What NC State’s Terquavion Smith, Dereon Seabron had to say about NBA draft decisions
Terquavion Smith’s week at the NBA draft combine went so well, both Wednesday in skill and agility testing and in Thursday’s scrimmage game, his agent advised him he didn’t need to play in Friday’s scrimmage.
That’s how strong the 6-foot-2 freshman guard from N.C. State played in front of representatives from all 30 NBA teams as they prepare for the June 23 NBA draft.
Smith has the option of returning to play for the Wolfpack next season. On Friday, despite him being a fast-rising prospect among NBA draft analysts, he said he has not yet closed the door on staying with the Wolfpack.
“I need to hear a guarantee,” Smith said, “Guarantee of first round. I‘m shooting for top 20 just because I know the type of player that I am and I know the talents I have and I know the type of player that I can become with the right growth and the right one-on-one development.”
The deadline for players to withdraw from the NBA draft and maintain their eligibility for college basketball is 11:59 p.m. on June 1. Smith said he’ll use the next week to firm up which direction he plans to go. His agent, Todd Ramasar of Life Sports Agency, has a pro day set up for Smith and other clients on May 25 in Los Angeles.
Smith’s teammate under coach Kevin Keatts at N.C. State last season, 6-7 forward Dereon Seabron, was a full participant at the combine this week. After going through skills and agility testing on Wednesday, Seabron played in 40-minute scrimmages both Thursday and Friday.
He scored 17 points while playing Thursday’s scrimmage, producing those points 5-of-8 shooting from the field in 26 minutes of play. He added five rebounds and two steals. On Friday, Seabron played 29 minutes and scored 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting with five rebounds and four assists.
Seabron worked out for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn Nets and Detroit Pistons before arriving in Chicago and met with the Los Angeles Lakers, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat and Denver Nuggets this week. He has a workout scheduled with the Orlando Magic on May 25.
Seabron said several other teams want to work him out in June, but that’s if he decides to stay in the draft and not return to N.C. State. He’s yet to make that call, though, and he doesn’t have a specific thing in mind, like a first-round guarantee or anything.
“I don’t really know,” he said Friday. “It’s nothing specific. It’s just depends upon how the feedback goes when I talk to teams.”
Before making that choice, he said he’ll gather with his inner circle, including his mother and Keatts, to discuss it all.
A freshman guard from Greenville, Smith averaged 16.3 points per game while making 36.9% of his 3-point shots at N.C. State during his first season of college basketball.
While working in front of pro scouts, Smith said he was successful in showing he’s more than just a scorer.
“Just facilitating for others, showing it I can pass and be lead guard,” Smith said. “I feel like I did that. I made great passes and reads yesterday at a high level.”
On Wednesday during the combine’s skill drills and agility testing, Smith wowed with a 38.5-inch maximum vertical leap that was sixth-best among the field of invited players. Tennessee’s Kennedy Chandler had the best at 41.5 inches.
Smith’s time in the lane agility drill of 10.63 seconds was No. 4 in the combine as Gonzaga’s Julian Strawther had the best at 10.3 seconds.
Smith hit 18 of 25 shots (72%) during a 3-point shooting drill.
Against live competition in Thursday’s 40-minute scrimmage, Smith hit 6 of 17 shots, including 3 of 10 3-pointers, to score his 17 points. He added six rebounds and two assists.
Smith said he feels like he’s already been able to exceed what he accomplished in college this week.
“I was definitely happy with how I played,” Smith said. “I showed a lot more than I showed in college.”
The New York Knicks, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers are among the teams Smith said he’s met with in Chicago.
This story was originally published May 21, 2022 at 6:10 AM.