During the first round of the 2022 NBA draft, LSU F Tari Eason was selected 17th overall by the Houston Rockets. Eason spent one season at Cincinnati before transferring to LSU this past year.
Eason was the first player picked in the 2022 draft class that used the transfer portal.
Eason was recruited to Cincinnati in the 2020 class by former Bearcats head coach John Brannen. The Washington native was a 4-star prospect out of Garfield High School. The 6-foot-8 forward made an immediate impact as a freshman on a struggling Bearcats team, averaging 7.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.3 blocks per game. Eason was named to the All-AAC Freshman Team.
At the end of the 2021 season, Eason entered his name into the transfer portal, joining a flock of Bearcats to do the same. Eason committed to Will Wade and LSU just a month later.
The ex-Bearcat elevated his game during his sole season in Baton Rouge, leading the Tigers in scoring. Eason averaged 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.0 blocks in 33 games. Eason shot 52 percent from the field and 36 percent from three. The now NBA rookie was awarded the SEC Sixth Man of the Year and was named to the All-SEC First Team.
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