Wes Johnson leaves his "home'' in Syracuse for the NBA (video) (original) (raw)
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View full sizeStephen D. Cannerelli / The Post-Standard Syracuse University basketball star Wesley Johnson was all smiles when announced he would skip his senior season at SU to enter the NBA draft during a press conference at the Bernie Fine Hall of Fame Lobby in the Carmelo Anthony Basketball Center Monday afternoon.
| Syracuse's Wes Johnson Declares for NBA Draft |
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Wesley Johnson spent just two years in Syracuse. He played just one season for the Orange.
And yet, he found himself a home here; a home that he found it hard to say good-bye to on Monday as he announced he would enter the NBA draft.
"It was a very hard decision to make,'' Johnson said during a news conference at the Carmelo K. Anthony Basketball Center on Monday afternoon. "Syracuse has really embraced me. I finally had a place I could call home.''
Before arriving in Syracuse in the spring of 2008, Johnson spent time at two different prep schools and then played at Iowa State for two years before transferring to Syracuse. He sat out the 2008-09 season, but flourished with the Orange this past year.
He led Syracuse in both scoring (16.5 points per game) and rebounding (8.0 per game). He helped the Orange to a 30-5 overall record, a Big East regular season title and a trip to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
He was named the Big East's Player of the Year.
Johnson said he had not yet hired an agent, but planned on doing so. He said he had met with his SU professors and would be able to earn his diploma with just a few summer school credits.
Johnson, a 6-foot-7 forward, is considered a Top 5 to Top 10 pick in this year's NBA draft; however, he almost put the NBA on hold to come back to Syracuse for his final year of eligility.
"I went back and forth daily,'' he said. "I didn't want to leave Syracuse. I love it here. But the NBA's my dream.''
Related links
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Beat writer Mike Waters broke the news earlier today
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Wes Johnson's game-by-game statistics at Syracuse
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Orange Spotlight: Wes Johnson (with full-page poster)
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See our Scoop and Wes show videos
[The Post-Standard]
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[NBA Draft.net]
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Big day for NBA draft declaration
s [NBC Sports]
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Wes Johnson makes for a great NBA fantasy league draft.
[ESPN]
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An NBA draft scouting report on DraftExpress.com
»
What they're saying about Wes Johnson's decision
» The five most recent postings by Wes Johnson on Twitter:
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