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Boise State forward Chandler Hutchison has announced that he will forego the NBA for another season and return to school.
Chandler Hutchison announces he's returning to #BoiseState for his senior season! His thoughts on testing the NBA draft waters pic.twitter.com/P2QT7KeL0J
— Will Hall (@WillHallKTVB) May 11, 2017
Hutchison, a former four-star recruit via Mission Viejo, California, averaged 17.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game last season for the Broncos.
The junior declared for the NBA Draft without an agent on April 10 after enjoying his best season with Boise State. Hutchison saw major increases in almost every major statistical category. He improved his per-game point average by 10.6, per-game rebound average by 3.7 and per-game assist average by 1.3. He also recorded a career-high 39 steals.
Though Hutchison was viewed as an outside-looking-in NBA Draft prospect, he was ranked in the top 100 of DraftExpress’ rankings. He and former Nevada forward Cameron Oliver were the only Mountain West players in the top 100. Hutchison was 87th.
Hutchison’s return to Boise State is paramount for head coach Leon Rice and the rest of the Broncos. Star point guard Paris Austin (who averaged 12.3 points per game last season) was granted his release from the university earlier Thursday afternoon.
Hutchison will be the only returning Bronco to average more than 7.5 points per game last season. Freshman guard Justinian Jessup averaged 7.4 points per game in 32 appearances.