July 08, 2003
Tomas Ress will skip his senior year at Texas A&M to play professional basketball in Italy, the 7-foot forward said Tuesday.
Ress, who is scheduled to graduate in August but had one year of eligibility remaining, averaged 7.4 points and 5.1 rebounds in Big 12 play last season, starting in 15 conference games.
"Texas A&M is like a second home to me and I'll really miss it here," Ress said. "This was a very difficult decision. I didn't sleep much for the last month and a half, but I have a great opportunity to play professional basketball at home in Italy. In my heart, I know this is the right decision for me."
Ress started in 12 games as a freshman in 1999-00, but missed the 2000-01 season while recovering from a severe illness that almost ended his career. He played sparingly as a sophomore in 2001-02 while attempting to regain his strength and stamina before re-emerging last season as a mainstay in the starting lineup.
As a result of his comeback, Ress was a finalist in March for the V Foundation Comeback of the Year Award presented by The Jimmy V Foundation and ESPN.
"Tomas Ress has been a big part of the Aggie basketball family the last four years and we will certainly miss him," Watkins said. "We wish Tomas all the best."
Ress played in 81 career games, starting in 40 and averaging 3.4 points and 2.5 rebounds. He posted career highs of 22 points and eight rebounds against Missouri as a freshman, and matched his career-best in rebounding four times last season.
-30-