Washington State guard TJ Bamba announced on Monday that he will be entering the 2023 NBA Draft and also putting his name into the transfer portal, should he choose to return to school.

The NCAA deadline to withdraw from the draft is May 31.

Bamba enjoyed a breakout season for the Cougars in his third year with the program, becoming a full-time starter and averaging 15.8 points a game for a Wazzu team that went 17-17 and finished fifth in the Pac-12. Bamba went on an absolute tear to close out the year, averaging 21.3 points over his final six games.

He exploded for 36 points in a win over Washington in the Cougs’ final game of the regular season.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA and this past season has allowed me to take a step in the right direction,” Bamba said in a message shared on social media. “Pullman will forever have a place in my heart but it is time for me to begin the next chapter of my life.”

A Bronx native, Bamba became a captain for the Cougs this past season and excelled on the wing. He led the team in scoring while also putting up 3.7 rebounds and 1.7 assists a game. Bamba shot 38.5% from the 3-point line over the course of his career and departs after 51 starts in 86 appearances.

Bamba will test the NBA draft waters, and if the feedback isn’t to his liking, he’ll play somewhere else for the 2023-24 season. It’s a tough blow for coach Kyle Smith, who has developed some quality players in his time in Pullman but has had a hard time getting them to stick around.