Michigan State's Miles Bridges, Jaren Jackson get combine invites, per report
Michigan State’s Miles Bridges and Jaren Jackson Jr. are on the list of hopefuls who are heading to the NBA draft combine, according to a list published by Yahoo! Sports on Friday.
However, former teammate Nick Ward is not among the 69 invitees that was sent to NBA teams.
Michigan’s Moritz Wagner, Saginaw native Brian Bowen II and Pontiac native Yante Maten also are on the list for the combine, which will be held May 16-20 in Chicago.
The NBA draft is June 21 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The lottery will take place May 15 in Chicago, the day before the start of the combine. Players can decline to attend the combine, or they can attend and only do certain drills or interview with certain teams.
More:Couch: Where Miles Bridges ranks all-time in Michigan State basketball history
Projected as a potential top-five selection by a number of mock drafts, Jackson said Friday at an autograph signing in Livonia that he expects to be at the combine. However, a representative of Jackson — who left MSU after his freshman season and signed with Creative Artists Agency — said it was not 100 percent certain if forward would attend.
Jackson could decline the invitation or participate in certain drills or part of the workouts or team interviews. In 2016, when Deyonta Davis left MSU after his freshman season, he attended the combine but only interviewed with teams and did not participate in workouts.
The 6-foot-11, 242-pound Jackson was named Big Ten Freshman and Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 10.9 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.0 blocks and 1.1 assists in 21.8 minutes a game. His 106 blocked shots ranked fifth in Division I and broke an MSU record that stood for 33 years.
More:Jaren Jackson Jr. declares for NBA draft, leaving Michigan State's basketball program
Bridges, the 6-7 forward who signed with agent Rich Paul and Klutch Sports after leaving MSU following his sophomore season, also is expected to be a lottery selection.
The Flint native was a unanimous All-Big Ten first-team selection and earned consensus second-team All-America honors after averaging 17.1 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 2017-18.
Ward and Michigan’s Charles Matthews did not receive invites, though neither has signed with an agent and could decide to return to school by May 30. They also could receive backup invitations to the combine if other players opt to not attend.
Neither player appears on most two-round mock drafts lists.
Ward averaged 12.4 points a game this season and led the Spartans with 7.1 rebounds. He was an All-Big Ten Third Team selection by the media and an honorable mention selection by the coaches.
More:Couch: The NBA should draft Nick Ward, but reality might send him back to Michigan State
Contact Chris Solari: csolari@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @chrissolari. Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!
