Neemias Queta Declares For NBA Draft

After three years in an Aggie uniform, Utah State junior Neemias Queta is ready to become Portugal’s first-ever NBA player. According to ESPN, the 21-year old center will forgo his senior year, hire an agent, and declare for the 2021 NBA Draft. 

Queta told ESPN “I’m declaring for the draft because I feel ready to take my game to the next level and fulfilling a lifelong dream of being an NBA player.”

In a statement put out by Queta himself via Twitter, the big man addressed Aggie Nation and thanked them. “I want to thank all of you for the most amazing three years of my life. Coming from Portugal to Utah as a 19-year-old young man, I never could’ve expected all of the amazing events that would unfold over the next three years.” 

Forever a Aggie!!! pic.twitter.com/WQHmIlVxrO

— Quetão 🔥🤷🏿‍♂️ (@nemi1599) March 29, 2021

Standing at 7-foot, 245 pounds with a 7-foot-4 wingspan, Neemias Queta is a strong draft candidate and is set to be a steal. Despite injuries and covid preventing him from having an uneventful offseason at the collegiate level, Queta has come a long way as a player, developing from the Mountain West Freshman of the year to a Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award Finalist and an AP All-American as a junior. Along the way, Queta led the Aggies to three winning seasons and helped the Aggies win back-to-back Mountain West championships and earn an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. 

In his three years at Utah State, he averaged 11.8, 13, and then 14.9 points per game. During his junior season, the big fella averaged a double-double with his 10.1 rebounds. He also dished out 2.7 assists per game and with his 3.3 blocks per game, averaged more blocks than fouls per game. He is the program record holder in blocked shots for a single game, (9) single season (97), and career (219).