Boise State’s Chandler Hutchison intends to enter 2017 NBA Draft but won’t hire agent
Boise State junior Chandler Hutchison intends to enter his name in the 2017 NBA Draft but will not hire an agent, the Idaho Statesman learned Monday.
Boise State confirmed the move in a press release.
Hutchison, a 6-foot-7, 193-pound guard, is the third Boise State player to declare early for the draft (Coby Karl, 2006; James Webb III, 2016). Karl returned to school for his senior season while Webb went undrafted in 2016.
The NCAA adopted a rule in 2016 that allows players who have not hired agents to enter the draft and attend workouts before deciding whether or not they wish to stay in the draft. Players have 10 days from the completion of the NBA Combine to remove their names from the draft and return to school. The NBA Combine is May 9-14.
“That’s exactly what this rule is for, a situation like this. We’ve had great discussions about it, and we’re both excited about it. I’m excited for him and this opportunity,” Boise State head coach Leon Rice told the Idaho Statesman. “I really trust in his ability to make a good decision, and so that’s what this is about.”
Each draft entrant is allowed to work out once per NBA team and can attend the combine if invited without losing his collegiate eligibility.
“With Chandler’s hard work and his dedication, this is something that he’s earned and something we want to explore for him,” Rice said. “He’ll look at everything logically and make a good decision.”
Hutchison led Boise State in points (17.4) and rebounds (7.8) per game last season. He was named first-team All-Mountain West by coaches and second team by media. He scored a career-high 34 points in a 73-68 first-round NIT victory over Utah and is the only player in Boise State history to score 500 points, collect 250 rebounds and dish 75 assists in a season (2016-17).
“Our coaches have informed me that NBA teams are expressing interest, and I feel that I need to take advantage of the opportunity to be evaluated and find out where I truly stand,” Hutchison, a Southern California native, said in the statement. “Playing in the NBA is the goal that drives me every day and this process is the next step toward making it a reality.”
The NBA Draft is June 22 on ESPN.
Michael Katz: 208-377-6444, @MichaelLKatz
This story was originally published April 10, 2017 at 2:13 PM with the headline "Boise State’s Chandler Hutchison intends to enter 2017 NBA Draft but won’t hire agent."