2019 NBA Draft Pac-12 underclassmen watch: how many Pac-12 stars will declare early for the draft?

Let’s breakdown which Pac-12 basketball underclassmen may or may not declare for the NBA Draft in 2019. There’s probably a player or two who will declare that aren’t on this list so feel free to comment with any I might have missed.

Arizona

Chase Jeter Jr. C - Jeter’s draft stock has fallen since he got into college after being a five-star high school recruit. The Duke transfer didn’t do enough in his first year at Arizona to maximize his draft stock, but he has an NBA body and might at least test the waters, but ultimately I think he stays. He would be an UDFA or late-second round pick if he declared.

Arizona State

Lugentz Dort Fr. G - The Pac-12 Freshman of the Year is a little short for the NBA, but he’s plenty powerful and explosive. He could definitely find minutes in the NBA next year even though I think he comes back for at least one more year of college. I think he’d be a or late-second round pick of UDFA if he left.

Rob Edwards Jr. G - Speaking of 6’4 guards with energy, power and explosion - Edwards seems like a guy who could be a spark off the bench at the next level. I think he returns for his senior season since he’d only be a late-second round pick or UDFA if he left early.

Colorado

Tyler Bey So. F - Bey’s turned himself into a nice NBA prospect as a bit of a combo forward like Draymond Green that’s getting more and more popular in the NBA. I think he stays knowing one more year of progression could turn him into a borderline lottery pick because he’s a late-first round/early-second round pick right now.

Oregon

Bol Bol Fr. C - Sadly for Oregon the sure fire lottery pick barely ended up playing in Eugene because of an injury and has already declared, expected to be a late-lottery pick.

Louis King Fr. F - King’s been overshadowed by Bol and Oregon’s veteran studs, but is a major NBA prospect in his own right. I think he returns since he’s still probably only an early-to-mid-second round pick right now.

Kenny Wooten So. F - Wooten lacks size for his position at the NBA, but he has Ben Wallace skills and strength. He seems like a player who stays all four years even though I think he would get a UDFA or late-second round look if he declared.

Oregon State

Tres Tinkle Jr. F - Tinkle’s one of the best pure players in the nation that doesn’t have much NBA hype. He’s almost definitely staying around for his senior season and I think would be a late-second round pick or UDFA if he left early.

Stanford

K.Z. Okpala So. F - Okpala blew up this year and turned himself into a late-lottery pick. I think he has to strike while the iron is hot and leave early.

UCLA

Moses Brown Fr. C - Brown is somehow an under-the-radar NBA prospect as a 7’1 center at UCLA and that’s because he’s super raw. I think he returns to polish his game enough to where he could be a Top 10 pick next year, but he’s a late-first round to early-second round pick right now.

Jaylen Hands So. G - It looks like Hands has officially decided to return for at least another season. A good call as he was likely a mid-second round pick at best if he declared.

Chris Smith So. F - Smith hasn’t done much, but a player with his physical tools is always an NBA prospect even thought he’s probably a late-second round pick or UDFA right now. I think he returns.

Kris Wilkes So. G - 6’8 guards who can shoot like Wilkes don’t last long in college. He’s a mid-to-late first round pick so I think he declares, though it won’t be an easy decision.

USC

Kevin Porter Fr. G - Porter oozes lottery talent, but never put it all together as a freshman. He’s still a late-first or early-second round pick so I think he ends up declaring even though he could really boost his stock with a big sophomore season.

Nick Rakocevic Jr. F USC - The 6’10 All-Pac-12 big man said the thought about the NBA early and is returning. A good call given he was a UDFA or late-second round pick at best.

Washington

Jaylen Nowell So. G - The Pac-12 Player of the Year is a slight tweener or I think it would be a slam dunk that he is leaving. I’ve heard smoke that he is declaring and it makes sense given it will be hard for him to top winning P12POY, the regular season title, and pushing Washington back to the NCAA Tournament. He should be a late-first-to-early-second round pick.