Taking advantage of loosened NCAA regulations on the process, three WSU men’s basketball players declared for the NBA Draft Friday.

Forwards Josh Hawkinson and Conor Clifford and guard Ike Iroegbu are expected to return to WSU in the fall as they are unlikely to be considered as part of the 60 young players making the jump into the NBA, but by declaring for the draft they can receive invitations to the NBA Draft Combine from May 11-15 in Chicago and receive a draft grade.

In the past, the NCAA has frowned upon its players “testing the waters” with the NBA, and has made it difficult to receive a draft assessment and then return to college.

Those rules changed in January when the NCAA decided to allow players to rescind their draft declaration up to 10 days after the combine ends – May 25 this year – and return to play college ball so long as they don’t hire an agent.

WSU Head Coach Ernie Kent said a soon-to-be senior receiving assessment by NBA scouts was valuable for a player’s development, and so he encouraged many of his team’s leaders to take advantage of the new NCAA rules.

“In today’s climate, with the opportunity for players to be evaluated and have the opportunity to be invited to the NBA Draft Combine without hiring an agent, I fully support the decision that Conor, Josh and Ike have made to declare for the NBA draft,” Kent said in a news release.

Reporting by Dustin Brennan