Players who Leave Early and Go Undrafted

[94Warrior]

Marquette has had at least 4 players leave early to play professionally, and go undrafted in recent memory (say 10 years).
With NIL and immediately eligible transfers now allowed, I would like to see the NCAA change the rule to allow the undrafted kids return to school.


Would any of these kids have returned, if given the chance?

I can think of:
Todd Mayo
Vander Blue
Brendan Bailey
Justin Lewis

[Uncle Rico]

Marquette has had at least 4 players leave early to play professionally, and go undrafted in recent memory (say 10 years).
With immediately eligible transfers now allowed, I would like to see the NCAA change the rule to allow the undrafted kids return to school.

Would any of these kids have returned, if given the chance?

I can think of:
Todd Mayo
Vander Blue
Brendan Bailey
Justin Lewis

I can't speak of Bailey but I don't think the other 3 would have

[rocky_warrior]

And Lewis immediately inked a deal after not getting drafted.  So...(despite the later injury)...no

[MU82]

From what I can remember, Vander simply didn't want to be in college any more. He was ready to move on.

Mayo was gone. Period.

Lewis sure seemed quite set on leaving. It would appear he got no guarantee from any team that he would be drafted, and yet he still decided to leave.

Bailey received absolutely no pre-draft buzz, and his dad is pretty well-versed in all things NBA-related, so he had to know he wasn't gonna get drafted.

So I strongly doubt any would have returned even had the rules allowed it.

Having said that, I'd like to see the rule changed. A kid should have all the information he needs before making such an impactful decision.

[cheebs09]

At the time, maybe not. Now with NIL, I could see all but Mayo returning.

[muwarrior69]

Marquette has had at least 4 players leave early to play professionally, and go undrafted in recent memory (say 10 years).
With NIL and immediately eligible transfers now allowed, I would like to see the NCAA change the rule to allow the undrafted kids return to school.


Would any of these kids have returned, if given the chance?

I can think of:
Todd Mayo
Vander Blue
Brendan Bailey
Justin Lewis

Do you mean undrafted and never played pro ball?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Do you mean undrafted and never played pro ball?

Pretty sure they all played pro ball - or will be soon. Vander even played in the NBA.

[JWags85]

Pretty sure they all played pro ball - or will be soon. Vander even played in the NBA.

Mayo is really the only one who didn't play anything of note.  A season in the G League and then nada.

[warriorchick]

At the time, maybe not. Now with NIL, I could see all but Mayo returning.

I am not sure he would have been allowed back.

[cheebs09]

I am not sure he would have been allowed back.

Yea, I think the "Todd left to go pro" was the press release statement and not the true story.

[wadesworld]

I went undrafted too.  No real interest in heading back to MU here.

[brewcity77]

Would any of these kids have returned, if given the chance?

I can think of:
Todd Mayo
Vander Blue
Brendan Bailey
Justin Lewis

Mayo: Yes because he wasn't given the chance. It wasn't his decision to leave in the first place.

Blue: No as he had a couple NBA opportunities in his first couple years after Marquette.

Bailey: No since no one ever thought he was headed to the NBA anyway. Just seemed like he was done with school.

Lewis: Maybe but I doubt it. Who knows if the injury happens anyway, but despite going undrafted, he latched on with a two-way almost immediately.

[Lennys Tap]

I went undrafted too.  No real interest in heading back to MU here.

You left early? No degree?

[ChuckyChip]

Marquette has had at least 4 players leave early to play professionally, and go undrafted in recent memory (say 10 years).
With NIL and immediately eligible transfers now allowed, I would like to see the NCAA change the rule to allow the undrafted kids return to school.


Would any of these kids have returned, if given the chance?

I can think of:
Todd Mayo
Vander Blue
Brendan Bailey
Justin Lewis

D.J. Carton

[muwarrior69]

Pretty sure they all played pro ball - or will be soon. Vander even played in the NBA.

I am sure most drafted players have successful NBA careers. I am sure there are some players who were not drafted that have reasonably successful pro/NBA careers that exceeded some drafted players. So I don't understand why the status of undrafted has any real meaning in this discussion, unless the player never played or signed a pro contract.

[Silkk the Shaka]

Mayo: Yes because he wasn't given the chance. It wasn't his decision to leave in the first place.

Blue: No as he had a couple NBA opportunities in his first couple years after Marquette.

Bailey: No since no one ever thought he was headed to the NBA anyway. Just seemed like he was done with school.

Lewis: Maybe but I doubt it. Who knows if the injury happens anyway, but despite going undrafted, he latched on with a two-way almost immediately.

What was the deal with Mayo not being allowed back?

[Uncle Rico]

What was the deal with Mayo not being allowed back?

He got accepted to the dental school

[brewcity77]

What was the deal with Mayo not being allowed back?

Todd got himself in trouble a lot. Buzz had promised his mom he'd get him through graduation, so every time something came up Buzz went to bat for him. I honestly don't remember what the final straw was, but admin had had it up to here and Wojo had no such loyalties. Once Buzz left, there was no one to protect Mayo anymore.

[#UnleashSean]

Completely agree with them being able to come back, however most likely wouldn't.



Todd Mayo - shown the door
Vander Blue - also shown the door
Brendan Bailey- left to play low D1 ball, was never going to make am impact.
Justin Lewis - should have been drafted, would have made the team. Unfortunate what happened to him

[We R Final Four]

Completely agree with them being able to come back, however most likely wouldn't.



Todd Mayo - shown the door
Vander Blue - also shown the door
Brendan Bailey- left to play low D1 ball, was never going to make am impact.
Justin Lewis - should have been drafted, would have made the team. Unfortunate what happened to him

Vander opened his own door.

[MU82]

He got accepted to the dental school

I guess there really is teeth to that rumor.

[PGsHeroes32]

Completely agree with them being able to come back, however most likely wouldn't.



Todd Mayo - shown the door
Vander Blue - also shown the door
Brendan Bailey- left to play low D1 ball, was never going to make am impact.
Justin Lewis - should have been drafted, would have made the team. Unfortunate what happened to him