MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — National defensive player of the year Jevon Carter has submitted his name for the 2017 NBA draft, a move that appears mostly exploratory considering the West Virginia junior guard will not hire an agent.
Last year, in a move that gave underclassmen more time to be evaluated by NBA teams, the NCAA delayed the deadline for entering and withdrawing from the draft. It also allowed players to enter the draft6 multiple times without forfeiting their eligibility.
This year’s early entry deadline was Sunday, and college players like Carter have until 10 days after the May 9-14 draft combine to withdraw and return to school.
“Jevon will go through the process in a systematic and professional manner by exploring the situation and leaving open his option to come back for his senior season,” said Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins said.
The 6-foot-2 Carter doesn’t have prototypical NBA shooting guard size, and he’s only in his second season transitioning to point guard at West Virginia. Yet his offensive production improved this season when he averaged 13.5 points and shot 48 percent from the floor, both career bests.
Carter’s dogged defense has been at the forefront of “Press Virginia” and earned him All-Big 12 defensive honors for three straight seasons.
All-Big 12 forward Devin Williams declared for the NBA draft as a junior last year and ultimately chose to turn pro but went unselected.
Some 39 draft-ready underclassmen have signed deals with agents this season, including Texas forward Jarrett Allen, Kansas guard Josh Jackson, Oklahoma State point guard Jawun Evans and Gonzaga’s duo of Zach Collins and Nigel Williams-Goss.
Another 41 underclassmen have entered the draft and remain undecided. That expanding group of young college players, plus this year’s class of seniors and foreign prospects, makes for a competitive draft that contains only 60 slots.