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Early departures

Underclassmen have some tough choices to make

Posted: Tuesday April 4, 2006 9:36AM; Updated: Monday April 10, 2006 7:07PM
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Joakim Noah is on top of the college basketball world today, and that's where he should stay for at least one more season.
Joakim Noah is on top of the college basketball world today, and that's where he should stay for at least one more season.
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The Florida Gators had barely finished cutting down the nets after winning the national championship Monday night before people began to speculate about what next year's landscape would look like. Before we can begin to accurately prognosticate, we need to know which underclassmen will be returning for another year and who will leave for the NBA. Here's a look at who would benefit from another year of school and whose stock has peaked.

Who Should Stay

Joakim Noah, Soph., C, Florida
Noah's stock has skyrocketed during the NCAA tournament, and his 16-point, nine-rebound, six-block performance in the national title game will likely elevate him even higher. But he's very wiry at 6-foot-11, 227 pounds, and raw offensively. He needs at least another year to get stronger and improve his offensive game.
What He'll Do: Stay. Nobody loves college basketball more than the excitable Noah.

Corey Brewer, Soph., F, Florida
With a smooth offensive game and good basketball awareness, Brewer has a bright future. But he isn't a dominant force yet and could stand to put on some weight and polish his game. If he waits another year, he could be a lottery pick.
What He'll Do: Stay.

Al Horford, Soph., F, Florida
Horford has an NBA body and his game is steadily improving. A good rebounder and shot blocker, Horford is projected as a late-first-round pick but could move into the top 10 with another good year.
What He'll Do: Stay, provided Noah and Brewer stick around.

Jordan Farmar, Soph., G, UCLA
Farmar is coming off an outstanding NCAA tournament and may be tempted to test the draft waters. But there are plenty of point guards ahead of him on the draft lists, and if he comes back he could be one of the top points in the '07 draft.
What He'll Do: Stay.

Glen Davis, Soph., F, LSU
Though he was the SEC Player of the Year and had a terrific NCAA tournament (minus the loss to UCLA in the national semifinals), Big Baby is, well, a baby. He needs to polish his offensive game. With another year of experience he could be unstoppable.
What He'll Do: Stay.

Josh McRoberts, Fr., F, Duke
He's much more highly rated than teammate J.J. Redick, but he's not NBA-ready. He has to prove he can be an offensive force and won't try to get by on his athleticism. But given that he's projected as a top 10 pick, he has to consider the possibilities.
What He'll Do: Go.

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