Drew Crawford announces he will stay at Northwestern

Drew Crawford was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year for the 2009-10 season.

Kamil Krzaczynsky/AP

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) -- Forward Drew Crawford says he's staying at Northwestern for his final season.

In a statement released through the school Friday, Crawford says he "can't wait'' to get back on the court next season and is looking forward to playing for new coach Chris Collins.

Crawford started the first 10 games last season and averaged 13.5 points before having season-ending surgery to repair a torn right labrum. An economics major, he's graduating with one year of eligibility remaining and could have transferred.

Instead, he'll play for Collins, who replaced the fired Bill Carmody.

Besides announcing Crawford is staying, Northwestern also said former player Patrick Baldwin was hired as an assistant. A Wildcat in the early 1990s, he spent the past two seasons on the staff at Missouri State.

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