DeAndre Daniels will declare for NBA Draft

[nelsonmuntz]

I hope and expect it took this long to announce because Ollie and DeAndre were gathering information on his draft status. An announcement at this point is a good sign that they have done their work and are confident DeAndre is going to get taken in the first round.

 

[jleves]

Yahoo article on DD declaring for the draft:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/deandre-daniels-leaving-uconn-to-enter-nba-draft-180857481.html

Interesting that it doesn't mention signing with an agent....

 

[Leebo]

Interesting that it doesn't mention signing with an agent....

Probably because it's not relevant?

 

[Karmacop]

DraftExpress has him as the 28th rated player, which would put him in the first round:

http://www.draftexpress.com/rankings/Top-100-Prospects/

Bazz is ranked 30th, which is also right on the cusp. Boat isn't even listed in the top 100, although Giff is ranked 99th!!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

I would not be shocked for the Thunder or Spurs or Bulls to take a second round flyer on Giffey and put him in the D league to see if he can improve his handle.

 

[aceboon]

Interesting that it doesn't mention signing with an agent....

with the new draft rules its irrelevant

 

[scrappy2.0]

Deandre was just entered at 26 above Napier on draft express now on both major sites in the first round--they must know something perhaps a promise.

 

[Uconn77Duke74]

Plenty of room for Myles Turner now?

 

[Rico444]

Congrats DeAndre! Can't wait to see you kick some ass in the Association.

 

[aceboon]

Plenty of room for Myles Turner now?

He's announcing next week and I'll be glad so that we no longer have posters keep mentioning a guy whose family has stated that he is not leaving Texas or the Big12 area

 

[OviedoFLHusky]

DD, thanks for your hard work; thanks for staying loyal to UConn; and thanks for the NC!!! Best of luck in the future!

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Deandre was just entered at 26 above Napier on draft express now on both major sites in the first round--they must know something perhaps a promise.

It will be great for recruiting if Napier and Daniels get picked in the first. The list of UConn players in the NBA could use a few more names.

 

[jleves]

Probably because it's not relevant?

You are correct. I was under the impression they could withdraw until a certain date. That date was April 15th so there's no coming back. Was just hopeful.

Good luck DD.

 

[djct1999]

I wish him the best of luck but honestly I think he made a mistake. He is a borderline 1st round pick this year according to just about everyone. I think he should have come back, been the focus of the offense, had a big year, and could have potentially been a lottery pick in next year's draft which will be significantly less talented.

What if he got hurt? Or had a sub-par senior year? In today's NBA, if you can get a first round guarantee, you take it. I agree he could have played himself way up on next year's board. There is also a realistic scenario he played himself down. Take the money and prove yourself at the next level.

 

[Huskyforlife]

Good luck, go out like a champ

 

[Husky25]

with the new draft rules its irrelevant

The NCAA "return to school" date passed about 2 weeks ago. Once Daniels puts in his papers, he forfeits his remaining eligibility. Hiring an agent doesn't matter anymore.

Regarding draft position. After the lottery, teams draft a lot on need as opposed to best available. I can certainly see a team like the Celtics taking Napier at 18 whether or not he is the 30 best player. Like wise if a team needs depth who can play the 3/4, then they will forego a center stiff or tweener guard.

 

[MilliniumPrince]

I think this is a bad move, but he earned the right. I hope he goes first round. Best wishes to DD. #HungryHuskies

 

[Scoe]

I think this is a bad move, but he earned the right. I hope he goes first round. Best wishes to DD. #HungryHuskies

Its a risk both leaving or staying, what if he tore his ACL next year and went undrafted.

 

[joober jones]

Good luck DD and thanks for everything. I'll be pulling for you on draft night.

 

[champs99and04]

I'm kind of baffled at everybody saying anything other than "good luck" or "thank you". The kid won us a f'in championship, I'm not sure people understand how hard that is. I was hoping the Tolksdorf transfer was a sign that he may be coming back, but honestly, this seemed like a pretty easy call to me - he's a 22-year-old kid who just blew up on the sports biggest stage. You don't come back when that happens.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Good luck to him.

As others said, he could have bolted after year one, but he stuck it out and put ten toes in for two years. And he helped the Huskies win#4. He's earned the right to make a big boy decision and I hope it works out well for him.

Kenton. Did you hear that? It's opportunity and 25 mpg knocking on the door. Practice with dilligence and you have a position battle wide open for you. We know he can rebound. Can he be productive for 20+ minutes?

 

[Dove]

Great decision on his part. I think we saw the best he could do and now was the time to strike out for the NBA.

Congrats DD and good luck. I will miss the epic photobombs.

 

[rw005]

Congrats and good luck DD, amazing job in the tournament and as a player for UConn.

 

[Deadrody]

I'd love to have him back, but this is the right call.

Thank you DeAndre. Good luck going forward! Continue to make Husky nation proud!

I'm not sure that's true. Now, certainly, if he and Ollie got input from the league to the effect that he's likely to be a first round pick, then sure, I guess. But I'm not sold on the idea that's true and I can't imagine he couldn't improve his stock with some more consistency over a whole season.

I do understand striking while the iron is hot. We'll see how it turns out.

Suffice to say this is not exactly the no-brainer decision that the majority of early entrants from UConn has been in the past.

I do absolutely wish him all the luck in the world. I hope he sets the workouts on fire and goes high in the first.

 

[Gilligan]

I think it's a bad move..Look at all the other players who were not high draft picks and what they're doing now.. He should have played his 4 years and his stock would definitely gone up..There is no way he's going in the 1st round. What he did in the tourney was great but how many times did he disappear in during the season. He doesn't like the physical play and all you have to do is bang him a few time s and he's done for the game. The NBA is a rugged league both mentally and physically and it's a grueling schedule. I'm sure the NBA scouts saw that he was up and down and all these so called experts and blowing spoke up his ass if he's going to be a first rounder. He's going to need to add a good 20 lbs of muscle just the withstand the physical play. I wish him the best but I don't think it's a great move.