Maryland Basketball: Aaron Wiggins will not return for 2021-22 season
By Karl Heiser
Aaron Wiggins has decided to keep his name in the 2021 NBA Draft and forfeit his final year of eligibility with Maryland Basketball, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reports.
A 6’6″ wing with explosive athleticism and flashes of high-level shot-making, Wiggins reportedly left multiple NBA executives intrigued after the NBA Combine and private workouts. His final scrimmage at the NBA Combine ended with 14 points on an efficient 6-7 shooting effort.
The North Carolina native had been upgraded to the NBA Combine after an impressive showing at the G League Elite camp. Since then, he has had seven private workouts with NBA teams with another six scheduled for the future.
"“The last couple of weeks, being able to go through team workouts, the G League Elite Camp and the NBA combine, being able to play my game has been beneficial for me. I’ve shown teams things they’ve never seen before. Teams have been surprised by what I showed. I’ve loved the information and feedback I’ve received and didn’t want to wait until the last minute with my decision. I’m ready to take the next step. At the end of the day, you have to make the best decision and the one that will benefit you the most.”Aaron Wiggins, via ESPN"
Over his three seasons in College Park, Wiggins averaged 11.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.6 assists on 40.7% from the field and 36.1% from three-point range. He earned the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year award in his sophomore season. Last season, Wiggins averaged 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists – all career highs – en route to All-Big Ten Honorable Mention recognition.
Wiggins indicated that NBA executives were surprised at how good of a player he was. Their positive feedback was a driving force in his decision to stay in the draft. While always considered a fringe NBA prospect while with Maryland, Wiggins evidently solidified this status with his play in the offseason.
He projects as a solid shot-creator and defender at the NBA level who will benefit a team with his athleticism. While his shot was relatively inconsistent during his time at UMD, Wiggins’ NBA Combine performances were evidence that he has taken strides in that area.
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Maryland’s prospects for next season are looking a little less positive as the loss of Aaron Wiggins comes on the heels of Darryl Morsell’s departure to Marquette. The Terrapins will need numerous guys to step up after the loss of two core players. Head coach Mark Turgeon was just inked to a three-year contract extension in April, and he will need to get the best out of a deep team that has lost some of its best talent.