As an Ohio U. guy, obviously I would want Preston to return for his senior season--especially since we have a team that looks like it really can do some damage on the national scene. But as someone who was involved in many drafts from both the college and NBA sides as a sports writer, past history dictates he should come back and look to improve his drafting position from second round to top 15 in the first round, even looking to get into the lottery-team spots.

Now there have been kids who stayed in school too long. One I remember vividly is point guard Mark Price, who would have been a top 5 pick if he had left Georgia Tech following his junior season in 1984-85. Price stayed, the team didn't do as well as expected, and he dropped to the second round, selected by Dallas at pick No. 25, then traded to the Cavs while the draft continued. Price went on to have an all-star NBA career. So it worked out. But he lost a lot of dollars up front by his choice to return to school.

I see Jason as being in the opposite situation as he has nothing to lose and all to gain by returning to Athens. In his situation, Preston potentially could cost himself a long-term GUARANTEED contract right out of the gate if he comes out too soon. Ponder this: I wonder where Ja Morant would have gotten drafted if he had come out of Murray State after averaging 13 points, 6 assists and 6 rebounds his junior season? What a difference a year made!

Also, Preston's learning curve has been accelerated since being in the NBA environment for the past month. He's gonna come back to Athens an improved player with even more confidence than he had before, right? He figures to be one of the best players in the nation. He's already gotten a ton of national exposure and that will continue because he will play well. The sky could be the limit!

Oh yeah. If he's worried about a career-ending injury, he can be insured.

The problem with the guaranteed contract for a second-round pick is that the money most often is not fully guaranteed and the amount is not that significant, Ted, to the extent that teams can and will cut you in a New York minute. You know how that league works. What, about 15 first rounders are even in the league after three seasons?

Jason really can use next season to get stronger and get better. He now knows what he needs to work on to be a factor on the next level. Let him work on that here instead of maybe doing so while sitting on an NBA bench most of the time. Remember, once the NBA season starts all practices are geared solely toward the scouting reports on next team you're playing, not toward improving skills. That's what the off-season is for.

Now I will say this: should Jason come out now and is not ready to play big minutes on the NBA level next season, I do think/hope his skill set is appealing enough that whoever drafts him can see the upside and will be patient enough to give him time to develop. But I truly believe another season playing college ball will greatly decrease the necessity for that.

As has been said and shown in other threads, if he is drafted in the top half of the second round he will most likely receive a 2 year fully guaranteed contract worth about $2 million. We can all speculate and dream that if he returns he will climb into the first round (lottery pick...be real), but he is also as likely to stay in place or drop. He and representatives are in discussions right now with teams, if one says they’re taking him in top 45 he’s gone and should leave. With $2 million in hand. Additionally he will not sit in an NBA bench wishing he stayed in Athens. He will get his million a year and play in the G league and improve his game WAY MORE than if he stays and plays for Boals. That’s not a knock on Boals it’s simply the reality of resources and competition.

Something I have wondered about, but no one will know outside of Jason and maybe a very few close family and friends- If Jason earning his degree was important to his mother- that could come into play when making his decision. I think he is very close though.

Whatever is best for him.

I agree with this.

Im a dinosaur but i always recommend young adults spend more time in college, if possible. Most alumni i know were vastly different people at 22 than 19.

But i was an anonymous kid living it up with what turned iut to be lifelong friends while in Athens. Best years of my life. But, I was a avoiding the real world, not tracking it down.

My heart says stay. My gut says go. I refuse to let my brain-o cast the tiebreaking vote.

Good luck Mr Preston, we will all be rooting for you!

Of course we have no idea what he should do because we don’t know what he knows or he thinks he knows. I don’t think any of us are NBA scouts either, and those guys miss on a lot of players. This thread really seems to be a lot about what we want him to or what we would do if we were in his shoes which we aren’t. I wish him the best in his future endeavors whatever he decides.

Jason Preston has served Ohio and the Athens community very well. We need to support him in anyway that we can. That being said, we believe that he should be in the top 40, most mock drafts and scouts don’t have in in the top 40. He should come back and get a nice NIL contract an shoot 40% from 3 and 80% from the line and add some muscle. Hercy Miller just got a 2 million dollar deal from Tennessee State, Preston should get a nice chunk. He can also work his self into the first round and get more guaranteed money next year.

Walter Luckett, 2nd round, 27th overall.

How did that work out coming out early? Sure he had a knee issue. Flash may wanna comment on those times.

If JP doesn't come back, as much as I want him to succeed, I put him overseas in 2-3 years.

With Ohio going to the tournament and JP’s story, he will be able to sign a hefty NIL deal, Miller is going to Tennessee state and yes his father is a celebrity, but JP can bring in big revenues as well.

We should get with someone strong in marketing and count the times and views that JP’s story has generated and partner him with someone has overcame and sell his story to the highest bidder. GoBobcats, Bobcatattack is great, thanks for everything

Someone called for Flash? Is that like calling for Batman? The Walter Luckett situation was very different than the situation that Jason Preston is confronted with. For starters, Walter was a two-time MAC Player of the Year, who averaged 25 his junior season. He was about as good as he was gonna get in college. His strengths were his strengths and his weaknesses probably were gonna remain his weaknesses. Here's what he had to take into consideration: Coach Jim Snyder had retired; highly-recruited freshmen Ulice Payne and Larry Slappy had transferred the season before; all-MAC-caliber players Bill Brown and George Green had played their senior season.

The prospects for the next season weren't promising. There was a good chance that opponents would be able to gang up on Walter and his play could suffer. I thought he should leave.

What happened with the Pistons is another story for another time. Wrong team, wrong situation--especially after they traded for veteran guards Archie Clark and Kevin Porter.

As for Jason Preston, I'm under the firm belief that you judge a situation by how much interest the other party shows in you. For instance, do you think Ben-Rod would be a Bobcat if Ohio State and Xavier had made him a recruiting priority? Who showed him the love? Ohio and coach Boals.

Only half of the first-round NBA draftees will be on an NBA roster after three seasons. It's extremely hard to play and stay in the league. Consider this: If I ask you to name MAC players in the NFL, you probably can name 10 without thinking. Can you name five MAC players currently in the NBA?

The bottom line is if the NBA really likes you, really wants you, they'll show you the love--and then the money--by making you one of 30 first-round draft picks. If you don't think Jason is worthy of a pick like that, what you're really saying is he's not ready for the league. That's not a crime. He has another year available to hone his skills, get bigger and stronger, increase his draft position, and have a heck of a lot of fun helping the Bobcats make a run at greatness this coming season.