LSU guard Jalen Cook makes final decision on his future
LSU guard Jalen Cook has entered his name in the NBA Draft, as reported by Jon Rothstein on Monday afternoon.
Cook played in 13 games for the Tigers this past season, averaging 15.6 points, 2.8 assists, and 1.2 steals on 41.3 percent shooting as well as 32.5 percent from deep. Cook was one of the top guards in the transfer portal entering the year after back-to-back All-AAC seasons at Tulane, but was deemed ineligible to start the year by the NCAA, then was injured, then suspended by Matt McMahon for a violation of team rules.
He was not on the bench for LSU’s games in the SEC tournament or the NIT and now is trying his hand at the NBA after four years in college.
LSU ended the year 9-9 in SEC play despite a slew of injuries and changes to the rotation throughout the season. Head coach Matt McMahon talked about setting the foundation in year two after inheriting an entirely new roster when he got the job and now he hopes to return a large core of talent from the team that upset Kentucky and South Carolina this year. We’ll see how the Tigers replace the production of Jalen Cook and senior Trae Hannibal at the point guard position next season. LSU has a highly touted incoming freshman class with three four star prospects in Vyctorious Miller, Curtis Givens, and Robert Miller to help McMahon reload.
More on the 2024 NBA Draft
The 2024 NBA Draft is set to take place on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, 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 27 beginning at 11:59 p.m. ET. Players have until June 16 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 12.
