Wichita State Shockers: Ron Baker To Announce NBA Draft Decision
By Grant Cohen
The official announcement of whether Wichita State Shockers guard Ron Baker will go pro or stay for his final season of eligibility will come on Monday, according to Paul Suellentrop of the Wichita Eagle. Baker could return for Wichita State for his senior season or decide to enter the 2015 NBA Draft, and either decision makes sense for the young guard.
"“Obviously, I’ve (had) a lot to think about,” Baker said. “It affects a lot of people. My family and Coach (Gregg) Marshall and all my assistant coaches are the heavy factors in my decision.”– From Suellentrop’s article"
Baker led the Shockers in scoring with 15 points per game, along with adding in another first team Missouri Valley Conference honor. While helping the Shockers to their second straight Missouri Valley Conference regular season title, Baker’s performance in the NCAA tournament helped Wichita State reach the Sweet 16 for the second time in three years.
Baker would be the first player in Wichita State basketball history to leave early for the NBA draft, and the fact that he is having a press conference about this decision scares many Shocker fans.
Redshirting his freshman year, Baker would be graduating this upcoming May with a degree in Business, but he will still have one year remaining of eligibility at WSU.
Baker filed a request for NBA draft information after the 81-70 loss to Notre Dame in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, and has until April 26th to make a final decision. Fred Van Vleet also requested information about the draft, but has made no indication yet on whether a decision has been made, according to Suellentrop.
Baker would be the first player in Wichita State basketball history to leave early for the NBA draft, and the fact that he is having a press conference about this decision scares many Shocker fans.
Fans need to realize, however, that it makes sense for Baker to leave at this time. He’s a very talented basketball player and you can’t blame him for possibly wanting to go pro after his junior season. As Joel Wagler said in his article about Kelly Oubre leaving Kansas after one season, “Don’t blame the kid; blame the system”.
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Of course, the Kansas Jayhawks and Wichita State Shockers don’t have nearly the same type of program. WSU players are always there for all four years whereas Jayhawk players rarely do, but Baker is a special type of player.
"According to NBA mock drafts, Baker is a borderline first-round pick who is just as likely to go in the second round. At CBSSports.com, he was projected as the No. 30 pick in the first round by one expert and a second-round pick by two others. NBADraft.net does not include him in its draft projection. Draftexpress.com considers him a mid-second round pick.– Suellentrop"
The scare for losing Marshall has ended for Shocker fans, but the frightening fact of losing Baker has just begun.
Next: Stephen Zimmerman Would Be A Fit For Jayhawks
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