Yoeli Childs will test NBA waters....Bryant too?

....but will not hire an agent so that he retains eligibility should he opt to return.



https://www.sltrib.com/sports/2018/03/27/byu-star-forward-yoeli-childs-says-he-will-definitely-put-his-name-into-the-nba-draft-pool/

...

Childs has said that if he believes he will be taken before midway through the second round he will stay in the draft. Most NBA mock drafts do not have him being taken in the first two rounds.

However, Childs spoke Monday as if he’s leaning toward leaving BYU.

“I would like to thank BYU, coach [Dave] Rose and everybody there who has helped me through [two years] so much,” he said. “I am excited about this opportunity and I look forward to going through the pre-draft process.”

Childs, who is 20, is probably not the only BYU star who will put his name in the draft. Sources in Provo say rising senior guard Elijah Bryant is also leaning in that direction.

Many believe that Bryant is more likely to leave because of his age — he went to a prep school in New Hampshire for a year before enrolling at Elon University, and sat out a year after transferring to BYU. Bryant has also dealt with knee soreness and might want to start playing for money while he is still reasonably healthy.

Childs is listed at 6-foot-8, but some scouts have privately wondered if he is really that tall.

“Worst-case scenario, you go through the process and get better, then come back and help your team,” Childs told the Tribune on March 12. “But if a team really likes me, who knows?”

...

He isn't draft material...not yet. Good experience for him, though, and he'll get his name out.



Bryant could play overseas. Too many guys his size with his ability or better for the NBA.

Neither will ever make the NBA. I think on a personal level it makes sense for Bryant to ho and make whatever money he can in Europe while his body still holds up. I can't imagine Yoeli getting enough interest in Europe to make it worth leaving and he should return for another year, but those quotes do sound like he feels he's done at BYU so who knows.

Testing the waters makes sense. Just don't be as dumb as Plaisted or Mika and pull the trigger far too early.

Fido wrote:
Childs has said that if he believes he will be taken before midway through the second round he will stay in the draft.

I don't think any sane basketball fan thinks he has a snowball's chance of getting drafted, so maybe I shouldn't be worried. It's just with the way the last couple basketball/football seasons have gone, I'm beginning to just assume the worst. I have a sinking feeling that Childs and Bryant will both be gone next season (neither of which will be in the NBA).

Childs needs to work on jump shots and replace his fade away move with another move before getting drafted.

scott715 wrote:

Childs needs to work on jump shots and replace his fade away move with another move before getting drafted.

Yeah, that fade away needs to go.



He's plenty athletic enough to dominate in college, but when looking at the NBA, I see a guy that's too small for play a 4-5 and too slow to play anything else.

It's interesting that thus far, over the last decade, those former BYU players that played their senior years (Fredette & Collinsworth) have done much better professionally (you could even throw in Davies).



Mika giving up so early and not making the NBA is still stuck in my craw a bit. At the same time for him to be playing in a league in Europe in a country where he served his mission, well, that makes it a little more understandable and you can make a descent living playing in international sports. It's not NBA money, but it's not living in squalor.



I think Yoeli needs to come back. One more year. I'd be totally shocked if he makes it to the NBA. Elijah, with his past related to injuries, I can see him making the decision to go play "somewhere" professionally, but would love to actually see him back for one more year.

Here's the issue that has bothered me over the last few years. Most of those individuals who go "pro" early and leave college basketball leave their marks on some really great teams. We haven't see that from those players we've seen leave early from BYU. Leave a legacy, then men, you're fee to go and pursue your dreams, but not the one & done NIT scenarios of the last two years.



I don't know how well a team of Mika, Childs, Bryant, Haws and Emery would have made for this season. Maybe they wouldn't have been able to "jell", but I sure as heck would have loved to see them try.

I think Yoeli is a better pro prospect than Mika was.



Bryant is not an NBA prospect, but that's not going to change with one more season at BYU and he's not making any money at BYU, and he can make decent money in any number of pro-leagues.

That article was awful. Leave it to the SLTripe (yes tripe) to write a "disenfranchise BYU fans" article. There is nothing new in the article. Both have said since the end of the season they will throw their names out there to get invites to NBA teams for workouts so they can get better and see what it is that NBA teams are really looking for and what they must improve on. Neither are planning on hiring an agent and until that changes, it is pretty evident they are expecting to come back. That said I don't know EJ's status (grad transfer?) but if he has not graduated I can see him back unless there is a really compelling reason to go to Europe.

Something that could help also would be a return of bball to the MWC. I do prefer the schools in the WCC but until they fork over real money to establish at least a high level G5 program, I want out. It is sad to watch our teams playing in locations that look like high school gyms with very paltry attendance. Our fans should never out-number the home crowd (except at UNLV :D ).