Kentucky guard Brandon Knight, expected to be a top-10 pick, will remain in the 2011 NBA Draft. Knight announced his decision early Friday, ahead of the NCAA’s Sunday deadline to withdraw and maintain collegiate eligibility. Knight’s college teammate Terrence Jones, a fellow freshman who is slotted to go anywhere from the top-10 to the mid-first round, will announce his decision on Saturday, reports the Lexington Herald-Leader.
Brandon Knight Will Stay In NBA Draft; Terrence Jones Remains Undecided
Knight has shot up NBA mock drafts, in part because a number of top prospects -- Jared Sullinger, Harrison Barnes, John Henson among them -- have committed to stay with their college programs. The Wildcat is considered the third-rated (at worst) guard in the draft, behind Duke's Kyrie Irving and UConn's Kemba Walker. Knight could definitely pass Walker as the June draft approaches, as the Kentucky freshman is younger, bigger and perhaps has more potential for growth.
Jones, a forward who played as well or better than Knight through the early part of Kentucky's schedule, has quite a bit of competition at his position. If he remains in the draft, he'd be competing with Derrick Williams, Jan Vesely, Kawhi Leonard, Jordan Hamilton and a bevy of power forwards. DraftExpress currently lists Jones as the No. 11 prospect in the draft pool.
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