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Oregon State’s Drew Eubanks and Stevie Thompson have declared for the 2017 NBA draft but neither will hire an agent, thus preserving their college eligibility.
Oregon State’s Drew Eubanks and Stevie Thompson both declaring for the draft, but neither will hire an agent, source told ESPN.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanESPN) March 28, 2017
The duos declaration is surprising, because neither player is listed in any mock 2017 NBA draft lists. But the NBA passed new rules last year that softened NBA declaration regulations and allows underclassmen to enter the draft and participate in the combine to showcase their skills in front NBA scouts while still being able to return to college if they do not get the feedback they desire.
NBA workouts begin April 25th and the deadline for eligibility to come back to college is May 24th.
I would expect both players to ultimately decide to return to Oregon State for their junior seasons, but it is certainly a story worth following. Drew Eubanks intrigues NBA scouts due to his exceptional athleticism and relatively raw offensive game. He was recently named the #42 prospect for the 2018 NBA draft. Stevie Thompson on the other hand, is a fearless scorer and will get a chance to impress scouts and other NBA personnel.
Stay tuned to Building the Dam as this story develops. We wish Drew and Stevie the best of luck!