While it's big news that Trevor Mbakwe was granted a sixth year of eligibility with the Minnesota Golden Gophers, that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to remain with the university. Mbakwe isn't necessarily the youngest player out there, and he's at a point where he's considering entering the NBA Draft. There's significant upside to doing this ... like before his stock plummets, but the downside is that it already has, thanks to the ACL injury that's given him another year of eligibility.
That being said, Mbakwe is leaning towards spending another season with Minnesota, as reported by the Star Tribune:
"I'm leaning toward getting another year," he said. "But the situation is kind of complicated. We'll know more after the season, but there's a lot more that needs to play out before I'll be able to make a decision."
"After the season," refers to a couple weeks from now when the NCAA Tournament wraps up. At that point, Mbakwe will be expected to make a decision. Actually, he'll be expected to make a decision by the end of April, when the deadline for draft entry comes. He's got a little over a month to make his decision.
His draft stock is probably all over the place, considering he played well in the past, but ACL injuries are no joke, and are among the most significant injuries in pro sports today. Mbakwe is still not fully healthy, but could be ready to show scouts he's healthy by June or July.
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