Virginia guard Reece Beekman announces decision to return to Cavaliers for 2023-2024

Virginia guard Reece Beekman is withdrawing his name from the 2023 NBA Draft and returning to school for his senior season, ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reported on Wednesday evening. The news is massive for the Cavaliers’ roster heading into next year, as Beekman is the reigning ACC Defensive Player of the Year and one of the best point guards in the ACC. Last season, Beekman averaged 9.5 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.8 steals per game for Tony Bennett’s squad.

“I’ve decided to go back to UVA to work towards being a first-round draft pick next year and finish my degree,” Beekman told ESPN.

Beekman was ranked as the No. 43 overall prospect in ESPN’s NBA Draft Rankings. The positives of returning to the Cavaliers and improving his draft stock ultimately outweighed the positives of being a possible second-round draft pick this year. Virginia lost four of its top five scorers leave from last season, which made the Louisiana native’s return to Charlottesville even more important.

Beekman had a highly productive showing at the NBA Combine and there were conflicting reports over the past few weeks as to whether or not he was going to return to school for his senior season. The decision came down to the wire. Cavalier faithful have to be quite pleased that their top floor general is returning for another year.

Last season, Beekman ranked first in the ACC in asst to turnover ratio (3.36), second in steals (57), and third in assists (168).

Reece Beekman announces his decision, 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.

The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.