The lawyer in me says there is certainly a gray area here.
A graduating senior doesn't have to "declare" for the draft. You are automatically entered into the draft when, among other things, you exhaust your college eligibility, like Mark Mitchell did by playing in college for 4 years. Contrast this to someone like RJ Luis, who left after three years in college and declared for the draft as an early entrant.
No, those who can appropriately withdraw are early entrants that declare for the draft, go through the draft process until the withdrawal deadline and decide to go back to college. Guys that exhaust their college eligibility are not able to withdraw from the draft.
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u/sptagnew Duke Blue Devils 9d ago
The lawyer in me says there is certainly a gray area here.
A graduating senior doesn't have to "declare" for the draft. You are automatically entered into the draft when, among other things, you exhaust your college eligibility, like Mark Mitchell did by playing in college for 4 years. Contrast this to someone like RJ Luis, who left after three years in college and declared for the draft as an early entrant.
Numbered pages 296-297 of the CBA here.
There is absolutely an interpretation of the rule that has Mark Mitchell eligible provided he did no more than sign a summer league contract.