Utah State’s Neemias Queta To Enter NBA Draft, Forgo Senior Season
Queta is off to the NBA.
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Don’t be shocked Queta is leaving.
Utah State big man and reigning Mountain West defensive player of the year, Neemias Queta has elected to give up his final year of eligibility and enter the NBA Draft.
This is not a shock as Queta declared for the draft after his breakout true freshman season but ultimately returned to school. Last year, Queta was hobbled by a knee injury he suffered in the FIBA U-19 and took a long time to recover.
Now seems to be the right choice to move on. His head coach Craig Smith is now at the University of Utah and there is not much more he can do at the college level to improve his status.
Forever a Aggie!!! pic.twitter.com/WQHmIlVxrO
— Quetão 🔥🤷🏿♂️ (@nemi1599) March 29, 2021
“I’m declaring for the draft because I feel ready to take my game to the next level and fulfilling a lifelong dream of being an NBA player,” Queta told ESPN.
Queta was a force in the Mountain West and on the national scene. The 7-foot-2, 245-pounder averaged 14.9 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.3 blocks and 2.7 assists per game.
His offensive game improved every year with his scoring and he showed in a few games he can take over with a pair of 30-plus point performances. His defense is there already but learning a few more offensive moves to be a force on each side of the ball.
“I really want to show my all-around game as more than a rim runner and prove what my potential can be,” he said.
There is no date for when the NBA Combine or draft will take place as the NBA season will be ending later than normal due to the pandemic and rearranging last year’s and this year’s schedule.
In mock drafts, Queta is currently pegged as a late pick in the second-round.
