NBA Draft Date, NCAA Withdrawal Date Set

The COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic rocked the nation. The sports world was put on hiatus and events were cancelled or postponed. The NBA has been suspended since March 11, and is scheduled to resume on July 31.

With a delayed postseason comes a delayed offseason. The NBA announced today the new date for the NBA Draft. According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the NBA has set a new Draft Lottery date of August 25 and an NBA Draft date of October 15.

October 15 is three days after the potential game seven of the NBA finals accelerating the offseason process tremendously.

The NCAA made its announcement as well concerning NCAA underclassmen who's names are in the draft. Prospects will have 10-days after the NBA combine or until August 3, whichever is first.

The NBA Combine was originally scheduled on May 21, but was clearly cancelled due to the pandemic and the suspension of the NBA season. It is used as an evaluation method for prospects to decide how they stack up among the other prospects. the combine has not been rescheduled.

The Crimson Tide got good news yesterday when junior forward Herb Jones announced that he intends to return to school and withdraw his name from the NBA Draft.

Alabama point guard Kira Lewis Jr. entered his name in the draft and decided to hire an agent with the intention of remaining in the draft, Lewis is projected as a mid-late first-round pick.

John Petty Jr. is the last member of the Crimson Tide who has not made his intentions clear. He has yet to hire an agent therefore Petty Jr.'s options are still open.

Alabama brought in the 21st overall recruiting class according to 247Sports, the addition of Petty Jr. to the incoming class could spell an exciting 2020-21 season in Tuscaloosa.