Chicago Bulls rookie Donovan Wilson stole all the headlines, and rightfully so. However, he wasn't the only young star the new front office thought may have a bright future in the Windy City, and we're not talking about Dailyn Swain, either.
The Bulls gave Texas Tech Red Raiders star Donovan Atwell an Exhibit 10 contract after he went undrafted. However, it now seems that he never officially signed the deal, and a new NCAA ruling might lead him right back to college. This new rule, which establishes that players have five years of eligibility across five college seasons, threatens to change everything.
As Andrew Hanlon of FanSided's Pippen Ain't Easy reported, the NCAA's 5-in-5 ruling would allow Atwell to get one more year of college eligibility, cash in on a NIL deal, and maybe even improve his stock for the 2027 NBA Draft.
The Bulls could've had an elite sharpshooter
"Most importantly in this context, the rule was set to kick in for students who enroll in 2027," wrote Hanlon. "However, a federal court ruled that all athletes from the 2022 class who have exhausted their eligibility can now play that fifth season. That includes Atwell. And because he never officially signed his Exhibit-10 deal with the Bulls, he's entitled to return to school."
Atwell's draft stock was never that high, and he was always a candidate to either go undrafted or take his talents to the G League. Bryson Graham, however, seemed impressed enough by his otherworldly sharpshooting skills.
He began his collegiate career with a three-year stint at UNC Greesboro before transferring to Texas Tech for last season. He averaged 13.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game in 34 appearances, knocking down a whopping 45.8 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Standing at 6-foot-5, the 22-year-old shooting guard was a bit of a one-trick pony for the Red Raiders, but there will always be a place in the NBA for three-point shooting specialists. He can be something of a lite Buddy Hield, though he would also have to work on being more consistent in other areas of the game, especially on defense.
The Bulls have a plethora of young talent and should be just fine even with him, but floor spacing remains a bit of a concern for Tiago Splitter's team. And even though there were no guarantees he would make the roster or play a meaningful role, some considered him the best shooter in his class.
College athletics are changing drastically, and it's honestly hard to keep up with all the frenzy. The NIL revolution has given college players fewer incentives to turn pro, especially those without a guaranteed contract.
And as much as athletes have every right to cash in on their talent, it might cost the Bulls a shot at a big steal this time.
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