Michigan State Basketball: 3 reasons Xavier Tillman will return in 2020-21

Many believe Xavier Tillman will remain in the NBA draft, but he’s torn on a decision. Here’s why he could return to Michigan State basketball.

The NBA draft has been moved back, the lottery, too, and the rest of the 2019-20 season will finish up this summer in time for kids to get workouts in and prepare for the selection process.

While there’s now an extended period of time in which players can withdraw from the draft, it’s never too early to talk about which guys should make a return. For Michigan State, there are two Spartans who have big decisions to make and whatever they choose, they’ll have the backing of the fanbase as well as Tom Izzo.

Aaron Henry is the player who likely has the most to lose by going, however. He has a lot to work on and there have been very few mocks or big boards with his name on it. He’s considered a top-100 NBA prospect, but just barely.

Xavier Tillman is the next and he is likely NBA-ready, but he’s a fringe first-rounder. He has appeared on many mock drafts as a late-first, early-second round pick, but is that enough to get him to leave Michigan State a year early? He has a family and a degree and it wouldn’t be a bad idea to lock up a sure contract.

Developments have revealed that he’s not a lock to head to the NBA after all. He was considered a goner when he declared, but he’s maintained his collegiate eligibility and has even admitted that mock drafts aren’t as accurate as they seem. There’s more that he hears from teams that give him a better idea of where he’ll be drafted.

Let’s take a look at why Tillman will return for his senior year.