LSU center Will Baker withdraws from 2023 NBA Draft, returns to Tigers

LSU center Will Baker decided to withdraw from the 2023 NBA Draft and return to school, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.

Baker transferred from Nevada to LSU this offseason but tested the NBA Draft waters. After evaluations, he wanted to run it back at the college level later this year.

Baker originally committed to Texas but transferred to Nevada ahead of the 2021-22 campaign. He didn’t start with the Longhorns but really improved as a player with the Wolfpack.

Last season, Baker finished with 13.6 points per game, 5.2 rebounds per game, 0.8 assists per game, shot 56% from the floor and 35.5% from three-point range.

As a member of the Class of 2019, Baker was a four-star recruit out of Austin (Texas) Westlake, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 3 overall prospect in the state, the No. 6 center in the class and the No. 30 overall prospect in the class.

More on the 2023 NBA Draft

The 2023 NBA Draft is set to take place on Thursday, June 22, 2023, in Brooklyn at Barclays Center. Round 1 of the draft will be announced by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, while Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum is expected to handle the second round of picks.

To be eligible for the NBA Draft, players must be at least 19 years in age during the calendar year that the draft is held and at least one NBA season from their high school graduation date, or the date that would have been if they are not graduated. It is not required that player spend that one year playing college basketball, though. Players can play in either college, abroad, or the G League Ignite if they choose so.

While this is a significant change from what the rules once were, players are eligible to enter their names into the NBA Draft pool and explore their options by hiring an agent to go through the process, while still keeping their college eligibility. The deadline to make that move is on April 23 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 12 at 5 p.m. ET to withdraw their name from the pool and return to college.