Predicting which Kansas basketball players leave or stay with Jayhawks next season

G/F Johnny Furphy - Enter NBA Draft

The Australian freshman surprisingly committed to Kansas last summer and was a pleasant addition to this year's squad. He made the All-Big 12 Freshman Team and earned NBA recognition for his size, athleticism, and sharpshooting abilities. Will he return for one more season or leave for the draft?

I believe Furphy's decision is 60/40 in favor of him leaving. On one hand, he could go the Gradey Dick route and leave after one year to develop at the next level. Then again, his poor stretch to end the season hurt his draft stock significantly, and he might make a lot less money through the first few years of his career if he decides to enter the draft now and no teams are willing to take a chance on him early.

Once a projected lottery pick, he is now creeping toward the end of the first round in some mock drafts. The 19-year-old still has some defensive concerns and lacks game experience, as he served in a starting role for just two months. However, playing in the NBA is the dream of every kid at the college level, and this seems like too good of an opportunity to pass up.

Bill Self would welcome him back with open arms if he decided to return for a sophomore season. There is no doubt that he will test the waters and receive feedback from NBA scouts. But unless he has a horrendous performance at the Draft Combine and is told he is not ready for the pros, fans should probably not expect him back in 2024-25.