be looking to build on a junior season in which he averaged 8.5 PPG and 3.1 RPG.
  • Georgia Tech prospect Josh Okogie suffered a grade 1 right adductor strain during a workout with the Grizzlies last Wednesday, his agent tells ESPN’s Jonathan Givony (Twitter link). The injury, which was diagnosed by the Spurs on Thursday, brought Okogie’s workout schedule to a temporary halt — he’ll be re-evaluated tomorrow.

Draft Updates: E. Davis, Isabell, Hands, T. Brown

A handful of notable prospects today have announced their intention to enter the 2018 NBA draft, including a pair of players viewed as probable lottery picks in Marvin Bagley III and Miles Bridges. We’ve got updates on several more NCAA underclassmen who don’t have the same name recognition as Bagley and Bridges, but are nonetheless entering their names for draft consideration — at least for now. Let’s dive in…

  • Texas junior guard Eric Davis Jr. has decided to go pro, the school announced today in a press release. Davis joins teammate Mohamed Bamba among Texas players entering the draft early — fellow Longhorn Kerwin Roach II is also declaring, but won’t hire an agent, so he could return to school.
  • Drexel junior Tramaine Isabell is testing the draft waters, according to a press release from the program. The 6’1″ guard averaged 21.0 PPG and 7.5 RPG in his first season at Drexel after transferring from Mizzou.
  • UCLA freshman guard Jaylen Hands is entering the draft without hiring an agent, as he tells Jon Rothstein of FanRag Sports. Hands’ teammate Aaron Holiday has also declared for the draft, so the program would have some backcourt holes to fill if both players ultimately decide to go pro.
  • Georgia Southern junior guard Tookie Brown is testing the draft waters, the school announced today. Brown, who averaged 18.9 PPG on .532/.471/.753 shooting in 2017/18, won’t hire an agent, leaving the door open to return to school for his senior year.
  • Max Strus of DePaul is entering the draft without an agent, according to his school. The junior guard enjoyed a breakout season in 2017/18, posting 16.8 PPG and 5.6 RPG in 31 games.
  • Charlotte junior guard Andrien White will test the NBA draft waters this spring, as David Scott of The Charlotte Observer notes. If White decide to withdraw his name from draft consideration next month, he plans on returning to the 49ers to play for new head coach Ron Sanchez.