[DC 86]

Which leads to another thought. If this is the fewest early entrants since 2016, and if there are 160 seniors classified as early simply due to Covid, then it must be by far the fewest true early entrants in many years.

Correct.

2018: 181 collegiate early entrants.
2019: 175 collegiate early entrants.
2020: 163 collegiate early entrants.
2021: 136 collegiate early entrants (+4 Ignite players who in fairness should be counted in this category).

Last year 45.6% of collegiate early entrants ended up actually declaring for the draft instead of returning to school, so we're looking at roughly 64 such players this year if the same percentage holds.

That's why saying that 353 early entrants are fighting for 60 spots is just nonsense.

Source: The Athletic, who has a breakdown of this as part of their draft coverage, which incidentally ranks Ziaire #16 at the moment.

[DC 86]

Which leads to another thought. If this is the fewest early entrants since 2016, and if there are 160 seniors classified as early simply due to Covid, then it must be by far the fewest true early entrants in many years.

Correct.

2018: 181 collegiate early entrants.
2019: 175 collegiate early entrants.
2020: 163 collegiate early entrants.
2021: 136 collegiate early entrants (+4 Ignite players who in fairness should be counted in this category).

Last year 45.6% of collegiate early entrants ended up actually declaring for the draft instead of returning to school, so we're looking at roughly 64 such players this year if the same percentage holds.

That's why saying that 353 early entrants are fighting for 60 spots is just nonsense.

Source: The Athletic, who has a breakdown of this as part of their draft coverage, which incidentally ranks Ziaire #16 at the moment.