Apr 25, 2008 12:34 pm US/Pacific
Hansbrough Returning To UNC For Senior Year
Sophomores Lawson and Ellington Will Declare For NBA Draft But Not Hire Agents
NEW YORK (AP) ―
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AP national player of the year Tyler Hansbrough will return to North Carolina for his senior season.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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Sophomore Ty Lawson will declare for the draft but not hire an agent.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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Fellow sophomore guard Wayne Ellington will also declare for the draft but allow for the possibility of a return to North Carolina.
Streeter Lecker/Getty Images
North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough - The Associated Press national player of the year last season - will return for his senior year, the school said Friday.
However, sophomores Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington will declare for the NBA draft, but will not hire agents - leaving open the possibility of their return.
Hansbrough, a 6-foot-9 forward, averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds. He led the Tar Heels (36-3) to the winningest season in school history and the Final Four while sweeping the major national player of the year awards. He already has qualified to become the eighth player in school history to have his jersey retired.
Hansbrough's return wasn't a big surprise considering he has long talked about his determination to win a national championship before he leaves school. He enters next season ranked second on the program's career list with 2,168 points, putting him 122 behind Phil Ford for the record. He also is within reach of the Atlantic Coast Conference career mark set by Duke's J.J. Redick (2,769 points) in 2006.
But Hansbrough will have to wait to find out whether the team's second- and third-leading scorers last season will join him in Chapel Hill for another title run.
Ellington, a 6-4 wing guard, averaged nearly 17 points per game and Lawson averaged about 13 while directing coach Roy Williams' fast-paced offense. If the duo comes back, the Tar Heels would return their top eight players while adding one of the nation's best recruiting classes.
The deadline for underclassmen to declare for the NBA draft is Sunday. Players who declare for the draft but do not hire an agent have until June 16 to withdraw their names.
(© 2009 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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