WATCH: Jabari Smith officially announces NBA Draft intention

It wasn’t unexpected news, but it’s now official. Jabari Smith is heading to the NBA Draft.

The Auburn freshman sensation announced the news in a video via the Auburn basketball Twitter account and his Instagram on Tuesday. He’s one of three likely No. 1 overall picks, along with Duke standout Paolo Banchero and Gonzaga star Chet Holmgren. In ESPN’s latest mock draft, Smith was the No. 2 overall pick behind Holmgren.

"Auburn will forever be my home." – @jabarismithll #WarEagle pic.twitter.com/36zVCThC91

— Auburn Basketball (@AuburnMBB) April 5, 2022

“Auburn will forever be my home,” Smith said in the video. “It will be a place that is going to be a part of me forever. The long hours in the gym and the weight room have given me this opportunity and the chance to chase my dream of playing in the NBA.

“But none of this would’ve been possible without the love and sacrifices that were made by my dad and my mom. They molded me into the man and the person that I am today, and I’ll never be able to thank them enough. … With that being said, I would like to announce that I will be entering my name into the 2022 NBA Draft. Thank you.”

More on Jabari Smith, Auburn

Smith burst onto the scene for Auburn this season, averaging 16.9 points and 7.4 rebounds to help lead the Tigers to a No. 2 seed int his year’s NCAA Tournament. A former five-star recruit, he racked up plenty of awards for his efforts, including NABC Freshman of the Year and consensus Second Team All-American honors.

Smith had huge debut in the NCAA Tournament, dropping 20 points as Auburn cruised past Jacksonville State. But the Tigers fell to Miami in the second round of the big dance, ending their season.

Still, Auburn finished 28-6 overall and 15-3 in SEC play this season. The Tigers also received their first No. 1 ranking in program history at one point during the year.