LSU guard Jalen Cook declares for 2024 NBA Draft

Former Tulane and LSU guard Jalen Cook has made his decision, with college basketball insider John Rothstein reporting Monday that Cook has officially declared for the 2024 NBA Draft.

After spending his true freshman season as a reserve role player for LSU, Cook transferred to Tulane ahead of his sophomore season.

With the Green Wave Cook was a full-time starter, averaging 18.0 points per game in his first season with the team and a career-high 19.9 points per game in his junior season. Leading Tulane in scoring for two straight seasons and in assists during the 2022-2023 season. Earning First-Team All-AAC honors twice after being one of the conference’s top scorers in back-to-back seasons.

After two seasons at Tulane, Cook decided to take his talents back to The Bayou. Returning to LSU for his senior season.

Unfortunately, a leg injury kept him off of the floor for the Tigers last season, appearing in just 13 games with nine starts. But in those contests, he averaged 15.6 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. As he’ll now look to test the waters of the NBA Draft this offseason following a standout career in the state of Louisiana.

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.