When Vanderbilt star Scotty Pippen Jr. opted to withdraw from the 2021 NBA Draft and return for another season on West End, he did so with an understanding from all involved that he did not intend to play a fourth year for the Commodores. But with Pippen's draft stock seemingly no better this time around, the two-time First Team All-SEC point guard has not yet announced a decision two weeks after Vanderbilt's season ended in the NIT quarterfinals.
Coach Jerry Stackhouse said Monday during an appearance on 102.5 The Game's "Darren, Daunic and Chase" that Pippen has not made his decision yet and remains in the process of gathering feedback from the NBA.
"We hope he makes his decision soon, because whether he comes back or not we still have to keep forging forward and be able to be a player in the transfer portal," Stackhouse said. "Right now, we've got one scholarship available to go out and try to add to talent. Depending on what he decides to do, there could be an opportunity to do that with a couple of guys. There are definitely some quality guys that I feel like could come in and help us there. But obviously, more importantly, we'd love to have him back."
"He could be really the most decorated player (in program history)," Stackhouse added. "He has got a chance to become the all-time leading scorer and do some things that probably not a lot of people thought he could do coming in here. He has developed, and he has earned it. He has worked his way into becoming the player that he is. He's a great citizen off the court. I think he really enjoys being in school. So we'll wait and see. We'll keep our fingers crossed."
Pippen averaged 20.4 points per game and 4.5 assists on 41.6% shooting as a junior, all slightly down from his stats in 2020-21. But Pippen improved defensively and led Vanderbilt to its first winning season under Stackhouse.
Stackhouse has said multiple times that he believes the Commodores would have made the NCAA Tournament if not for injuries to starters Liam Robbins and Rodney Chatman, but he noted that Vanderbilt made the same pitch to Pippen last offseason regarding the effect that winning more games could have on his professional stock.
"We just signed a form to go get feedback from the league and where they think he would get drafted," Stackhouse said. "They turn that around pretty quickly. I think if it comes back and it's saying that he's a late first-round pick and maybe possibly an early second-round pick, then that's something to really consider. But if that's not the case, then let's run it back and give us a chance to improve this offseason more.
"I think teams know that he can play the game, and now he has got an opportunity to really show that he can win. I think they started to see that toward the end (of the season) — him making decisions to help us win games and how that can really translate to that next level. We talked about it last summer, him coming back and doing that this year. It's a fine balance. It's his decision this time. I think it's for him and his family to say that this is what they want to continue, and I'm going to support him, as I would have last year."