June 16
Hooray, hooray, hooray! Let's pass out an award for a brilliant decision.

	Chris Thomas averaged 18.7 ppg and 6.9 apg in 2002-03.

That's right, Notre Dame guard Chris Thomas made a wise decision by pulling out of the NBA draft. He was smart enough to understand, after showing his game to NBA scouts and personnel for their assessment, that it was time to return to school.

Thomas has a chance to be a first-team All-American. He can watch his stock go up and up now. I believe he will have a big-time year and could challenge UConn center Emeka Okafor for Big East player of the year.

Thomas made a solid decision when you look at some of the guards expected to go ahead of him in the NBA draft.

Just look at this impressive list: T.J. Ford, Luke Ridnour, Dwyane Wade, Kirk Hinrich, Marcus Banks, Jarvis Hayes, Rece Gaines .

Do you hear me, Maurice Williams? The Alabama guard should follow Mr. Thomas' lead. Mr. Williams, you should be going back to school, baby! You should go back to school and work on becoming a lock first-rounder. Don't follow the route of Rod Grizzard, who has bounced around after declaring early and winding up as a second-round pick. Mo, you don't want to go from league to league, trying to get a job.

If you go back to school, you will have a better shot at securing those first-round dollars next season. Another year to work on your shooting would help. Join Thomas and go back to school.