5 most significant NBA Draft early entry decisions

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Apr 1, 2017; Glendale, AZ, USA; Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Nigel Williams-Goss (5) reacts during the second half against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the semifinals of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Nigel Williams-Goss, Gonzaga

The Gonzaga Bulldogs were arguably the best team in college basketball until the season’s final night when they fell in the national title game to the North Carolina Tar Heels. A major reason why the Bulldogs excelled was the play of junior point guard Nigel Williams-Goss. The former Washington transfer averaged 16.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game in his lone season with Gonzaga prior to declaring for the NBA Draft. While Williams-Goss projects the kind of confidence and ownership that teams will want lead guards to possess, it’s likely that he goes undrafted unless he boosts his stock significantly during pre-draft workouts.

Obviously losing a likely preseason National Player of the Year candidate (and honestly probably the favorite for the award) will be a tough task for the Bulldogs who also lost freshman Zach Collins to the draft. The most likely scenario is that rising junior Josh Perkins will return to the point guard role that he played as a freshman.Perkins lacks the same ability to penetrate that Williams-Goss possesses, which will make creating offense more difficult. Gonzaga will need a major improvement in his performance from two seasons ago, though, if they have any hopes of making a run in 2017-18.