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Report: Matthew Murrell withdraws from NBA Draft, to return to Ole Miss

IMG_6598by:Nick Kosko•05/30/23•

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(Photo by Carly Mackler/Getty Images)

Ole Miss star Matthew Murrell withdrew from the 2023 NBA Draft process and will return to the Rebels this season, according to Jonathan Givony.

“NEWS: Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell is withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to Oxford for his senior season, he told ESPN,” Givony wrote on Twitter. “Murrell will enter next season as a likely preseason All-SEC candidate and potential second-round draft pick.”

In 30 games last season, Murrell finished with 14.4 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 2.6 assists per game, shot 36.5% from the floor and 30.4% from three-point range.

As a member of the Class of 2020, Murrell was a four-star recruit out of Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 4 overall prospect in the state, the No. 7 shooting guard in the class and the No. 35 overall prospect in the class.

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.