Junior standout Cat Barber has officially declared for the NBA draft, but elected to not sign an agent, giving him the possibility to return to NC State, according to NBC Sports.
Barber will be going through the NBA’s improved “testing the waters” process. This past summer, the NCAA changed a rule allowing underclassmen to declare for the draft, work out for NBA teams and attend the NBA Combine before requiring them to withdraw from the draft to retain their eligibility. Last year the deadline to withdraw was April 16; this year it is May 25.
While Barber has the opportunity to be drafted by an NBA team, he also has the opportunity to return back to school and lead a team back to the NCAA tournament.
The Newport News, Virginia product had his best season this past year in which he averaged 23.5 points per game, putting him at seventh in the entire nation. He also averaged 4.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists. With numbers like these, the majority of college players would put their names in the NBA draft.
However, Barber may have an opportunity next year with the Wolfpack that he has yet to experience in his past years: a deep NCAA Tournament run past the Sweet Sixteen.
Junior guard Terry Henderson will be back next season after a right ankle injury sustained in the season opener sidelined him for the entire 2015-16 season. Henderson averaged 11.7 PPG as a sophomore at West Virginia, and would surely make an impact beside Barber, who has had to carry much of the offense throughout the season.
Incoming freshman Dennis Smith Jr., the former No. 1 point guard in the 2015 ESPN Top 100 Recruits, will be a major part of the team next year, and someone who could help Barber handle the ball. Smith comes in as one of the most highly anticipated recruits to ever commit to play for the Wolfpack.
Former Conference USA Freshman of the Year Torin Dorn will also join the Wolfpack next season after sitting out a year due to transfer rules. At UNC-Charlotte, Dorn averaged 12 PPG and shot 50 percent from the field.
The combination of Barber, Henderson, Smith and Dorn could be lethal. With the return of sharp-shooting guard Maverick Rowan, and the multi-dimensional Caleb and Cody Martin, the Wolfpack could prove to have one of the top backcourts in the nation.
The entire frontcourt will be returning as well, led by forward Abdul-Malik Abu, shot-blocking forward BeeJay Anya and defensive-minded Lennard Freeman. Freeman spent the 2015-16 season with a nagging right leg injury.
While this Wolfpack team could be a great one, there is still the possibility that Barber elects to keep his name in the draft.
Barber is a junior, which means while he may have had a great junior year and potentially a great senior season, his draft stock is dropping slowly. NBA teams elect to take players who are younger with higher potential.
Much was the case for Notre Dame’s Jerian Grant and NC State guard Trevor Lacey last season. While both had very successful seasons, Grant almost leading his team past the undefeated Kentucky Wildcats in the Elite Eight, the age factor played a role in both of them being picked later on in the draft.
Lacey went undrafted, while Grant was drafted 19th overall by the New York Knicks.
Barber’s stock may never be higher than it is now. With the additions of all the newcomers next year for NC State, his points per game average will most likely drop and he will have to share the point guard position with Smith.
Barber may also consider injuries as a reason for moving on. Injuries are a tough blow for athletes, and could very well end an athlete’s season or even career. Take for example Milwaukee Bucks’ forward and former Duke star, Jabari Parker.
Parker chose to go after his first year in college, and unfortunately during his rookie campaign, he tore his ACL early on. Had he been at college that year, his draft stock may have dropped and hurt his professional chances. Barber had a number of close calls this year with injuries.
In an age where college athletes are not paid for their service to the school, Barber has the potential to head on to the NBA and make a career for himself. Many students leave school early now to head to the professional realm where they are able to make their own money.
While Barber is undersized according to many scouts, his quickness is what sets him apart from the rest of the field. The development of a jump shot and ability to lead are cases for him to move on. But the opportunity for him to return for one more year to make a deep push in the tournament with a deeper and more balanced team could help impact his decision.
