NORMAL, Ill. – Illinois State junior and Missouri Valley Conference Newcomer of the Year Milik Yarbrough has announced that he will not enter his name into the 2018 NBA Draft.
"I have decided to not put my name in the NBA draft," said Yarbrough. "I want to spend my final season at Illinois State developing so that I can have a long and successful professional career. More importantly, I feel like I have unfinished business here at ISU. I want to help my team have a special season next year, get to the NCAA Tournament, and reach some personal goals. It is also very important to me that I get my degree. GO BIRDS!!"
Yarbrough, named to the MVC First Team, First Team All-District, and Newcomer of the Year, averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and had 152 assists (4.8 per game). Those numbers put him in the top five of the conference in each, and ended the season as one of just three players this season to be in the top five in all three of those categories.
His overall numbers during the season – 531 points, 210 rebounds, 152 assists – put him in elite company, as just the 29th student-athlete in the NCAA since 1992-93 to put up those numbers. Of the players to accomplish the feat, just four have done it in 32 games or fewer including Yarbrough, Penny Hardaway, Evan Turner, and Denzel Valentine.
His average stats have him as one of just 12 student-athletes since 1992-93 to average 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, and included in the other 12 includes Penny Hardaway, Evan Turner, Denzel Valentine, Grant Hill, Bob Sura, and Jason Kidd.
The Redbirds ended the 2017-18 season with an 18-15 record, advancing to the title game of the MVC Tournament, falling to eventual NCAA Final Four participant Loyola in the championship game.
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