KU Basketball: Multiple factors may lead Svi Mykhailiuk back to Lawrence

It has been tough going for KU basketball’s Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk at the NBA Combine. Around the middle of April, Mykhailiuk decided to test the NBA Draft waters. So far he has come up with unsatisfying results.

It is always great to see previous KU Basketball players end up with professional success. These players bring a honorable reputation to the Kansas Jayhawks when they resemble greatness under the limelight. It is also spectacular to see these players finish a great four year career, and then evaluate their options.

Right now it seems as if Sviatoslav Mykahiliuk will be better off returning to Lawrence. His NBA Combine has shown good results stat wise, but luck has definitely not been in his favor. A couple developments over the past few days have shown that the test Svi has conducted for his draft stock have been unfulfilling.

A survey conducted by ESPN has placed many scouts’ opinions on Mykhailiuk on the wrong side of the spectrum. A majority of the scouts would like to see Mykhailiuk develop a bit more and return for his senior year.

"A whopping 12 of the 14 players identified — including KU junior Svi Mykhailiuk — were “told” to return to school, with only Purdue big man Caleb Swanigan and SMU forward Semi Ojeleye (from nearby Ottawa High) drawing anything other than advice to stay in school.-Matt Tait, KUSports"

While this usually would be a appealing notion to Jayhawk fans and administration alike, there is one huge problem. The KU Basketball program is out of scholarships to give. With the recent news of Jack Whitman transferring to Kansas University, the Jayhawks no longer have scholarships for Svi’s possible return.

While the survey results would seem like they would be enough to sway Svi back to college, new developments have now made it almost inevitable. Recent news from KUSports has reported that Mykhailiuk has discontinued the rest of his NBA Combine tryout performance due to a ankle injury.

This brings Bill Self to a perplexing conundrum. With all the scholarships now filled, Mykhailiuk has only one option: to declare for the NBA Draft. His current situation, however, puts him in no way, shape, or form of being drafted. That means that without a doubt, Mykhailiuk will probably be making a return to Lawrence.

What Options Does Bill Self Have?

These filled scholarships also put a lot of weight on Bill Self’s shoulders. A couple of scenarios could play out in a situation like this:

• A player is released from a scholarship. This is a very unlikely solution, but technically Svi could walk back on to the KU Basketball program. I see this as one of the least likely solutions.
• Svi transfers for his senior year. Another very unlikely solution. Svi transferring to a different school would be just an odd way to find playing time for your senior year, and it could result in him being undrafted following his senior year.
• Whitman or Mykhailiuk receive academic scholarships instead. This is probably the best solution for Bill Self. It brings Svi back to Kansas and leaves Whitman on a academic scholarship, which should be a pretty realistic option depending on academics.

With Svi’s current course in the NBA Combine, a declaration for the draft is highly unlikely. This should mean Mykhailiuk will come back for his senior year.

While this usually sparks excitement and celebration for an already loaded team, it may be not all be said and done yet. What do you think Jayhawk fans? Where do you think Svi will play next year?

One thing is for sure Mykhailiuk should be a improved talent next year no matter which league or team he plays on.