By Staff Writer: James Edwards 

In the past month, the University of Michigan men’s basketball team lost its three best players. Michigan State also lost one of the best point guards in the Big Ten.

Nik Stauskas, Big Ten player of the year, announced his decision on Tuesday, April 15 to forego his remaining college eligibility to enter the NBA draft. The sophomore guard averaged 17.5 points per game this past season. He is projected to be a mid-first round pick in the draft.

Glenn Robinson III also declared for the NBA draft. Ever since GR3 arrived on campus, he has been an explosive athlete that opposing coaches worked their game plan around. The 6’6” 220 pound sophomore averaged just over 12 points per game and five rebounds per game in his brief career at Michigan. Robinson III is projected to be a mid- to late first round pick.

The final Michigan sophomore who declared for the draft did so, not because of his draft stock, but because he was facing a one-year suspension from the NCAA. Mitch McGary failed a random drug test that he was administered between the Big Ten Tournament and the beginning of the NCAA tournament. A preseason All-American, McGary was bound to have a breakout year and was shooting up the NBA draft boards, especially after having a huge 2013 NCAA tournament in which he helped his Wolverines to a second-place finish. Many observers and experts projected McGary to be a lottery pick in the draft, even after his freshman season. The 6’10” 255 pound sophomore averaged 8.5 points per game in his tenure at Michigan and is projected to be taken anywhere from the late first round to late second round in the draft.

It is not much of a surprise that these players left early, considering the fact that the 2012 recruiting class, to which these players belonged, was considered to be the best class since Michigan’s famed “Fab Five”. There are still two players left from that class, future first round draft pick Caris Levert, and slick-shooting Spike Albrecht.

Finally, Michigan State sophomore guard Gary Harris declared for the NBA draft. Harris is known for his exceptional athleticism, his tenacious defense, and his leadership skills. The 6 foot 5 inch guard is known to put up consistent numbers and falls in line as another Coach Tom Izzo product to be in the NBA. Harris is a projected mid-first round pick in the draft.

Expect the Wolverines and Spartans to start off the 2014-2015 basketball season with an absence of big-time scorers. Fortunately, the two schools have two of the best coaches in the country and fans should expect two quality teams playing for a national title come March.