SEC Basketball: 5 biggest 2022 NBA Draft decisions to watch for this offseason
By Matt Melton
4. Scotty Pippen Jr – Vanderbilt Commodores
While not officially announced as of yet, it seems likely that Pippen will at-least test the draft waters once again after doing the same a year ago before returning to Vanderbilt.
Having averaged 20 PPG each of the last two seasons for the Commodores, the two-time First Team All-SEC selection has easily cemented himself as one of the most-talented scoring guards in college basketball, and could possibly go in the mid-to-late second round should he declare. If he were to return to Vanderbilt once again however, Pippen would enter the 2022-23 season as a preseason favorite to win the SEC Player of the Year.
3. Iverson Molinar – Mississippi State Bulldogs
A name that has already declared for the 2022 NBA Draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility, the upcoming decision from Molinar could decide just how good Mississippi State could be in 2022-23.
One of SEC Basketball’s most-talented scoring guards, Molinar is coming off his second consecutive season of averaging 15+ PPG for the Bulldogs, a year in which he averaged 17.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, and 3.6 APG on 45.4% shooting. A 2021-22 First Team All-SEC selection, Molinar is a likely mid-to-late second round pick should he remain in the NBA Draft, but would certainly be an SEC Player of the Year candidate next season should he return to Mississippi State.