Phoenix Suns 2015 NBA Draft Watch: Combine Participant List Released

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.