Jaylen Adams announced on Wednesday that he’d put his name in this year’s NBA Draft. The rising senior will be able to get evaluations from NBA teams and can remove his name from the draft 10 days after the combine ends. Should Adams choose to stay in the draft and hire an agent, he will not have the opportunity to return to school.
Many NBA prospects are taking advantage of the new rule change in the past few seasons. It is likely that Adams will go through the pre-draft routine simply for the feedback. This year’s draft class is absolutely loaded. I wouldn’t necessarily expect Adams to get drafted if he leaves this year. If Adams did, it’d likely be towards the end of the 2nd round; even that’s a stretch.
Jaylen Adams has shown enormous amounts of promise with the Bonnies, and there’s still room to get better. The junior made First Team All-Conference this past season, and he’ll have a chance at A-10 POY next year. Adams led the Atlantic 10 in assists per game (6.5) and was 2nd in points (20.6) in 2016-17. He also had the 4th best steal percentage in the league, adding defensive intensity to his repertoire of skills.
If Jaylen Adams chooses to return to St. Bonaventure for his senior year, the Bonnies will be serious contenders to win the Atlantic 10. Joe Lunardi’s very early NCAA Tournament predictions have St. Bonaventure sneaking in as an 11 seed next year. Jaylen Adams and Matt Mobley could make up the most dangerous starting backcourt in the country. Factor in the young talent on the post and the perimeter, and you’ve got a St. Bonaventure team that could go beyond just dancing next season. My guess is that we’ll see Jaylen Adams back for his senior season. Unless the junior really impresses at the NBA Combine, it would behoove him to come back to Olean.
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