Michigan State Basketball: Xavier Tillman still 50/50 on NBA decision

Xavier Tillman was 50/50 on staying in the NBA draft or coming back to Michigan State basketball when he declared. That hasn’t changed.

Xavier Tillman’s decision to declare for the NBA draft wasn’t a shocking one. He had just finished up a breakout junior season and was named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, opening up the door for him to be a defense-centric big man in the NBA.

Though he stands just 6-foot-8, Tillman would bring plenty to an NBA team and even though he could still afford to work on his offensive game, that could come easily to him.

If fans have been looking at mocks lately, it would seem like a lock for Tillman to pick the NBA over a return. That’s apparently not the case.

According to WoodTV, Tillman doesn’t worry much about what mock drafts say but rather what NBA teams are telling him. This is causing him to be closer to 50/50 than leaning one way or another.

"“If you look at mock drafts, you would think I was for sure. But it’s all about what I hear from NBA teams and what they like about my game, what they don’t like. Whether they see me getting drafted by them or not. That’s what I’m looking for, some guarantees so that I’m more confident in teams,” he said."

This might ease the “one more year” crowd’s mind as the mocks are essentially pegging him as an early-second round — at worst — prospect.

While the NBA extended the deadline for underclassman decisions, Tillman is still staying in shape and hearing plenty of feedback from teams as well as from Tom Izzo. He’s getting plenty of support from all angles and that’s helped ease his mind with a stressful decision coming up.

Michigan State fans will support Tillman either way. He’ll make some new NBA fans if he leaves and if he comes back, he’ll be considered a budding legend in many eyes. Oh, and that Michigan State team next year wouldn’t be too shabby with him as the leader.