Bill Self explains early-entrant NBA Draft process ahead of potential Graham, Mykhailiuk decisions

photo by: Nick Krug

Kansas guard Devonte' Graham (4) puts up a floater in the lane during the second half on Saturday, March 25, 2017 at Sprint Center.

More than a week after the Kansas basketball season ended with an Elite Eight loss to Oregon, some the decisions involving next season’s roster could begin this upcoming week.

Likely following the conclusion of the Final Four in Arizona, KU coach Bill Self will meet with players to discuss their potential early-entrant NBA Draft decisions.

Under the newest rules, players must declare for the draft and file paperwork by April 23, which will allow them to attend pre-draft camps and individual team workouts.

The NBA draft combine will take place from May 9-14 in Chicago, and players will have the next 10 days (May 24) to make a decision on whether they want to withdraw from the draft and return to their school.

KU freshman Josh Jackson, one of the top prospects in the upcoming NBA Draft, is widely expected to declare for the draft. When he arrived in Lawrence, it was assumed he would be a one-and-done prospect and his play on the court did nothing to change those thoughts.

?Next up are decisions from juniors Devonte Graham and Svi Mykhailiuk. Graham is projected as the 50th pick in the latest mock draft from DraftExpress.

In an interview with Brian Hanni on Spectrum Sports’ Jayhawk Insider, Self said that he will meet with players to discuss their NBA feedback, but it’s easy for them to gather information on their own if they go through with the draft process.

“If they declare, then the NBA is going to make a list of 60 or 70, or whatever it is, of the best prospects that they invite to the combine,” Self explained. “If they are not on that list, then they know it’s probably not a great move to stay in. If they are on the list, then they’ll go and perform and get immediate feedback from those teams on where they think they are.”

The Jayhawks had three underclassmen declare for the NBA Draft last season: Cheick Diallo, Wayne Selden and Brannen Greene.

Diallo was the only one drafted — 33rd overall, second round — in a pick that was traded to the New Orleans Pelicans.

Selden went undrafted but recently signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies after averaging 18.5 points in the D-League and playing on a 10-day contract with the Pelicans.

“The reality is it’s OK to be drafted in the second round,” Self said. “It’s OK not to get drafted. Those things are all OK. But the path to get there is a little bit different.

“If you have a chance to be a first-rounder either this year or if you were to come back and improve your position to be next year, that’s the best path because you’re guaranteed (through contract) three years. That’s the best path. If you can’t do that, then you decide to go, you can still get in but it’s a little bit different path and it’s harder.”

If players don’t sign with an agent after declaring for the NBA Draft, they have the opportunity to return to school if they aren’t satisfied with their draft stock.

According to ESPN, there were 117 early entrants last season and 57 of those college players opted to return to school.

“I just want the guys to make the best decisions for them and their families,” Self said. “I think Svi and Devonte are both very mature kids. They haven’t announced they were going to do this yet, but the reality is there are a couple of guys who have a decision to make.”