St. John’s basketball: NBA Draft deadlines coming into focus

NBA Draft deadlines are becoming more clear for St. John’s basketball forward Julian Champagnie. 

Days after St. John’s basketball forward Julian Champagnie declared for the 2021 NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility, the NBA has released important deadlines ahead of its draft.

Shams Charania of Stadium and The Athletic first reported that the NBA Draft will be held on July 29 with the NBA Draft Combine taking place from June 21-27.

Jonathan Givony of ESPN said the NBA has set a deadline of May 30 at 11:59pm EST for any other underclassmen to declare for the draft, should they wish to receive feedback from NBA scouts and teams on their draft stock.

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That option most likely will not be used for any other St. John’s player this offseason.

Givony also noted that the NBA has set a deadline of July 19 at 5:00pm EST for an early entry player to withdraw from the NBA Draft but the NCAA has not yet set a timetable in which players much make a offical decision by.

The NBA Draft analyst said the most likely date the NCAA would sanction would be July 7, ten days after the NBA Draft Combine, if previous year’s timetables are followed in 2021.

How St. John’s basketball standout compares to other draft prospects

Julian Champagnie was an All-Big East First Team selection while also being named as a Co-Most Improved Player in the conference after averaging 19.8 points and 7.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 blocks, and 1.4 steals per game on 43.3-percent shooting from the floor and 38.0-percent from three-point range.

St. John’s has not had a player drafted since Sir’Dominic Pointer was a second round pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2015 and the program has not had a first round pick since Moe Harkless in 2012.

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Champagne is not listed on ESPN’s Top-100 Players or Sports Illustrated’s Top-60 Big Board but is his the No. 46 prospect in the Top-100 Big Board from The Athletic.

“I think this is without question the right move for Julian [Champagnie] at this point in his career. He’ll gain tremendous insight on what he needs to work on to become a threat at the next level, whether that’s next year or in the future,” head coach Mike Anderson said of his star testing the NBA Draft waters.

“Julian has our unwavering support as he begins this exciting next step on his basketball journey.”