This seals it - Champagnie coming back

[Gep Dawg]

Unless Penny blows it up in the next couple of weeks he isn't going anywhere.

He's not on any first round mock drafts I've seen. I haven't even seen him projected as a second round pick. And despite being a stat machine he doesn't have a ton going for him right now.

His play has tailed off recently. Yes he has an injury but that alone should give teams a pause. And despite all that he's 6'5" with a power forward game. He needs to be able to show he can create his own shot and be fast enough to drive to the hoop and either finish or distribute at his size.

He's just not big enough to get drafted high with his current 3 and D game. I love the kid and he's an awesome college player.

But where his game currently is (even before the injury) he absolutely needs to come back next year at the very least.

 

[TheDeanofPgh]

I think he is a mid to late 2nd round pick at this point, which he shouldn't leave this year if that is the result.
If he can improve enough between this and next year, I could see him leaving after his junior year as a late 1st / early 2nd which would make sense.

For those that say they don't play defense in the NBA... Most NBA player's defense is night and day better than Champagnie at the moment. And those who are weak defensively make up for it with a dominant skill set elsewhere in their game.

Unless Penny blows it up in the next couple of weeks he isn't going anywhere.

He's not on any first round mock drafts I've seen. I haven't even seen him projected as a second round pick. And despite being a stat machine he doesn't have a ton going for him right now.

His play has tailed off recently. Yes he has an injury but that alone should give teams a pause. And despite all that he's 6'5" with a power forward game. He needs to be able to show he can create his own shot and be fast enough to drive to the hoop and either finish or distribute at his size.

He's just not big enough to get drafted high with his current 3 and D game. I love the kid and he's an awesome college player.

But where his game currently is (even before the injury) he absolutely needs to come back next year at the very least.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

I think he is a mid to late 2nd round pick at this point, which he shouldn't leave this year if that is the result.
If he can improve enough between this and next year, I could see him leaving after his junior year as a late 1st / early 2nd which would make sense.

For those that say they don't play defense in the NBA... Most NBA player's defense is night and day better than Champagnie at the moment. And those who are weak defensively make up for it with a dominant skill set elsewhere in their game.

At worst though as a late 2nd rounder or undrafted, he'd get a 2 way deal at 435K. That seems like a better offer than playing for free at Pitt next year. He can develop in the G-league too while making a lot of money

 

[PittAU]

Definitely doesn't seal it. But it's promising. Shady said the same after the wvu game and then went to the nfl.

Let's not get ahead of ourselves and compare Justin's exploits to Shady, at least not yet.

Shady was one of the nation's best running backs and is looking just outside of a Hall of Fame NFL career. Justin is a really good player on a team that is not very good.

 

[BFo8]

To be fair, I think Adams said that sincerely. He just had no idea what his situation was.

I will disagree with that. If I remember correctly almost every single mock leading up to the draft had Adams as a lottery pick. There was literally zero chance of him staying no matter what he was saying and I’m sure he knew that.

 

[BFo8]

At worst though as a late 2nd rounder or undrafted, he'd get a 2 way deal at 435K. That seems like a better offer than playing for free at Pitt next year. He can develop in the G-league too while making a lot of money

This is why he needs to leave, he’s never going to be a 1st round guy with his measurables no matter how long he stays in college or whatever numbers he puts up. If his knees are as bad as some say (doesnt help his draft status either) he needs to start making money playing basketball as soon as he can.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

This is why he needs to leave, he’s never going to be a 1st round guy with his measurables no matter how long he stays in college or whatever numbers he puts up. If his knees are as bad as some say (doesnt help his draft status either) he needs to start making money playing basketball as soon as he can.

He absolutely should declare and see what they say. If it is determined that his worst-case scenario is a 2 way deal, he has to go. Lamar Stevens is on a 2 way and Champagnie is better. $435K is a lot of money to pass up

 

[Vader_Storm]

This is why he needs to leave, he’s never going to be a 1st round guy with his measurables no matter how long he stays in college or whatever numbers he puts up. If his knees are as bad as some say (doesnt help his draft status either) he needs to start making money playing basketball as soon as he can.

He can and is closer than you think.

Ive seen multiple draft lists where he is right at the fringe of the 1st round in 2022. That includes ESPN who has him at 40th in 2022.

He can follow the Jared Dudley model by rounding out his game. Dudley went in the 1st round as a senior ACC POY that developed his game.

Ive also seen his brother listed in multiple 2022 drafts. The talent pool he is going up against next year in 2022 in the NBA will be weaker which will help elevate where he can be selected.

Further developing his midrange and 3 point shot and proving he is good enough to just be "average" on defense will go a long way to helping him raise his stock level too.

Personally I think he needs 1 more year in college. Making it to the first round is money at $1.6 million dollars or so. Big difference in $

 

[Ronnyp91]

Didn't Steve Adams say "of course I'm coming back" literally days before he declared?

Pretty sure Blair said he was coming back too.

 

[Sean Miller Fan]

He can and is closer than you think.

Ive seen multiple draft lists where he is right at the fringe of the 1st round in 2022. That includes ESPN who has him at 40th in 2022.

He can follow the Jared Dudley model by rounding out his game. Dudley went in the 1st round as a senior ACC POY that developed his game.

Ive also seen his brother listed in multiple 2022 drafts. The talent pool he is going up against next year in 2022 in the NBA will be weaker which will help elevate where he can be selected.

Further developing his midrange and 3 point shot and proving he is good enough to just be "average" on defense will go a long way to helping him raise his stock level too.

Personally I think he needs 1 more year in college. Making it to the first round is money at $1.6 million dollars or so. Big difference in $

I cant see Champagnie ever going 1st Round in this day and age

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Didn't Steve Adams say "of course I'm coming back" literally days before he declared?

Yep

 

[BFo8]

I cant see Champagnie ever going 1st Round in this day and age

There is not a big rush to draft 6’ 5” small forwards unless they are freakishly athletic with a giant wingspan. His production is great, but not all that important when it comes to a possible NBA future. There are lots of guys with great production at a high collegiate level that never sniff the 1st round.

That doesn’t mean he shouldn’t leave though. He’s never going to be a high NBA draft pick no matter what, but that certainly doesn’t preclude him from making a very nice living playing basketball. I wish nothing but the best for the guy and hope he has a long successful career wherever his basketball journey takes him.

 

[BFo8]

Yep

I remember people on here stating that like it actually meant something. Like a guy that was forecast as a lottery pick by everyone was seriously ever going to consider coming back.

To be fair most knew he was gone, the ones that didn’t obviously had very little clue about the NBA and how the draft works.

 

[pittjas]

I remember people on here stating that like it actually meant something. Like a guy that was forecast as a lottery pick by everyone was seriously ever going to consider coming back.

To be fair most knew he was gone, the ones that didn’t obviously had very little clue about the NBA and how the draft works.

Well, to be fair, Steven was somewhat of a different cat.

On a podcast recently, he mentioned playing in the NBA was never even a goal of his at all. Just wanted to use basketball to get a college degree.

So I’m sure he wasn’t necessarily set on leaving ASAP like most US elite guys are. But seeing millions sitting there waiting you will convince any of us to jump at that