By ADAM ZAGORIA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Naz Reid’s next loss appears like it will mark his final game in an LSU uniform.
No. 3 LSU is set to face No. 2 Michigan State in a Sweet 16 matchup on Friday night in Washington, D.C. If the Tigers win, they would advance to meet the Duke/Virginia Tech winner in an Elite Eight matchup on Sunday in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament. If the Tigers lose this weekend, the staff expects the 6-foot-10 Reid to declare for the NBA Draft after a one-and-done season.
“Yeah, we’re expecting to lose him,” LSU assistant Greg Heiar said in the locker room in Jacksonville, Fla., after the team held off Maryland, 69-67, in the second round last Saturday. “If you’re a top-20 pick in the draft, you need to go. You need to go. It’s what his dream is so we want him to chase his dream. You never want to hold a young man back.”
The Asbury Park, N.J. native is currently projected as the No. 47 pick per ESPN.com. A number of NBA teams have recently checked in with Reid’s high school coach, Dave Boff, including San Antonio on Monday night.