Chris Jans updates where things are with draft decision for Tolu Smith

An NBA Draft decision for Tolu Smith is looming, with the Mississippi State forward still pondering his options as he goes through the pre-draft process this month.

Players have until June 1 to withdraw their names from the 2023 NBA Draft and still retain their collegiate eligibility. Smith has another year of eligibility to use should he want, thanks to the NCAA issuing a free year to athletes impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mississippi State coach Chris Jans explained he’s been in touch with Smith throughout the process.

“He’s been great,” Jans said. “We’ve had great open lines of communication and I’m sure everyone’s wanting to know what his near future plans are, and we are too, but he’s on his own timetable and he’s trying to figure it out.”

Should the draft decision for Tolu Smith go in favor of the Bulldogs it would be a massive coup for Jans and his staff.

Smith has averaged at least 12.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game each of the last three seasons. He’s coming off his best year yet in 2022-23, averaging 15.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 0.7 blocks per game.

The Bulldogs managed to reach the NCAA Tournament in Jans’ first season in charge, but fell 60-59 to Pittsburgh.

How the roster takes shape with Smith’s decision could determine whether the Bulldogs can take the next step next season. But Jans is giving Smith plenty of space in making his decision.

“Just like last year when we got here, first meeting, group setting, individual meetings the couple days following when we arrived, we’ve been through this now and we’ve had the same mindset for every one of the young men who are in Tolu’s position,” Jans said. “The guys we inherited last year we told them from the jump we were going to give them space. We understood that they had decisions to make. And when we were new it was more about, ‘Hey, give us a chance to get to know you, let us share our vision for this program, for you specifically.'”

The conversations around the draft decision for Tolu Smith have been quite a bit different.

“Now that we’ve been here a year it’s a different type of retention,” Jans said. “Tolu knows us, he knows me. It’s not as if I feel like it’s straight recruiting mode like it was last year when we arrived. It’s more, ‘Hey, go through the process mentally, physically. We’re going to support you. We’re going to be here for you to be a sounding board if needed.’

“But at the same time he knows we’re biased, so he’s not just leaning on us when he’s trying to figure out what’s in store for his future.”