Colorado University Athletics
Roby Declares For NBA Draft But Keeps Options Open For CU Return
BOULDER - University of Colorado sophomore and all-Big 12 first team guard Richard Roby announced his intention to test the waters and declare for the June National Basketball Association Draft Tuesday afternoon at the Coors Events Center.
“After a lot of thinking, talking to my family and my coaches and everybody, I’ve decided to make myself eligible for this year’s NBA Draft,” said Roby. “I will not get an agent, so I will do anything possible to maintain my eligibility so I can come back and play basketball here at Colorado. I feel this is the right decision, and Coach (Patton) supports me on this decision.”
If selected in the June 27 draft, he must forgo his junior and senior seasons, but if he is not, and he has done everything required to maintain his college eligibility, he would be allowed to return for the 2006-07 season.
Roby led CU in scoring (17.0), rebounds (5.5), steals (2.1), and 3-pointers made (63) this past season helping the Buffaloes to a 20-10 record and a NIT berth. CU also finished fifth in the Big 12 Conference with a 9-7 mark.
Roby’s two-year scoring total falls just shy of 1,000 points at 990 and is No. 24 on CU’s all-time scoring list with 60 games played.
SOPHOMORE GUARD RICHARD ROBY QUOTES
ON WHERE HE WANTS TO BE DRAFTED - “First round, if I don’t get drafted in the second round, I’ll definitely come back to school.”
ON EASE OF DECISION - “After sitting down and really thinking about it, it really was (easy). Me and Coach (Patton) talked about it and he said that is why they have the rule there for people like me to test the waters and see where they are going to be.”
ON KENYON MARTIN’S ADVICE ? “I talked with him a little bit, he also agreed with the decision. Everyone I talked to really agreed with the decision.”
ON WITHDRAWING FROM CLASSES - “I’m going to withdraw from my classes now so I don’t get all F’s and I’m going to pick up two classes I’ll be able to finish while I do my traveling and all that stuff. The rule is you have to pass 18 hours, and I already passed 12 in the fall semester. So in the spring I will be doing those two classes.”
ON WHERE HE THINKS HE WILL BE DRAFTED - “I heard a lot of different things. I really think it is going to come down to the workouts and how well I perform in some of the workouts. Also, how well I perform against some of the guys who play my position.”
ON BEING DIFFICULT TO COME BACK - “I don’t think so. If I experience all of this stuff, going through the NBA, I don’t think so. I know when I played here it is all about Colorado and all about winning and that is what is has always been about. The NBA isn’t going anywhere and I know Coach will help me with that too.”
ON PLAYING THIS SEASON WITH THE NBA ON HIS MIND - “It’s always been in the back of my mind. You can’t help it when everyone keeps asking you and everyone keeps beating your mind. I wouldn’t say it has entirely affected the way I have played because even when I was playing well it was still in the back of my mind and playing not as well. I don’t think I finished the season the way I would have liked too, myself and the team. I think after I go to the workouts and stuff like that I can be able to show them that wasn’t the way I play.”
DID HIS LATE SEASON PLAY HURTING HIM - “I know it definitely probably hurt a little bit. But you’ve seen me play enough. I think the problem was you have a lot of guys look at me, some see me play well and some see me play poorly. I think it is definitely up in the air and will come down to the workouts on where I end up.”
ON TRAINING - “I’m going to find a trainer and a guy that is really going to work with me one-on-one to really be prepared for the workout and ready for the NBA.”
ON RETAINING HIS ELIGIBILITY - “Definitely, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt my eligibility. It is my future. I wouldn’t want to have to end up sitting out a semester for me being lazy. I definitely have enough time on my hands where I can do the work, and enough people pushing me to do the work so I don’t think that is an issue at all.”
ON HIS TEAMMATES ? “I think my teammates have been fully supportive of me. They understand my situation and I felt if they were in my shoes they would make the same decision.”
ON BEING ABLE TO COME BACK - “That made my decision. Especially with the last five games, how I played. I felt if I played well the last five games my status would have been a lot higher. But since I have the option it is definitely great to go test the waters. I am fully confident in my abilities and what I can do but if I have to come back, I wouldn’t be sad. I’d come back to a program where the coaches and students love me so it wouldn’t hurt at all.”
ON DAVID HARRISON’S SITUATION ? “I think David Harrison made it a little more risky because he completely left school I believe and I don’t think he had the option to come back. What I’m doing is withdrawing from school so I have the option to come back. So I don’t have the same risks he had. I think our situations are totally different.”
ON THIS YEARS DRAFT NOT FEATURING HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS ? “Before they were taking a lot of European and high school guys but I they’re not getting the productivity from the European guys as they expected. And they mostly draft the high school guys based on their potential. I don’t know if it is a good rule or bad rule. But when guys come to college, they see a different light. Coming from high school and playing Division I basketball, I don’t care who you are, you are going to have ups and downs. I think this year’s draft is a special draft with all of the new rules.”
COLORADO HEAD COACH RICARDO PATTON QUOTES
“Our academic people here are doing a great job of advising Richard, and we all are aware of what he needs to accomplish to retain his eligibility.”
“I think that as a coach my responsibility is to fully support him in this endeavor, and to wish him the best and as he moves forward, and my advice to him will remain the same, do well academically, and have the ability to come back to school if things don’t work out the way he wants them to.”
“Well at this point with one scholarship available, we have focused on signing a post player, so it does not change our focus recruiting wise. The only way that it would change is if some player would evolve that we wanted to sign, and at that point we would have to make a decision based on what is best for the program. But at this point we are going to fully support Richard’s decision and give him the option of coming back if that is what he desires to do.”
“I am excited for Richard, and I know that he will train hard. He has been great to coach, and he has worked hard over the past two years, and I wish him the best.”
“I think that he is a very talented young man. I think that the fact that he does not mind working. We all have to realize that most of the times the NBA drafts on potential, and anyone that has seen Richard play over the past couple of seasons knows that he has a lot of potential. He will continue to improve every year that he plays basketball just because he is willing to work at it.”