Report: Caleb Love, Hunter Sallis among NBA Draft early entrants despite league leaving them off list

Caleb Love and Hunter Sallis are among NBA Draft early entrants despite the league leaving them off the list, according to CBS Sports‘ Matt Norlander.

“Caleb Love ‘is definitely declaring’ and will be fully ‘going through the draft process,’ sources tell CBS Sports,” Norlander wrote, responding to a tweet. “His agent, Mark Bartelstein, is talking to the league office now to rectify the oversight. Love has been in Chicago and is training in the lead-up to the combine.

“Arizona previously submitted necessary paperwork to maintain Love’s eligibility, source said. Love is open to coming back; it’s 50/50 at this point if he will. Key to note: If Love returns, Zona won’t add anyone else. If he stays in draft, Tommy Lloyd would target a replacement.”

According to Norlander, the lack of Sallis is also an error.

“Source says this exact issue also impacting Hunter Sallis, who is going through the draft process and hasn’t yet committed to return to Wake Forest,” Norlander wrote.

Love declared for the draft earlier this month while maintaining his college eligibility.

This past season, Love started all 36 games for the Wildcats. He averaged a career-high 18.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 41.3% from the field and 33.2% from beyond the arc. For his efforts, he was named a semifinalist for the Naismith Trophy.

At North Carolina, Love appeared in 101 games over three seasons. He amassed 1,476 total points with the Tar Heels, earning honorable mention All-ACC honors in 2022 and 2023 while being selected to the ACC All-Freshman team in 2021.

In ESPN’s Jonathan Givony’s latest NBA draft rankings, Love was not included in his the top 25. However, with Love’s history of winning and ability to stretch the floor, it would be no surprise to see Love land a spot in the NBA. If not, he could also return to college for one final season.

As far as Sallis is concerned, it could be a good year to go to the draft. The former Demon Deacons guard is a projected first round pick.

He spent the lone season with Wake Forest after two years at Gonzaga. Following two seasons of sparse playing time, he set career highs in 2023-24.

Sallis finished the campaign with 18 points per game, 4.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, shot 48.7% from the floor and 40.5% from three-point range.