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Michigan Wolverines junior forward Isaiah Livers is entering his name into the evaluation process for the 2020 NBA Draft, according to a release from the school on Monday. Livers will seek assistance from multiple parties and go through some of the testing before determining whether or not to return for his senior season at Michigan. As of now, he is not hiring an agent after Michigan clarified its earlier statement.
Under a rule change that has come down in the last few years, players are allowed to have an agent through the evaluation, but must sever ties immediately should they decide to return to school. A player may also return to school if he goes undrafted, but only if he was a participant in the NBA Combine.
Underclassmen have a deadline of June 3 to remove their names from NBA Draft consideration with the draft set to take place on June 25. The NBA Combine is set to be held on May 19-24.
“Following the cancellation of the season, my family and our coaching staff have had several discussions on my future as a basketball player,” Livers said in a statement released by the school. “After much reflection and prayer, I have decided to enter my name into the 2020 NBA Draft and start the full evaluation process. The University of Michigan has done so much for me and helped me get to a position where I might be able to reach my goal of playing professional basketball. While this is only the start of the evaluation, I have appreciated your encouragement and will continue to need it as this process moves on.”
“We know Isaiah has had the desire to reach the next level of playing professional basketball, and going through the NBA Draft process will give him the information he is looking for to make the proper decision,” head coach Juwan Howard said. “Even with everything going on with COVID-19, myself, and our staff, will continue to work closely with Isaiah and his family to gain as much information as possible in the weeks ahead before he reaches his final decision.”
Livers led the Wolverines this past season in scoring at 12.9 points per game. He missed nine games in the middle part of the year while dealing with a groin/lower-body injury.
Freshman forward Franz Wagner is also considering early entry, according to Howard on a conference call last week. We will see what’s next for Michigan basketball as the roster crunch for 2020-21 continues to play out.