TIGER BASKETBALL:
Forward Dedric Lawson says he’ll return rather than testing NBA waters.
It’s still in search of a new head coach. But now the University of Memphis knows it will have its best player back next season in freshman forward Dedric Lawson, who announced he’s no longer testing the NBA waters in a statement released to The Commercial Appeal late Tuesday night.
The 6-foot-9 Lawson was the American Athletic Conference Rookie of the Year and an all-AAC second-team selection last season after averaging a teamleading 15.8 points and 9.3 rebounds. But he didn’t get to play a full season with his brother, fellow freshman forward K.J. Lawson, who appeared in just 10 games last season because of heel spurs.
Dedric said the chance to play another season with his brother, whom he’s played alongside for years, weighed heavily into his decision. Dedric was ranked No. 45 in ESPN NBA draft expert Chad Ford’s Top 100 Draft Prospects list.
Dedric’s statement in full is below: To Tiger Nation After talking with my Mom and Dad and some careful thought I have decided that it is in my best interest to return to the University Of Memphis for at least another year. Therefore I am taking my name out of consideration for this year’s NBA draft. This will also give me another chance to
play with my big brother K.J. After playing with him for the past several years it seemed kind of strange without being on the floor with him. Please don’t tell him I said that, and it really could be our last chance to play together.
I believe that another year in school will better prepare me for all of my future plans. This move will also place me in the draft class that I was expected to be in, had I not graduated from high school one year early. I want to thank the school again for giving me this opportunity. I am looking forward to being a Tiger for another season and a chance for us to play in the 2017 NCAA tournament.”
Dedric’s return is critical for a 2016-17 Memphis roster that otherwise would’ve had no players returning who averaged more than nine points last season. It’s also big news for Memphis’ next head coach.
“The next coach at Memphis will inherit an All-America candidate,” CBS Sports college basketball columnist Gary Parrish tweeted shortly after the news broke Tuesday night.
Dedric’s return likely assures that his father, assistant coach Keelon Lawson, will be retained by Memphis.
The school’s search for a head basketball coach stretched through a fifth day Tuesday without a favorite emerging for the position.
Attempts to reach Keelon Lawson weren’t successful.