HARTFORD, Conn. — When the buzzer sounded, all cameras were pointed at Murray State phenom Ja Morant. A projected lottery pick in the upcoming NBA draft had just solidified his stock as one of the top collegiate players in the world, yet he wasn't the only player on the court with decisions to make.
Former Perry High School Puma Markus Howard is an All-American guard, the reigning Big East Player of the Year and widely regarded as one of the top volume scoring threats in the nation. The Chandler, Arizona, native exploded on the scene this season, notably scoring 53 points against Creighton on Jan. 9.
The junior guard's stock is rising, and with that comes a major decision. Howard can forgo his senior season and enter the NBA draft, or come back for another run at the NCAA tournament.
"I'm going to wrap up school this year, but I haven't thought anything about my future or anything like that," Howard said from his hotel room in Hartford after the game.
NBA Draft experts aren't exactly helping Howard's decision-making process. Some say the 20-year-old could be drafted as high as the late first round, and some don't project him to be drafted at all.
There is a significant difference in guaranteed money between those two options.
A late-round pick is GUARANTEED to make anywhere from $2-3 million with the possibility for much more in team options and incentives. However, if Howard isn't drafted at all, there's no guarantee for anything, and he wouldn't be able to return to the college game.
"It's his decision, whatever he wants to do, but I think he's going to make the right logical decision that's best for him," says his father Chuck Howard.
Noemi Howard, Markus' mother, says the decision won't be about money.
"Not for our family, it's not about that," she says.
The 2019 NBA draft is on June 20 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Stay tuned to find out if Chandler's own Markus Howard will be there.