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Florida State guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes declares for 2017 NBA Draft

By Brad Berreman

Jan 25, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes (22) reacts to a play in the second half of their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion. The Yellow Jackets won 78-56. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 25, 2017; Atlanta, GA, USA; Florida State Seminoles guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes (22) reacts to a play in the second half of their game against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at McCamish Pavilion. The Yellow Jackets won 78-56. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /
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Another Florida State player has declared for the 2017 NBA Draft, with Xavier Rathan-Mayes joining Dwayne Bacon.

As teams bow out of NCAA Tournament, players are starting to declare for this year’s NBA draft. The Florida State Seminoles, as the No. 3 seed in the West Region, lost decisively to No. 11 seed Xavier in the Round of 32, and a player exodus has started. Sophomore guard Dwayne Bacon, the Seminoles’ leading scorer the last two seasons, declared for the draft on Wednesday. On Thursday, one of his teammates followed suit

Junior guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes led the Seminoles in assists per game (4.8) this season, and he was the third-leading scorer on the team (10.6 points per game). He transitioned from shooting guard as a freshman in 2014-15 to point guard over the last two seasons, reducing his turnover rate (1.9 per game this season) each season and earning All-ACC defensive team honors this year.

On Thursday, Rathan-Mayes announced his intention to leave school early and shared a tweet to make the decision public.

Rathan Mayes’ ability to play both guard spots will help his transition to an increasingly versatile and position-less NBA. But he’s not a great three-point marksman, making a career-best 32.3 percent from beyond the arc this season (3.5 attempts per game). After adequately making free throws as a freshman (69 percent) and sophomore (77.4 percent), Rathan-Mayes dropped to a Shaquille O’Neal-like 53 percent from the line this season.

Draft Express.com tabbed Rathan-Mayes 37th in their most recent ranking of NBA prospects from this year’s junior class. That points to him being a second-round pick, or more likely going undrafted, and it’s worth noting he made no specific mention of having hired an agent in his statement.

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If he doesn’t hire representation in the meantime, and his draft evaluation isn’t to his liking, Rathan-Mayes can still go back to Florida State for his senior season. There’s nothing wrong with entering the draft pool now, but Rathan-Mayes is sure to be better off returning to Tallahassee.

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