Ole Miss’ Terence Davis will test NBA Draft waters, won’t hire agent

Published 1:55 pm Friday, March 23, 2018

Ole Miss guard Terence Davis will test the NBA waters.

Davis will submit paperwork for this year’s NBA Draft, a school spokesperson confirmed. The news was first reported by ESPN.

Davis, a junior, is not hiring an agent, giving the 6-foot-4, 201-pounder the option to return for his senior season depending on the feedback he receives from NBA teams regarding his draft stock. The NCAA passed a rule in 2016 that allows upperclassmen to retain their remaining college eligibility if they withdraw their name from draft consideration no later than 10 days before the draft, which will begin June 21 this year.

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The draft combine will be held May 16-20 in Chicago.

“This is a dream come true,” Davis told ESPN. “I am entering the draft because I feel like this is the rule, so why not take advantage of it? I’ll get to see where my game is at. I definitely believe that I am an NBA player and can play in the NBA.”

Davis emerged on the national scene with a breakout sophomore season in which he finished 11th in the SEC in scoring at 14.9 points per game while shooting 48 percent from the field. A preseason second-team All-SEC selection this season, Davis led the Rebels in scoring (13.6 points per game) and rebounding (6.2), but his shooting percentages dropped to 40.7 from the field and 31.7 from 3-point range.

Using his superb athleticism to attack the rim and finish in transition are strengths of Davis’ game while his outside shot and defense need refinement. He combined to shoot just 32 percent from beyond the arc the last two seasons while foul trouble has often kept him on the bench for long stretches.

Should Davis opt to return to school, he would play his final season under new coach Kermit Davis, who was hired earlier this month to replace Andy Kennedy after the Rebels finished 12-20 — their first losing season since 2006.

“Even if things don’t work out, I am looking forward to my senior year because of coach Kermit and everyone coming back,” Davis told ESPN. “His first year there, we can do something special. He’s been a big help in this process.”