We've seen the trend of draft-bound college football players, including Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward in this past season's Cotton Bowl, skipping non-playoff bowl games to avoid the risk of injury before turning pro. That trend has now made its way to college basketball.
Before its opening-round game against UNC Asheville in the NIT on Tuesday night, USC announced that junior forward Chimezie Metu – who plans to enter the 2018 NBA draft – had "made a personal decision not to participate in the NIT as a precautionary measure to eliminate the risk of injury leading up to the NBA Draft."
Statement from USC head coach Andy Enfield: Chimezie Metu has made a personal decision not to participate in the NIT as a precautionary measure to eliminate the risk of injury leading up to the NBA Draft. pic.twitter.com/qgczqH6p56
— USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) March 14, 2018
Metu is ranked as the 26th-best prospect in the 2018 NBA draft class – making him a potential first-round draft pick – by NBADraft.net's Aran Smith.
