Terquavion Smith declares for 2023 NBA Draft

N.C. State guard Terquavion Smith has declared for the 2023 NBA Draft, he told ESPN’s Jonathan Givony. He just finished his sophomore campaign with the Wolfpack, establishing himself as one of the most explosive scorers in the country, averaging 17.9 points, 3.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

“I’m forgoing my college eligibility and going all the way in,” Smith told Givony. “I’m thankful for everything the NC State coaching staff and fans have done for me. This is the right decision for me to take care of my family.”

Smith earned second team All-ACC honors this year, joining his fellow backcourt mate Jarkel Joiner on the list. As a freshman last year, Smith immediately established himself as one of the rising stars in the conference, earning All-ACC Rookie Team honors after averaging 16.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.3 steals per game.

While he was a highly explosive scorer this year, Smith was inconsistent from one game to the next, getting scorching hot one game, and going ice cold the next. He saved his best two performances for the postseason this year, as he erupted for 30 points in the ACC Tournament quarterfinals against Virginia Tech and 32 points in his team’s first round NCAA Tournament loss to the Creighton Bluejays.

The North Carolina native was one of the more highly regarded prospects in America in the 2021 recruiting cycle. He played his high school basketball with Farmville Central (NC), where he was ranked as the No. 91 overall prospect in the country and a four-star recruit, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, an equally weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

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.

The NBA Draft Lottery will be held on May 16, which is also the start of the NBA Conference Finals.