Beekman withdraws from draft, returns to Virginia

Virginia guard Reece Beekman is withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to school for his senior season, he told ESPN.

“I’ve decided to go back to UVA to work towards being a first-round draft pick next year and finish my degree,” Beekman told ESPN.

Beekman, the No. 43 prospect in ESPN’s draft rankings, says the allure of returning to Virginia was too much for him to pass on ultimately, despite the positive feedback he received from NBA teams during the pre-draft process. He posted 15 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 23 minutes in his final scrimmage at the NBA Draft combine, appearing comfortable playing a different style of basketball than what we saw the past three seasons in college.

Beekman was named ACC defensive player of the year and third-team All-ACC while winning the conference’s regular-season championship this past year, making him one of the more notable players returning to the conference and the leader of Tony Bennett’s Cavaliers squad next season.

The rising senior will spearhead the team’s perpetually stout defense while being the primary ball-handler and organizer after finishing third in the ACC in assists last season. Adding a more consistent jump-shot to his repertoire — after converting 35% of his 3-point attempts this past year – could help Beekman break through and establish himself as a first-round pick as one of the top seniors in college basketball next season.

Virginia saw four of its top five scorers depart from last season, making Beekman’s return an important development. Rising sophomore Ryan Dunn will also enter next year a projected first-round pick and looks primed for a De’Andre Hunter type breakout campaign that could catapult him into lottery consideration. Fellow sophomore Isaac McKneely will also be asked to play a significant role along with incoming transfers Jordan Minor (Merrimack), Andrew Rohde (St. Thomas) and Jacob Groves (Oklahoma). Freshman center Blake Buchanan should also play important minutes after an impressive performance at the Nike Hoop Summit in April.