FORT COLLINS - Jason Smith, Colorado State's all-conference 7-foot junior forward, is taking a wait-and-see approach to the NBA draft after learning of Tim Miles' hiring as the Rams' new basketball coach Thursday.

It appears likely Smith is leaning toward declaring eligible for the draft - college underclassmen must declare by April 29 - but doesn't plan to hire an agent. That would allow him to return to CSU for his senior season if his projected draft position is not to his liking.

That status, and not Miles' presence as Dale Layer's replacement, almost certainly will be the key factor in his stay-or-go decision.

If Smith's projected level for the June draft isn't high enough - speculation is he needs to be picked to go in the upper half of the first round to leave school - there's a good chance he will play for Miles as a senior.

If Smith declares for the draft and doesn't hire an agent, he has until June 18 to withdraw and return to CSU. The draft is scheduled for June 28.

"We'll just have to wait and see how things will be," the Kersey native said. "It will be a new change, but I'm sure everyone will react just fine. There will be some differences, but you have to get used to it. You have to put your trust into a new head coach. I don't think that it will be tough. I think our team will react well."

One key CSU player certain to return - ever-improving senior-to-be center Stuart Creason - said he was impressed with Miles.

The new coach met with the players before his Thursday news conference.

"In our meeting with him, he was very excited, and quite honestly, he got me excited," Creason said. "He just seems like he has a plan and he's going to stick to that plan and execute it no matter what happens. From my standpoint, I've learned a lot during my four years here from coach Layer and (former assistant) coach (Bill) Peterson, and it's also exciting to have the chance to learn from a new guy and a new staff."