Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
It didn’t take junior guard Tim Hardaway Jr. long after his teammate, Trey Burke, declared for the 2013 NBA Draft to declare himself. This marks the second member of the Michigan Wolverines to leave Michigan for the NBA in the past week.
After such a successful 2012-2013 season, the Michigan Wolverines will look to be a program in the rebuilding mode next season. After the loss of Burke and Hardaway Jr., they won’t be there to see it through. In fact, they are the reason why the rebuilding process even needs to take place.
John Beilein told the Detroit Free Press just yesterday that he had talked with Hardaway Jr. and freshman draft possibilities Glenn Robinson III and Mitch McGary and none of them had made a choice yet. One day later and the guy that was in line to be the star next season has decided to leave college.
This decision to leave Michigan, however, is a huge mistake on Hardaway Jr.’s part. He should have known by talking with draft personnel that he wasn’t likely to be an early pick.
Many analysts, as well as myself, believe that he could end up going undrafted and that should be reason enough to stay in school for one more year. He could be apart of something special in Ann Arbor if McGary and Robinson III came back as well, and he may be the reason that those two freshmen leave school, too.
He was a first-team all-Big Ten selection this season and averaged 14.5 points and 4.7 rebounds. He will have a hard time adjusting to NBA speed as he looked outmatched, at times, in the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Although he may have already reached his potential, it wouldn’t hurt to stay around another year to boost his stock.
Connor Muldowney is a College Football writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Connormuldowney, “Like” him on Facebook or add him to your network on Google.
