Oakland's Trey Townsend to get NBA evaluation; transfer, big payday still in play

Detroit — Oakland star forward Trey Townsend is set to take the obvious next step and declare for the NBA Draft, in the wake of his big performances in the Horizon League and NCAA tournaments. He will go through the evaluation process before making a final decision.

Townsend has not yet declared or the NBA Draft but he will and he will have representation. He can play a fifth college season if he withdraws his name in the weeks leading up to the June 26-27 NBA Draft.

"Yes, he's going to declare and see what the interest is," Oakland head coach Greg Kampe said Thursday afternoon, while watching Tennessee's practice at Little Caesars Arena ahead of Friday's Sweet 16 games. "We're going to go through the process together, the whole thing, everything, other schools, everything."

If Townsend, an Oxford native, pulls his name out of the NBA Draft, he is expected to consider a transfer for his fifth collegiate season. Early estimates put a possible NIL payday well into the six figures at a power-conference school. That's more than he'd make in the NBA G League. Oakland might be able to get him five figures to stay.

He will graduate from Oakland in May.

Townsend was the Horizon League player of the year and the Horizon League tournament MVP, scoring 38 points in the tournament championship game over Milwaukee to put Oakland in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011. He then posted two double-doubles in NCAA Tournament games against Kentucky and N.C. State, with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Kentucky, and 30 points and 13 rebounds in the loss to N.C. State. Townsend even showcased some 3-point chops against N.C. State.

During NCAA Tournament week, Kampe took to calling Townsend "Mr. Oakland." The two have known each other for years. Townsend's parents, Skip and Nicole, played basketball at Oakland; Townsend began attending Kampe's camps at the age of 8, and never wanted to play anywhere else.

Townsend considered the transfer portal a year ago, but wanted to go through Senior Day at Oakland, and he knew there was a chance for a special season with fellow seniors Blake Lampman, Chris Conway, Jack Gohlke and Rocket Watts all in the mix for 2023-24.

"We'll look at it and we'll see what he's worth and what he wants to do," Kampe said after the NCAA Tournament loss to N.C. State in Pittsburgh last Saturday. "If he goes in the portal … everyone would want him."

tpaul@detroitnews.com

@tonypaul1984