Post by zeropointzero on Oct 9, 2010 14:46:10 GMT -5
***don't vote until I have everybody up, but feel free to comment throughout***
Adam Morrison:
The final images of Adam Morrison this season for Gonzaga were ones I’m sure he wishes he could erase. After blowing a double digit lead late in the game against some school I don’t remember in the NCAA Tournament, Morrison broke down into tears on the floor in a rare show of emotion for the usually stoic player. Morrison became something of a cult hero this season for Gonzaga, his floppy hair, whispy mustache, and unorthodox offensive game reminded many of players from yesteryear. After lighting up the West Coast Conference, many wondered if there was anything left for him to accomplish at the collegiate level. Today, Morrison answered that question and more at his press conference on campus at Gonzaga.
“I’ve decided…
…to return for my senior season.”
"I couldn't have that as my final memory at Gonzaga. It wasn't even the crying, that's just me, I wear my heart on my sleeve. But I really felt we let the fans down with the way we played that game, and the NBA will always be there for me. This is something I feel I need to do."
Joakim Noah:
One of the major storylines of the 2006 college season was the Florida Gators, in particular the camaraderie of star players Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Taurean Green on and off the court. Noah emerged as the face of the team, both for his stellar play in the NCAA tournament and also for his devil-may-care persona that made Gator fans love him, and made opposing fans despise him. The storybook season had a storybook ending for the Gators, winning the National Championship. One would assume after a title, most players would conclude they had nothing left to accomplish at the college level, and take their games to the NBA (similar to the UNC national title team of a few years ago). But these Gators are a different breed, reveling in the rock-star status afforded to them on campus in Gainesville, and nobody is a bigger star on campus than Noah. Today in Gainesville, Noah finally made his decision:
“Man…this is something I’ve gone back and forth over ever since we got back from the tournament. I love being a Gator, but the NBA is something every kid dreams about growing up…
…which is why I’m declaring for the 2006 NBA Draft.”
Greg Oden:
The list of HS prospects more hyped than Greg Oden is a very small fraternity. Given the modern-day internet craze in recruiting coverage, you could ostensibly argue that LeBron James and Greg Oden were the most hyped HS players of all time. It would seem a no-brainer that a blue-chip 18 year old 7 foot center would declare asap for the draft, but Oden finds himself in a unique situation. Oden’s high school teammate Mike Conley Jr. is headed to Ohio State, and Oden loves playing alongside his best friend. A man of few words, ESPN was there live to cover Oden’s announcement:
“I’m not really the best at all this so I’m gonna try and keep this brief, next fall you will find me playing basketball…
…in the NBA”
Kevin GOAT sim league player Durant:
Kevin GOAT sim league player Durant is one of the more unique prospects to emerge from the HS ranks in quite some time. He has near-PF height, and the shooting stroke of a SG. Physically, he does not have the stature of the prototypical SF, but as we have seen with HS prospects going straight to the pros, sometimes kids would rather strike while the iron is hot and cash in as soon as they can, instead of rolling the dice with a collegiate career. In the case of GOAT sim league player Durant, it’s almost a lock he would end up being drafted in the lottery, probably top 5. With a lot on his mind, GOAT sim league player Durant gathered with his family and met the local press at Montrose Christian School.
“I’d like to thank everybody for coming, I still can’t totally wrap my mind around the thought of so many people being interested in this decision, but I guess that’s just something I’m gonna have to get used to. First and foremost, I wanna thank God for all his blessings. I’d also like to thank my family for their support, and my coaches for helping me get to where I am as a player. This decision was really tough, a lot of the players I look up to in the NBA came straight from HS and succeeded. I thought a lot about it, I prayed on it, and I came to the conclusion that I will…
…not be declaring for the draft this year.
But that’s not all. After talking things over with my mother, and the rest of my family, I realized that they mean more to me than basketball ever will. I couldn’t bear being away from everybody. I needed to be closer to home. So with a heavy heart I must announce that I am decommitting from the University of Texas, and I will be a North Carolina Tar Heel next season.”
Chris Paul:
Chris Paul shocked many when he announced his decision to return to Wake Forest after the completion of his sophomore season. He had just finished a stellar season, sometimes looking unstoppable against collegiate competition. But an upset loss in the NCAA Tournament left Paul with a bitter taste in his mouth, feeling he let Wake Forest’s fans down despite the fact he performed exceptionally in the game Wake lost. Paul returned to Wake, becoming the biggest star in a CBB season filled with stars such as Redick, Morrison, and Noah & the Gators. Paul didn’t disappoint, using his added season to focus on some of the areas scouts had concerns with. In a familiar scene, Paul once again returned to the podium he found himself at last year:
“Feels like déjà vu doesn’t it? First off I need to thank my coach Skip Prosser, who has been like a father to me here at Wake Forest. You would think it would be easy to just go to the NBA and make all that money, but there are so many friends and memories here at Wake. But I woke up today and I had it in my head that I was going to….
…declare for the NBA Draft.”
“….but then I got a phone call. It was Tim Duncan, and he told me something that really stuck with me. He said ‘How many players can say they gave every single play they had to their alma mater?’ and you know, this is a guy that did it. And it didn’t make him any less of a pro. If anything, he told me it made him a better pro because he was more mature when he finally got to the NBA. So I wanna leave a legacy like Tim did, and that’s why I will be returning for my senior season at Wake Forest.”
Adam Morrison:
The final images of Adam Morrison this season for Gonzaga were ones I’m sure he wishes he could erase. After blowing a double digit lead late in the game against some school I don’t remember in the NCAA Tournament, Morrison broke down into tears on the floor in a rare show of emotion for the usually stoic player. Morrison became something of a cult hero this season for Gonzaga, his floppy hair, whispy mustache, and unorthodox offensive game reminded many of players from yesteryear. After lighting up the West Coast Conference, many wondered if there was anything left for him to accomplish at the collegiate level. Today, Morrison answered that question and more at his press conference on campus at Gonzaga.
“I’ve decided…
…to return for my senior season.”
"I couldn't have that as my final memory at Gonzaga. It wasn't even the crying, that's just me, I wear my heart on my sleeve. But I really felt we let the fans down with the way we played that game, and the NBA will always be there for me. This is something I feel I need to do."
Joakim Noah:
One of the major storylines of the 2006 college season was the Florida Gators, in particular the camaraderie of star players Joakim Noah, Corey Brewer, and Taurean Green on and off the court. Noah emerged as the face of the team, both for his stellar play in the NCAA tournament and also for his devil-may-care persona that made Gator fans love him, and made opposing fans despise him. The storybook season had a storybook ending for the Gators, winning the National Championship. One would assume after a title, most players would conclude they had nothing left to accomplish at the college level, and take their games to the NBA (similar to the UNC national title team of a few years ago). But these Gators are a different breed, reveling in the rock-star status afforded to them on campus in Gainesville, and nobody is a bigger star on campus than Noah. Today in Gainesville, Noah finally made his decision:
“Man…this is something I’ve gone back and forth over ever since we got back from the tournament. I love being a Gator, but the NBA is something every kid dreams about growing up…
…which is why I’m declaring for the 2006 NBA Draft.”
Greg Oden:
The list of HS prospects more hyped than Greg Oden is a very small fraternity. Given the modern-day internet craze in recruiting coverage, you could ostensibly argue that LeBron James and Greg Oden were the most hyped HS players of all time. It would seem a no-brainer that a blue-chip 18 year old 7 foot center would declare asap for the draft, but Oden finds himself in a unique situation. Oden’s high school teammate Mike Conley Jr. is headed to Ohio State, and Oden loves playing alongside his best friend. A man of few words, ESPN was there live to cover Oden’s announcement:
“I’m not really the best at all this so I’m gonna try and keep this brief, next fall you will find me playing basketball…
…in the NBA”
Kevin GOAT sim league player Durant:
Kevin GOAT sim league player Durant is one of the more unique prospects to emerge from the HS ranks in quite some time. He has near-PF height, and the shooting stroke of a SG. Physically, he does not have the stature of the prototypical SF, but as we have seen with HS prospects going straight to the pros, sometimes kids would rather strike while the iron is hot and cash in as soon as they can, instead of rolling the dice with a collegiate career. In the case of GOAT sim league player Durant, it’s almost a lock he would end up being drafted in the lottery, probably top 5. With a lot on his mind, GOAT sim league player Durant gathered with his family and met the local press at Montrose Christian School.
“I’d like to thank everybody for coming, I still can’t totally wrap my mind around the thought of so many people being interested in this decision, but I guess that’s just something I’m gonna have to get used to. First and foremost, I wanna thank God for all his blessings. I’d also like to thank my family for their support, and my coaches for helping me get to where I am as a player. This decision was really tough, a lot of the players I look up to in the NBA came straight from HS and succeeded. I thought a lot about it, I prayed on it, and I came to the conclusion that I will…
…not be declaring for the draft this year.
But that’s not all. After talking things over with my mother, and the rest of my family, I realized that they mean more to me than basketball ever will. I couldn’t bear being away from everybody. I needed to be closer to home. So with a heavy heart I must announce that I am decommitting from the University of Texas, and I will be a North Carolina Tar Heel next season.”
Chris Paul:
Chris Paul shocked many when he announced his decision to return to Wake Forest after the completion of his sophomore season. He had just finished a stellar season, sometimes looking unstoppable against collegiate competition. But an upset loss in the NCAA Tournament left Paul with a bitter taste in his mouth, feeling he let Wake Forest’s fans down despite the fact he performed exceptionally in the game Wake lost. Paul returned to Wake, becoming the biggest star in a CBB season filled with stars such as Redick, Morrison, and Noah & the Gators. Paul didn’t disappoint, using his added season to focus on some of the areas scouts had concerns with. In a familiar scene, Paul once again returned to the podium he found himself at last year:
“Feels like déjà vu doesn’t it? First off I need to thank my coach Skip Prosser, who has been like a father to me here at Wake Forest. You would think it would be easy to just go to the NBA and make all that money, but there are so many friends and memories here at Wake. But I woke up today and I had it in my head that I was going to….
…declare for the NBA Draft.”
“….but then I got a phone call. It was Tim Duncan, and he told me something that really stuck with me. He said ‘How many players can say they gave every single play they had to their alma mater?’ and you know, this is a guy that did it. And it didn’t make him any less of a pro. If anything, he told me it made him a better pro because he was more mature when he finally got to the NBA. So I wanna leave a legacy like Tim did, and that’s why I will be returning for my senior season at Wake Forest.”
