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:
- Cedric Henderson Jr., G/F, Campbell (senior) (Twitter link via Jeff Goodman of Stadium)
- D’Moi Hodge, G, transferring from Cleveland State to Missouri (senior) (Twitter link via Goodman)
- Justin Johnson, G/F, Texas-Rio Grande Valley (senior) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- Isiaih Mosley, G/F, Missouri State (junior) (Twitter link via Goodman)
- Bryson Mozone, G/F, transferring from USC Upstate to Georgetown (senior) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- Caleb Murphy, G, transferring from South Florida to DePaul (sophomore) (Twitter link via Goodman)
- Gus Okafor, F, transferring from Southeastern Louisiana to Wichita State (junior) (Twitter link via Goodman)
- Osun Osunniyi, F/C, transferring from St. Bonaventure to Iowa State (senior) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
- KJ Simon, G, UT-Martin (junior) (Twitter link via Goodman)
- Jamari Smith, F, transferring from Queens University (NC) to Murray State (junior) (Twitter link via Goodman)
- Jahmir Young, G, transferring from Charlotte to Maryland (junior) (Twitter link via Rothstein)
Draft Notes: Burton, Mitchell Twins, Beauchamp, Early Entrants
Richmond junior forward Tyler Burton will test the 2022 NBA draft waters while maintaining his college eligibility, he announced on Twitter.
Burton, the No. 90 prospect on ESPN’s big board, was named the Atlantic 10 Most Improved Player in 2022 and made the All-A10 Second Team in 2022. In 37 games (33.0 MPG) this season for the Spiders, he put up 16.1 PPG and 7.7 RPG with a .457/.365/.791 shooting line, leading the team in scoring, rebounding, and three-point percentage.
Here are a few more Friday draft notes:
- Makhi Mitchell and Makhel Mitchell, announced on their respective Instagram accounts that they’ve committed to Arkansas after spending the last two seasons at Rhode Island. The Mitchell twins had been testing the draft waters in addition to entering the transfer portal — it’s unclear whether or not their commitments to the Razorbacks mean they’re pulling out of the draft pool.
- After spending the 2021/22 season with the G League Ignite, MarJon Beauchamp projects to be a first-round pick in this year’s NBA draft. That didn’t always look like a given though. In an interesting story for The Athletic, Joe Vardon takes a look at why it took longer than Beauchamp expected to get his professional career off the ground.
- The following players are also entering the 2022 NBA draft:
- Forgoing remaining NCAA eligibility:
- Maurice Calloo, F, Oregon State (senior) (Twitter link via Jon Chepkevich)
- Testing the waters:
- Souley Boum, G, UTEP (senior) (Twitter link)
- Sincere Carry, G, Kent State (junior) (Instagram link)
- Devonaire Doutrive, G, Boise State (senior) (Twitter link)
- Note: Doutrive was dismissed from Boise State’s men’s basketball team in December.
- Isiaih Mosley, G/F, Missouri State (junior) (Instagram link)
- Caleb Murphy, G, South Florida (sophomore) (Instagram link)
- Grant Sherfield, G, Nevada (junior) (Instagram link)
- Forgoing remaining NCAA eligibility: