WKU Basketball: Bearden Enters NBA Draft’s Early Entry List
On Tuesday afternoon, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman (and Rick $tansbury fan extraordinaire) tweeted out that a couple more names have been added to…
On Tuesday afternoon, ESPN’s Jeff Goodman (and Rick $tansbury fan extraordinaire) tweeted out that a couple more names have been added to the early entry list for the NBA Draft. A tweet that included a familiar name to WKU fans.
This has been something we’ve been hearing rumors and rumblings about for a few weeks, and now it seems to be official. Although I haven’t seen if he’s signed with an agent, he will be testing the professional hoops waters this off-season.
In his first, and as of now only, year of playing eligibility at the Hill, he averaged 11.8 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.4 assists which is very close to his career average as a player including his time at Buffalo. Bearden has shown what he is capable of this season at WKU starting at guard in all but five games and has been a very reliable player that has made big buckets when WKU needed them (the shot against Marshall should’ve went in and we all know it).
As far as pro potential goes, I definitely think Bearden isn’t making a rash decision to test NBA waters. At 6'3" and 160 lbs, Bearden shows all the good qualities an exceptional guard should have. One player that he personally reminds me of in more ways than one is Lance Stevenson of the Indiana Pacers. Stevenson is just a bit taller than Bearden but Bearden can still get to the rim in many different ways like he can and is pretty consistent from deep. Bearden has a little of his antics too but thankfully not too crazy and has done Stevenson’s guitar strumming he does after draining a shot before so I feel like Bearden does try to model his game after him.
While I definitely hope he comes back next season, it wouldn’t be the end of the world for WKU if he doesn’t. Guard depth is something that Stansbury has a lot of so if Bearden were to sign with an agent or go play internationally, it would open up a spot for someone that’s returning to the Hill or one of the newcomers such as Dalano Banton or Trevlin Queen to get it.
At this point, anything would be a win-win. If he goes pro and gets signed to an NBA team, he’ll be our newest #ProTops player in the league and if he returns, then we’ll be in for a treat as he plays his senior season back on the Hill. Expect for him to do big things regardless of what he decides to do.