WHO IS STAYING? (ANSWER: Green, Richards, Washington, Baker)

[KCKUKFan]

They all say this right after the season ends. Once they step away for a few days and clear their minds they usually go pro. The only way to know for sure if any of their names aren't in the NBA pool by June 11th.

The players usually always say, "I'm not thinking about that right now" or "I'll sit down with my family." Only one or two have explicitly said they're coming back (Kidd-Gilchrist comes to mind).

The fact that this came from his father and it was so... detailed... leads me to think that they'll at least seriously consider a return.

I'd still bet that he's gone, though.

[Joneslab]

Really the only reason Knox might stay is his age. Absurdly young still. The family might worry about throwing him out there into a full-time job--one that involves traveling all over the country virtually all the time--when he's that young. But stock-wise he might be as high as he'll ever be. You wouldn't think he would fall out of the lottery unless they're worried about his strength or something, or if a bunch of other guys jump him.

[KevinHall]

The players usually always say, "I'm not thinking about that right now" or "I'll sit down with my family." Only one or two have explicitly said they're coming back (Kidd-Gilchrist comes to mind).

The fact that this came from his father and it was so... detailed... leads me to think that they'll at least seriously consider a return.

I'd still bet that he's gone, though.

Just semantics. I'll be surprised if he is back. I hope he does but I ain't uh countin' on it.

[Joneslab]

I don't believe, for a second, it will happen, but suppose it did. What would happen with the verbals we now have?

Don't think it will have any impact at all. To my knowledge there's never been a verbal commitment pull out at UK in the 20 years or so since I've followed recruiting.

And we've had a few come back in the Cal era and it hasn't mattered to the verbals. I'm sure these kids know the deal when they sign on, particularly with this team and its almost total lack of top-shelf NBA prospects.

[Joneslab]

Just semantics. I'll be surprised if he is back. I hope he does but I ain't uh countin' on it.

The big difference with Knox is that there isn't a pressing financial need. I mentioned his age, but there's also the fact that he came from a different background than many other kids.

On the downside if you're UK, this isn't a really strong draft and once you get past the first 8 or 10 picks, it'll become a matter of what the NBA teams need and how players do in the individual workouts.

[teamchemistry15]

Trae Young's dad just said the same thing. I believe MKGs mom said it. He's gone. He might be thinking about coming back but you can't turn down a lottery pick.

[Dwight Schrute]

You wouldn't think he would fall out of the lottery unless they're worried about his strength or something, or if a bunch of other guys jump him.

Man the NBA is getting cutthroat if guys are getting beaten up for staying in the draft.

[Joneslab]

Trae Young's dad just said the same thing. I believe MKGs mom said it. He's gone. He might be thinking about coming back but you can't turn down a lottery pick.

I think MKG himself said it.

Then something happened: he rose to #2 in the draft. You can't turn that down.

Knox is definitely a first-rounder, but he ain't #2. There's a big gap between his ceiling (right now) and MKG's.

[TrueblueCATfan]

I will admit I got all giddy when I read what Knox Sr said.......but IMO he is gone

[J.Jennings]

Knox is the one player i want back more than anything especially if both he and Vanderbilt come back next year. I can understand if SGA goes because in my opinion, his stock will never be any higher than what it will be today but Knox can go top 5 in next years draft if all goes well...

[UK8STL11]

Next year's draft is even weaker than this year's according to most. I think Knox could easily work his away into the top 10.

He would still only be 19 when next year's draft comes around.

That said - he's not coming back, IMO

[Dwight Schrute]

Next year's draft is even weaker than this year's according to most. I think Knox could easily work his away into the top 10.

He would still only be 19 when next year's draft comes around.

That said - he's not coming back, IMO

I tend to agree, if for no other reason that Cal won't let him.

[George]

Knox is the one player i want back more than anything especially if both he and Vanderbilt come back next year. I can understand if SGA goes because in my opinion, his stock will never be any higher than what it will be today but Knox can go top 5 in next years draft if all goes well...

I actually think an All-American sophomore season could vault him into the top ten, if not higher.

[Joneslab]

Yeah, I think he could return and help himself.

He also could return and hurt his stock. The two guys who jump out to you in this current draft who returned--Robert Williams and Miles Bridges--didn't do a whole lot for themselves. Didn't hurt much, didn't help much. I think Bridges has been projected from 10 to 15, and if he would've jumped last year he was probably top 5ish. TAMU's Robert Williams is around 20th, and he probably fell a few spots.

So you never know. It depends on how many freakazoids are in next year's draft. Knox has a good future but he isn't a freakazoid. Those six to ten players always go in front of everybody else, and Knox will likely never be in that boat even though I think he has solid upside.

[J.Jennings]

I actually think an All-American sophomore season could vault him into the top ten, if not higher.

I actually think he could be a top 5 player....