NBA Draft 2011: Potential Lockout Forcing Players to Stay in School

With the NBA facing a potential lockout after the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires at the end of June, many top prospects from college are returning to school, or declaring for the draft, but not hiring an agent. 

There has to be some doubt amongst these players as to whether or not a new CBA will be reached in time for the season to begin. Some of the players that are returning to school are projected to go in the top 10 of this June's draft. 

Harrison Barnes of North Carolina, Jared Sullinger of Ohio State and Perry Jones of Baylor are the third, fourth and fifth prospects, respectively, in this June's draft according to ESPN.com's Chad Ford. All three players opted to return to school for their sophomore seasons. 

A handful of players also declared for the draft, but did not hire an agent. Brandon Knight of Kentucky, the ninth rated prospect according to Ford, as well as two of his teammates, declared for the draft and did not hire an agent. Players who declare for the draft and do not hire an agent have until May 8 to pull their names out of the draft. 

With the impending lockout, if these players were drafted, they would not be able to sign a contract until a new labor deal was reached. Although it is unlikely the entire season would be lost due to a lockout, if that were to happen, college players who declared and were drafted would have lost a year playing basketball. 

Even though these are young kids who may be able to miss a year of playing basketball and still come back and be right back in the groove, it is not ideal for them to be sitting around with nothing but time on their hands. 

Another reason why players may be returning to school, is that these kids just enjoy being in school and playing college basketball. With Barnes returning to North Carolina, they are one of the favorites to be named the preseason No. 1 team in the country.

If the Kentucky trio that declared opts to return to school, they will also be one of the top five teams heading in to next season. With Sullinger returning to Ohio State, they will also be one of the higher ranked teams in the country.

It may be a trend that is starting to take shape, but with the uncertain labor situation, these players felt it best for them to return to school for another year to improve their games,as well as ensure themselves of playing basketball next season.