by vivid_dude » Thu Apr 27, 2017 2:55 pm
There was an ESPN Insider article this morning from Jeff Borzello about how NBA draft decisions swayed uncommitted 2017 prospects, with a lot of mentions of Bowen. In reading the summaries below, I think Creighton fans need to cheer really hard for Rawle Alkins to return to Arizona. That may be the deciding factor. In reading this, I can't see him going to Michigan State, but who knows? And if mom is saying Oregon is not a player, I will believe her.
Arizona: Coach Sean Miller had several players who were in limbo regarding the NBA draft. Kobi Simmons and Lauri Markkanen signed with an agent, Allonzo Trier decided to return to school, while Rawle Alkins and Chance Comanche are testing the waters without an agent. The key piece could be Alkins. And the biggest impact on a prospect will likely be with Brian Bowen (No. 13). The five-star small forward has long said he was waiting to see what happened with various early-entry prospects. If Alkins returns to Tucson, things are a little crowded on the wing with Trier, Alkins and others. If Alkins stays in the draft, there’s an opening for Bowen. Arizona is also very involved with Pittsburgh graduate transfer Cameron Johnson, too.
Oregon: The Ducks might be the program most impacted on the recruiting trail by the NBA draft. After a run to the Final Four, the team’s three best players all signed with agents: Dillon Brooks, Tyler Dorsey and Jordan Bell. Throw in a couple transfers, and Oregon has fewer than 10 scholarship players for next season at this point. There are minutes to be had. Oregon picked up a commitment from four-star former Arizona State commit Kenneth Wooten last week. At the same time, the loss of the three stars makes it tougher to sell recruits on a national title run next season. Dana Altman and his staff are still going for at least two of the remaining top-50 prospects. They lost Brandon McCoy (No. 15) to UNLV, but the Ducks are also still in the mix for Jordan Tucker (No. 40) and, lately, Bowen. Bowen said Oregon had reached out to him to see whether he would be interested in considering the Ducks. With everything else going on in Bowen’s recruitment, don’t be surprised if Oregon becomes a player.
Michigan State: One of the most surprising decisions of the early-entry period came when Miles Bridges announcing he was going back to East Lansing for his sophomore season. In an ironic twist, the decision that makes the Spartans the early favorite to be preseason No. 1 next season might have hurt them on the recruiting trail in 2017. Tom Izzo’s frontcourt is going to be absolutely loaded next season with Bridges, Nick Ward and five-star freshman Jaren Jackson. That impacts Michigan State’s pursuit of Bowen as he would likely be pushed to the bench by Bridges. Izzo won’t fret too much, though, given his returning talent.