Columbus native Robert Woodard II is taking his talents to the next level.

The Mississippi State standout declared for the NBA Draft Thursday, thanking MSU fans and his family on his Twitter account.

As he typically does before making any kind of statement to the media, though, he began his letter by thanking God.

“I would like to thank God for the opportunity to play basketball,” Woodard II wrote. “Without him, none of this would be possible.”

Woodard II, a 6-foot-7 forward, also maintains his eligibility, meaning he still has the option to return to school at a later date. That’s not the mindset he’s entering this process with, though.

“I am going in to the draft with the intention of not going back to school,” Woodard II told ESPN in an article published Thursday. “I am maintaining my eligibility because of the uncertainty about the dates and what workouts will look like, but I don’t look at it as testing the waters. I am all in with this thing.”

The NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25, but may be pushed back to a later date considering the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 coronavirus. It’s likely there won’t be any NBA combine this year, so teams will have to rely on virtual interviews and game tape while making personnel decisions.

“This whole situation with the coronavirus is unreal,” Woodard II told ESPN. “It’s hard to believe this is going on right now. Being a part of history, it’s still mind boggling … I was expecting to be able to attend the combine and work out for NBA teams.”

In a conference call with reporters on March 30, MSU men’s basketball coach Ben Howland said he stressed the importance of being a first round pick to Woodard II. In the latest NBA mock draft from ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, Woodard II is projected to go No. 23 overall to the Miami Heat.

“We fully support Robert and his decision to pursue the NBA Draft process,” Howland said in a statement Thursday. “He’s an outstanding talent that possesses every tool to achieve success at the next level.”

Woodard II had a breakout campaign with the Bulldogs as a sophomore, averaging 11.4 points per game and shooting 45 percent from beyond the arc. He scored in double figures 22 times this season.

He is the second MSU player to enter the NBA Draft, as Associated Press co-SEC Player of the Year Reggie Perry announced his decision in late march. If Woodard II stays in the NBA Draft mix, MSU will have lost three of its top four scorers from a season ago, including Woodard II, Perry and Tyson Carter (leaving from graduation).

Hodge is the former sports editor for The Dispatch.