JFB turns down New Jersey group workout

[drewm88]

From Chad Ford:
http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/blog?name=nba_draft&id=6450392
ESPN.com has obtained a list of the players who have been invited and either accepted or declined invitations to the NBA's group workout in New Jersey on May 7 and 8.

The top players who have confirmed that they're playing include:

Reggie Jackson, PG, Boston College
Darius Morris, PG, Michigan
Tu Holloway, PG, Xavier
Cory Joseph, PG, Texas
Isaiah Thomas, PG, Washington
Andrew Goudelock, G, Charleston
Chris Wright, PG, Georgetown
Julyan Stone, PG, UTEP
Ashton Gibbs, SG, Pittsburgh
Orlando Johnson, SG, UC Santa Barbara
Iman Shumpert, SG, Georgia Tech
Scotty Hopson, SG, Tennessee
Kim English, SG, Missouri
Marshon Brooks, SG, Providence
Austin Freeman, SG, Georgetown
LaceDarius Dunn, SG, Baylor
DeAndre Liggins, SG, Kentucky
Tyler Honeycutt, SF, UCLA
Jamine Peterson, SF, NBDL
Hollis Thompson, SF, Georgetown
John Shurna, SF, Northwestern
Troy Gillenwater, SF, New Mexico State
Ravern Johnson, SF, Mississippi State
Justin Holiday, SF, Washington
Olu Ashaolu, PF, Louisiana Tech
Carleton Scott, PF, Notre Dame
DeAngelo Casto, PF, Washington State
Malcolm Thomas, PF, San Diego State
Reggie Johnson, C, Miami
Josh Harrellson, C, Kentucky
Mamadou Diarra, C, Chaminade
Vernon Macklin, F/C, Florida
Rick Jackson, F/C, Syracuse
Greg Smith, C, Fresno State

The following players are still on the fence:

Shelvin Mack, PG, Butler
Travis Leslie, SG, Tennessee
Jereme Richmond, SF, Illinois
Laurence Bowers, SF, Missouri
Jeremy Tyler, PF, Japan
Michael Dunigan, PF/C, Oregon

A number of notable players have already declined invites. They include:

Kawhi Leonard, F, San Diego State
Tobias Harris, F, Tennessee
Kenneth Faried, PF, Morehead State
Klay Thompson, G, Washington State
Chris Singleton, F, Florida State
Josh Selby, G, Kansas
Justin Harper, F, Richmond
Nolan Smith, G, Duke
JaJuan Johnson, PF, Purdue
Charles Jenkins, PG, Hofstra
Norris Cole, PG, Cleveland State
Kyle Singler, F, Duke
Malcolm Lee, G, UCLA
Keith Benson, C, Oakland
Jordan Williams, C, Maryland
Demetri McCamey, PG, Illinois
Jimmy Butler, F, Marquette
Nikola Vucevic, PF, USC
Chandler Parsons, F, Florida
Ben Hansbrough, PG, Notre Dame
David Lighty, G, Ohio State
Jon Diebler, G, Ohio State

Overall the field will probably feel pretty underwhelming to NBA GMs and scouts. A huge number of players who are projected as potential second-round picks are declining. There are also some really good prospects though, like Jackson, Honeycutt, Morris and Hopson, who are potential first-round picks. Jackson even has a shot at the lottery.

But after that, a number of top underclassmen on the bubble -- including Josh Selby, Justin Harper, Malcolm Lee and Justin Williams -- have strangely declined. You can likely blame agents for their decisions. They want to control the process, minimize the risk of injury (the workouts will include a 5-on-5 element) and are likely worried that their clients aren't in peak physical shape yet. Most of these players are working out with trainers and still need a few more weeks.
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Surprised he would do this. I feel like Jimmy would be in great shape, and 5-on-5 is going to be more beneficial for him to showcase his skills than individual or small-group settings.

[Nukem2]

Seems like a good decision given what is reported...?

[marquette99]

Maybe jfb was scared he couldn't hang with tu holloway- I hear he is unstoppable!

Just kidding.

[ATL MU Warrior]

the potential negatives far outweigh the positives at this point.  He's already been named the MVP of the Portsmouth Invitational.  If he didn't play well in this event all he's done is create doubt in the minds of the brass that maybe he isn't worth a pick.  If I were him I wouldn't go anywhere near this thing. 

[77ncaachamps]

Let the body of (his) work speak for itself.

He busted his butt in the season and tourney...just to continue the effort in Portsmouth.

[Knight Commission]

Has Shumpert declared or is he testing the waters?

[MerrittsMustache]

the potential negatives far outweigh the positives at this point.  He's already been named the MVP of the Portsmouth Invitational.  If he didn't play well in this event all he's done is create doubt in the minds of the brass that maybe he isn't worth a pick.  If I were him I wouldn't go anywhere near this thing. 

Agree 100%

Participating could only hurt him at this point. He's already shown what he can do. It's not worth the risk of a potentially bad outing.

[Eye]

Has Shumpert declared or is he testing the waters?

Shumpert said yesterday he's staying in the draft IIRC.