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          LSU freshman Reid to hire agent, enter draft

          Apr 3, 2019
          • ESPN News Services

          LSU center Naz Reid has declared for the NBA draft and will hire an agent, he announced on social media Wednesday.

          A 6-foot-10 freshman, he averaged 13.6 points and 7.2 rebounds for the Tigers this season.

          "Attending LSU and playing as a Tiger this year has been an experience I wouldn't trade for anything," Reid wrote. "I want to say thank you to every single person who helped me along the way; I wouldn't be here without your love and support."

          View this post on Instagram

          First I want to thank God As I write this most humble post, I want to secondly express how truly incredible this past season has been for me. LSU has changed my life in more ways than I could have ever imagined. Uprooting my life and moving from New Jersey to Louisiana posed its own challenges, but the family waiting for me on the court made the transition as wonderful as it could possibly be. Attending LSU and playing as a Tiger this year has been an experience I wouldn't trade for anything. I want to say thank you to every single person who helped me along the way; I wouldn't be here without your love and support. It is with this that I announce I will be leaving LSU to pursue my dream of being a professional basketball player. I will be entering the NBA Draft with an agent in hopes of finally fulfilling a dream I believe is my destiny. I cannot imagine doing anything else and, again, would not be in this position without all of you and everyone who has ever believed in and supported me. Thank you to my LSU family for welcoming me with open arms. Once a Tiger, always a Tiger. Sincerely Yours, Naz Reid

          A post shared by Naz Reid (@hollywood.naz) on

          Reid, who is ranked 50th on ESPN's NBA draft top 100 prospects list, was part of now-suspended LSU coach Will Wade's second recruiting class.

          Wade has been implicated in a federal investigation into sports agency and shoe company representatives convicted of funneling improper payments to the families of prized college basketball recruits. Findings of the probe that have been publicized have not implicated Reid or his family in any wrongdoing.

          Reid was widely viewed as a candidate to turn pro after one season, even before the recent controversy over LSU's basketball program.

          The Associated Press contributed to this report.