Who will return for UNC Basketball?

[wade moore]

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney05/news/story?id=2030658

May suggests he'll return for senior seasonESPN.com news services


CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina coach Roy Williams expects guard Rashad McCants to forgo his senior season to enter the NBA draft.


McCants


"I think Rashad told people last night he was going to go; we had that discussion as early as first of the semester, as early as January, knowing at that time is was probably going to happen," Williams said at a news conference Tuesday in St. Louis, where he accepted the national championship trophy.

Sean May, however, suggested he would return for his senior season during remarks at the Tar Heels' victory celebration in Chapel Hill with fans in the Smith Center on Tuesday afternoon.


May


"I love ya'll. Thank ya'll. We're going to try to come back and do it next year," May said. "Along with that I'm going to try to get some of these guys to come back with me."

Williams confirmed May's stated intentions.

"Sean has said publicly he is coming back, but we'll sit down and talk," Williams said.

He also alluded to other non-seniors on the team who could go pro in his remarks in St. Louis.

"Raymond [Felton], he and I sat down before the season started and said we would have a discussion once the season was over," Williams said. "Marvin [Williams], I've heard him say that he'd really love to stay, but he and I are going to sit down and talk."




McCants had 14 points, two rebounds and an assist in the 75-70 win over Illinois on Monday night. For the season, he averaged 16 points, three rebounds and nearly three assists.

McCants addressed the Chapel Hill crowd, but gave no indication he planned to head for the NBA early.

"It's going to be great to look up in the stands and see 2005 national champions [on a banner]," he said. "Let's see if we can make it in 2006."

Players were unavailable for further comment after the event, which drew about 15,000 fans.

North Carolina is definitely losing seniors Jawad Williams, Jackie Manuel and Melvin Scott.

Information from The Associated Press was


Do Williams's comments sound weird to you? It almost sounds to me like he is going to talk these guys OUT of staying...

[albionmoonlight]

As dominant as May is in college, where does he play in the NBA? He's too slow for SF and too short for PF. Granted, he could be the next Charles Barkley, but I wonder if he's one of those guys who has a great college game that just does not translate to the Pros.

[QuikSand]

Sean May might have been a better college player than Maryland's Lonnie Baxter, but I think they have similar problems translating to the NBA. Baxter didn't work out so well.

[rafini]

As dominant as May is in college, where does he play in the NBA? He's too slow for SF and too short for PF. Granted, he could be the next Charles Barkley, but I wonder if he's one of those guys who has a great college game that just does not translate to the Pros.

Did somebody say Corlis Williamson or Danny Fortson.

[ThunderingHERD]

I don't take it like that at all.

Anyway, May is definately going to stay, Mccants is definately going to go. Felton apparently hasn't made up his mind--but I can't see him staying. Marvin Williams really wanted to play another year, but apparently is concerned about the new CBA potentially including a 20 year minimum age--in which case he would have to stay for his junior year as well. Under those conditions there's no way Roy is going to advise him to stay, though maybe Marvin will decide to anyway.

[ThunderingHERD]

Did somebody say Corlis Williamson or Danny Fortson.

Elton Brand, Carlos Boozer, Zach Randolph--Charles Barkley.

[albionmoonlight]

I don't take it like that at all.

Anyway, May is definately going to stay, Mccants is definately going to go. Felton apparently hasn't made up his mind--but I can't see him staying. Marvin Williams really wanted to play another year, but apparently is concerned about the new CBA potentially including a 20 year minimum age--in which case he would have to stay for his junior year as well. Under those conditions there's no way Roy is going to advise him to stay, though maybe Marvin will decide to anyway.
Marvin Williams apparently loves college, but its hard to tell a guy who will probably be a top three pick to stay around. Personally, I think that you are only young once and you only get to be worshiped like royality as a college basketball star once. I'd probably stick around. There will be time enough to be a professional. But if when I was a college freshman, someone offered me the chance to make millions and hang out with lots of groupies, I can't say that I would have turned that down for another year of Shakespeare and Calculus.

[Radii]

when Dean Smith was coaching, he of course had contacts throughout the NBA and would figure out if a player was reliably going in the lottery. If they were, he would advise the player to leave and go pro. I can see Roy Williams sitting down w/ Marvin Williams and saying "I'd love for you to stay but make sure you weigh all your options here" or something.

Any of Felton/May/Marvin Williams that stay will be a pleasant suprise to me.


As to May, he has been a center his entire college career. I don't think that is what he'll be in the pros, he'll be a power forward. He has shown a hint of a jump shot, though he clearly would need to work on it a ton for the NBA. With more strength and conditioning work I think he has some potential, though I agree that he's not an obvious star in the pros or anything like that... Once he comes down off the high of winning the title, I won't be suprised if he realizes that his NBA stock will never be higher than it is right now and decides to go.

[Swaggs]

I think McCants and Williams leave early, and May and Felton stay.

[wbatl1]

I think McCants and Williams leave early, and May and Felton stay.

If your right(which I personally doubt), I'l hug everyone in sight. Personally, I think we'll be lucky if we get one of the four back.

[Radii]

If your right(which I personally doubt), I'l hug everyone in sight. Personally, I think we'll be lucky if we get one of the four back.

agreed.

[Arles]

If May stays, he drops atleast 10 spots in 2006. Right now, he's man of the hour and would probably go in the 15-25 range if he has a decent camp. Next season, the draft will be much deeper for big men (and HS talent), so I wouldn't be surprised if he slipped to late first or early 2nd.

The guy hasn't made a 3 in his college career and plays almost exclusively on the block. At 6-9, that doesn't play well in the NBA. Plus, he only averaged 1 block shot a game in college so it's not like he can become an intimidating presence. He looks right now like a "Corlis Williamson"-type. Plus, if he comes back, it's not like he's going to do anything different than sit on the low block all season yet again.

If May wants to stay, he might want to call Tobey Bailey and Miles Simon and ask them what coming back for another season after a great Final 4 does for you as a "tweener" pro prospect ;)