Mitch McGary’s draft stock was never going to be higher than it was after Michigan made a run to the 2013 Final Four.
It was a weak draft class, he would have likely been a lottery pick and definitely a first round pick. Instead he chose to come back to Michigan, hurt his back, rarely played and now because he decided to smoke some weed and some bad decision making Michigan’s part he has to enter the draft. Here are the details via Yahoo Sports.
One night in mid-March, with the NCAA tournament about to begin without him, McGary was hanging out with a group of friends at Michigan. He had a few drinks. Someone offered some marijuana – a common occurrence, he said, on campus.
“I always turned it down,” McGary told Yahoo Sports. “But that night I didn’t.”
Less than two weeks later, McGary “dressed” for the Wolverines’ Sweet 16 game against Tennessee. He was never going to play, but coach John Beilein thought the sight of him in maize and blue on the sideline, pumping up his teammates, would add some enthusiasm. Michigan eked out a 73-71 win.
Amid the post-victory celebration, an NCAA representative told McGary that he, of all people, had been selected to undergo a random drug test, even though he hadn’t played in months.
I think you know what happened next. McGary tests positive and was facing a year long suspension (little harsh for some weed), basically forcing him to enter the NBA Draft where he is no guarantee to be selected in 1st round in a stacked draft.
If Michigan wouldn’t have dressed him for games, he probably wouldn’t have been selected for the test.
The lesson here is always leave when you draft stock is highest, too many bad things can go wrong if you stay.