The NBA has released the list of players invited to the 2024 NBA Draft Combine – and former Gonzaga men’s basketball star Anton Watson is not on the list.
The list, released Friday afternoon, includes Michael Ajayi, who officially transferred to Gonzaga in late April. Ajayi entered his name into the 2024 NBA Draft in early April while maintaining his college eligibility. Based on current fictionalized releases, Ajayi is expected to withdraw his name from consideration. Per NCAA rules, any player declared for the draft may withdraw before May 29 to maintain college eligibility.
Notable names invited include former Gonzaga guard Hunter Sallis, USC’s Bronny James, San Francisco’s Jonathan Mogbo, Grand Canyon’s Tyon Grant-Foster, Weber State’s Dillon Jones and BYU’s Jaxson Robinson.
Watson, who exhausted his college eligibility, went through the pre-draft process last year before withdrawing his name and returning to Gonzaga for a fifth season. Watson can still be invited to the NBA Draft Combine if he performs well at the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp. The invitation list for the G League Elite Camp has not yet been released.
According to the NBA press release, “a number of notable players from the 2024 NBA G League Elite Camp, which will take place May 10-11 at Wintrust Arena, will be invited to participate in the 2024 NBA Draft Combine after this event”.
Watson was named first team All-WCC as a fifth-year senior after setting career highs in points (14.5 per game), rebounds (7.1), assists (2.6), field goals Field goals made per game (5.8) and field goals. attempted (10.0).
On a recent episode of Gonzaga Nation, assistant coach Brian Michaelson discussed how Watson’s game fits the modern NBA.
“He’s going to have some really, really good pro prospects,” Michaelson said. “His game, to me, fits the modern NBA. He’s so versatile defensively that he can do a lot of different things on offense. His shooting has really improved.”
