Shelvin Mack, DeAndre Liggins and Cory Joseph are projected only as second-round picks. Yet all three underclassmen decided to stay in the NBA Draft.
The list of success stories of second rounders is short. Careers are more often spent struggling to make rosters than starting lineups. Of the 30 second-round selections in 2010, only Landry Fields averaged more than 20 minutes a game.
So why not come back to school and try to improve your draft stock?
For Butler’s Mack, his stock may never get any higher after back-to-back trips to the NCAA championship game.
For Liggins and Joseph, their decisions to leave early may have been affected by some incoming freshmen who could have cut into their playing time — Kentucky and Texas have two of the top-five recruiting classes.
The three underclassmen have weaknesses, but they also have qualities that could really help an NBA team.
Mack has shown he can make big shots and has shooting range.
At 6-foot-6, Liggins has good size and is one of the best defenders in this class.
Joseph is a solid scorer and has NBA quickness.
Fields wasn’t viewed as having the kind of athleticism to be successful in the NBA, but he was able to become a quality role player for a playoff team. Will one of these three underclassmen be able to make the same kind of contribution next year?
