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Antonio Blakeney's return gives LSU a star to build around next year
Though Ben Simmons and Tim Quarterman have both already turned pro this spring, LSU will at least get one of its stars back next season.
Freshman Antonio Blakeney will return to the Tigers, the school announced Tuesday afternoon.
Blakeney originally declared for the NBA draft without hiring an agent earlier this month, leaving open the possibility of a return to school. The 6-foot-4 shooting guard decided to return without even waiting to see if he'd receive an invite to next month's NBA draft combine.
"After consulting with my coaches and with my family, I have decided to return to LSU for my sophomore season," Blakeney said in a statement. "I believe I can further improve my skill set in different areas to become even more effective for my team in the future.
"Although I finished the year strong and posted a solid season, I think it is in my best interest to return and continue to improve as I strive and prepare to be the best I can be. This will also allow me to continue with my schoolwork and continue to move forward on my college degree."
A McDonald's All-American best known for his perimeter scoring prowess, Blakeney improved over the course of his freshman season. The Florida native averaged 18.6 points during LSU's last 11 games of the season, showcasing an ability to score off the dribble, to get to the foul line and to knock down enough outside shots to prevent defenders from sagging off him.
For Blakeney to evolve from a potential second-round draft pick to a surefire first-rounder, he'll need to become a more consistent outside shooter and a better all-around prospect. It also wouldn't hurt if he led LSU to the type of team success that was elusive this past season when the underachieving Tigers failed to reach the NCAA tournament despite the presence of Simmons and a talent-laden supporting cast.
"His return will automatically give us another prolific scorer and the experience factor that is needed as we continue moving forward for next season," LSU coach Johnny Jones said in a statement. "We will work diligently to help him continue to improve this offseason as he strives to be the best."
Blakeney and interior standout Craig Victor will be LSU's one-two punch next season. They'll likely be joined in LSU's starting lineup by rising junior guard Jalyn Patterson and rising sophomore Brandon Sampson.
That's nowhere near the talent LSU boasted this past season, but with better chemistry and a stronger commitment to defense, perhaps the Tigers can still achieve more.
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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
