Sergey Karasev has returned home to Russia and plans on staying there until the 2013 NBA Draft in late June, according to Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski.
The 19-year-old Karasev worked out in front of executives from nearly NBA team in Las Vegas last week, and his representatives began to inform teams Tuesday that he would not be available for any private workouts prior to the draft on June 27. These developments have fueled speculation that Karasev has received a first-round guarantee.
Leading up to the draft, Karasev will practice with Russia's under-20 national team. The team will take part in the World University Games in July.
Karasev's projected draft position has been all over the map thus far. In SB Nation's latest mock draft, Jonathan Tjarks has the Russian sharpshooter going eighth to the Detroit Pistons, while Draft Express has Karasev falling all the way down to the Minnesota Timberwolves at No. 26. ESPN's Chad Ford has Karasev going 19th to the Cleveland Cavaliers.
More from SB Nation:
• Flannery: The Heat as we knew them | Ziller: Dynasties are supposed to be hard
• David West: "I can't see myself going anywhere else"
• Kobe Bryant is "The Last Dinosaur"
• Pacers swallowed by the moment | Heat's Big 3 in third Finals
• NBA mock draft: Let's collaborate! | SB Nation's Big Board