Ayo Dosunmu projected as first-round pick In latest NBA Mock Draft

Will he or won’t he?

That’s the question many Illini fans have been mulling since last offseason. Ayo Dosunmu was rumored to be off to the NBA Draft last summer before ultimately deciding to return to campus for his sophomore year. The hashtag “#UnfinishedBusiness” was Ayo’s unofficial mantra as this season approached.

The Fighting Illini finished 21-10 and certainly would’ve been among the 68 teams chosen for the NCAA Tournament. But with the college basketball season abbreviated due to the COVID-19 scare, unfinished business still remains. And so do the questions about Ayo’s next stop.

Illinois would likely be a preseason top-10 team if Dosunmu returns, but he could also take his chances in a fairly weak 2020 draft class. Only time will tell. But Ayo’s NBA stock may be rising, even without a chance to play in the Big Dance.

Mark Schanowski of NBC Sports Chicago unveiled his newest mock draft Sunday afternoon, with Ayo pegged at No. 23 overall to the Miami Heat:

“Dosunmu moved himself into the first round after a strong sophomore season, leading Illinois to a fourth place finish in the Big Ten. At 6-foot-5, Dosunmu has the size and skill-set to play either guard position in the NBA, and projects as an excellent fit in Miami.”

It would certainly be an intriguing fit, as former Illini Meyers Leonard and Kendrick Nunn also play for the Heat.

The NBA — like every other major sport — is on hold for the time being. If Ayo does choose to turn pro, he’ll have to impress scouts and team personnel during pre-draft workouts and interviews.