Noah Dickerson Testing NBA Draft Waters

Washington junior PF Noah Dickerson announced via Instagram tonight that he is entering the NBA draft without hiring an agent.

For those of you who just swore loudly or dropped whatever they were holding, don’t freak out just yet. Noah says in the message that he is “looking at this as a time where I can receive feedback and get better while keeping my college eligibility.”

Players have until June 11th this year to withdraw their names from the draft and still maintain their college eligibility.

Dickerson set career highs this year with 15.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He won NCAA Player of the Week after UW swept the Arizona schools at home and was named 1st team all-conference in the Pac-12.

This is essentially a no downside move for Dickerson as long as he doesn’t care about giving Husky fans a little heartburn. Noah isn’t going to get drafted. He has tremendous skills as a low post scorer but he doesn’t have the size or the athleticism to make it in the NBA. He’s going to get that feedback over the next few weeks. But he can get his name out there and find out where he stands after graduating next year in terms of both the G league and playing internationally.

Given that Noah is going down this route it wouldn’t be shocking to see Matisse Thybulle pull the same move although he at least as an outside shot of getting drafted at the end of the 2nd round. Underclassmen only have until April 11th and can only declare and still return once so it’s unlikely that Jaylen Nowell does this unless he is almost certain that he will stay in the draft.

It may be a stressful 2 weeks for Husky fans but as far as NBA Draft announcements go this is as telegraphed that he’s coming back as it can get. I would put it at 99% that Noah withdraws his name from the draft and returns to play in Purple and Gold next year.

***
You can follow me @UWDP_maxvroom for all your Husky Men’s Basketball news and notes