SNY.tv is reporting that this turn of events is a result of Ferguson’s status with the NCAA Clearinghouse. Ferguson would be following in the footsteps of former 5-star point guard Emmanuel Mudiay, who is now with the Denver Nuggets. “Mudiay bypassed attending SMU as a freshman under a cloud of eligibility concerns and played a year in China before entering the National Basketball Association draft (the Nuggets took him seventh overall in 2015)”. He was the No. 7 overall pick in that draft.
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If Ferguson does decide to play overseas, the likely destination is Australia, and it’s assumed that he would play there for one year before entering the 2017 NBA Draft. Ferguson played for Advanced Preparatory International in Dallas, an offshoot of Deion Sanders’ Prime Prep.
A source also told 247Sports.com that, should Ferguson skip college, he’s expected to sign an endorsement deal with Under Armour. He would then be eligible to declare for the 2017 NBA Draft, which is likely what he would have done regardless of enrolling with the Wildcats.
Ferguson is the No. 2 shooting guard nationally and No. 16 overall recruit in the 2016 class, according to the industry generated 247Sports Composite rankings. He played overseas after first committing to SMU. Prior to choosing Arizona, Ferguson was originally committed to Alabama.
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His change of heart could raise the issue of possible eligibility concerns stemming from Ferguson’s original high school, Prime Prep Academy, which shut down in January of past year under pressure of debts and lawsuits.
