Arizona Basketball: Pac-12 players testing draft make decisions

Three Pac-12 Arizona Basketball’s opponents had players testing the waters for the 2018 NBA Draft this past month. Today was decision day.

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Five Pac-12 basketball players tested the waters of the 2018 NBA Draft and they had until today, May 30th, to decide to stay in the Draft or to go back to school. Here are the six in alphabetical order:

1. Sedrick Barefield, G, junior, Utah
2. Noah Dickerson, PF, junior, Washington
3. Jaylen Hands, PG, UCLA
4. Cody Riley, G, UCLA
5. Reid Travis, F, Stanford
6. Kris Wilkes, SF, UCLA

1. Sedrick Barefield – Utah

Barfield, out of Utah decided to go back to school for another year according to Jeff Goodman, ESPN. He started in 24 of 32 games for the Utes and contributed an average of 12 points in 29.2 minutes as a significant contributor. Barefield transferred to Utah from Southern Methodist University before his third year.  Larry Krystokowiak must be a happy coach tonight.

2. Noah Dickerson – Washington

Goodman also reported that Dickerson will also return to Seattle and the University of Washington to play his senior season. Dickerson reached 1,000 career points this past season (39th player in UW history) racking up 1,165 career points. Dickerson started in 33 out of 34 games this past season averaging a career-high 15.5 points. Another happy coach kicking up his feet in Seattle. Will any of these players stay in the draft?

3. Jaylen Hands – UCLA

Jaylen really had a solid showing at the NBA Combine 10 days ago, so most media folks projected he would leave his head coach Steve Alford due to not getting enough playing time and that he was ready for the NBA. But that is not the case, apparently. Hands decided he will return to Westwood for his sophomore year to increase his draft stock and probably play with a highly ranked incoming class.

We are assuming his coach promised he would be a starter next season. When Hands leaves UCLA next season, barring any unforeseen circumstance, he should improve his NBA Draft interest from teams.

4. Cody Riley – UCLA

Shocker No. 1! Cody Riley, last to announce his decision, is going back to school! There were widespread reports that Riley would not be academically eligible to come back to school. But there is the summer, and maybe it will only take a couple of summer classes to make him eligible? We don’t know, but what we do know is that Riley, after sitting out a season due to the China shoplifting suspension cannot wait to set foot on the John Wooden Court in Pauley Pavilion. More power to him, hope it all works out.

5. Reid Travis – Stanford 

Shocker No. 2! Travis made a stunning decision. Many, including myself, believed that Travis was ready for the NBA, and underrated at that. Travis graduated from Stanford, so he didn’t need to go back to get a coveted degree from a prestigious school. Instead, he decided to announce that he will indeed return to school, but not Stanford. All rumors and reports point to the University of Kentucky. If Coach Calipari lands Reid, he will not be sorry to have this exciting seasoned and smart big man.

6. Kris Wilkes – UCLA

Shocker No. 3! Wilkes was projected by CBS Sports Kyle Boone to be drafted in the first round of the 2018 NBA Draft. It’s a shocker because the LA Time reported, “Wilkes told reporters at the NBA draft combine earlier this month that he intended to return to UCLA if he wasn’t widely projected to be a first-round selection.” Wilkes was named to the Pac-12 All-Freshman Team and the Indiana Mr. Basketball stretch four was a McDonald’s All-American.

UCLA vs. USC highlights which include Aaron Holiday who will enter the draft and hired an agent.

Note: Robert Franks, SF, junior out of Washington State hired an agent and will be leaving school. We didn’t include him here because he was not testing the Draft, he entered the draft.

Must Read: More on Arizona Basketball from ZZ..

The upshot: Arizona Basketball has to be happy about Reid Travis transferring out of the Conference although they probably would have loved the opportunity to bring in the grad transfer. What they won’t be happy about is the fact that UCLA returns Hands, Wilkes and Riley in addition to their already stacked incoming recruiting class. Watch out folks, it won’t be USC, UCLA will be the team to beat next season. Alford went from possibly losing three talented players to getting them all back. What a day! Not one of these Pac-12 NBA Draft testers entered the draft.