Georgia Tech forward Gani Lawal plans to pull out of the NBA draft before Monday's 5 p.m. deadline, the forward told ESPN.com.
"I'm going back to school," Lawal said, according to the website. "I sat down with my family and after going through this positive experience, where I learned a lot and got a lot of exposure, I realized the best thing for me to do was to go back."
Lawal, who averaged 15.1 points and 9.5 rebounds last season, will be key for the Jackets, who won only two ACC games. Lawal's return, along with the addition of highly-touted forward Derrick Favors, should pull Tech out of the league dungeon next season — and perhaps even into NCAA tournament contention.
Robbi Pickeral has covered ACC sports for The News & Observer since 2003. She can be reached at 
Comments
No doubt... In contention
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 12:17 — acc_hoops_fan73178The best parts of that team are returning (Lawal, Shumpert, Peacock) and they're losing a talented but disappointing distraction (Clinch). With the exodus of PG talent in the ACC, GT now looks like they have a good PG situation with Shumpert, Udofia, and Miller. Those 3 should thrive even more with Derrick Favors commanding so much attention in the paint.
How far GT goes depends on how the remaining members of a very talented freshmen class perform. Everyone knows Derrick Favors will be a beast. Can Udofia play a lot of steady minutes at the point and let Shumpert play at his more natural position on the wing? Can the other 4 guys play solid minutes? GT has a very solid core of talented players, but will they have any depth?
Lots of questions for "no doubt"
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 09:55 — JPDOhioOne more question- Can Paul Hewitt turn all this talent into a team that is better than the sum of its parts? No one over the past few years in the ACC has done less with more.
Out of the dungeon-probably
Mon, 06/15/2009 - 09:47 — JPDOhioNCAA Tournament contention-we'll see.
Now that Dave Leitau is gone, Paul Hewitt is the worst game day coach in the ACC, notwithstanding the Wreck's appearance in the '04 National Championship game.