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J.J. Hickson will enter the NBA draft but not hire an agent, men's basketball coach Sidney Lowe told The News & Observer on Monday night.
Hickson, an ACC All-Freshman team selection, scored 27 points in Thursday's 63-50 ACC Tournament loss against Miami. After the game, Hickson said he wasn't sure what he would do in regards to the draft.
"You and I both know the NBA isn't going anywhere," Hickson said. "So if I'm where I want to be on the draft board, I'm going to get together with my family and my coaching staff and make a decision. But if I'm not where I want to be, I'm going to come back to N.C. State for another season."
Hickson also said Lowe had not promised him anything about playing time or his role, and he said that approach had made his freshman season a good learning experience.
With his reported decision not to hire an agent, he would retain the option to return to school if he felt like he would not be as high a pick as he wants to be.
ESPN analyst Dick Vitale, who was in Charlotte covering the ACC Tournament this past weekend, said he hopes Hickson doesn't go pro.
"J.J. Hickson, I hope he comes back to school. He's such a force inside," Vitale said.
Though he expressed that sentiment, Vitale also said State could still be good even if Hickson leaves.
"But they've got a nice nucleus to build on even if he leaves because they have some physical players," Vitale said. "They've got to hope that the recruits they have coming in can contribute right away."
Lowe said after Thursday's loss that his first concern in the situation is what is best for Hickson, though he said he hopes his freshman star won't go pro just for the sake of going pro.
"My concern is him No. 1 and our team second," Lowe said. "That's what I told him when I recruited him."
