Final update of the day, but we start it with a pop quiz, because we’re feeling all multiple-choicy today thanks to our bar studies:

Three major players are left to decide their draft status. (A) is slated to go in the late first round. (B) is projected to go in the early in the second. Most analysts say (C) will go undrafted. Only one of them decides to return to school. Who would you lay your money on to return to school?

If you guessed (C), you would make a logical choice. But the draft, much like the bar exam, has absolutely nothing to do with logic – which is why the correct choice is (A), and the correct player is woulda-coulda first rounder Chase Budinger of Arizona.

Budinger was leaning towards going pro as late as last night, but apparently had a change of heart. Score this as a huge get for Lute Olson and the Wildcats, who now return an experienced squad with the only major change being the swap of one freshman point guard (Jerryd Bayless, a secure Top-10 pick) for another (All-World recruit Brandon Jennings). But damn if it doesn’t seem strange.

As for the two going pro, the first off the decision block was Cal’s Ryan Anderson, who DraftExpress has going in the early 2nd round. It stands to reason that Anderson felt his stock couldn’t go much higher, considering he led the Pac-10 in scoring and nearly averaged a double-double in his second season.

For expert, non-race neutral advice!

Anderson’s decision to turn pro was evidently finalized after a family movie night , featuring “The Courtship of Eddie’s Father”. In case you are unfamiliar with the movie – and golly, why wouldn’t you be? – IMDB sums up a key plot point:

Eddie shows open disdain for [his father's new girlfriend], solely because she has squinty eyes like all the “bad” girls in the comic books.

See? The movie told Anderson learned that Asian people are bad, so he needed to get out of the Bay Area as fast as possible! It all makes sense now!

Oh, 1960s culture – how we miss your blatant use of stereotypes to make a joke AND a point.

[/sarcasm]

Our final early entrant from the major programs – Luc Richard Mbah a Moute of UCLA, who will reportedly remain in the draft and hire an agent this week. We report this with no shortage of regret, because as Mbah a Moute will likely go undrafted and had a great gig back in Westwood, we meant to write a Profile in Hubris on him last week. Considering that every other player so treated dropped out of the draft … well, damned if we won’t feel a bit responsible if next Thursday is a long night for Luc. Bruins fans, feel free to blame us. (Once you are done blaming SMQ, anyway.)

With the 5pm deadline now in the rearview, all other players are presumed to remain in the draft, and are therefore dead to us. Below, the list of players continuing their college careers:

Definitely Returning to School

A.J. Abrams, Texas
Josh Akognon, Cal State Fullerton
Antonio Anderson, Memphis
Chase Budinger, Arizona
DeMarre Carroll, Missouri
Josh Carter, Texas A&M
Darren Collison, UCLA
Lee Cummard, BYU
Wayne Ellington, UNC
Alonzo Gee, Alabama
Danny Green, UNC
Stefon Jackson, UTEP
Ty Lawson, UNC
Leo Lyons, Missouri
Jerel McNeal, Marquette
Josh Shipp, UCLA
Ronald Steele, Alabama
Robert Vaden, UAB
Lorrenzo Wade, San Diego State

College basketball just stole back two very good guards from the NBA for another year: this hour, Texas’ A.J. Abrams and Alabama’s Ronald Steele both announced their withdrawal from the draft.

For the Longhorns, Abrams’ return means that Rick Barnes avoids a total loss of experience in his backcourt, as point guard D.J. Augustin will stay in the draft (and likely go in the first eight picks). Texas doesn’t have a great recruiting class coming in, so the decision by Abrams to return is a huge save for the program.

For the Tide, however, Steele’s reported decision to return means even more. Steele missed the entire 2007-2008 season on medical redshirt after knee surgery last offseason, and his absence at the point badly hurt a team needing a floor leader. With Richard Hendrix moving onto the pros, Steele’s return saves Bama’s chances of competing for an SEC West title.

Unfortunately, it also means more of this on national television:

It’s not Creamsicle orange, but that doesn’t mean it’s pretty.

UPDATE: Jeff Goodman – baller – reports via text message (to him, not from him to me) that Josh Akognon of Call State Fullerton became the third long range baller of the day to stay in college. Lists updated.

Updated tables:

Decision Unknown

Ryan Anderson, Cal (likely go)
Chase Budinger, Arizona (50-50)
Derrick Caracter, Louisville (50-50)
DeMarre Carroll, Missouri (50-50)
Paul Graham II, Florida Atlantic (likely stay)
Kalen Grimes, Missouri (50-50)
Lester Hudson, UT-Martin (50-50)
Reggie Huffman, UAB (50-50)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA (50-50)
JaVale McGee, Nevada (likely go)
Courtney Pigram, ETSU (likely stay)
Walter Sharpe, UAB (likely stay)

Definitely Returning to School

A.J. Abrams, Texas
Josh Akognon, Cal State Fullerton
Antonio Anderson, Memphis
Josh Carter, Texas A&M
Darren Collison, UCLA (who, admittedly, withdrew before the declaration deadline)
Lee Cummard, BYU
Wayne Ellington, UNC
Alonzo Gee, Alabama
Danny Green, UNC
Stefon Jackson, UTEP
Ty Lawson, UNC
Leo Lyons, Missouri
Jerel McNeal, Marquette
Josh Shipp, UCLA
Ronald Steele, Alabama
Robert Vaden, UAB
Lorrenzo Wade, San Diego State

Third draft update of the afternoon, and it’s a doozy for Duke fans ACC fans really everyone but Carolina fans: the UNC trio of Wayne Ellington, Danny Green, and Ty Lawson will be returning to Chapel Hill as a group, according to Jeff Goodman. Unsurprising for Green, kinda surprising for Ellington, quite surprising for Lawson, who seemed intent on staying in the draft. Clearly, last week’s driving after drinking incident had an effect on his prospects and his decision.

With the national semifinalists now returning every valuable scorer from last year’s team and improving their bench to boot, they must be the prohibitive favorite to win the title next year.

Excuse us for a moment.

Tar Heel Championship or Seppuku? Hm. Give us a minute.

Decision Unknown

A.J. Abrams, Texas (likely go)
Josh Akognon, Cal State Fullerton (likely go)
Ryan Anderson, Cal (likely go)
Chase Budinger, Arizona (50-50)
Derrick Caracter, Louisville (50-50)
DeMarre Carroll, Missouri (50-50)
Paul Graham II, Florida Atlantic (likely stay)
Kalen Grimes, Missouri (50-50)
Lester Hudson, UT-Martin (50-50)
Reggie Huffman, UAB (50-50)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA (50-50)
JaVale McGee, Nevada (likely go)
Courtney Pigram, ETSU (likely stay)
Walter Sharpe, UAB (likely stay)
Ronald Steele, Alabama (50-50)

Definitely Returning to School

Antonio Anderson, Memphis
Josh Carter, Texas A&M
Darren Collison, UCLA (who, admittedly, withdrew before the declaration deadline)
Lee Cummard, BYU
Wayne Ellington, UNC
Alonzo Gee, Alabama
Danny Green, UNC
Stefon Jackson, UTEP
Ty Lawson, UNC
Leo Lyons, Missouri
Jerel McNeal, Marquette
Josh Shipp, UCLA
Robert Vaden, UAB
Lorrenzo Wade, San Diego State

Second draft status update of the afternoon:

Clearly, the Profiles in Hubris leave their mark on players – first Danny Green softened his insistence that he would leave school, and now Gonzaga’s Jeremy Pargo has taken his name out of the draft. Pargo’s return means that for the first time in four years, the Zags will get their best player from the previous season back. Can’t hurt.

Joining Pargo back in the college ranks – Robert Dozier of Memphis. No surprise, as John Calipari said last week that he expected Dozier to return. But coupled with the return of Antonio Anderson, Dozier’s decision softens the blow from the loss of Derrick Rose and CDR.

Meanwhile, Richard Hendrix of Alabama announced he would stay in the draft without a first round guarantee. The All-SEC player who averaged a double-double last season has a good shot of making a team as a bench post player even from the second round, and even the most vociferous “stay in school advocates” can’t argue with a guy leaving who graduated in three years. Considering we needed every second of four years to get our undergraduate degree due to too much drankin’ the rigorous requirements, we simply say good on ya, Messr. Hendrix.

Also draftbound: Bill Walker of Kansas State is now formerly of Kansas State, as the redshirt freshman wing decided to stay in the draft despite a partial tear in his right meniscus that will prevent him from doing any more workouts before the draft. DraftExpress has him as the first pick in Round 2 right now, which isn’t too bad considering that earlier this year, insiders said he wasn’t ready for the draft at all ($).

The updated tables:

Decisions Unknown
A.J. Abrams, Texas (likely go)
Josh Akognon, Cal State Fullerton (likely go)
Ryan Anderson, Cal (likely go)
Chase Budinger, Arizona (50-50)
Derrick Caracter, Louisville (50-50)
DeMarre Carroll, Missouri (50-50)
Wayne Ellington, UNC (likely stay)
Paul Graham II, Florida Atlantic (likely stay)
Danny Green, UNC (likely stay)
Kalen Grimes, Missouri (50-50)
Lester Hudson, UT-Martin (50-50)
Reggie Huffman, UAB (50-50)
Ty Lawson, UNC (likely go)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA (50-50)
JaVale McGee, Nevada (likely go)
Courtney Pigram, ETSU (likely stay)
Walter Sharpe, UAB (likely stay)
Ronald Steele, Alabama (50-50)

Definitely Returning to School

Antonio Anderson, Memphis
Josh Carter, Texas A&M
Darren Collison, UCLA (who, admittedly, withdrew before the declaration deadline)
Lee Cummard, BYU
Robert Dozier, Memphis
Alonzo Gee, Alabama
Stefon Jackson, UTEP
Leo Lyons, Missouri
Jerel McNeal, Marquette
Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga
Josh Shipp, UCLA
Robert Vaden, UAB
Lorrenzo Wade, San Diego State

A quick update to the table of who is in, who is out, and who is unknown:

UAB’s Robert Vaden will be announce at 2pm that he will head back to Birmingham in the fall. And frankly, who can blame him? Opportunity to develop an all-around game to compliment his outside shooting AND license to remain a Blazer for another year? Yes and yes.

Ooey-Pooey’s George Hill, however, announced over the weekend that he’ll stay in the draft without a guarantee of being drafted. Jeff Goodman, who pretty much is a God around this time of year, says Hill might not be crazy, since his draft ceiling is as high now as it ever will be. Hm. Profile in Hubris spiked, but we’re watching you, George.

Two lists we’ll keep updated throughout the day: first, the list of players who still might withdraw their names from the draft, with players of interest in bold:

A.J. Abrams, Texas (likely go)
Josh Akognon, Cal State Fullerton (likely go)
Ryan Anderson, Cal (likely go)
Chase Budinger, Arizona (50-50)
Derrick Caracter, Louisville (50-50)
DeMarre Carroll, Missouri (50-50)
Robert Dozier, Memphis (likely stay)
Wayne Ellington, UNC (likely stay)
Paul Graham II, Florida Atlantic (likely stay)
Danny Green, UNC (likely stay)
Kalen Grimes, Missouri (50-50)
Richard Hendrix, Alabama (likely stay)
Lester Hudson, UT-Martin (50-50)
Reggie Huffman, UAB (50-50)
Ty Lawson, UNC (likely go)
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, UCLA (50-50)
JaVale McGee, Nevada (likely go)
Jeremy Pargo, Gonzaga (likely stay)
Courtney Pigram, ETSU (likely stay)
Walter Sharpe, UAB (likely stay)
Ronald Steele, Alabama (50-50)
Bill Walker, Kansas State (50-50)

Finally, here’s the current tally of formerly draft-eligible players definitely returning for next season:

Antonio Anderson, Memphis
Josh Carter, Texas A&M
Darren Collison, UCLA (who, admittedly, withdrew before the declaration deadline)
Lee Cummard, BYU
Alonzo Gee, Alabama
Stefon Jackson, UTEP
Leo Lyons, Missouri
Jerel McNeal, Marquette
Josh Shipp, UCLA
Robert Vaden, UAB
Lorrenzo Wade, San Diego State

THE (LET’S FACE IT, ONLY) STORY EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT
We’re Sorry, You’re Out – Auf Wiedersehen

With only two games of basketball left in the 2007-2008 season, hoops fans will turn their focus full-time to preparation for next season. (Except in LA, of course, where Simmons will be analyzing game tape from the last ten years looking for the Zapruder film showing Dick Bavetta as a dirty ref.)

As always, the first (and appropriate) focus of the off-season will be on the NBA Draft. Since this isn’t an NBA blog, we don’t terribly care who goes to what team – but we do care about is who decides to stay in college basketball (read: subject matter for at least another year!) and who goes pro. Today, June 16th, we’ll have the final version of both of those lists. This is today’s only major story, so as announcements come down, we’ll post updates.

Tick tock.

Already, BYU’s Lee Cummard surprised a few people by deciding to come back to Provo, while NC State’s J.J. Hickson, Kansas’ Mario Chalmers, and West Virginia’s Joe Alexander stayed in the draft as expected, as all are projected to be late first round or early secnod round picks.

But the big announcements haven’t come down the pike yet – no declaration yet from any of the big three from UNC, and Arizona’s Chase Budinger remains on the fence as well. Stay tuned.