Storrs, CT (Sports Network) - Connecticut sophomore guard Jeremy Lamb has
decided to forego his final two seasons of eligibility to make himself
available for the NBA Draft.
Lamb helped the Huskies to the national championship as a freshman in the
spring of 2011 and this past season averaged a team-best 17.7 points with 4.9
rebounds in 34 games.
"It was a difficult decision, but after much prayer and discussion with my
parents, I feel that it's in the best interest of me and my family to declare
myself eligible for the upcoming NBA Draft and pursue my dream of playing
professional basketball," Lamb said in a statement on Tuesday. "I have very
much enjoyed my two years at UConn, especially getting to experience one of
the greatest feelings that a college player can have, winning the national
championship."
Another reason for Lamb's departure could be UConn's ineligibility for next
year's NCAA Tournament as the result of poor Academic Progress Rate
performance.
Lamb became just the sixth sophomore to score 1,000 career points last year
and was selected to the All-Big East First Team. His total of 1,060 points
rank him 42nd in UConn history.
"It's never easy to lose a great player from your program, but Jeremy has a
unique opportunity that he needs to take advantage of," said UConn coach Jim
Calhoun. "He's been a great kid to coach for the past two years. His teams
have won 52 games, been to two NCAA Tournaments, and won a national
championship. I look forward to him developing into a terrific player in the
NBA and secondly, as he's promised me, to come back and finish his degree."
Lamb will be the 14th UConn player under Calhoun to leave school early for the
NBA Draft. All but one of the previous 13 were selected in the first round.
The Sports Network