FIBA Basketball
USA - Noah - `I'm going back to Florida, baby!'
GAINESVILLE (NCAA) - College basketball's newest sensation Joakim Noah will return to the University of Florida to play his junior year, passing up the chance to turn pro this summer. The New York-born Noah, who is eligible to play for France or Sweden
GAINESVILLE (NCAA) - College basketball's newest sensation Joakim Noah will return to the University of Florida to play his junior year, passing up the chance to turn pro this summer.
The New York-born Noah, who is eligible to play for France or Sweden through his celebrity parents - he can even play for Cameroon because of his grandfather - was projected as a potential top 10 pick in the NBA draft after guiding the Gators to the NCAA Tournament crown last month but he still has two years of eligibility and wants to stay in school.
Noah is the son of French tennis star Yannick Noah and former Miss Sweden Cecilia Rhode.
He announced his decision along with team-mates Al Horford and Corey Brewer at a fan's celebration of the national title at Florida's O'Connell Center in Gainesville.
The trio were expected to be saying goodbye, particularly when Horford opened by saying: "It's been a great two years for me, Joakim and Corey.
We had a lot of fun being Gators.
"We feel like we've done all we needed to do."
But just when the 10,000 Florida fans gathered were fearing the worst, Noah - acting like the leader he has been on the court - grabbed the microphone to ask the crowd: "Do you want us to come back next year?"
They chanted "two more years, two more years," in response, and Noah obliged, screaming "We're back, baby!"
The announcement had been planned by the players to tease the fans.
According to the rules, the players have until April 29 to change their mind and declare for the draft, but Florida coach Billy Donovan believes their decision is final.
"Now, all the speculation can stop (about) the 2006-07 Gators," he said.
"That will put everything else to bed. We won't need to talk about it anymore."
Florida will have all five of their starting players - and their seven top scorers - returning next year, making them the early favourites to retain their title - a feat not achieved since Duke won in both 1991 and 1992.
By PA Sport
The New York-born Noah, who is eligible to play for France or Sweden through his celebrity parents - he can even play for Cameroon because of his grandfather - was projected as a potential top 10 pick in the NBA draft after guiding the Gators to the NCAA Tournament crown last month but he still has two years of eligibility and wants to stay in school.
Noah is the son of French tennis star Yannick Noah and former Miss Sweden Cecilia Rhode.
He announced his decision along with team-mates Al Horford and Corey Brewer at a fan's celebration of the national title at Florida's O'Connell Center in Gainesville.
The trio were expected to be saying goodbye, particularly when Horford opened by saying: "It's been a great two years for me, Joakim and Corey.
We had a lot of fun being Gators.
"We feel like we've done all we needed to do."
But just when the 10,000 Florida fans gathered were fearing the worst, Noah - acting like the leader he has been on the court - grabbed the microphone to ask the crowd: "Do you want us to come back next year?"
They chanted "two more years, two more years," in response, and Noah obliged, screaming "We're back, baby!"
The announcement had been planned by the players to tease the fans.
According to the rules, the players have until April 29 to change their mind and declare for the draft, but Florida coach Billy Donovan believes their decision is final.
"Now, all the speculation can stop (about) the 2006-07 Gators," he said.
"That will put everything else to bed. We won't need to talk about it anymore."
Florida will have all five of their starting players - and their seven top scorers - returning next year, making them the early favourites to retain their title - a feat not achieved since Duke won in both 1991 and 1992.
By PA Sport