Is pre-draft workout the deciding factor?
The NCAA men’s basketball season ended on the 8th with the University of Connecticut’s consecutive victory. From now on, the focus will be on players’ departures, including who will enter the NBA draft and whether they will join the transfer portal (application procedure for transferring to another school).
The decision that has garnered the most attention is LeBron James’ son Bronny. Bronny, who enrolled at the University of Southern California (USC) last fall, suddenly collapsed during offseason training and suffered a cardiac arrest. Fortunately, his injuries were not life-threatening, and he made a miraculous recovery and returned midway through the season. However, due to the fact that he entered the season without being fully prepared in various aspects, his results in his first year were poor. In 25 games, he averaged 19.6 minutes, 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. The team also had disappointing results, missing out on the NCAA Tournament, which they had participated in for the past three years in a row.
Last week, Bronny announced on his social media that he would be applying for both the NBA Draft and the NCAA Transfer Portal. What this statement means is that if he does not receive the desired evaluation from NBA team officials during the upcoming pre-draft workout, he will withdraw his entry and return to the NCAA. Then, he will look for a new school to transfer to.
Originally, Bronny was expected to enter the draft after his freshman season in order to play alongside LeBron, who is nearing retirement, as soon as possible. However, due to the cardiopulmonary arrest mentioned at the beginning, he was not able to perform as well as expected, and many expected him to play in college for one more year. For example, ESPN had Bronny ranked 39th overall in the second round of the 2025 Draft in its draft predictions released in February.
Defense power is NBA level, offense is a concern
By the way, how is Bronny currently viewed by NBA officials? Shams Kalania of The Athletic says: “When I talk to NBA team officials, there is a consensus that his defense is at the NBA level. Also, he has inherited great genes for his basketball IQ. Regarding offensive aspects such as shooting and ball handling, he was well-versed before the draft. I think this is something that scouts and other people in charge are paying attention to.”
If you exclude the huge influence of LeBron’s son, it is rare for a guard with no size scarcity to be drafted, even if he is an excellent defenseman, and a player who has not put up numbers in terms of scoring at the NCAA level. This is the case. It will be interesting to see if Bronny can dispel the concerns of those around him through his workouts.
Also, it was quite possible to predict whether he would transfer to another school in the NCAA. Andy Anfield, who was in charge of USC until this season, moved to Southern Methodist University, and was replaced by Eric Musselman, who was the coach at the University of Arkansas and has experience as head coach of the Warriors and Kings. In the world of the NCAA, players consider compatibility with the coach and tactics to be a major factor in their decision to choose a school, and it is not uncommon for players to transfer schools when the head coach changes.
If Bronny returns to the NCAA, his likely transfer destinations include Ohio State, which was a final choice along with USC in high school, the University of Oregon, or Southern Masonic University, where Anfield is located. . Duquesne University, where LeBron’s former high school teammate Drew Joyce III will be the new head coach, may also be considered. In the coming months, Brony’s movements will become a hot topic more than ever.
2024-04-10 19:26:34
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