Julian Jacobs Declares for 2016 NBA Draft: Latest Comments and Reaction

USC point guard Julian Jacobs officially announced his decision to forgo his senior season and enter the 2016 NBA draft on Thursday.

Jacobs told ESPN's Jeff Goodman that he will hire an agent and forgo the rest of his college eligibility.

It was first reported by Shams Charania of The Vertical on March 31 that the 6'4" native of Las Vegas planned to declare for the draft, although it was unclear at that point if he would hire an agent.

Charania tabbed Jacobs as a likely second-round pick but added that he has a legitimate chance to push his way into the first round based on predraft workouts.

Jacobs is coming off his best collegiate season by far, as he averaged 11.6 points, 5.5 assists and 4.9 rebounds per game for an Andy Enfield-coached Trojans team that returned to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2010-11.

USC fell to Providence in the first round, but Jacobs certainly did his part with plays such as this impressive reverse dunk:

Jacobs brought both style and substance to the table throughout the 2015-16 campaign, which led to him being named a First-Team All-Pac-12 selection.

The 21-year-old star was a do-everything contributor for the Trojans this past season, and there is no question that his presence will be missed in a big way.

NFL.com's Jacob Freedman discussed some of the adjustments USC will be forced to make:

Jacobs led the team in assists this season and was third in both scoring and rebounding, which means his departure leaves a significant hole in essentially all areas.

At the same time, Jacobs may have helped change the culture at USC, which is a goal he set for himself and the program, according to Case Keefer of the Las Vegas Sun: "I wanted to be a part of something that could turn the corner, be a part of an upcoming program. Now it's coming to fruition, and there's no better feeling."

While Jacobs won't be around to see if USC's progress sticks in 2016-17 and beyond, he helped lay a winning foundation that had been missing at the school for several years.

The type of leadership he displayed is an intangible that could help his case on draft night, and the fact that he is capable of contributing across the board should bolster his stock as well.

There is some danger involved with selecting Jacobs since he had two subpar seasons prior to his junior campaign, but the talent level around him as a freshman and sophomore wasn't ideal.

Jacobs showed off his immense potential when given the tools to succeed, and that makes him an intriguing prospect who could turn out to be a major steal if he lasts into the second round.

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