Which college underclassmen will enter 2013 NBA Draft?

Orlando would have taken Smart if they had won the lottery, according to ESPN’s Chad Ford:

Smart’s ability to run point at 6’4, 225 pounds made him one of the most intriguing prospects in college basketball this season. Few expected him to return to school after he won the Big 12 Player of the Year Award as a freshman, averaging 15 points, six rebounds and four assists on 40 percent shooting.

With under two months remaining before the draft goes down in Brooklyn, the NBA released a complete list of all early-entry candidates for the 2013 draft class Wednesday. The list, which includes all players who officially filed declaration paperwork with the league before the April 28 deadline, features both U.S. and international players.

Players who have applied for early entry in this year’s draft can still withdraw from consideration before June 17. The draft is scheduled for June 27 at Barclays Arena.

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The deadline for players to declare for the 2013 NBA Draft is 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, April 28.

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When Austin committed to Baylor, most expected that the big would only be in Waco for one year, but he stumbled a bit as a freshman and the Bears are going to get at least another year out of the skilled big man. Austin was still a very good player, averaging 13 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, but his slight frame proved to be a hindrance.

Austin was often outmuscled by more experienced players and didn’t make the impact on defense that some expected, causing him to slide down draft boards as scouts questioned whether he would be strong enough to handle the NBA.

Miami guard Shane Larkin will forego his final two years of college and declare himself eligible for the NBA Draft, according to Andy Katz of ESPN.

Larkin had previously scheduled a press conference for 6 p.m. on Sunday to announce his decision, but Katz says the announcement might now be moved up. Sunday is the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the draft.

The announcement was made via Baylor’s official men’s basketball Twitter feed:

Jefferson’s return is huge news for a Baylor club looking to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2014 after a one-year absence this past March.

The news is a boost for a Blue Jays club that finished their final season in the Missouri Valley at 28-8 overall, with a Round of 32 loss to Duke in the NCAA Tournament. McDermott ended his junior year as Creighton’s leading scorer (23.2 points per game) and rebounder (6.6 boards a contest) on his way to being an All-American by a number of different outlets.

More importantly, McDermott’s return helps soften the blow of several other key players, as the school gets set to transition out of the Missouri Valley and into the Big East. The Blue Jays will be joined by seven of the league’s current members, as well as Butler and Xavier, for the 2014 season.

Marcus Smart’s decision to stay in school means that what was universally considered a “weak draft” is now supposedly weaker. The new CBA makes finding good players in the draft more important than ever, but what should teams do with a relatively weaker talent pool, especially at the top?

Two years is still a little early to make definitive decisions about the quality of a draft, but the 2011 draft could have something to teach us in 2013. That year’s draft, which was conducted in the shadow of the lockout, was seen then as one of the shallowest in modern memory. That’s what happens when so many top players decide to stay in school rather than risk entering the NBA in the midst of a labor dispute.

As a junior, Smith averaged 18.7 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game as the Cardinals’ leading scorer. He shot 41 percent from the field and 32 percent from beyond the arc.

Most evaluators had Smith pegged as nothing more than a possible second-round pick. ESPN’s Chad Ford rated him No. 57 on his Top 100 prospects for the draft, while Draft Express had him ranked a bit higher at No. 33. Goodman notes that another strong year could potentially move him up some draft boards in 2014.

German guard Dennis Schrӧder plans to enter the 2013 NBA draft after a strong showing in practices for the Hoop Summit event in Portland, OR, according to reports.

The 6’2 guard will turn 21 just prior to the start of NBA training camps and will begin the NBA draft process as a projected late first-round pick. The league values point guard play, though, so Schrӧder has a chance to lift his stock throughout the draft process.

Olynyk’s versatility will make him an intriguing draft prospect, as he can work down low in the post, finish around the rim, and serve as a stretch player. His value will be hurt by his defense, however, as he doesn’t have the lateral quickness or awareness to make him a defensive anchor even with his height.

In the NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga was upset by Wichita State, and were the first no. 1 seed to be eliminated during the tournament.

Harris, a 6’4, 205-pound guard, averaged 13.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 46/41/76 shooting this season, helping the Spartans to a berth in the Sweet 16.

Harris, who is currently recovering from postseason shoulder surgery, still has a lot of room to improve his draft stock. While his shooting and poise were both above average for a freshman, he’ll be expected to take on a bigger role as a playmaker and a decision-maker next season.

Both players rose rapidly up NBA Draft boards during the NCAA Tournament, when they were integral parts of a Wolverines team that made it all the way to the national championship game.

If they had declared, McGary and Robinson were widely expected to be first-round picks. McGary, a 6’10, 250 big man, averaged over seven points and six rebounds a game while Robinson, a 6’6, 210 wing, averaged 11 points and five rebounds a game this season.

The announcement is expected to come on Thursday.

In just one season with the Wildcats, Jerrett struggled, scoring just 5.2 points and grabbing 3.6 rebounds per game. He did, however, shoot well from beyond the arc. Jerrett made 32 shots from long distance last season.

Lucas Nogueira, a 7-foot prospect from Brazil, has declared for the NBA Draft, according to Yahoo! Sports. And while he might be relatively unknown to fans compared to other draft candidates, he could end up being taken in the first round.

The 20 year old previously entered the draft in 2011, but withdrew, and has been on the radar of NBA front offices ever since. Nogueira comes from the Spanish ACB League where he played for Estudiantes last year. Yahoo! cites his 7’6 wingspan, strength and an improving offensive skill set as reasons why he might be an attractive pick. ESPN also classifies him as an excellent shot blocker with an ability to rebound.

After helping lead his team to the NCAA title game, Michigan Wolverines wing Tim Hardaway Jr. will enter the 2013 NBA Draft, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports. Hardaway joins Michigan teammate Trey Burke in this year’s class.

The son of a longtime NBA star with the same name, Hardaway boasts an impressive pedigree and played well in his three years in Ann Arbor. Armed with size (6’6) and athleticism, he’s physically the prototypical wing player teams look for in the draft.

Here are 10 things that I think about it.

1. In a draft where no player at the top has separated themselves from the pack, Smart could have gone No. 1 overall if a team if need of a point guard (like Orlando) had won the lottery. He’s a tremendous prospect. How often do you see a 6’4, 225-pound PG? Just from a pure physicality standpoint, Smart is going to have a physical advantage over most of his peers as soon as he enters the NBA.

Smart’s reported decision to return to Oklahoma State is a stunner. He would’ve been in the running to be the top overall pick depending on which NBA franchise won the lottery, and he was a lock to be taken somewhere in the lottery. Given how weak this year’s crop of talent is, many felt Smart was gone, especially with a loaded freshman class expected to hit college hoops next fall.

As a freshman, Smart averaged 15.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists. He ranked as one of the best defenders in the country with three steals a game. He did not shoot the ball particularly well -- which is really the only one true flaw to his game -- but many scouts felt he will improve drastically once he gets some seasoning as a pro.

Muhammad, a 6’6, 225-pound small forward, was the Bruins’ leading scorer, averaging 18 points and 5 rebounds on 44% shooting this season. He is widely projected to be a lottery pick in this year’s draft.

The consensus No. 1 recruit coming out of high school, his freshman season got off to an uneven start after the NCAA suspended him for amateurism violations. The uncertainty of his situation, as well as the circus surrounding embattled UCLA coach Ben Howland, helped contribute to a slow start when he was eventually cleared.

Vander Blue wasn’t one of those widely expected to enter the NBA Draft, but the combo guard from Marquette will reportedly try his luck:

In his junior year, Blue took a leap. He shot more than 45 percent from the field, averaging 14.8 points and leading Marquette to the Elite Eight. He’d shine in the NCAA Tournament, with a game-winning layup against Davidson and 29 points against Butler.

A formal announcement is expected Tuesday, Wojnarowski said.

DraftExpress.com is currently projecting Bullock to go No. 30 overall in its 2013 mock draft. He has the right size -- 6’7, 203 pounds -- to be a small forward in the NBA, and he also has the shooting ability. He was 88-of-202 from deep as a junior.

After a solid freshman season, Porter blew up in his second year at Georgetown, averaging 16.2 points and 7.5 rebounds. The 6’8 wing shot 48.0 percent overall and an excellent 42.2 percent from three-point land.

Porter led the Hoyas to a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, but they were upset by Florida Gulf Coast. Porter had 13 points and 11 rebounds, but he shot just 5-of-17 in the stunning defeat.

DraftExpress has Caldwell-Pope being selected in its 2014 mock draft, but NBADraft.net has him going 17th overall in 2013. Goodman estimates the shooter will be taken between the 20th to 40th overall picks.

The SEC Player of the Year in the eyes of both the coaches and Associated Press writers, Caldwell-Pope enters the professional ranks after a much-improved season.

Noel followed in the footsteps of 2012 No. 1 overall pick Anthony Davis, averaging 10.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.4 blocks and 2.1 steals during an injury-shortened freshman campaign. Noel led the SEC in rebounding and blocked shots, and his 106 blocks were second all-time behind Davis in Kentucky single-season history.

Noel’s excellent freshman campaign was cut short when he suffered a gruesome ACL tear in a loss to Florida on Feb. 12. The 6’11 big man underwent surgery in March and will likely miss the start of the next NBA season. Whoever drafts Noel is sure to be extra-cautious with his rehab, as there’s no reason to rush him back from the injury.