June 20, 2006
The deadline has come and gone and we now know which players have withdrawn from the NBA draft. College basketball is the beneficiary as many of these kids are smart to return to campus to enjoy the excitement, spirit and energy of the game.
I recently read a comment from Kobe Bryant. To paraphrase what he said, he felt that one year of college might have been the way to go. He missed out on March Madness and the Final Four, and he felt the adrenaline rush when he watched it.
When I think about those kids going to the NBA early and sitting on the pine, it blows my mind. Do you hear me Jordan Farmar and Kyle Lowry? I love those kids, but there is no way they are ready to make major contributions. Farmar could have been at Westwood on a top 10 team. Lowry could have been part of a talented squad assembled by Jay Wright.
Let's look at my All-Back to School Team, guys who made wise decisions pulling out of the draft. They will work hard on campus, making sure they get better on the hardwood. They are also preparing for the game of life.
At Pittsburgh, Jamie Dixon has to be ecstatic to have his big man in the middle returning. Aaron Gray has made so much progress, and he will get even better with another season competing in the Big East.
Ricardo Patton had to be thrilled when Richard Roby opted to return to Boulder. The Colorado star will be a scoring machine in the Big 12 again this season.
Arron Afflalo is a top-flight scoring threat for the Bruins. Ben Howland has to be smiling after hearing his decision to return to Westwood. He will light it up at Pauley Pavilion.
Nick Fazekas should have a big, big year at Nevada. He has to get into the weight room and get his body stronger. Fazekas can go out on the perimeter as a big man. Just ask Kansas what they think of him after he scored 35 against the Jayhawks last season.
Mustafa Shakur will be a force for Arizona at the point guard. I was surprised he even entered the NBA draft, but it has to be pleasant for Lute Olson to see him return. Shakur has to work on shot selection on the perimeter, a problem many point guards have.
Now we know this group is returning to school. In the near future, I will have my All-Rolls Royce team and my updated Top 25.
Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question for Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.
