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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/basketball/ncaa/04/10/aldridge.texas.ap/index.html
So long, Texas
Longhorns' Aldridge says he plans to enter NBA draft
LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 15 points and 9.2 rebounds a game for the Longhorns, who came within a game of the Final Four.
Bob Rosato/SI
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas sophomore center LaMarcus Aldridge said Monday night he intends to enter the NBA draft, where he's expected to be among the top picks.
"When I came to Texas, my main two goals were to get started on earning my degree and to have the opportunity to play in the NBA," Aldridge said. "I've accomplished both of those and the opportunity is there for me right now to begin the next stage of my basketball career."
Aldridge said he has begun the process of hiring an agent.
"I've never been around a player who has wanted to be coached more than LaMarcus," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "I really appreciate the way he did not allow this decision to become a distraction to himself or to the program throughout the season."
The 6-foot-10 Aldridge averaged 15 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Longhorns (30-7), who won the regular season Big 12 title and got within one game of the Final Four before losing in the Atlanta Regional final. The 30 wins set a school record.
Aldridge's announcement was not much of a surprise. He had considered entering the draft straight out of Seagoville High School in 2004 before deciding to play at Texas.
His college career has been up and down with flashes of brilliant play and a hip injury that forced him to miss 15 games of his freshman season.
Healthy again for the 2005-06 season, he had 16 double-doubles and a team-high 73 blocks and was named conference defensive player of the year by the Big 12 coaches.
Long and lean, Aldridge has shown flashes of a game that looks ready for the next level. He's also stumbled badly enough at times to doubt it.
In his first three NCAA Tournament games, he averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds and shot 54 percent from the floor. But he also shot 2 of 14 and finished with four points against in a 70-69 loss to LSU when matched up against the Tigers' big and athletic frontcourt of Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Tyrus Thomas.
Aldridge's departure depletes the Texas lineup but doesn't decimate it.
Junior forward P.J. Tucker was the Big 12 player of the year after leading the Longhorns in scoring (16.1) and rebounding (9.5). The Longhorns also expect to return sophomore shooting guard Daniel Gibson and welcome one of the top recruiting classes in the country, including Kevin Durant, a 6-9 wing player who was co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American high school basketball game.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
will he go #1?
So long, Texas
Longhorns' Aldridge says he plans to enter NBA draft
LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 15 points and 9.2 rebounds a game for the Longhorns, who came within a game of the Final Four.
Bob Rosato/SI
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) -- Texas sophomore center LaMarcus Aldridge said Monday night he intends to enter the NBA draft, where he's expected to be among the top picks.
"When I came to Texas, my main two goals were to get started on earning my degree and to have the opportunity to play in the NBA," Aldridge said. "I've accomplished both of those and the opportunity is there for me right now to begin the next stage of my basketball career."
Aldridge said he has begun the process of hiring an agent.
"I've never been around a player who has wanted to be coached more than LaMarcus," Texas coach Rick Barnes said. "I really appreciate the way he did not allow this decision to become a distraction to himself or to the program throughout the season."
The 6-foot-10 Aldridge averaged 15 points and 9.2 rebounds for the Longhorns (30-7), who won the regular season Big 12 title and got within one game of the Final Four before losing in the Atlanta Regional final. The 30 wins set a school record.
Aldridge's announcement was not much of a surprise. He had considered entering the draft straight out of Seagoville High School in 2004 before deciding to play at Texas.
His college career has been up and down with flashes of brilliant play and a hip injury that forced him to miss 15 games of his freshman season.
Healthy again for the 2005-06 season, he had 16 double-doubles and a team-high 73 blocks and was named conference defensive player of the year by the Big 12 coaches.
Long and lean, Aldridge has shown flashes of a game that looks ready for the next level. He's also stumbled badly enough at times to doubt it.
In his first three NCAA Tournament games, he averaged 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds and shot 54 percent from the floor. But he also shot 2 of 14 and finished with four points against in a 70-69 loss to LSU when matched up against the Tigers' big and athletic frontcourt of Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Tyrus Thomas.
Aldridge's departure depletes the Texas lineup but doesn't decimate it.
Junior forward P.J. Tucker was the Big 12 player of the year after leading the Longhorns in scoring (16.1) and rebounding (9.5). The Longhorns also expect to return sophomore shooting guard Daniel Gibson and welcome one of the top recruiting classes in the country, including Kevin Durant, a 6-9 wing player who was co-MVP of the McDonald's All-American high school basketball game.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
will he go #1?
