The storylines around underclassmen leaving the NBA Draft process took a turn on Thursday as it was announced that Marcus Lee would return to college basketball, albeit in the form of a transfer.
Lee’s NBA stock consistently fell through the draft process as NBA scouts got to see the highly athletic though partially skilled Kentucky big man compete against his peers. With another year of eligibility, it was no surprise that he elected to return to college hoops. However, at Kentucky, that’s easier said than done.
John Calipari had recruited over Lee, something that now happens to upperclassmen at UK, meaning that if he wanted to get significant minutes, his best bet would be to head elsewhere. Early reports are that California is a front-runner for Lee’s services, as he’s originally from the Bay Area. Lee will have to sit out next season as a redshirt.
But he isn’t the only name linked to returning but transferring.
Former five-star recruit and Mississippi State freshman Malik Newman appears headed for a transfer as well, after a disappointing freshman season and recent quotes from his father that the family and MSU head coach Ben Howland haven’t even spoken about their relationship moving forward. While there is still time to figure out their future, such a breakdown in communication is a poor reflection on both sides, as it is yet another poor example of Howland’s dealings with talented players and a major red flag to any future program wanting Newman as to how his family might deal with issues.
Either way, both are expected to be highly coveted, especially to programs that might have missed out on their first round of transfer prospects.
