TCU Basketball’s Desmond Bane enters his name in the NBA Draft

TCU junior guard Desmond Bane declared for the NBA Draft Tuesday night, tweeting his intentions:

Bane was the Frogs’ best offensive weapon this past season, averaging 15.2 points per game on 50% shooting from the field and 42.5% from three. A true junior, Bane has been a TCU starter since his freshman year, when he was a big part of the Frogs’ NIT Championship run, playing in all 39 games and starting 13. His minutes have increased dramatically in each of his seasons in Fort Worth, including a career-high 35.5 in 2018-2019, as TCU Basketball endured a wrath of injuries and transfers over the course of the season.

A dynamic athlete at the shooting guard position, the 6’5” back court player has added something to his arsenal each year. This past season, rebounding seemed to be the focus, as he pulled down at least six boards in 17 games. An active defender, he crashed the glass with aplomb, using his physicality and leaping ability to dominate opponents on the boards with ease. An explosive dunker from day one, Bane spent countless offseason hours in the gym working on his shot, and saw a dramatic improvement across the board in all aspects of his offensive game this year.

Consistency on the offensive end had been the question for Bane throughout his career, but he quieted most of the doubters in conference play. After going scoreless in the first half of games at Texas Tech and Baylor, Des scored in double figures in six of his final eight, including a pair of 30 pieces - a career high 34 against Texas in the regular season finale and another 30 against Nebraska highlighting the explosion. He scored in double figures in 28 games and had at least 20 eight times.

A lightly recruited player out of Richmond, Indiana, TCU was his only Division I offer, as Jamie Dixon and co swooped in late to sign the no-star prospect. He would prove a lot of people wrong over the next three seasons, playing a crucial role in leading the Frogs to Madison Square Garden twice and the NCAA Tournament once. He also became a vocal leader for a program enduring one of the most significant rebuilds in the country, and has been truly the heart and soul of the team over the past year especially.

By declaring for the Draft, Bane puts himself in position to be evaluated by NBA scouts without sacrificing his final season of eligibility. Bane will be able to retain the services of an agent during the evaluation project, but must terminate that relationship if he indeed elects to return to school. Any decision must be made by May 29th, which is ten days after the NBA Combine - held on May 14-19th. The NBA Draft is to follow on June 10th.

It’s fair to wonder if the uncertainty surrounding Jame Dixon’s future played a part in this decision - or at least the desire to see where he sits with pro scouts. The deadline to request an evaluation is Thursday, and Bane may not be the last Frog to ask for one - Kouat Noi is rumored to be considering declaring as well.

Desmond Bane clearly needs to do what is in his and his family’s best interest, and we hope for the best as he figures out what that might be. He is certainly the type of player coveted by today’s NBA teams, but in a crowded field, may be best served by dipping a toe in the water, going through the evaluation process, and returning for his senior season with a clear mission in mind.