Early entry candidates for 2014 NBA Draft include UCLA's LaVine, Adams, and Anderson

May 1, 2014

The Pac-12 Conference collectively had a resurgent year in college basketball, but in the present hoops world, that often translates into star players leaving early for the pros.  In accordance with that trend, the National Basketball Association recently announced that 75 players, including 45 players from colleges and 30 international players, have filed as early entry candidates for the 2014 NBA Draft.

Among the names are several Pac-12 players, including UCLA's Jordan Adams, Kyle Anderson, and Zach LaVine; Arizona's Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson; Arizona State's Jahii Carson; and Colorado's Spencer Dinwiddie.

Gordon, an athletic 3, is projected by many to be a lottery pick.  Dinwiddie was seen as a first round talent, but tore his ACL mid-season and could slip due to concerns over his knee.

UCLA lost the bulk of its perimeter core from a Sweet 16 team, with all three Bruins having first round potential.

Anderson is a skilled point forward and a legit triple double threat on any given night with his solid overall floor game.  He can handle the ball, run an offense, pass the rock, post, and improved his outside shooting.  However, his limited athleticism will likely make him a mid-to-late first rounder at best.

LaVine projects as a legit 2, but is very raw.  He is an electrifying finisher on the break, but is an inconsistent outside shooter who has yet to prove that he can create his own shot.  Nevertheless, he is a superior athlete, and on that alone, will likely be drafted in the first round.

Adams entered his name near the deadline in a bit of a surprise move.  A natural scorer, Adams is a good shooter with a knack for putting the ball in the hole.  He is an average athlete, but is a quick-handed defender.  He likely is a late first round pick, but could slip into the second round.

Players wishing to enter the 2014 NBA Draft were required to submit a letter to the NBA to be received no later than Sunday, April 27.  Players who have applied for early entry have the right to withdraw their names from consideration for the Draft by notifying the NBA of their decision in writing no later than 5 p.m. ET on Monday, June 16.

In addition to the collegiate and international players, the NBA and the D-League announced that six players who competed in the NBA D-League during the 2013-14 season will be eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft.

PJ Hairston is the only early entry candidate of the six and may withdraw from the 2014 NBA Draft by notifying the NBA of his decision in writing no later than 5 p.m. ET on Monday, June 16.  The other players listed above are automatically eligible for selection and cannot withdraw from the Draft.

Following is the list of players from colleges and post-graduate institutions who have applied for early entry into the 2014 NBA Draft, which will be held Thursday, June 26, at Barclays Center in Brooklyn:

EARLY ENTRY CANDIDATES FOR 2014 NBA DRAFT

Player                                      School

Jordan Adams                            UCLA
William Alston                          CC of Baltimore County Dundalk        
Mychal Ammons                        South Alabama
Kyle Anderson                           UCLA
Isaiah Austin                              Baylor
Chane Behanan                          Louisville      
Sim Bhullar                               New Mexico State      
Khem Birch                               UNLV
Jabari Brown                             Missouri        
Jahii Carson                               Arizona State  
Semaj Christon                          Xavier
Jordan Clarkson                         Missouri        
DeAndre Daniels                        Connecticut    
Spencer Dinwiddie                     Colorado        
Joel Embiid                               Kansas
Tyler Ennis                                Syracuse        
Aaron Gordon                            Arizona
Jerami Grant                              Syracuse                    
P.J. Hairston                              North Carolina/Texas (D-League)
Gary Harris                               Michigan State
Rodney Hood                             Duke  
Nick Johnson                             Arizona
Alex Kirk                                  New Mexico  
Zach LaVine                              UCLA
James Michael McAdoo              North Carolina
K.J. McDaniels                          Clemson
Mitch McGary                           Michigan        
Eric Moreland                            Oregon State  
Johnny O’Bryant III                   LSU  
Jabari Parker                             Duke  
Elfrid Payton                             Louisiana-Lafayette    
Julius Randle                             Kentucky
Glenn Robinson III                     Michigan
LaQuinton Ross                          Ohio State      
Antonio Rucker                          Clinton JC (SC)          
Jakarr Sampson                          St. John’s                  
Marcus Smart                            Oklahoma State
Roscoe Smith                             UNLV
Nik Stauskas                              Michigan        
Jarnell Stokes                            Tennessee      
Noah Vonleh                             Indiana
T.J. Warren                               North Carolina State    
Andrew Wiggins                        Kansas
James Young                             Kentucky        
Ta’Quan Zimmerman                  Thompson Rivers (Canada)      
                                             

The following is the list of international players who have applied for early entry into the 2014 NBA Draft:

Player                                      Team (Team Country) / Home Country

Eleftherios Bochoridis                Aris (Greece)/Greece  
Matias Bortolin                          Regatas Corrientes (Argentina)/Argentina
Nedim Buza                               Spars Sarajevo (Bosnia)/Bosnia & Herzegovina
Bruno Caboclo                           Pinheiros (Brazil)/Brazil
Berkay Candan                           TED Kolejliler (Turkey)/Turkey
Clint Capela                               Chalon (France)/            Switzerland
Joonas Cavén                             Joventut (Spain) /Finland
Nemanja Dangubic                     Mega Vizura (Serbia)/Serbia    
Moussa Diagne                           Fuenlabrada (Spain)/Senegal    
Tomas Dimša                             Zalgiris (Lithuania)/Lithuania  
Marcus Eriksson                         Manresa (Spain) /Sweden
Danté Exum                              Australia                                
Ilja Gromovs                             Ventspils (Latvia)/Latvia
Damien Inglis                            Roanne (France) /France
Nikola Jokic                              Mega Vizura (Serbia)/Serbia    
Michalis Kamperidis                   Filathlitikos (Greece)/Greece
Artem Klimenko                        Avtodor (Russia)/Russia          
Rasmus Larsen                           Manresa (Spain) /Denmark
Lucas Mariano                           Vivo Franca (Brazil)/Brazil      
Vasilije Micic                            Mega Vizura (Serbia)/Serbia    
Jusuf Nurkic                              Cedevita (Croatia)/Bosnia & Herzegovina
Mateusz Ponitka                         Oostende (Belgium)/Poland      
Kristaps Porzingis                      Cajasol (Spain)/Latvia  
Marko Ramljak                          Zadar (Croatia)/Croatia
Dario Šarić                                Cibona (Croatia)/Croatia
Ojars Silins                                Reggio Emilia (Italy)/Latvia                
Alejandro Suarez                        Joventut (Spain)/Spain
Devon Van Oostrum                   Vitoria (Spain)/Holland
Guillem Vives                            Joventut (Spain)/Spain            
Adin Vrabac                              Spars Sarajevo (Bosnia)/Bosnia & Herzegovina


Following is the list of NBA D-League alumni who are eligible for the 2014 NBA Draft:

Player                                      NBA D-League Team

Thanasis Antetokounmpo            Delaware 87ers
Aquille Carr                              Delaware 87ers
PJ Hairston                                Texas Legends
Cleveland Melvin                       Erie BayHawks
Norvel Pelle                              Delaware 87ers
Elijah Pittman                            Delaware 87ers


By Staff of TheDailySportsHerald.com and news services

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