North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, the consensus AP Player of Year, has decided to return to play his senior year and will not enter the NBA Draft. However, a couple of his sophomore teammates, Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington, will declare for the draft but won't sign agents, leaving the option to return to UNC. Hansbrough averaged 22.6 PPG and 10.2 RPG during his junior year, while leading the Tar Heels to a 36-3 record, including a trip to the Final Four. It seems as if Hansbrough's only goal now is to win a National Championship, and this is why he is coming back. Also, it has already been decided that Hansbrough will have his jersey retired, regardless of what happens in the 2008-09 season. Hansbrough's goal will seem much farther out of reach if his point guard and shooting guard from last season do indeed go pro.
Ellington averaged 17 PPG and 4.5 RPG, and the pace maker, Lawson averaged 12.7 PPG, 2.7 RPG and 5.2 APG.Finally, one of the higher profile players in the country has decidee to come back. Hansbrough is making a great decision by returning and giving one last shot at cutting down the nets. I can't see a player that works this hard not win a championship, and maybe next season will be his year. I still think UNC can win it all next year even if Ellington and Lawson leave because of the solid recruiting class Roy Williams will be bring in. I think winning a championship is much more important to Hansbrough than getting drafted late in the first round. As for Lawson and Ellington, I think that they should both stay and help Hansbrough out. If they did return, UNC would have
their top eight players back for 2008-09, and they would easily be the preseason number one. Lawson's stock has dropped immensely after being injured and Ellington is at best is a late first round selection.
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