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Syracuse Basketball: Elijah Hughes’ NBA Draft stock soaring towards 1st round

By Paul A. Esden Jr.

SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: CJ Felder #0 of the Boston College Eagles is fouled be Bourama Sidibe #34 of the Syracuse Orange as Elijah Hughes #33 of the Syracuse Orange guards him during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Carrier Dome on January 15, 2020 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NEW YORK - JANUARY 15: CJ Felder #0 of the Boston College Eagles is fouled be Bourama Sidibe #34 of the Syracuse Orange as Elijah Hughes #33 of the Syracuse Orange guards him during the first half of an NCAA basketball game at Carrier Dome on January 15, 2020 in Syracuse, New York. (Photo by Bryan Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Former Syracuse basketball star Elijah Hughes is watching his NBA Draft stock soar towards the 1st round. Here are all the details.

Despite the fact no games are being played, no private workouts, and likely no NBA Combine this offseason, former Syracuse basketball stud Elijah Hughes’ NBA Draft stock is soaring.

During the season, the projections for him hovered around the middle of the second round.

Although in early April it appears that Hughes has entered the first-round conversation. In the latest mock draft from the folks over at NBA Draft Net, Elijah is the 31st overall pick to the Dallas Mavericks.

Since 1989, the NBA Draft has been two rounds featuring 60 players selected. Hughes right now is just on the outside looking in at the first round.

Why is being a first-round pick such a big deal?

It’s two-fold.

Firstly being a first-round pick means guaranteed money. Secondly being a first-round pick means a team really believes in you.

Every year of Hughes’ college career he has evolved and has provided plenty of reason for people to believe in him.

From a small-time guy at East Carolina averaging just under eight points per game, to sitting out a year due to transfer regulations recalibrating his game, and then the result of all his hard work at Syracuse.

After showing glimpses of his potential in 2018-19 as a role player for the Orange, he set the stage the very next season as the man on campus.

Hughes ended up leading the conference in scoring and collected an array of accolades along the way.

Elijah is arguably the most complete player to come out of Syracuse in over a decade. His three-point shot has improved, the defense is underrated (because of the 2-3 zone principles), and he can get to the cup with ferocity.

Now, this is the most bizarre offseason in NBA history.

Due to the novel coronavirus, the NBA season has been put on pause and there’s a very real chance the season gets canceled. This means the entire normal timeline of postseason play, the NBA Combine, and the NBA Draft is very much in flex.

With the level of uncertainty that exists, it at the very least muddies the waters for Elijah Hughes as he tries to decide whether to stay in the 2020 NBA Draft or return to school for one more run.

The court of public opinion has already decided that Hughes is gone and he won’t return. Although we have to leave the door open for a potential return based on today’s society.

Next. Syracuse Basketball: Top 30 Players in School History. dark

It is super unlikely especially since it seems Hughes is surging towards the first round of the 2020 NBA Draft. The last Syracuse player to go in the first round of the NBA Draft was Tyler Lydon in 2017.

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