PJ may very well go pro even if he thinks he will go 2nd round or even undrafted. Everyone seems to have a misconception that unless you are being picked in the lottery or at least first round you should return to college. That is the wrong theory. If you are good enough to play professional basketball at any level the only reason to return for a 2nd year of college is if you think that year will significantly improve your draft position of chance of being drafted. Good examples of this would be a PG playing behind another star PG that leaves so he takes over the star role. Another example would be a “project” that could significantly improve, think Nazr Mohammed as a freshman.
For someone like PJ, he is good enough to play professional basketball at some level, even though it may be overseas. He has good skill and strength, so coming back another year is unlikely to significantly improve his NBA draft stock. He is what he is, a 6’7” power forward. No let’s say he has 10 years of playing high level basketball left in his life. If he comes back for a year, he loses 10% of his basketball earning potential.
Basically, you go earn money playing basketball anywhere you can while you can.
I would LOVE to have PJ back next year. I think he could be a really, really good college player. That being said, I totally understand if he goes.
