(Photo Credit: IndianaHQ)
According to multiple reports and then later confirmed by IU, Indiana University will have the service of Devonte Green, Justin Smith, and Al Durham back for the 2019-2020 season. All three had placed their name in the early NBA entrant pool, which enables them to receive feedback from NBA teams. The three players plan to withdraw from the NBA draft and return back to school.
This news come a day after Romeo Langford announced that he will indeed by staying in the 2019 NBA Draft, ending his Indiana University legacy.
Although these three did not hire agents, new 2019 NCAA recruiting rules allow college players to hire agents prior to the NBA draft. They can still retain eligibility if they terminate all relationships with the agent after the NBA draft and the player goes undrafted.
Devonte Green will be finishing his senior year at Indiana University. Green started to heat up at the end of last season and was a major contributor in Indiana’s final push for NCAA Tournament consideration. Although the Hoosiers lost in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament to Ohio State, Devonte Green’s 8 of 10 from behind the arc was the sole reason Indiana close the game’s gap to two possessions. Many bracketologists believed that loss solidified Indiana’s destiny in the NIT. Devonte Green averaged 9.4 points and 3.0 assists per game during the his junior year, 2018-2019 campaign.
Al Durham and Justin Smith will be juniors when they return back to campus. With two open scholarships, both players are expected to have significant minutes of contribution once again. Guard Al Durham was third in minutes per game last year for the Hoosiers at 28.7 minutes per game. On the floor, he average 8.3 points and 1.6 assists per game. Forward Justin Smith averaged 24.7 minutes per game and produced 3.8 rebounds and 8.2 points per contest.
What’s next for the 2019-2020 Indiana Men’s Basketball Roster?
The Hoosiers seem be quiet on any new additions to men’s basketball 2019-2020 roster. Recall that the Hoosiers will be adding G Armaan Franklin, C Trayce Jackson-Davis, and graduate transfer C Joey Brunk.
At this moment, there are no signs that the Hoosiers will be making any significant additions to the 2019-2020 roster; however, we will monitor the situation and provide updates as they are available.
