With the 2017 NBA Draft Combine fast approaching, players like Donovan Mitchell, who are testing the NBA waters, have the most to prove.
The 2017 NBA Draft Combine will take place from May 9-14. There were over 60 players invited, though some top prospects are expected to skip out. For example, Lonzo Ball already declined an invitation. You can check out the list of those invited and who declined here.
When it comes to who declares for the NBA Draft and makes it to the NBA Draft Combine, there’s a slew of different stories. You have top prospects like Ball, who won’t participate. In addition, you have guys who signed with an agent looking to increase their stock. And lastly, you have players who did not sign with an agent testing NBA waters.
These underclassmen may look for input on whether to stay in the draft or what to improve on when they return to college. Justin Jackson of North Carolina is a perfect example of the latter. Jackson was told by NBA teams to improve his shooting. He listened and now has a chance to go in the first round. Unlike Jackson, some prospects do get the green light to stay in the draft.
What’s interesting about this process is we haven’t seen most of these guys since their season ended. That means we don’t know how much better they’ve gotten. Some years, guys show up for the combine as different players than we’re accustomed to. So with that being said, here are three very different guys with first-round potential heading to the combine without an agent.