It's a lot of money to turn down. I heard a retired NBA player talking about Robert saying how much it would suck being a lottery pick with all that money playing on an NBADL team. I plan on him leaving so I won't be disappointed when he does it. Assume the worst; hope for the best.

http://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/texasamaggies/2017/02/25/texas-am-students-plead-one-done-hopeful-robert-williams-stay-one-year

I agree with this article at the end that we will probably be a pre-season Top-15-ish team in the AP poll for next season if Williams comes back. A junior Tyler Davis and sophomore Robert Williams expected to be an NBA lottery pick will get a ton of pub as one of the best big man combos in the country.

And, from what I've read and watched in terms of Caldwell, if Williams comes back then get ready for some sweet looking Caldwell to Williams lob plays. Caldwell is an elite passer with great court vision.

But as a previous poster has said, I've tried to not have much expectation of Williams coming back. And there is still a lot of time for him to review a decision. But if he does, will be pretty exciting thinking about next year's potential.

Can we get him insurance like in football?

redsox34 said:

---

Can we get him insurance like in football?

---

this is the kind of article (last year when projected lottery pick Ivan Rabb returned to school) that we will have to cross our fingers will be published in late April about Robert Williams.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/04/25/ivan-rabb-california-golden-bears-returning

I would assume if Williams came back that an insurance policy would be taken out to protect himself against career ending injury.

Please. Please. Please.

That's a good example, but it also brings up another point. Rabb fell 11 stops in a recent mock draft, he lost money with his decision, I want the best for our guys, so it that means leaving early to secure a big contract than so be it. The only benefit that might come from being drafted later is that he lands with a good team with a good coach in order to further his development, rather than he goes to a dumpster fire of a franchise.

CypressAg09 said:

---

I don't see that happening with Williams. I think he is still projected in the draft mostly off athleticism and potential, and one more year in college isn't going to hurt those.

---

Was my first thought, too.

CypressAg09 said:

---

Ajm1114 said:

---

That's a good example, but it also brings up another point. Rabb fell 11 stops in a recent mock draft, he lost money with his decision, I want the best for our guys, so it that means leaving early to secure a big contract than so be it. The only benefit that might come from being drafted later is that he lands with a good team with a good coach in order to further his development, rather than he goes to a dumpster fire of a franchise.

---

I don't see that happening with Williams. I think he is still projected in the draft mostly off athleticism and potential, and one more year in college isn't going to hurt those.

---

Right now he's being projected based on potential. After one college season, there is nothing to indicate that potential might never materialize. If he does not improve next season (footwork, shooting, defense outside of blocks), or even worse regresses, then the book will be out that he's a great athlete without much skill potential. That will significantly hurt his draft stock, even if the class next year is projected to be weaker.

There's a ton of risk in turning down a draft position. Davonte Fitzgerald went from "athlete with real potential" to nothing with one freak untouched injury.

See also: Tyreke Evans, Stromile Swift, Tyrus Thomas, Anthony Randolph, Glenn Robinson III, Jordan McRae, the Harrison twins, Jared Sullinger, Fab Melo, Willie Warren, Taj Gibson, Chase Budinger,

50-50 ??

If I'm not mistaken I believe that Texas A&M is allowed to cover premiums for an insurance policy should Williams get injured.

mallen said:

---

If I'm not mistaken I believe that Texas A&M is allowed to cover premiums for an insurance policy should Williams get injured.

---

There is no way that's accurate. That would be the most obvious backdoor payment in NCAA history

nm

THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS SO I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IT.

Not going to happen unless momma decides he's staying.

Mikesyracuse1

The thing about judging guys that come back is that you never know for sure where they really would have been drafted had they gone. Just because they're projected as a top pick, doesn't mean they actually would have been once the scouts got to see them up close.

There's definitely guys that have been hurt by coming back, but that's just something to keep in mind.

mikesyracuse1 said:

---

Not going to happen unless momma decides he's staying.

Mikesyracuse1

---

Mike, any insight on where momma's preference may be leaning as of late Feb?

And how deep is the draft next year? This draft is widely considered one of the deepest drafts in years which obviously hurts Rabb.

I have a friend who teaches at A&M and had RW in class last fall. She said that RW loves A&M, his teammates and college life. That all sounds promising.

Main thing that would make him go pro this year is he would be one year closer to his first contract after the rookie one ends. That in itself negates any potential better earnings by staying another year and hopefully improving his draft stock.

I think part of the reason Rabb lost 11 spots is because this draft is stronger than last years. Next year should be weaker so that might help Robert at least maintain his current spot. His performance of course also matters.

Pumpkinhead said:

---

SW AG80 said:

---

I have a friend who teaches at A&M and had RW in class last fall. She said that RW loves A&M, his teammates and college life. That all sounds promising.

---

As I mentioned in an earlier post, posts like this one and the OP, and RW's tweets to guys like Caldwell and Flagg, seem to be some indicators that there is nothing about College Station that is driving him away. He seems to be a happy college athlete who likes his school, teammates, coaches, etc.

But at the end of the day, the money is still more likely than not to pull him away.

---

The exact same things are posted on every fan board every year about every potential draft pick. It's confirmation bias, fundamental attribution error, and projecting one's own desires onto the athlete in question

Insurance is a no-brainer, but as has been mentioned before if he's projected Top 15 then this decision would not be financial. If he stays it's because he really likes it here and/or likes his teammates.

If he's projected Top 15 then what data there is shows that he is not likely to help his draft position by staying another year.

Well apparently I was wrong, but that is mind-blowing

For real? And what happened last night? Or some kind of Manziel troll?

Pumpkinhead said:

---

redsox34 said:

---

Can we get him insurance like in football?

---

this is the kind of article (last year when projected lottery pick Ivan Rabb returned to school) that we will have to cross our fingers will be published in late April about Robert Williams.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2016/04/25/ivan-rabb-california-golden-bears-returning

I would assume if Williams came back that an insurance policy would be taken out to protect himself against career ending injury.

---

Correct.

Keeping my fingers crossed. If RW comes back next year's team is a matchup nightmare.