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A RETURN TO Washington State for his junior season, C.J. Elleby said on Saturday, is still very much on the table -- he has no plans to play overseas if the NBA isn’t in the cards. Elleby, who for the second-straight year on Saturday declared for the NBA draft while keeping his NCAA eligibility if he chooses to withdraw, said he’s looking to get drafted, pure and simple.

"I'm looking for a team that is basically telling me they're going to pick me. I want a guaranteed contract,” Elleby said on a Zoom call. As for a second-round draft scenario, and if that would spur him to stick in the draft or return to WSU, he said it depends on what teams would be offering. Here’s the video:

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Monix wrote:tweener

not athletic enough to be a 2, not big enough to be a 3

Sir-Swish-A-Lot wrote:

Monix wrote:tweener

not athletic enough to be a 2, not big enough to be a 3

CJ is an above average athlete. CJ is 6'6 barefoot.

EvanZ wrote:

Sir-Swish-A-Lot wrote:

Monix wrote:tweener

not athletic enough to be a 2, not big enough to be a 3

CJ is an above average athlete. CJ is 6'6 barefoot.

He's not an above average NBA athlete at any position.

EvanZ wrote:That highlight video makes my point for me. Thanks.

BILL ELLEBY, father of Washington State sophomore C.J. Elleby and a longtime fixture on the Seattle basketball scene, tells CF.C his son is probably leaning 70-30 on early entry into the NBA Draft. At the same time, the younger Elleby is torn, with a number of factors on the other side of the ledger arguing for him to return to WSU for his junior season.

“If I had to say right now, I would probably say 70-30, only because of the coronavirus and playing in the NBA is his dream. It’s a tough deal I think that throughout this process, as it becomes more clear, we’ll know what C.J. is going to do. But I would probably say 70-30, I would say he’s leaning towards that,” said the elder Elleby.

EMG518 wrote:I don't think he gets drafted, just my opinion.

Sir-Swish-A-Lot wrote:

EMG518 wrote:I don't think he gets drafted, just my opinion.

Time will tell but I think the Raptors might snatch him up at #28...if he's still on the board. He's my sleeper pick in this draft. CJ has recent NBA head coach and current Pac-12 basketball analyst Earl Watson co signing his NBA potential.

Ruzious wrote:

Sir-Swish-A-Lot wrote:

EMG518 wrote:I don't think he gets drafted, just my opinion.

Time will tell but I think the Raptors might snatch him up at #28...if he's still on the board. He's my sleeper pick in this draft. CJ has recent NBA head coach and current Pac-12 basketball analyst Earl Watson co signing his NBA potential.

Maybe it's the hair, but he seems like one of those players who scores 30 one game and then gets under 10 the next 3. His shot doesn't have much consistency. Is he going to help his team win? I wouldn't bet on it. Then again, if his shooting gets consistent... I can see how that could make a team take a chance on him around the end of the 1st round.

WASHINGTON STATE'S C.J. Elleby has until Aug. 3 to decide whether he's going to stay in the NBA Draft or return to the Cougs for his junior season. The NCAA on Thursday released a statement saying men’s basketball players will have until 10 days after the NBA draft combine or Aug. 3 -- whichever comes first -- to withdraw from the postponed NBA draft while still retaining their eligibility.

“This provides the utmost flexibility to student-athletes testing the waters to make the most informed decision about their future during this uncertain time,” the NCAA's Dan Gavitt said. “And by deciding before classes start for the fall semester, it also encourages student-athletes who choose to return to school to be fully engaged in their academic pursuits and the tremendous experience and opportunity to play college basketball.”

The decision does provide players up to two months beyond the original withdrawal date of June 3 to decide. But hold that thought on "utmost flexibility," at least from the student-athlete's point of view.