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5 most significant NBA Draft early entry decisions

By Chris Stone

Jan 27, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Baylor won 69-65. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 27, 2016; Stillwater, OK, USA; Oklahoma State Cowboys guard Jawun Evans (1) during the second half against the Baylor Bears at Gallagher-Iba Arena. Baylor won 69-65. Mandatory Credit: Rob Ferguson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard PJ Dozier (15) works around Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) during the first half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks guard PJ Dozier (15) works around Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) during the first half in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

3. PJ Dozier, South Carolina

The South Carolina Gamecocks pulled off a miraculous run to the Final Four after stumbling their way through the regular season and losing in their first game of the SEC tournament. The run was assisted by playing opening round games in Greenville, SC where the Gamecocks knocked off the Marquette Golden Eagles and upset the Duke Blue Devils. In the East Regional, though, South Carolina’s defense shined and Sindarius Thornwell and PJ Dozier gave it enough offense to get by. Now, with Thornwell out of eligibility  and Dozier declaring for the NBA Draft, things will get dicey.

Had Dozier elected to return to school for his junior season, the Gamecocks likely would have been a preseason top 25 team. Dozier was one of the only two players on last season’s South Carolina team that could create his own shot and you would have expected him to make another leap forward with an additional offseason of development. Last season, he was the team’s second leading scorer at 13.9 points per game while adding 4.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists.

With the production of both Thornwell and Dozier to replace in 2017-18, it’s difficult imagining another surprising run from South Carolina in March if the program even makes it there.