Below we run down some of the biggest winners and losers from the deadline
and highlight a few other teams that didn’t fit into either category.
The Tar Heels’ loaded incoming recruiting class—a three-member haul
highlighted by Orlando Christian (Fla.) Prep small forward Nassir
Little, who’s ranked No. 3 in the 247Sports Composite—would have
lessened the blow of forward Luke Maye staying in the draft. Instead,
after a stellar junior season that saw him evolve from a one-shot hero
into a legitimate star, Maye opted to return to the Tar Heels. That
decision ensured head coach Roy Williams would have the undersized five
(6'8", 240 pounds) he needs to power potent small-ball lineups and
positioned North Carolina to enter the season alongside Virginia as
Duke’s main competition for the ACC title.
When guard Barry Brown Jr. declared for the draft in early April, Kansas State faced the
possibility of losing the top backcourt player from the roster that won
25 games and upended Kentucky to reach the Elite Eight last season. As a
junior in 2017–18, Brown led the Wildcats by logging 34.7 minutes per
game and ranked second on the team with 15.9 points and 3.2 assists per
game. Although the possibility of Brown leaving Manhattan seemed remote
based on his draft projection, losing him would have put a huge dent in
Kansas State’s chances of challenging in-state rival Kansas at the top
of the Big 12.
To the immense delight of opposing Big 12 guards wary of bringing the ball up the court when guarded by Jevon Carter, the
Mountaineers were guaranteed to lose their best player this offseason;
2017–18 was Carter’s final season of eligibility. West Virginia could
have lost two other important members of its rotation, Sagaba Konate and
Esa Ahmad, but both big men elected to come back for another year. Of
the two, Konate should make a bigger difference for West Virginia in
2018–19. Only one qualifying player (Pacific 7-footer Namdi Okonkwo)
blocked a higher percentage of opponents’ two-point field goal attempts
while he was on the floor than Konate last season.
The Zags did not have to wait long to learn the fate of a pair of promising young
forwards that helped power them to West Coast Conference regular season
and tournament championships, a No. 4 seed in the NCAA tournament and a
spot in the Sweet 16. Neither Killian Tillie nor Rui Hachimura declared
for the draft, meaning they’ll be in Spokane as juniors to headline what
could be one of the best teams Mark Few has coached since taking over
for Dan Monson prior to the 1999–2000 season. Their choices also
mitigate the impact of leading scorer, rebounder and shot blocker
Johnathan Williams running out of eligibility.
The Razorbacks are set to reap the benefits of one of the most surprising draft decisions of
the offseason. After arriving at Arkansas last year as a top-40 recruit
out of El Dorado (Ark.) High, Daniel Gafford blossomed into a potential
first-round pick over the course of his freshman season on account of
his rebounding, rim protection and interior finishing. Rather than cash
in on his lofty draft stock, the 6'11" big man announced in late March
that he would play at least one more season in college—a massive boost
for a Razorbacks team reloading its backcourt following the departures
of senior guards Jaylen Barford, Daryl Macon and Anton Beard.
