National Player of the Year winner Tyler Hansbrough will return to North Carolina for his senior season:"I love playing at North Carolina and still have big dreams to realize here, including graduating," Hansbrough said in a prepared statement. "Of course I look forward to playing in the NBA some day but not next year. I love my collegiate experience and want to finish my four years here, then move on to my next dream of playing in the NBA. I am very relieved that this decision is behind us and I can concentrate on my academic work and improving my game for next season."
To be honest, I really thought he'd declare for the draft and not hire an agent (enabling him to return to school). He's a junior, so he could've used his one time testing-the-waters pass this spring just to gauge how NBA-ready he is.
The last Wooden Award winner to return to school the next season was Ralph Sampson in 1982. Sampson won the award again in 1983.
Now, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington will be testing the waters by declaring for the draft and not hiring an agent. DraftExpress.com has Lawson as the #30 pick (the final pick of the first round). Ellington is the 40th pick which means a lack of a guaranteed contract.
"I'm not dying to leave here, but playing in the NBA is another dream I have," Ellington said in a prepared statement. "During the next couple of months I hope to work out for NBA teams and get a more specific evaluation of where I would be positioned in this year's draft. After I receive the information from the NBA teams, I will decide to either stay in the draft or come back for my junior year. Next week is exam time at UNC and that's also important to me. I will continue to remain in good academic standing regardless of the decision that awaits me."
Ty Lawson:
"I will work out for NBA teams to get a more precise evaluation of my draft status,'' he said in a prepared statement. After I do that and get more information from the teams, I will make a decision to either stay in the draft or come back to North Carolina for my junior year. I am in good standing academically and plan on doing a great job in my final exams."
If both do return, the Tar Heels will most likely be the favorite to win the NCAA Tournament. As of now, they only lose backup point guard Quentin Thomas. They gain backup point guard Bobby Frasor (who was hurt for most of the '07-'08 season) plus recruits Ed Davis, Ty Zeller and Larry Drew.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-26-2008 @ 6:40AM
Dave said...
Whats up with Hansbrough's picture. Two guys from Duke guarding him. One with a Dark Blue uniform on and one with a white uniform.
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4-28-2008 @ 8:56PM
Dan Gibson said...
Hansbrough is smart to stay in school. He's a very good college player, but WILL he play much in the NBA in the years to follow? He's more of a hustler. than a great player or athlete.
Imagine what will happen when he goes to an NBA camp, gets the ball in the lane, then (after he's in the air) tries one of his famous "baby flip" shots ... the same thing that happened against the Kansas front line ... he'll be swallowing it, and on his back, while the opposing team goes the other way, 5-on-4.
At best, "psycho T" looks to be the next Najera-type pro. Or he could be the next "Walter Berry"... And Danny Green going pro ... ? PLEASE.
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4-30-2008 @ 10:26PM
tom tanner said...
I AM A UNC FAN AND WHO CARES ABOUT ELLINGTON. HE NEVER PROVED TO BE A CLUTCH SHOOTER- HE HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD GAMES AGAINST CLEMSON, BUT HE WAS NEVER A DONALD WILLIAMS. MATTER OF FACT HE WAS ABOUT AS ACCURATE AS A CAREER A IVERSON IN HIS LAST 4 TOURNAMENT GAMES. DANNY GREEN WILL BE A BETTER SHOOTER NEXT YEAR AND IS A MUCH BETTER DEFENSIVE PLAYER. ELLINGTON KNOWS HE WILL NOT IMPROVE HIS GAME NEXT YEAR, AND HE WILL ALWAYS BE A BENCH WARMER IN THE NBA. LAWSON ON THE OTHER HAND WILL BE FIRST STRING NBA MATERIAL ONE DAY. BUT TYLER NEEDS LAWSON BACK AS BAD AS JORDAN NEEDED HIS NBA POINT GUARD TO WIN IT ALL IN 82. DON'T ASK TYLER TO DO IT BY HIMSELF, JORDAN HAD THE BEST TEAM EVER AT CAROLINA IN 82. FRAZIER AND THE INCOMING FRESHMAN ARE NOT NBA MATERIAL (STRICKLAND WILL BE THE FOLLOWING YEAR) BUT TYLER NEEDS YOU BACK TY TO ACCOMPLISH THIS. YOU STAND A GOOD CHANCE OF NOT EVEN GETTING A GUARANTEED CONTRACT IF YOU GO THIS YEAR. YOU HAVE UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
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5-04-2008 @ 3:24PM
unc fan frm sc said...
I'm an UNC fans and whom ever this is at the top ur not a real UNC fan because u would love each player. Wayne Ellington is a great player he put UNC in a hatch that made them whom they are Ellington is a great player he can drive the ball shoot 3 pointer anytime is great. Tyler is a great player but he just trys to be more than what he really are. Ty lawson is a great point guard maybe all of them need to stay one more year but Wayne Ellington will never be a bench warmer hes great and he can lead some NBA team where they need to be with his 3 point shoots Danny green is good but he'll never take Wayne off the staring 5 anybody who says Wayne can't do it hell with u
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