/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46299188/usa-today-7969640.0.jpg)
The NBA released the full participant list for the 2015 NBA Draft Combine which gets underway next week, between May 12th-17th. Noticeably absent are a few of the biggest names in the draft, who have declined to participate this year.
Will Not Attend/Participate:
Mario Hezonja, Croatia
Emmanuel Mudiay, China
Jahlil Okafor, Duke
Kristaps Porzingis, Latvia
Karl-Anthony Towns, Kentucky
Several other players will be attending, but only participating in the medical/physical testing...not the 5-on-5 portion.
Medical/Physical Testing Only:
Cliff Alexander, Kansas
Justin Anderson, Virginia
Devin Booker, Kentucky
Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky
Sam Dekker, Wisconsin
Montrezl Harrell, Louisville
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona
R.J. Hunter, Georgia State
Stanley Johnson, Arizona
Tyus Jones, Duke
Frank Kaminsky, Wisconsin
Kevon Looney, UCLA
Trey Lyles, Kentucky
Jarell Martin, LSU
Chris McCullough, Syracuse
Kelly Oubre, Kansas
Cameron Payne, Murray State
Bobby Portis, Arkansas
Myles Turner, Texas
Rashad Vaughn, UNLV
Justise Winslow, Duke
Christian Wood, UNLV
Delon Wright, Utah
Other players who were invited have confirmed that they will be participating in the entire event.
Full Participants, Including 5-on-5:
Brandon Ashley, Arizona
Ryan Boatright, Connecticut
Anthony Brown, Stanford
Rakeem Christmas, Syracuse
Pat Connaughton, Notre Dame
Quinn Cook, Duke
Branden Dawson, Michigan State
George de Paula, Pinheiros (Brazil)
Michael Frazier II, Florida
Treveon Graham, VCU
Jerian Grant, Notre Dame * (Not confirmed if full participant or not)
Olivier Hanlan, Boston College
Andrew Harrison, Kentucky
Aaron Harrison, Kentucky
Tyler Harvey, Eastern Washington
Corey Hawkins, UC-Davis
Jonathan Holmes, Texas
Richaun Holmes, Bowling Green
Vince Hunter, UTEP
Mouhammadou Jaiteh, France
Dakari Johnson, Kentucky * (Not confirmed if full participant or not)
Jordan Mickey, LSU
Larry Nance, Wyoming
Terran Petteway, Nebraska
Norman Powell, UCLA
Michael Qualls, Arkansas
Chasson Randle, Stanford
Terry Rozier, Louisville * (Not confirmed if full participant or not)
D'Angelo Russell, Ohio State * (Not confirmed if full participant or not)
Keifer Sykes, Wisconsin-Green Bay
TaShawn Thomas, Oklahoma
Marcus Thornton, William & Mary
J.P. Tokoto, North Carolina * (Not confirmed if full participant or not)
Robert Upshaw, Washington
Chris Walker, Florida
Dez Wells, Maryland
Aaron White, Iowa
Alan Williams, UC Santa Barbara
Joseph Young, Oregon
As you can see, some of the players with little to gain and a lot to lose have either declined all participation. Others who have already received plenty of exposure have opted only for the medical/physical testing. And other players who are hoping to boost their stock have opted for full participation.
This is fairly common every year at the draft combine, as players look to minimize their risk while maximizing their potential gains. Their will certainly be risers and fallers by the time the draft comes around, and the Combine could have a substantial impact on certain players.
More to come next week.