Report: Keene to declare for NBA Draft
Marcus Keene is reportedly taking his talents to the NBA.
The Associated Press reported Central Michigan redshirt junior Marcus Keene is expected to declare for the 2017 NBA Draft — foregoing his final year of eligibility.
In the AP's report, the person who released the information did so on the condition of anonymity because CMU has yet to make an announcement.
The CMU Athletics Department said it was unaware of Keene's expected departure.
Keene transferred to CMU last season from Youngstown State where he sat out the 2015-16 season because of NCAA transfer rules.
In his only season on the court for the Chippewas, Keene led the nation in scoring, averaging 30 points per game.
The San Antonio, Texas native finished the season with seven 40-point games and a 50-point performance against Miami (OH) on Jan. 21.
The 5-foot-9 star broke the CMU and Mid-American Conference records for points in a single season with 959. He was selected to the All-MAC First Team and was runner-up for MAC Player of the Year to Akron’s Isaiah Johnson.
Following CMU's 116-106 loss to Kent State in the first round of the MAC Tournament on March 6, CMU head coach Keno Davis hinted Keene would be taking his talents to the next level.
“We’re not going to be able to replace the scoring of (Braylon) Rayson and Keene and our team is going to look a lot different next year," Davis said after the game. "That doesn’t mean we can’t look better, but we’re going to look different. At times, we are going to miss the scoring output of those guys and they were definitely electric to watch."
Though Keene is expected to enter the draft, it doesn't mean he can't change his mind.
The NBA Combine, which is an invitation-only event where players are scouted and receive feedback on their draft stock, will be held May 9-14. The on-court evaluations will be May 11 and 12.
During the combine, players are evaluated by NBA scouts and are given advice on where they will be drafted, or if they should return to college.
Players who declare for the NBA draft and don't sign with an agent have 10 days after the combine to remove their name from draft consideration and return to school. This means Keene could still return for his senior season if he decides his draft stock isn't high enough.
According to a report from hustlebelt.com, Keene is unlikely to be drafted.
In the report, the website spoke with NBA Draft analyst Matt Harvey, who writes for NBDraft.net. Harvey said Keene will have a better chance of making a summer league or Development League roster due to the amount of top point guards entering the draft and because of his small stature.
"We project nine point guards (to be drafted) and he's not projected to be drafted by us," Harvey said. "Another reason, he is very undersized...Do I think he's going to get drafted? No. Should he definitely get consideration to be on a summer league team or D-League team? Absolutely. No doubt about it."
The NBA draft will be held June 22. The location of the draft has not been released.
Sports Editor Greg Wickliffe and Staff Reporter Kullen Logsdon contributed to this article.
