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 Pops Mensah-Bonsu announced his intention to play another year at GW on Tuesday. |
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It's a Slam Dunk: Pops Mensah-Bonsu Withdraws From NBA Draft, Will Return to GW for His Senior Year
June 21, 2005
WASHINGTON, DC -- George Washington junior Pops Mensah-Bonsu (London, England) has withdrawn his name from the list of early entry candidates for the 2005 NBA Draft, he announced at a press conference Tuesday. Underclassmen who have declared for the June 28 NBA Draft have until today to withdraw their names and retain their collegiate eligibility provided they do not hire an agent.
"Today, I have decided to take my name out of the NBA Draft and return for my senior season at George Washington," Mensah-Bonsu said of his decision. "I think my decision was based on the fact that I want to get my degree and I also want to return to GW and help the team be a better team going to the tournament and do some things and hopefully win the A-10 Championship again and graduate with the class I came in here with. When I had to make that decision, I felt that it wasn't that hard for me to do so, because I am close with a lot of my teammates and the NBA is going to be there next year and I just feel real positive about coming back to GW for one more year."
"They [NBA scouts] knew I had the potential to be a more polished and skilled player with the glimpses I showed of my ability to play in the post and hopefully one day, become a small forward in the NBA," Mensah-Bonsu added.
Mensah-Bonsu was the Colonials' top shot blocker last season with 46 and led the team in shooting percentage at 57 percent (141-of-247). He averaged 12.6 points per game, 6.6 rebounds per game and had 26 steals and 24 assists. He also scored the 1,000th point of his career last season and has a three-year total of 1,019 points.
Mensah-Bonsu's teammate, Mike Hall (Chicago, IL), also entered his name as an early entry candidate, but the junior withdrew his name last week and will compete for the Colonials in 2005-06.
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Both Mensah-Bonsu and Hall were named to the 2005 Atlantic 10 All-Conference Second Team.
GW (22-8, 11-5 A-10) won the Atlantic 10 Conference regular-season West Division title and the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Colonials were eliminated by Georgia Tech in the first round of the Albuquerque Regional in Nashville.
