Keve Aluma Enters NBA Draft; Could Return To Virginia Tech For 2021-22

Keve Aluma
Keve Aluma will test the NBA Draft waters. (Matt Gentry, ACC Pool)

Virginia Tech center Keve Aluma announced on Wednesday night that he would test the waters of the 2021 NBA Draft.

Aluma has retained the option to play for the Hokies again next year if he so chooses.  The redshirt junior averaged 15.2 points and 7.9 rebounds per game during the 2020-21 season.  He shot 49% from the field, 35.1% from three-point range, and 72.2% from the free throw line.

Aluma currently isn’t projected to be selected by online mock drafts.  However, he is currently 22 years old and will turn 23 in December, and the NBA generally trends young, which means that if he plays in college for another year he could potentially harm his draft prospects because he would be 23 during the 2022 Draft.

The 2021 NBA Draft is scheduled for July 29.  If Aluma is selected, he would be the first player from the Eastern Shore to be drafted since VCU’s Sherron Mills in 1993.

13 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. When did 23 become old? I know there are many one and done but there are many who are in their mid 20’s after playing overseas or developmental ball before they land on their first NBA team. The NBA is not a league full of less than 21 yrs old playing at an elite level.

  2. Now that you put it that way, I don’t see NBA this year or next but even one year of a six figure salary overseas is some change…. I can’t see one more year really improving his stock there, I mean, one year of playing pro would improve your stock, no?

    Anyway, I think he feels like he owes a lot to MY, would expect him to stay.

  3. Don’t know whether he’ll stay or go next year but it sounds like he definitely won’t be taking advantage of the free year COVID gave him & be playing 2 more years at VT.
    Go Hokies!

  4. Take the opportunity to get free evaluations from scouts to see where you stand and what you need to improve on. This have been done by a lot of players, and should be taken advantage of . Does not mean he is leaving, it means he is trying to get better information on what he needs to improve on. I think anyone who is a fringe NBA player should do.

  5. I firmly believe he will be back. Getting great coaching and isn’t ready for the NBA…yet…IMO.

  6. Good move -even if he just gets a 6 figure gig with an international team. He’s almost ancient by NBA standards.

    1. He’s coming back if he’s not drafted. He can improve his stock for international teams with another quality college season

  7. He’s going to have a long career in the international game with his evolving outside shot. One more year as a Hokie with some positive national exposure with a couple of wins on the Big Dance Floor should cement that and give him a better chance of a second round draft selection in the NBA.

        1. Yeah..4 yrs of College already done, would be shocked if he had no degree as an athlete that stays yr round. Even if he doesn’t, the degree can still be finished if he decides to leave. The degree doesn’t care how old he gets, but pro basketball (NBA or more likely international) will…and why would someone eliminate 1 full yr of being paid as a pro player is beyond me. He will never use his degree to make as much in one yr as he gets playing in the pros. And if he does become successful in his work, he can work till he is 60 ir 70 yrs old if he really wants to. Only my selfish reasons want him to come back, but for the kid..go make the money….he has been coached for 4 yrs already by Mike Young, don’t think he has been holding anything back on him. Really it is about more reps, and he gets that with money playing overseas.

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