There is a new rule this year that allows college basketball players to declare for the NBA Draft and then withdraw their names without losing eligibility and one Ohio State player has opted to take advantage.
Buckeyes sophomore center Trevor Thompson will declare for the upcoming NBA Draft, a team spokesman confirmed to Eleven Warriors. ESPN's Jeff Goodman first reported the news and said Thompson will not hire an agent, thus giving him the option to return to school.
"Thompson has indicated to the coaching staff his intention to take advantage of new NCAA opportunities to gather information about becoming a professional," an Ohio State spokesman said.
Ohio State big man Trevor Thompson told ESPN he will take advantage of the new rule and declare for the NBA Draft but will not hire agent.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 26, 2016
Thompson started 28 games this season for Ohio State and the 6-foot-11 Virginia Tech transfer averaged 6.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
With the new rules, there has been a steady increase in players taking advantage of declaring early. Players are allowed to declare and then withdraw their names as many times as they want throughout their college career so long as they don't hire an agent. It allows players to see where they stand and not risk losing eligibility, so don't be surprised if there are more to follow. It doesn't necessarily mean they are turning pro.
Players have until May 25 — 10 days after the NBA Combine — to withdraw their names from the NBA Draft.
