SMU forward Semi Ojeleye will test the NBA draft waters, sources tell Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv (Twitter link). While Ojeleye will declare for the draft, he won’t immediately hire an agent, giving him the flexibility to withdraw his name by May’s deadline.
A 6’7″ junior, Ojeleye joined SMU for the 2016/17 season after spending two years with Duke. The 22-year-old never saw major minutes for the Blue Devils, but enjoyed a breakout season at SMU, averaging 19.0 PPG and 6.9 RPG with a .487/.424/.785 shooting line.
There appears to be no clear consensus on Ojeleye’s draft stock, with DraftExpress ranking him 31st on the site’s top-100 list, while ESPN’s Chad Ford places him just 82nd on his big board. Going through the pre-draft process over the next couple months should allow Ojeleye to get a sense of how he’s viewed by NBA teams, allowing him to make a more informed decision on whether or not to return to SMU for his senior year.
Our full list of early entrants for this year’s draft can be found right here.