Wichita State's Backcourt Passes up NBA

April 16, 2015
by Gabe Akins





(USA Today Sports)

 NBA Draft 2015:
Ron Baker and Fred Van Fleet
to Return For Senior Seasons


     Earlier this week, something that hasn't happened very much this draft season took place. Two NBA prospects, Ron Baker and Fred Van Fleet decided to pass up the pros for another year of college. Both players would have been picked as Baker was projected as a late first-round pick to a second-round pick and Van Fleet was projected as a sure second-round pick. The two Wichita State stars have brought the university some of the best basketball seasons that the school has ever enjoyed. In 2013, Wichita State knocked off number one seed Gonzaga and later beat Ohio State to reach the school's second ever Final Four. In 2014, the Shockers followed up their Final Four season with an undefeated regular season and a number one seed. This past season, Baker and Van Fleet carried the team for most of the season and ended up taking them to the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years.
     Baker, once a walk-on, turned the heads of many during Wichita State's Final Four run two years ago with his shooting ability and NBA size. Baker is ranked the 47th best prospect by DraftExpress.com which means he still has plenty of work to do in order to get drafted in the first round. It is probable that Baker would have gotten picked in this year's draft but it most likely would not have been until the second round. Coming back for his senior season gives him the chance to become a first-round pick in the 2016 Draft. If Baker can lead the Shockers back to the Final Four like he once did, it will go a long way in helping him when the 2016 Draft comes around.
     Like Baker, Van Fleet isn't highly rated when it comes to the 2015 NBA Draft. DraftExpress.com has Van Fleet as the 80th best prospect in the draft. After receiving input from NBA executives, Van Fleet decided it was best to return. An article from mystatline.com states, "None of the NBA general managers who had input into the evaluation felt that Van Vleet would be a first round draft pick this year. And three of them felt he wouldn't be drafted at all."
     Decisions like these are a rarity in college basketball. It has become very unusual for players that have the chance of getting drafted to come back for another year even if it is the right decision. The fact that players like Van Fleet and Baker decided to pass up the NBA for another year shows that some players really do love the college game. If the NCAA paid their players, there would be more of an incentive for players to come back and develop their games like Van Fleet and Baker.