Busting Brackets
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NBA Draft 2020: 10 biggest pending decisions that affects 2020-21 season

By Tristan Freeman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JUNE 20: The first round draft board is seen during the 2019 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 20, 2019 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) /
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WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 26: Blake Francis #1 of the Richmond Spiders (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC – FEBRUARY 26: Blake Francis #1 of the Richmond Spiders (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images) /

10. Stars from Richmond Basketball

Players: Blake Francis, Jacob Gilyard, and Grant Golden

It was a great past season for Chris Mooney and Spiders Basketball, going from the bottom of the Atlantic 10 to a 24-7 (14-4) record and second-place finish. Barring a bad loss in the conference tournament, they were in a position to land an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament. What makes things even better for the team is that there were no seniors on the roster, so everyone essentially comes back.

If they want to.

Among all of the early entries to the NBA Draft was Blake Francis, Jacob Gilyard, and Grant Golden. These were three of the top four scorers on the team, with Francis as the best overall at 17.7 ppg. Junior wing Nick Sherod is the only one of the key quartet who didn’t declare but the odds are pretty good that everyone does eventually return for next year.

At the moment, none of the three have projections of getting drafted at all, some not even in the top-100 overall on the big board. And Golden himself has indicated that this is more of a fact-finding process of what to work on for the senior season to be more viable for pro scouts.

If that’s true then Richmond fans shouldn’t worry too much about any of the trio leaving, with Francis probably having a tougher decision to make than both Golden or Gilyard. All three coming back would have the Spiders as the preseason A-10 favorite and possibly ranked. But if even one decides to go pro, then only Gonzaga may end up as the only mid-major top-25 squad for 2020-21.

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