The juniors who led Georgetown to this year's Final Four are breaking up their act. Jeff Green announced he will remain in the NBA draft, while Roy Hibbert said he will withdraw his name and return for his senior season -- and a chance at an NCAA championship.
"It's hard for me to leave this place," said Green, the Big East Player of the Year. "College is something that happens only once in your life. It'll be tough knowing I'm not out there with the guys I came in with."
Had both Green and Hibbert returned, the Hoyas might have begun next season as the No. 1-ranked team. Instead, Green is leaving behind the chance at a title and is forsaking his long-stated goal of playing four years at Georgetown.
"Just sitting down with my family and coach, I feel like we came to a decision that I should stay in this draft, and it would be the best thing for me after the season that the team had and that I had," Green said. "I'm in a good position to go pretty high in this draft."
Green was selected as most outstanding player of the NCAA East Regional as the Hoyas reached the Final Four for the first time in 22 years. The 6-foot-9-inch forward has a versatile team-oriented game that should serve him well in the pros.
Green and Hibbert, who both took out insurance policies a year ago in case an injury ruined their future NBA careers, submitted their names as early-entry candidates last month and have spent their time since then discerning their draft value.
Sophomore Rodney Stuckey, the best basketball player in Eastern Washington history, signed with Goodwin Sports Management of Seattle, which prevents him from returning to college if he is not drafted by an NBA team. Stuckey, a 6-5 guard, said his agents received information he might be a first-round draft pick.