NCAA Basketball: Top 15 pending decisions for 2022 NBA Draft
Due to the new rules from the past couple of years, we have a little more clarity for when NCAA Basketball players can both enter and then return from the NBA Draft process, where they can receive information about their respective games and what they need to do to improve their stocks.
So far, there have been some big confirmed decisions going both ways. All-American center Kofi Cockburn elected to leave Illinois for the NBA Draft while reigning National Player of the Year Kofi Cockburn will be back for the Kentucky Wildcats next season. But with over a dozen of All-American caliber players still with moves to make of their own, we’ll all have to wait a bit longer to see which stars will be back and who will be moving on.
Here are 15 guys to keep an eye on regarding the NBA Draft.
15. C Osun Osunniyi – St. Bonaventure Bonnies
2021-22 stats: 11.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 2.9 bpg
While guys like Walker Kessler and Johni Broome are known as the best shot-blockers in the country, Osunniyi has a four-year resume of being an elite interior defender at the A-10 program. The 6’10 big man has started all four seasons and has a program-record 304 total blocks.
Osunniyi is one of five senior starters for the Bonnies that have one more year potentially of eligibility, as a couple of players have already indicated their intentions to move on. But the status of the big man and starting point guard Kyle Lofton remains unclear. If Osunniyi leaves, that creates a literal giant hole in the frontcourt and hurts St. Bonaventure’s defense. Him coming back automatically makes them a contender in the A-10 once again.