North Carolina wing Theo Pinson is withdrawing from the NBA Draft and returning to school for his senior year.
Pinson started for the Tar Heels this past season. He had six points and eight rebounds in the 71-65 victory over Gonzaga that secured the third national championship of Roy Williams' career.
"I'm glad I took the time to explore the NBA Draft process, but I am going to play my senior year as a Tar Heel," Pinson said. "It was a dream of mine to play college basketball at the best school and in the best league in the country, and it is a dream of mine to play in the NBA as well. The best path for me to reach the league and have a long career there is to have a great senior season. And I am so excited to have that opportunity to play another year for Coach Williams."
Pinson averaged 6.1 points and 4.6 rebounds in 21 games as a junior (he missed 19 games because of injury). The 6-foot-6 North Carolina native is the second UNC player to withdraw from the draft in the past nine days. The other is Joel Berry II, who averaged 14.7 points and 3.6 assists this past season. The Tar Heels are still waiting on Tony Bradley's decision. He has until May 24 to withdraw from the draft.
North Carolina is fourth in the preseason CBS Sports Top 25 (and one).
