Nebraska basketball: Isaiah Roby declares for Draft in a big blow to depth

CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 14: Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Isaiah Roby (15) goes up for a shot during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Maryland Terrapins on March 14, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 14: Nebraska Cornhuskers forward Isaiah Roby (15) goes up for a shot during a Big Ten Tournament game between the Nebraska Cornhuskers and the Maryland Terrapins on March 14, 2019, at the United Center in Chicago, IL. (Photo by Patrick Gorski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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A former Nebraska Basketball player is going to the NBA.

Not gonna lie, I sort of expected this to happen. Nevertheless, it still stings. According to multiple media reports, Nebraska Basketball senior forward Isaiah Roby is expected to take his talents to the National Basketball Association and enter the Draft. This news was first reported by Brian Christopherson of 247Sports.

Roby was a big part of the Nebraska Basketball offense last season. When Issac Copeland went down, Roby stepped up and filled the void. He had a tremendous season and played very well down the  stretch. Overall, he recorded 11.8 points per contest and 6.9 rebounds per game. He also managed to shoot the ball efficiently, averaging a 45.4 field goal percentage.

"“I’m thankful for Nebraska for being my home over the last three years,” Roby said on Instagram Friday. “Coach Miles, the staff, my teammates and fans have embraced me, and I am truly grateful for everything. With that being said, I would like to announce that I am declaring for the NBA draft. I have full believe in my ability to help a team at the NBA level, but as I gather valuable feedback regarding my NBA status throughout this process, I will be maintaining my collegiate eligibility in order to keep all of my options open and to ultimately make a decision that will be in the best interests of my long-term success.”"

Although he says that he will maintain his eligibility, I can’t see him turning back on a chance to go pro. This is a player whose stock is really high right now. He is not going to be a top five draft pick, but the Copeland injury in particular gave Roby a chance to showcase his skillset. I do not blame him for declaring for the draft. He saw an opportunity and he had to take it.

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Nevertheless, this still is unfortunate for Nebraska Basketball. The proverbial cupboard is bare for Coach Hoiberg and that will make things challenging for both him and the program moving forward. This is truly going to be a rebuild, and the loss of Roby is definitely going to leave a major gap in the roster. It will be interesting to see how Hoiberg chooses to fill this void. This gives him a chance to start fresh, although probably not in the way he was envisioning. He will certainly have a lot of work cut out for him.

Roby is a penciled in as the No. 36 overall prospect in the upcoming draft according to Sports Illustrated’s Big Board. What that means is that he will probably be an early second-round pick.

I wish the best to Isaiah Roby. He certainly gave it his all well he was with Nebraska Basketball and he played hard each and every night. Although the results are not what he probably would have wanted them to be towards the end, there is no doubt that he was always willing to compete. I wish him the best of luck and can’t wait to see him in the NBA next year. Whichever team gets him will be lucky to have them on their roster.