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If the latest mock draft from Draft Express is accurate, leaving school early may have been an extremely poor decision for Texas A&M SF Khris Middleton.
Middleton, after a disastrous junior season where he missed almost two months with a knee injury, is currently projected to go undrafted in both the first and second rounds. Even stranger, he would have likely been a first-round pick in a much weaker 2011 draft if he had declared after his strong sophomore season.
At 6'7 215, he has prototypical size at the small forward position as well as an extremely versatile skill set. As a sophomore, he averaged 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists on 45% shooting, but his numbers dipped considerably last season, with a field goal percentage of 41%.
He certainly has more talent than many of the small forward projected to go ahead of him, particularly in the second round, but he'll need a strong showing in the pre-draft season to quell concerns about his knee injury and get himself on teams draft boards.
For more coverage of the Middleton's NBA draft chances, stay tuned to SB Nation Houston.