he NBA draft was pushed back almost four months due to the pandemic that has rocked this country.
But when it finally happens Oct. 16, Xavier Tillman hopes to hear his name called.
The Michigan State basketball forward announced Sunday he will indeed go pro after declaring for the draft in March.
Tillman’s decision came a day before the NCAA’s withdrawal deadline and will have huge ramifications for Tom Izzo’s Spartans, which bid adieu to former All-American guard Cassius Winston and but reportedly welcomed back Aaron Henry after he explored a move to the pro ranks.
“We knew that this was a very real possibility for him, but that it was going to be a difficult decision with everything going on in the world today,” Izzo said in a statement Sunday. “Xavier has been an excellent player and an even better person for Michigan State Basketball. He came here as a young man with a great upside and has developed into one of the best college basketball players in the country…There’s no one who deserves this opportunity more than Xavier and we will be here to support him in any way that we can.”
Tillman led the team in rebounds last season, averaging 10.3 per game. He also was a consistent scorer, averaging 13.7 points per game, which ranked second on the Spartans behind Winston.
But it was Tillman’s prowess on the other end of the court that earned him the most recognition. He was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year — contributing 2.1 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.
So it was no surprise Tillman did his due diligence as he assessed his pro prospects.
Upon entering the draft in March, Tillman promised he’d “gather as much information” as he weighed whether to forgo his remaining college eligibility or return to East Lansing for another run with Michigan State.
As he attempted to reach a decision, he had off-the-court matters to consider. Tillman has two children with his wife, Tamia.
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