Invitations to the 2017 NBA Draft Combine went out over the weekend. While an official list won’t be released for another week, several media outlets have assembled unofficial listings of which players will be attending the workouts in Chicago from May 9 to 14.Assuming the early reports are correct, there’s a good chance that UNC junior Theo Pinson will be returning to school for his senior year. Pinson apparently was not invited to the Combine, making it highly unlikely that he will be drafted. Last offseason, Kennedy Meeks wasn’t invited to the combine and withdrew from the NBA Draft to return to Carolina shortly afterward.The two other UNC underclassmen to declare for the draftfreshman Tony Bradley and junior Justin Jacksonboth received invitations. Carolina seniors Isaiah Hicks and Meeks were also invited. Bradley hasn’t signed with an agent and could still choose to return to Carolina up to 10 days after the combine.Duke’s seniors apparently weren’t as lucky. Despite his strong showing at the Portsmouth Invitational, Matt Jones wasn’t included on the unofficial list of attendees. Neither was power forward Amile Jefferson.The four Duke underclassmen to declare for the draft all received invitations. Freshmen Jayson Tatum and Harry Giles both signed with agents, as did sophomore Luke Kennard. Freshman Frank Jackson could still choose to return to school.For NC State, freshmen Omer Yurtseven and Dennis Smith Jr. both were invited. Smith has signed with an agent, while Yurtseven could still choose to return. The other two NC State underclassmen to declare freshman Ted Kapita and sophomore Maverick Rowandidn’t receive invitations, according to the early lists.Wake Forest’s John Collins, who left school early and signed with an agent, was also invited to the combine.Campbell sophomore Chris Clemons, who declared for the draft, was not invited to the combine.Combine attendees are put through a series of drills, have the opportunity to interview with teams to get feedback on their NBA readiness a valuable option for underclassmen with the option of returning to school and have the option to participate in athletic testing and five-on-five scrimmaging.Draft Express compiled information on which prospects will be participating in the various activities.UNC’s Bradley, NC State’s Yurtseven and Duke’s Jackson will all take part in the testing.Bradley, Yurtseven, Jackson and UNC seniors Meeks and Hicks will all play five-on-five. Early indications are that the other area prospects at the combine will sit out the testing and scrimmaging.
