Jeremy Green announced that he would test the NBA draft waters last month while serving an academic suspension. The water was apparently warm, as head coach Johnny Dawkins confirmed that Green will not return to Stanford for his senior season. Today was the withdrawal deadline. (While Green may have made up his mind from the start, players will have much less time to decide whether to return to school or enter the NBA draft next season.)
Somewhere, Dion Cross is smiling. The former Stanford sharpshooter's career record of 241 3-pointers made will stand. Green finishes his career with 228. Should Cardinal fans be smiling along with Cross, or lamenting the loss of last season's leading scorer?
The Daily Axe suggests that Green wore out his welcome on the Farm and that his departure will give Stanford's rising sophomores, including Dwight Powell and Anthony Brown, a greater opportunity to assert themselves on offense. I'm inclined to agree with both points. Green took 30% of the team's shots when he was on the floor, and while that isn't a terrible sign in and of itself, he wasn't exactly lighting it up like the nation's leader in that statistic, Jimmer Fredette.
It's a little scary to think that a team that struggled to score as much as Stanford did last season will be without the only player on the roster who has demonstrated an ability to score in bunches, but I'm excited to see what the young'ns can do with Chasson Randle running point.
As for his NBA future, Green doesn't have great size, but his shooting ability could make him a late second round pick. I think it's more likely that he goes undrafted and gets a look during the summer league (if it isn't canceled). If that doesn't work out, Green could always Dougie his way to D.C. to join Michelle Obama and the Let's Move campaign.