UPDATE[4:52 PM]: Official statement from UNC:
University of North Carolina men’s basketball players Wayne Ellington, Danny Green and Ty Lawson have decided to withdraw from the 2008 NBA Draft and return to Chapel Hill for the 2008-09 season, head coach Roy Williams announced on Monday.
The trio had entered their names into the NBA Draft pool in April but did not hire agents, leaving open the possibility of returning to school. The deadline to withdraw from the draft was 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday.
“After a long and exhaustive process of gathering information and sharing it with these youngsters, I stepped back and asked them to make their own decisions,” Williams said on Monday afternoon. “I’m very pleased with their decisions because I get to coach them for another year. I’m also pleased that they went through the process and gained valuable information. It was reassuring that the feedback they got from the NBA teams is the same type of feedback our coaching staff has been giving them.
“It was a lengthy process, but one that is fair for these youngsters. Everyone should have the right to be evaluated in terms of possibly reaching his dreams. I feel strongly that all of these young men will eventually be NBA players. The timing was just not exactly right at this point. They had my 100 percent support throughout the process, regardless of which decision they might have made.”
National. Title. Favorite. And it is not even close.
Previous updates after the jump.
UPDATE[4:45 PM]: IC is now reporting that all three will return via official confirmation from UNC.
UPDATE[4:07 PM]: Which will happen first: UNC makes an announcement or someone wins the US Open. Tiger forces sudden death with another birdie on 18.
UPDATE[1:21 PM]: Jeff Goodman from Fox Sports is reporting that all three are coming back to UNC. I would take this as nearly official given Goodman’s credibility.
UPDATE[12:36 PM]: The N&O indicates a press release will be forthcoming when the decisions are known. Usually I would take this as good news but since Roy is in Omaha, obviously there would be no press conference. I have no idea what, if anything, this means since the way this is done now is completely different.
According to a tip I have received, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Danny Green have all decided to return to Chapel Hill. As with anything that is posted anywhere(and that includes the mainstream media) official confirmation will be the final word. However, based on the information I have received and the sources involved I believe it to be reliable. This information is also echoed by similar chatter on IC’s premium board.
Stay tuned for the official word out of UNC.
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WOW, this is a shock. I never thought we would get all 3 to return. I’ll take it. Lets all hope this results in another banner or 2 for the ceiling of the Dean Dome. Now, attention turns to our Heels on the Diamond. Go get ‘em boys!!!
I doubt this can be correct. Nothing over the last few weeks suggests such good news.
If I’m wrong, it’ll be the best mistake I’ve made for some time.
Has any official press conference been scheduled?
Still waiting and watching. I have my source and you also have a lot of message board chatter saying the same thing.
man i saw it break out about 11 or so last night, and i know this isn’t official, but how do the premium member know so much more, b/c the consensus is still lawson’s going but maybe george karl got through to lawson, i mean roy was smiling real hard last night, do you know when the announcement is coming
/crosses fingers
If it is true, I am even more excited for next season….if that was possible.
Does this mean we wasted a scholarship on Justin Watts? All three returning, and our bench deepening? Larry Drew, Ed Davis, Tyler Zeller, Justin Watts, William Graves, Danny Green coming in off of the bench? Are you serious? I wonder if Danny will get the start over Ellington this year? Bobby over Ty?
No, Watts got Alex Stepheson’s scholarship and will need some time to reach a point where he can contribute.
If all three come back, I am sure that individually they made their decisions because they did not believe they would be drafted high enough for their liking. But I sure hope they talked to each other and made a “Corey Brewer” like decision because that will lead to great team chemistry.
Also, we have been hearing Ty was the most likely to leave. Very interesting that we started hearing that all three returning shortly after Chalmers said he was staying in the draft. I doubt Ty wanted to be the 6th PG off the board.
The Raleigh News & Observer is reporting (as of 11:46 am) that the news will be out “soon,” and will come in a press release, not a news conference.
I regard the press release format as a somewhat favorable omen, since I believe that in the past, when a player left early, that was usually announced at a press conference.
I hope this is true…would love to see Tywon running the show and teaching Larry Drew next year.
According to IC, Roy flew back from Omaha to meet with the players today. So, a press conference could have happened, they just chose to go a different route. Hopefully, it’s a good sign!
No one has ever left UNC early without having a press conference.
can we say national championship?!
Isn’t Goodman the same guy who first broke that Tyler was coming back while Wayne and Ty were entering their names?
Yep. Goodman apparently has good sources.
Like I said. Goodman is about as close to official as you can get.
If all three come back it should spell a mini dynasty with the recruiting that Roy has accomplished.
ESPN says Ellington and Green are coming back — Lawson still isn’t sure.
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/news/story?id=3446325
where is the press release?
We will see. I would have expected an announcement by now but it could be Lawson is waiting until the very last minute to make it official.
wb3,
I am wondering that. Not sure why they are holding up unless Lawson, as it has been reported, is still wavering. Or they are enjoying watching us squirm.
this is brutal
Or Lawson could have had someone tip off that he was returning just to fish for some sort of promise for a first round pick.
With the way these six weeks have gone, you expected anything different?
I think Lawson’s gone. I think he probably came into the morning thinking he’d come back, but then had second thoughts that he could end up going to Denver after all.
IT”S OFFICIAL!!!
http://tarheelblue.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/061608aaa.html
FANFREAKINTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!! FINALLY!
So, how does everyone feel about preseason #1 ??!?!?!?!
best news ever
This is really good news. Now the debate will start as to……nah. Let’s just enjoy we will have another exciting year of ball to watch.
our top 7 are all upper-classmen. didn’t even have this in 2004-05.
Remember Tiger’s reaction when he birdied 18 yesterday? (for you golf fans) That’s how I feel today about our Tar Heels. Thanks Ty, Danny and Wayne! I’m looking for tickets for next season.
Reason & common sense prevail! When’s the 1st game?
There is a Basketball Fairy…..
I don’t even know what to say. Im stoked! I still say we waisted a s-ship on Watts. We could have used that for someone in the 09 crop. Imagine someone else in that class!
What a way to wrap up an amazing weekend in Sports…”June Madness” is over! FINALLY! Very exciting time to be a Heel Fan…and when will we know the schedule? It was amazing to see them here in Vegas last year…
I must say I was a bit surprised by the decisions, but extremely happy! Looking forward to a great season…great day to be a Heels fan! Great work on calling this one THF, must say I absolutely love reading this blog and all the great info it offers on a daily basis…job well done THF!
This is the best news since Tyler was staying.