Trayce Jackson-Davis has decided not to declare for the 2020 NBA Draft and instead return to Indiana Basketball for his sophomore season.
With a Sunday night deadline staring him straight in the face, Trayce Jackson-Davis had a decision to make: test out the waters for the 2020 NBA Draft or announce his intentions to return to Indiana Basketball. There would’ve been ho harm in declaring for the pros while retaining his eligibility.
Jackson-Davis decided he wanted to leave no doubt. The forward posted a one-minute video on his Twitter, featuring a highlight package from his freshman season and a caption reading in part, “Year 2 … #UnfinishedBusiness.”
Year 2 🤞🏽🔴⚪️ #UnfinishedBusiness pic.twitter.com/tLeBSWnlar
— TJD (@TrayceJackson) April 26, 2020
Whether or not Jackson-Davis was ever seriously considering departing school is an open question. In February, he suggested he would be back for his sophomore season. If he declared, he likely wouldn’t have been selected by an NBA team until the end of the second round, if at all.
While his decision won’t make a ton of waves in the NBA Draft community, his decision to return to Indiana could set up the Hoosiers for success. In fact, Archie Miller may have his best squad yet at a critical time in his tenure.
The Hoosiers will revolve around Jackson-Davis during his sophomore season. As a freshman, he averaged 13.5 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.8 blocks per game, all of which led the program in 2019-20. There’s no reason to think he won’t be the statistical leader in all of those categories next year.
For a team that was
of making their first NCAA Tournament under Miller this spring, there’s surprisingly little upheaval. The biggest loss is
; the graduating guard averaged 10.8 points per game during his senior season. Otherwise, eight of the team’s nine leading scorers are expected to return next year. In an offseason unlike any other in history, that’s the kind of continuity that will prove to be priceless.
Miller is bringing in one of his best classes in Bloomington, a recruiting class ranked 31st in the nation and 5th in the Big Ten by 247 Sports. The class is currently lead by four-star shooting guard Anthony Leal, a Bloomington native who might be able to contribute as a shooter right away.
He may not lead the class forever, though. Khristian Lander, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2021, is likely going to reclassify and become eligible to join the Hoosiers for the upcoming season. If he does that, Indiana is suddenly looking at one of the best-recruiting classes in not just the Big Ten, but the nation.
With Lander potentially joining the team and Jackson-Davis coming back, there’s no reason the Hoosiers shouldn’t be a top-four team in the Big Ten and an NCAA Tournament lock. Miller hasn’t had a losing season in Indiana yet, but he also hasn’t made the Big Dance in his first three seasons with the program (though that should’ve changed this past year).
Miller needs to have a good season to quiet the doubters who are emerging. Having Trayce Jackson-Davis back on the team is guaranteed to set Indiana up for a great season.