By Josh Ward | @Josh_Ward
Tennessee basketball player Admiral Schofield worked out for the Denver Nuggets on Monday as he continues to go through the NBA pre-draft process.
Schofield, who helped lead Tennessee to a regular season SEC championship last season, hasn’t signed with an agent and has until May 30 to decide if he will stay in the draft or return to Tennessee for his senior season.
All indications right now are that Schofield will return to play for the Vols.
Schofield was asked by Michael Spencer of CBS Denver on Monday what it would take for him to remain in the draft.
“Honestly, everyone wants to be a first-round draft pick, but for me, that would be it – first round draft pick,” Schofield said. “I don’t think I’m that yet, which is fine. I haven’t had a team tell me that, which is fine.
“I still have plenty more workouts to do; I’m gonna keep competing and hopefully get an opportunity, but if not, go back to school and get better.”
Schofield’s return would play a big role in Tennessee’s attempt to build on a successful 2017-18 season. The Vols have been projected as a preseason top-10 team next season by several national outlets, including CBS Sports, ESPN and The Athletic, with those projections based on Schofield returning to school.
Gary Parrish of CBS Sports ranked Tennessee No. 3 in his most recent “Top 25 (and one)” that he posted on Tuesday.
Tennessee coach Rick Barnes said earlier this month during a Big Orange Caravan stop that Schofield’s experience during NBA workouts should help him if he decides to return to Tennessee for his senior season.
“We’ve talked after each one of (the workouts) and he has told me what a great experience it has been,” Barnes said, “and from his point of view it’s made him realize that a lot of the things we do has helped him get ready for this point.”
