Henry Ellenson is a surefire first-round pick, but the Marquette freshman still has to take an important NBA decision.
According to Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, the general expectation was that the time of Henry Ellenson on campus wouldn't last long when he signed his letter of intent to play basketball at Marquette. Ellenson staying longer than a season was always in question.
Henry Ellenson is one of the top incoming freshmen in the country, rewriting Marquette's freshman record book by finishing with 9.7 rebounds per game and 17.0 points. The player has also won the Big East freshman of the year.
Now, Henry Ellenson is confronted with a big decision about his future. In the NBA draft in June he is expected to be a surefire first-round pick. That means for the first two seasons his rookie contract would be guaranteed with team options for years three and four. Since those team options come at such a low price relative to the salary cap these options are usually exercised.
Most of the draft projections have Ellenson as a lottery pick and many are even putting him in the top 10. A pick inside the top 10 would allow Ellenson to earn at least $9 million over four years, based on the 2015-16 rookie pay scale.
At 6 feet 11 inches with a 7-foot-2 wingspan, Ellenson has the natural size that many NBA teams covet. According to the website anonymouseagle.com, whether he's on an NBA roster or at Marquette, a year from now Henry Ellenson will become probably a better basketball player.
Now that the NBA season has ended, Ellenson ponders what's next. Due to a recent rule change, the wait for a final decision could be longer this year. Based on a new set of rules, underclassmen have until 10 days after the combine to change their minds and return to school.
