Take a shot

Tuesday's news had a little bit of everything. So let's get right to it.

1. Two shooters, two returners

It's that time of year when seemingly every player declares for the NBA Draft or enters the transfer portal.

Maybe that's why Tuesday's news about Santiago Vescovi and Hunter Cattoor electing to return to play another year of college hoops stands out. Both will play critical roles in their teams' success in 2023-24, just like they did this season.

Vescovi, a two-time All-SEC selection, told Knox News that he'll be back for a fifth season at Tennessee. He led the Vols (25-11) in scoring with 12.5 points per game and hit 37 percent from deep. Both were down slightly from his junior season, but he remains one of the sport's most reliable outside threats. Vescovi will be essential to Tennessee's offense next season because of his ability to stretch a defense.

With Zakai Zeigler recovering from a knee injury, he will likely pair with USC Upstate transfer Jordan Gainey as the backcourt starter. The Vols, who also have three incoming freshmen, have hit their scholarship limit for next season. (It remains unclear if freshman Julian Phillips will declare for the NBA Draft.)

Cattoor brings the same capability to Virginia Tech's offense.

The 6-3 senior averaged 10.8 points per game and led the ACC in 3-point field-goal percentage at 42.4. Most telling is that when Cattoor missed four games with an elbow fracture, the Hokies (19-15) lost all four. 

With Cattoor, perhaps they're in the NCAA Tournament rather than the NIT. That's a key consideration for using his COVID season eligibility. Well, that and enjoying one more year of college — and potentially having another game like the 2022 ACC Tournament final when he dropped 32 points on Duke.

“These past four years have been the greatest of my life, from reaching 1,000 career points, our two NCAA tournament appearances and our first-ever ACC championship,” he said in an Instagram video. “I’ve still got one more year in me.”

That means Virginia Tech's entire backcourt returns next season: Cattoor, Sean Pedulla and MJ Collins.

2. Big decisions await Zach Edey, Andre Jackson

This wasn't a surprising tweet to see on Tuesday. 

Zach Edey will enter the NBA Draft but retain his college eligibility. It's an expected, unsurprising move, but an obviously massive one. Edey's return would cement the Boilermakers as a top-five team for 2023-24. Without him, they'd be a middle-of-the-road Big Ten team.

That's how it goes when you're the most unstoppable force in college hoops.

The 7-4 Edey made an enormous jump in production as a junior, averaging 22.3 points and 12.9 rebounds in 31 minutes. He led Purdue to a No. 1 ranking, a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and was the consensus National Player of the Year. 

He's seen a second-round pick and eventually a role player in the NBA, making a return to West Lafayette probable. Moreover, Edey is simply doing what every player with professional intentions should do: Get evaluated by professionals and understand what components of his game need work.

Andre Jackson's in the same situation. 

UConn's do-it-all junior forward doesn't have eye-popping stats — 6.7 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.7 apg — but he does have eye-popping athleticism, which is why he was such a disruptive force for the Huskies in their run to the 2023 NCAA Tournament title. 

Jackson can guard any player, he can initiate offense, he's unstoppable in the open floor and is the stereotypical unselfish player who does anything to help a team win. The obvious NBA feedback is he can't shoot, but his path through the process might reveal other aspects of his game that need work as well.

He's seen as a borderline first-round pick, meaning his earning potential might be higher in the NBA than at UConn. Jackson reportedly loves it at UConn, and his return looms large for the reigning champs, who will already be without Adama Sanogo and Jordan Hawkins next season. 

Both players will participate in the NBA Draft combine next month and have until May 31 to decide.

This is the last year prospects can participate in the combine and retain eligibility, and still be picked, too.

ESPN reports that starting in 2024, all invited players will be required to attend and participate in the NBA draft combine or be ineligible to be drafted until the "first subsequent draft for which the player attends and fully participates." It's part of the new collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the players' union, which could limit the overall number of players willing to test the draft waters.

3. Baylor adds Jayden Nunn, plus other portal news

Any Bears fans fretting about what Scott Drew's backcourt would look like next season — Keyonte George is going to the NBA, LJ Cryer is off to Houston, Adam Flagler is going through the NBA Draft process — got a dose of good news on Tuesday.

The sophomore guard was essential to VCU's 27-8 season. He started all 35 games, shot better than 40 percent from beyond the arc, and averaged 9.3 points and 1.5 steals a game.

He decided he wouldn't follow ex-VCU coach Mike Rhoades to Penn State but also wasn't certain if new coach Ryan Odom would be the right fit for him. That's where Baylor came in. Nunn's got NBA potential and sees Baylor as the right place to develop those skills.

"It's definitely part of the story," Nunn said. "The NBA is my mission, and I know what Coach Drew and his staff have done there in Waco. But I want to enjoy the experience too, the games and culture matter to me. I connected with the people there in a way that goes beyond the NBA. I hope we do something special. I think we will."

Baylor has two incoming guard prospects in Ja'Kobe Walter and Miro Little, along with rising freshman Langston Love, plus the possibility of Flagler's return. Seems that backcourt will be its usual self in 2023-24.

In other transfer portal news, notable players who entered Tuesday include:

• Oregon forward Quincy Guerrier

• Richmond guard Marcus Randolph

• App State guard Tyree Boykin

And the players who selected new schools (there were a bunch!):

• Jordan Gainey (USC Upstate) to Tennessee

• Darrion Williams (Nevada) to Texas Tech

• Carlos Stewart (Santa Clara) to LSU

• Andrew Rohde (St. Thomas) to Virginia

• Cole Bajema (Washington) to Utah

• Julian Roper II (Northwestern) to Notre Dame

• Roosevelt Wheeler (VCU) to Louisville

• Akuel Kot (Fort Lewis) to Wyoming

• Messiah Jones (Wofford) to Towson

• Derrick Tezeno (Stephen F. Austin) to Southern

• Marlon Short (Stanislaus State) to UMBC

• Michael Bradley (Mercyhurst) to Northern Kentucky

Let this sink in

Here's a fact that's just ... odd. Has anyone seen the Smiths in the room at the same time? Are we sure they're not the same person*, just on different teams?

(Obviously they're not the same person. Don't @ me.)

Bearing his soul

Baylor coach has plenty to say about the transfer portal, how the 2023-24 season played out, what's next for Baylor, and much more.

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Links as you argue about Draymond Green's suspension.

• Kansas reportedly made its case to the NCAA over the weekend about its infractions case.

• 4-star prospect Papa Kante wants out of his NIL from Michigan.

• Binghamton added 2023 forward Gavin Walsh.

• Fresno State picked up a wing in 2023 prospect Mykell Robinson.

• Central Arkansas snagged a 2023 commit in guard Javion Guy-King.

• The Big Sky and Summit League will start a challenge series next season, which will run for three seasons.

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