Tar Heel junior center Kennedy Meeks and sophomore wing Justin Jackson will enter the NBA Draft but not hire an agent at this time UNC has announced.
Via UNC press release:
University of North Carolina men’s basketball players Justin Jackson and Kennedy Meeks will submit their names to the NBA for the 2016 Draft, but will not hire agents at this time and may return to UNC for the 2016-17 season.
Underclassmen have until April 24 to enter the Draft. They have until May 25 to withdraw from the Draft to be eligible to play college basketball next season.
The NBA Draft Combine, at which approximately 70 players will be invited by the NBA to participate, will take place May 10-15 in Chicago.
"Justin and Kennedy have our complete support in taking this step," says head coach Roy Williams." Any player who is thinking about playing in the NBA next season should gather as much information as they can about their possible draft position. We will continue to support and assist them over the next month to obtain the information that will help them decide whether they should remain in the draft or return to UNC next season."
Neither decision is a surprise. The NCAA changed the deadline and process for underclassmen providing them the opportunity to enter the draft and get meaningful feedback with the option to return still open providing the player does not hire an agent. That is the route Meeks and Jackson are taking at this stage.
Inside Carolina has confirmed that both Isaiah Hicks and Joel Berry will return to UNC.
Received official confirmation that Joel Berry & Isaiah Hicks are not declaring for draft.
— InsideCarolina (@InsideCarolina) April 22, 2016
Berry also made his own announcement via Twitter.
— Joel Berry II (@JoelBerryII) April 22, 2016
Hicks not entering the draft to at least go through the process is a curious decision given he could likely receive some meaningful feedback. Then again if you know you are returning and don't feel the need to go through the process why bother?
As noted in the press release, both players will have until May 25th to withdraw their names from the draft. The NBA Draft Combine will take place on May 10-15 in Chicago and will include 70 invited players.
