Senior LSU men’s basketball guard Jalen Cook will be entering his name into the NBA Draft, according to a report Monday from CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein.
Cook played in 13 games this season for LSU, averaging 15.6 points, 2.8 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 1.2 steals.
However, Cook ended the season away from the team after being suspended for what head coach Matt McMahon called “a failure to meet the standards that have been placed for the program.”
Cook transferred last offseason to LSU after two successful years at Tulane in which he was named an all-American Athletic Conference selection. Prior to that, he was at LSU as a freshman after committing there out of nearby Walker High.
With his impactful track record with the Green Wave, Cook was expected to be an impact player for LSU this season.
However, Cook’s availability this season was an issue. To begin the year, he was unable to play due to being a two-time transfer, until the NCAA relaxed its rules in the face of court proceedings challenging its eligibility rules.
When Cook finally returned to play on Dec. 16, he initially looked like the player the team anticipated he would be. He led LSU to a near-upset of ranked Texas in his first game back and later scored 28 points against Vanderbilt.
Eventually, Cook’s shot selection and offensive efficiency became an issue, with him shooting a poor percentage and amassing more turnovers than assists through SEC play.
Cook didn’t play in LSU’s Feb. 7 game against Tennessee because of an injury. After playing in the subsequent two games, he was again sidelined indefinitely for what McMahon said was an injury, with his suspension later announced.