April 20, 2009
COLLEGE STATION - Texas A&M juniors Bryan Davis and Chinemelu Elonu have submitted their names for the 2009 NBA Draft but will not hire agents, leaving them the option of returning for their senior seasons.
Junior guard Donald Sloan declared for the draft last week but also may return.
Davis, a 6-foot-9 forward from Dallas (Grand Prairie HS), averaged 10.8 points last season and ranked second on the team in rebounds (6.5) and blocked shots (46). As a sophomore, he was named to the Big 12 All-Reserve Team.
"It's always been my goal to play in the NBA and going through this process will give me some idea about where I may be projected," Davis said. "Coach (Mark) Turgeon is supporting me and, if things don't work out, I will come back and work even harder to make my senior season a special one for A&M."
Elonu, a 6-foot-10 forward from Houston (Alief Elsik HS), averaged 9.8 points, led the team in rebounding (7.3) and blocked shots (53), and set a school record for field goal percentage (.665) last season. He earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors and was named the league's most improved player by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. A first-team Academic All-Big 12 selection, Elonu will graduate in May.
"I feel I have shown tremendous progress as a player and it has been my goal to play in the NBA since high school, " Elonu said. "After consulting with my family, Coach Turgeon and the coaching staff, I decided I would enter the draft but not hire an agent. If I am not satisfied with the process, I fully expect to return to A&M for my final year."
Along with Sloan, Davis and Elonu have been a part of three NCAA Tournament Teams at A&M.
The NBA Draft is June 25.