Wichita State Basketball: Markis McDuffie and Shaq Morris returning to Shockers

Nov 25, 2016; Paradise Island, BAHAMAS; Wichita State Shockers forward Markis McDuffie (32) and center Shaquille Morris (24) react during the second half against the Michigan State Spartans in the 2016 Battle 4 Atlantis in the Imperial Arena at the Atlantis Resort. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /

Withdrawing from the 2017 NBA Draft, Wichita State’s Markis McDuffie and Shaq Morris will return to play for the Shockers next season.

As if an upgrade to the American Athletic Conference wasn’t enough for the Wichita State Shockers, Greg Marshall’s squad will receive a huge boost as Markis McDuffie and Shaq Morris have decided to forgo the 2017 NBA Draft and return to school for another season, per Jon Rothstein of FanRag Sports.

Markis McDuffie is returning to Wichita State next season, per a source. Entered 2017 NBA Draft without an agent.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 23, 2017

Shaq Morris is returning to Wichita State next season, per a source. Entered 2017 NBA Draft without an agent.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 22, 2017

Last season, McDuffie was the Shockers’ leading scorer, averaging 11.5 points per game, 5.7 rebounds per game, 1.7 assists per game, and 1.2 steals per game over 25.5 minutes per game. The team’s fourth-leading scorer last season, Morris averaged 9.6 points per game, 5.1 rebounds per game, and a block per game over just 18 minutes per game.

With the return of these two players, no team should overlook Wichita State next season.

Sure, they are in a new conference so they might take a few more losses than they usually do, but this team is much better than the team that made it to the Round of 32 last season and nearly beat the Kentucky Wildcats.

Next: Biggest names returning to school in 2017-18

I won’t say that this team is a lock to win the AAC in their first season out of the MVC, but it is beginning to look like they are the clear favorite.