clancy withdraws name from draft

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SoCalHoops College/NBA News

USC's Sam Clancy Skips NBA,
Will Return To Team--(June 15, 2001)

p-clancy.jpg (3720 bytes) USC got a major bit of good news yesterday afternoon as Sam Clancy, Southern California's leading scorer and rebounder last season, officially withdrew his name from the 2001 NBA draft, announcing that he and will return to the Trojans for his senior season. "Going through the workouts and the draft camps was a good experience, but I've decided to return to school for my senior year," Clancy said in a statement released by USC on Thursday. "We had a great season last year and I'm looking forward to trying to match this season's success," he added. The 6-foot-7-inch forward from Fairview, Ohio, helped lead Southern California to the NCAA tournament's East Regional final where the Trojans lost to eventual national champion Duke. Clancy, who averaged 17.3 points and 7.5 rebounds last season, was a first-team all-Pac-10 selection. He is the school's leading career shot blocker with 147, including a school-record 87 last season.

Here's the rest of the official release (which can also be found at the Official USC Basketball site):

All-America candidate withdraws name
for consideration for the 2001 NBA Draft.

June 14, 2001

USC senior forward Sam Clancy, the Trojans leading scorer and rebounder in 2001, has withdrawn his name for consideration for the 2001 NBA draft.

Clancy had not signed with an agent and had until June 20 to remove his name from the draft list. The NBA draft is on June 27.

"Going through the workouts and the draft camps was a good experience, but I've decided to return to school for my senior year," Clancy said. "I enjoyed the opportunity to compete against some of the best players in America and I have a better idea now of what I need to work on to be a competitive player at the next level.

"I'm also excited to be coming back to USC. We had a great season last year and I'm looking forward to trying to match last year's success."

The 6-foot-7 Clancy, from Fairview, Ohio, earned 2001 All-Pacific-10, The Sporting News Pac-10, NABC District 15 and USBWA District 9 first-team honors as a junior in 2001, leading USC to the NCAA Tournament's East Regional Final where it lost to eventual national champion Duke.

He led USC in scoring (17.3), rebounding (7.5), field goal percentage (.501) and blocked shots (81). He became USC's all-time leader shot blocker (147) and also set a school season record for rejections (81). He averaged team highs in points (17.1) and rebounds (7.2) in the Pac-10. His 588 points on the season were the fifth-most in school history and his 255 rebounds were the 14th most ever at USC.

Said USC Coach Henry Bibby: "We were going to support Sam with whatever decision he made, but obviously this is a big boost for our team. I think he understands that he can only get better with another year of college ball. He was probably our best player on last year's team and this gives next year's team a lot of credibility. His leadership alone is extremely valuable and would have been sorely missed."

The Trojans now have three starters returning from their Elite Eight team from a year ago. In addition to Clancy is four-year starting point guard Brandon Granville and three-year starting small forward David Bluthenthal.