While it’s not set in stone, Devon Dotson will likely be leaving Kansas basketball for the NBA. We take a look at where he lands in a number of mock drafts.
Even though Udoka Azubuike won Big 12 Player of the year last season, Devon Dotson easily could have been selected. He led the conference in scoring with 18.1 points per game while also totaling four rebounds, four assists, and two steals per game for Kansas basketball.
A couple of awards Dotson did win last season include First-Team All-Big 12 and Second-Team All-American.
One thing that doesn’t get talked about enough was the improvement Dotson made between his freshman and sophomore season. He made major strides in every almost every category including points, free throw percentage, steals, and assists; however, he did struggle in one area.
Dotson’s field goal percentage dropped slightly, while his three-point percentage dropped from 36.3 to 30.9. That’s not a great three-point percentage, and it’ll probably be one of Dotson’s biggest drawbacks.
That being said, let’s take a look at where Dotson could end up getting picked according to some different mock drafts.
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Sports Illustrated predicts Dotson as the No. 39 overall pick, which is on the higher end of where he’s projected. ESPN, on the other hand, predicts that Dotson will go No. 31 overall, just outside the first-round. Draft Site believes he’ll get taken with the No. 34 pick, while Tankathon has him at No. 36.
Based on these mock drafts and a few others, it seems like Dotson will likely be taken in the early portion of the second-round
While Dotson is the most likely Jayhawk to leave for the draft, it isn’t certain that he won’t retain his eligibility through the draft process and come back for his junior season. It’s a low chance, but it’s still a chance.
If he could just improve his three-point shooting and get his percentage closer to 40, he’d easily be a first-rounder and maybe even a lottery pick considering how his scoring output would rise. Then again, you also run the risk of lowering your draft stock or getting injured by coming back to college.
One thing that’s often overlooked is that even second-round draft picks are looking at million-dollar contracts. Players picked in the early second-round generally sign three or four-year contracts worth anywhere from four to seven million dollars with at least a year guaranteed and normally more. These numbers come from the 2019 draft and are provided by MSN Sports.
It’s only a matter of time until Dotson makes an announcement. Whichever path he ultimately decides to follow, he’ll be remembered as one of the best point guards Kansas basketball has seen.