Isaiah Stevens to return to Colorado State basketball team after withdrawing from NBA draft
One of the best players in Colorado State men’s basketball history will be back for an encore.
Point guard Isaiah Stevens announced Friday he will withdraw from the NBA draft and return to play his fifth season with the Rams.
Stevens simply tweeted a graphic saying, ”I’m back.”
He’s eligible to play again due to the NCAA’s granting of an extra season for those who played in the COVID-impacted 2020-21.
Stevens participated in the NBA's G League Elite Camp (also known as G League combine) in mid-May. An invite to the NBA combine did not follow, which also likely meant he was not expected to be one of the 58 players selected in the draft.
The return of Stevens finalizes CSU’s 2023-24 roster and brings back arguably the most important piece in a bid to return the Rams to the NCAA Tournament.
Kevin Lytle says: Return of Isaiah Stevens can have CSU basketball fans dreaming of NCAA Tournament return
The 6-foot native of Allen, Texas is CSU’s all-time assist record holder with 618. He’s started all 117 games he’s played, with career averages of 15.2 points and 5.3 assists per game.
Stevens helped lead the Rams to the 2021-22 NCAA Tournament.
He entered his name in the draft in late March, allowing him to go through the evaluation process to see where his pro future most likely would be if he entered the draft this season. He maintained his eligibility throughout, allowing him to return to CSU.
The deadline to withdraw was May 31.
CSU has added three additions through the transfer portal in 6-foot-7 forward Joel Scott and 6-6 guards Nique Clifford and Javonte Johnson.
More: What CSU basketball’s transfer portal reload means for bid to return to NCAA Tournament
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Isaiah Stevens to return to Colorado State basketball team after withdrawing from NBA draft
