New Mexico State's Siakam to stay in draft
Pascal Siakam is taking his game to the next level.
The New Mexico State forward will remain in the 2016 NBA Draft, ending his college career after two seasons.
"I have decided to remain eligible for selection in the 2016 NBA Draft," Siakam said in a statement. "This has not been an easy decision, but after spending the past few days processing all the feedback I received throughout the NBA pre-draft process so far and speaking to my family about it, I realized that this is the best decision for my future."
Following a successful freshman campaign, Siakam was an absolute beast for the Aggies last season, averaging a double-double with 20.3 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. Siakam proved to be a two-way force, collecting 2.2 blocks and one steal per game, and was named the Western Athletic Conference's Player of the Year.
The 6-foot-9 forward from Cameroon redshirted his first year at New Mexico State before starring the past two seasons. He led the Aggies to a 23-11 record and first place during the regular season in the WAC. However, they were upset by CSU Bakersfield in the tournament championship and their season ended abruptly with a first-round loss to Saint Mary's in the NIT.
Siakam is projected to be a second-round pick by DraftExpress.