Kentucky coach John Calipari is pleading ignorance on whether Andrew and Aaron Harrison will return for their sophomore seasons or declare for the NBA Draft.
“I have no idea,” Calipari said Thursday.
Fellow freshman James Young announced Thursday that he is headed for the draft, while freshman forward Julius Randle has yet to announce.
“They have ‘til the 27th to make a decision,” Calipari said. “I don’t even know what the NCAA date is because we don’t worry about it. It has nothing to do with us. The only date they have to be concerned about is the 27th, when they have to put their name in or they don’t put their name in.”
ESPN’s Chad Ford Tweeted: “Harrison twins were strongly leaning toward draft. Now they are considering returning to UK after NBA feedback. Should decide on Tues/Wed.”
One NBA executive told SNY.tv at the Final Four the twins would go anywhere from 25-45 in the Draft. Multiple NBA scouts, executives and draft experts said that they weren’t yet ready for the NBA and should stay another year.
“I think it will help their stock because it will give them a chance to improve over the course of an entire season that they can play like they did over six games,” ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla told SNY.tv at the Final Four.
He added: “It wouldn’t surprise me at all if they come out and roll the dice but the more prudent way to look at this is they’re both still very young players who have to this point a limited opportunity to make a major impact on an NBA team next year. So they should think about coming back.”
