Kentucky Basketball Players Who Declared Early for the NBA Draft

The NBA currently allows players to declare for the draft but to return to school if they don't hire an agent and return before a set time. This rule has evolved over the years. This list includes both players who declared for the NBA Draft and left with eligibility remaining, along with players who declared for the NBA draft but returned to school. (In cases where a player returned to school, the NBA round and pick listed are for when they finally were drafted, if applicable.)

A separate list of players who left early for the pros is available here.

PlayerLast Season
Played
# Seasons
Played
CircumstancesNBA
Round
Draft
Year
Overall
Pick
Tom Payne1970-711after Sophomore Season via Hardship Draft1st1971 Hardship2
Rex Chapman1987-882after Sophomore Season1st19888
Jamal Mashburn1992-933after Junior Season1st19934
Rodrick Rhodes1994-953after Junior Season (withdrew then transferred)1st199724
Antoine Walker1995-962after Sophomore Season1st19966
Ron Mercer1996-972after Sophomore Season1st19976
Nazr Mohammed1997-983after Junior Season1st199829
Jamaal Magloire1999-004after Junior Season (Returned)1st200019
Tayshaun Prince2001-024after Junior Season (Returned)1st200223
Keith Bogans2002-034after Junior Season (Returned)2nd200343
Marquis Estill2002-033after Junior Season (undrafted)---
Kelenna Azubuike2004-053after Junior Season-None-
Rajon Rondo2005-062after Sophomore Season1st200621
Randolph Morris2006-073after Freshman Season (Returned after going undrafted)-None-
Jodie Meeks2008-093after Junior Season2nd200941
Patrick Patterson2009-103after Sophomore Season (Returned). Declared again after Junior Season1st201014
DeMarcus Cousins2009-101after Freshman Season1st20105
Daniel Orton2009-101after Freshman Season1st201029
Eric Bledsoe2009-101after Freshman Season1st201018
John Wall2009-101after Freshman Season1st20101
DeAndre Liggins2010-113after Junior season2nd201153
Brandon Knight2010-111after Freshman season1st20118
Enes Kanter2010-110after Freshman season1st20113
Doron Lamb2011-122after Sophomore season2nd201242
Terrence Jones2011-122after Freshman season (Returned) Declared again after Sophomore Season1st201218
Anthony Davis2011-121after Freshman season1st20121
Michael Kidd-Gilchrist2011-121after Freshman season1st20122
Marquis Teague2011-121after Freshman season1st201229
Archie Goodwin2012-131after Freshman season1st201329
Nerlens Noel2012-131after Freshman season1st20136
Julius Randle2013-141after Freshman season1st20147
James Young2013-141after Freshman season1st201417
Willie Cauley-Stein2014-153after Junior Season1st20156
Aaron Harrison2014-152after Sophomore Season-None-
Andrew Harrison2014-152after Sophomore Season2nd201544
Dakari Johnson2014-152after Sophomore Season2nd201548
Karl-Anthony Towns2014-151after Freshman Season1st20151
Devin Booker2014-151after Freshman Season1st201513
Trey Lyles2014-151after Freshman Season1st201512
Tyler Ulis2015-162after Sophomore Season2nd201634
Skal Labissiere2015-161after Freshman Season1st201628
Jamal Murray2015-161after Freshman Season1st20167
Isaiah Briscoe2016-172after Sophomore Season-None-
Isaac Humphries2016-172after Sophomore Season-None-
Bam Adebayo2016-171after Freshman Season1st201714
Malik Monk2016-171after Freshman Season1st201711
De'Aaron Fox2016-171after Freshman Season1st20175
Wenyen Gabriel2017-182after Junior Season-None-
Hamidou Diallo2017-181after Freshman season2nd201845
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander2017-181after Freshman season1st201811
Kevin Knox2017-181after Freshman Season1st20189
Jarred Vanderbilt2017-181after Freshman season2nd201841
Nick Richards2018-193after Junior Season2nd202042
P.J. Washington2018-192after Freshman Season (returned) and Sophomore Season1st201912
Tyler Herro2018-191after Freshman Season1st201913
Keldon Johnson2018-191after Freshman Season1st201929
Ashton Hagans2019-202after Sophomore Season---
Immanuel Quickley2019-202after Sophomore Season1st202025
E.J. Montgomery2019-202after Sophomore Season---
Tyrese Maxey2019-201after Freshman Season1st202021
Kahlil Whitney2019-201after Freshman Season---
Brandon Boston2020-211after Freshman Season2nd202151
Isaiah Jackson2020-211after Freshman Season1st202122
Terrence Clarke2020-211after Freshman Season1st2021-
TyTy Washington2021-221after Freshman season1st202229
Chris Livingston2022-231after Freshman season2nd202358
Cason Wallace2022-231after Freshman season1st202310


This page was made with a Macintosh
What Flavors Your Mac ?


Return to statistics, team schedules, team rosters, opponents, players, coaches, opposing coaches, officials, games, assistance, Kentucky Basketball Page or search this site.
Please send all additions/corrections to Jon Scott
This page was automatically generated using a Filemaker Pro Database