Dennis Smith will leave N.C. State after his freshman season to declare for the 2017 NBA Draft.

"It's always been my dream to try and play in the NBA," Smith told ESPN's Paul Biancardi. "The timing is perfect for me and my family to make this decision. I want to thank all my teammates, coaches and the fans of NC State. I am thankful for Coach [Mark] Gottfried and all that he has done for me."

Smith averaged 18.1 points, 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game.

Smith is expected to be a top-10 pick in the draft.