Hoops HD

The NBA Finals have not even begun but it is already time for most of the league to start preparing for next season. The lottery will be held on May 12th, the final deadline for early entry withdrawal is June 15th, and the draft will begin on June 25th. We will spend the months ahead interviewing as many members of this year’s draft class as possible. HoopsHD’s Jon Teitel commences our coverage by chatting with LSU G Jordan Sears about being a great scorer and what it would mean to him to get drafted.

You were born 6 days before 9/11: has your mom told you any stories about what I assume was 1 of the wildest weeks of her life? She told me about how people were affected and how the world was in shambles. She said that she was heartbroken about everything and could not imagine what she would have done if she was in that setting.

You began your college career at Gardner-Webb: why did you decide to transfer in 2022, and what made you choose UT-Martin? I had a great freshman year at Gardner-Webb and was shooting the ball very well, but I fell into a bad slump during my sophomore year and felt I needed a change of scenery to get myself going again. I entered the portal and had known Coach Ryan Ridder and he family since I was 9 years old, so I had that connection already. It was a no-brainer for me and felt that was where I needed to be at the time.

In your 2 years with the Skyhawks you were a 2-time all-conference player and a 2-time member of the all-tourney team: what did it mean to you to receive such outstanding honors? It meant a lot and showed that my hard work paid off. I did not know what to expect when I arrived as a new PG/leader during my 1st year, but it was great to get those accolades. To help build the program and see how it turned out was beautiful.

In February 2024 you had 37 PTS/9 REB/9 AST in a win at Lindenwood: where does that rank among the greatest all-around games of your career? I was just in the flow state of playing basketball, having fun, and enjoying myself. It was 1 of my best games from a statistical standpoint, and the stats were cool, but it was just so fun to celebrate with my teammates due to the bond that we had.

Your 21.6 PPG that year was #9 in the nation: what is the secret to being a great scorer? There is a lot that goes into it: finding angles, creating space, knowing your spots, etc. If you are instinctive then you do not have to pre-determine everything you do, but some people just have a knack for putting the ball in the basket. I also have a lot of confidence because I put the work in day in and day out so I know what I can do.

You committed 3.2 TO/game that year but after transferring to LSU you only committed 2.2 TO/game last year: how were you able to improve your ball-handling so much during the past year? Just watching film and seeing what my mistakes were. I have a high usage rate, which means the ball is in my hands most of the time, but when I saw that my mistakes could be fixed it helped me become a better playmaker and give us more possessions.

Last year the SEC sent a record 14 teams to the NCAA tourney: what was it like to be a part of the greatest conference in the history of the sport? I agree that it is the greatest conference, so it is a blessing. Being able to play against the best teams in the nation and compare myself to the best players in the country made me feel so thankful.

You played in 153 games during your college career: how much of an advantage does all that experience give you on the court? You know what to expect out on the floor because you have been in those situations before. When you are a freshman you might not know what is going on or how to act, but as a veteran player I can help those guys by letting them lean on me. I know what college basketball is about so I just try to control what I can control. As you see every spring, most of the teams that make it very far in the postseason are the ones who have the most experience.

Coach Matt McMahon has already signed several transfer players this offseason including Marquel Sutton/Rashad King/Max Mackinnon/Dedan Thomas Jr.: how do you think the Tigers will do next season? I think they will be pretty good. Those are all big transfer portal additions and we also have some good guys coming back who have a lot of upside. Rob Miller III had a lot of impact toward the end of the season, and Jalen Reed had a big impact until he got hurt last December. I am excited to come back and watch them whenever I can because I am fired up for them!

What would it mean to you to get drafted, and what is the plan if you do not get drafted? It would mean EVERYTHING to me to get drafted: it is every kid’s dream to make the NBA. Hearing your name called to play at the highest level of basketball is great…but it is just the 1st step. If I do not get drafted then I will not get discouraged because there are plenty of options for me. I will continue to grind/work so that I can get to where I want to be and will make it happen by any means necessary.