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And so it begins. After only one season in West Lafayette Purdue freshman Caleb Swanigan has declared for the NBA Draft:
RELEASE: #Purdue's Caleb Swanigan to test NBA Draft process, but will not hire an agent. https://t.co/L06jENsElE pic.twitter.com/nLK5b6Y75D
— Chris Forman (@ChrisForman12) March 22, 2016
The important thing to remember here is that he will NOT hire an agent. JaJuan Johnson and E'Twaun Moore did this after the 2010 season and both elected to return. As basketball SID Chris Forman says, this is not a bad thing and can be a GOOD thing in the end:
FYI, this is a "testing-out" process. Will go to combine, get evaluated good and bad, and make decisions. It's a VERY smart move.
— Chris Forman (@ChrisForman12) March 23, 2016
Since Swanigan has not hired an agent (and don't ask me how his relationship to legal guardian Roosevelt Barnes, an agent, counts in this because I don't know), he can announce his return as late as 11:59pm on May 24th.
This is not a stunning move, and it would not be a surprise if he returns for at least one more year. NBADraft.net does not have him even as a top 100 prospect (There are only 60 draft picks). The same is true for DraftExpress. Unless he absolutely blows people away at the combine or is completely insane I bet he returns.