After testing the 2016 NBA Draft waters, Wisconsin senior-to-be Nigel Hayes announced his intentions of returning to school in hopes of returning to the Final Four for a third time and capturing the national title that has eluded him thus far.
Hayes, who entered the Draft process with as many questions from NBA scouts as there were answers to his game, did little to silence questions about his disappointing junior campaign in Madison. The Badgers’ forward was expected to have a breakout season after playing third or fourth fiddle on two Final Four squads, including one his sophomore year that fell to Duke in the National Title game. But it didn’t quite go like that, with Hayes struggling to shoot the ball consistently all year long and not proving that he was someone who could attack the basket effectively off the dribble. Playing in front of professional scouts, those same issues popped up again and again at the NBA Draft Combine, eventually leading to his stock falling firmly to the latter parts of the second-round.
Returning to school is far from a guarantee for any player that they will improve on their draft stock. Often times, seniors have a hard time proving their worth against the youth and potential of younger, though possibly less polished, prospects. Nonetheless, Hayes’ return gives Wisconsin a team that should absolutely challenge in the Big 10 and have a chance to make another run in the NCAA Tournament–which they did last year as well, despite Hayes’ struggles.
Pairing him alongside star guard Bronson Koenig and breakout wing Ethan Happ should prove to be a lethal trio that no one will look forward to dealing with.
