LSU basketball had four starters enter their names in the NBA draft, but at least one familiar face will be back in purple and gold with Darius Days' decision to return for his senior season in Baton Rouge.
The Tigers forward joined freshman shooting guard Cam Johnson, along with sophomore forward Trendon Watford and junior point guard Javonte Smart as early entrants into the draft field.
Days had not hired representation for the draft, while the other three had and are expected to remain in the draft field, according to a report from The Advocate.
The decision means Will Wade and the Tigers bring back a significant piece of their squad that went to the second round of the NCAA tournament earlier this season before falling to top-seeded Michigan.
"I love Louisiana, I love the people. It's going to be a fun ride. This is the last ride with me and Coach (Will) Wade. I'm the last one left with all the guys I came in with and we're looking for a title," Days said in a release from LSU. "We're trying to win a title this year. I heard about some of the games in practice over the summer so I'm very excited about the new guys and some of the returning guys. I'm excited about this season."
Days averaged 11.6 points per game in his junior season while shooting better than 50% from the field and 40% from the 3-point line. And as Days' performances went, so did the Tigers. LSU was 19-1 last year in games where Days scored in double-figures. Conversely they were 0-8 in games where he did not.
Days, listed at 6-foot-7, 145 pounds, was also a key piece in the Tigers' small-ball lineups throughout the past few seasons, often the tallest LSU player on the floor. That scenario could change a bit this season, however, with 5-star, 7-foot center Efton Reid committing to the Tigers this offseason. The team will also return Shareef O'Neal, the 6-foot-10 son of LSU and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, who played sparingly in his first season since transferring from UCLA before ending the year with an injury.
