Freshmen Focus: NBA Draft Stock is Rising, But Syracuse's Ennis Could Return to Deep Backcourt Next Year

It’s impossible to ignore all the hype surrounding Syracuse freshman point guard Tyler Ennis and his improving NBA Draft status.

DraftExpress.com currently has the 6-foot-2 Canadian — who on Monday was named ACC Rookie of the Week — projected as the No. 20 pick in the June Draft. He is the No. 3 point guard in the mock draft, behind only Australian Dante Exum at No. 5 and Oklahoma State sophomore Marcus Smart at No. 6.

Keep in mind that the site pushed Kentucky’s Andrew Harrison back to the 2015 Draft.

Yes, Ennis’ stock is sky-high right now and it’s possible the Bandwagon could grow still bigger if No. 2 Syracuse makes a deep run in March.

But Tony McIntyre, Ennis’ father, understandably says they aren’t worried about any of that right now.

“We’re not even looking at that,” McIntyre told SNY.tv on Monday. “We still got 20 games left with [ACC and NCAA] Tournament stuff. It’s a long long season and we gotta stay focused.”

It’s early and it’s unclear how Ennis would fit into the NBA.

In an ideal world, he probably needs at least another year of college to develop his game.

“Late first-round at best, needs to stay in school,” one veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv of Ennis.

Another NBA scout was more optimistic after Ennis scored six points down the stretch en route to 16 points on Saturday when Syracuse held off Pittsburgh, 59-54.

“Tyler Ennis is growing up right before your eyes,” he said. “Great choices, always steady and under control. Improving his scoring daily. Moving up the Draft board every week.”

One interesting question to ponder is what happens to Syracuse if Ennis returns and plays next year in a backcourt that presumably features Trevor Cooney, Michael Gbinije and Ron Patterson and incoming recruit Kaleb Joseph.

“In regards to playing together, I think Tyler kind of fits in with anybody,” McIntyre said. “I think it will be an interesting rotation to see. Bring in another guard and a lot of guards there in terms of Tyler, Gbinije, Trevor Cooney and Kaleb Joseph.”

Joseph, who scored 17 points to help lead Cushing Academy (Mass.) to a 93-83 win over Worcester Academy (Mass.) at the Hoophall Classic, echoed those sentiments to MassLive.com.

“[Ennis] has got a chance to go pro right now, if he continues to play the way he is or he can stay an extra year and learn from him,” Joseph said. “We can play with each other in the backcourt. I think that’d be a real good fit.”

As for how they would fit together, Joseph said: “I’m not worried about it at all. I’ve talked to the coaches [Jim Boeheim and Mike Hopkins]. We play long seasons, we’d split time and play both of us in the backcourt.”

A year ago, Michael Carter-Williams left Syracuse for the NBA lottery, and Boeheim felt confident at the time that Ennis could step in and fill his shoes.

He has done so more than capably to this point.

Now it will remain an open question whether Joseph might have to do the same a year from now.

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With that in mind, here’s a brief breakdown of the five top freshmen and what they’ve been doing and what’s ahead. In future weeks, we will feature other top freshmen, including Kentucky’s James Young, Indiana’s Noah Vonleh, LSU’s Jordan Mickey and others:***

**JOEL EMBIID 7-0 C, Kansas

Stats: 11.0 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.4 apg

Next 3 games: Today vs. Baylor, Saturday at TCU, Jan. 29 vs. Iowa State

Mock Drafts: Draft Express No. 1

What to read: Joel Embiid now firmly entrenched at No. 1

Meet Kansas’ Joel Embiid

**ANDREW WIGGINS, 6-8 SF, Kansas

Stats: 15.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.5 apg

Next 3 games: Today vs. Baylor, Saturday at TCU, Jan. 29 vs. Iowa State

Mock Drafts: Draft Express No. 2

What to read: NBA still high on Wiggins despite lackluster play.

A tale of two Canadians: Ennis succeeding at Syracuse, Wiggins adjusting at Kansas