Hansbrough, Lawson won't enter NBA draft

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Hansbrough, Lawson won't enter NBA draft
KEN TYSIAC
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Tyler Hansbrough
CHAPEL HILL --Usually soft-spoken center Tyler Hansbrough stepped to the podium and appeared to catch assistant coach Joe Holladay off guard Tuesday night at North Carolina's basketball awards ceremony.

"I cut a deal with coach (Roy) Williams that I'd be back for my junior year," Hansbrough said, "only if he fired coach Holladay."

Long after Holladay recovered from the ruse, Hansbrough confirmed that he will return for his junior season. Point guard Ty Lawson also said he will be back as a sophomore in 2007-08.

Forward Brandan Wright remains the only Tar Heel underclassman yet to reveal his intentions. Wright, a freshman last season, declined to speak with the media after the ceremony because he hasn't made a decision, said team spokesman Steve Kirschner.

Williams said April 20 is the earliest that Wright would announce a decision. Wright told him he didn't expect to decide before Friday, and Williams plans a trip to London next week that would prevent him from participating in an announcement before April 20.

Though Williams has given Wright confidential information on where he might be drafted and an opinion on what he should do, he said Wright is relaxing and not agonizing over the decision.

"He probably has thought less about it than anybody I can imagine in that scenario," Williams said.

Underclassmen must declare for the draft by April 29, but can withdraw as late as June 18, provided they don't sign with an agent. The draft is June 28.

Wright, the ACC rookie of the year and ACC tournament MVP, is the most highly rated player in the ACC in terms of draft potential. Many draft analysts have Wright rated behind only two players -- Ohio State center Greg Oden (who has yet to declare for the draft) and Texas forward Kevin Durant (who announced Tuesday that he's entering the draft).

Hansbrough said he is returning because he's not ready for the NBA and will improve with another

As i said after the Geteown lost. The heels will be very good next year

 

I remain optimistic even though this came from dukey.

 

You can add Ellington to this list. The future looks very good for Roy and The Tar Heels next year.

 

Mind if I ask why? The Tarheels barely managed to back into a tie in the ACC regular season. They lost their two best players and replaced them with an overweight afterthought. They are coached by a known choke artist.

I'll admit. The AP will have them top 5 if not 1st but they won't be a top 8 team by seasons end.

 

Hansbrough is their best player.

 

There is a big difference between having the best stats and being the best player. Hell, Zoubek shut Hansbrough down.

 

Hang your hat on Zoubek all you want. How many wins did Zoubek produce in his Freshman year?





dook will be lucky to make the dance next season. Why don't you go focus on that. We'll be even better than this year and we were pretty fucking good this year.

 

Zoubek wasn't Duke's only option as a freshman.

You will be worse. Don't kid yourself. One game out of 5th in the ACC this year and you lost your two game changers.

 

Two game changers? Terry and Miller? Don't think so. Add a year of experience onto all our freshman and yes we will be better.

You lost your best player who would have been 4th option on this team and you have no one to replace him. Get ready for the second sweep in a row.

 

Terry was definitely a game changer. The only problem is that you didn't know which team he was going to change the direction of the game for.