CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina four-time All-America Tyler Hansbrough was already scheduled to have his jersey retired, and former teammate Ty Lawson, a first-team All-America, was already scheduled to have his jersey honored.

But two additional jerseys -- those of Wayne Ellington and Donald Williams -- will soon be hung in the Smith Center rafters, as well.

From Sunday's College Basketball column:

Ever since North Carolina won its fifth NCAA title in April, there's been a good-natured debate brewing about which championship team is better: 2005 or 2009?

On Sept. 4, those bragging rights will be on the line.

UNC guard Wayne Ellington's reaction after to falling to No. 28 and the Minnesota Timberwolves in Thursday night's draft: "They'll be sorry,'' he told the Philadelphia Daily News, referring to the first 27 teams that didn't draft him.

UNC Juniors Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellignton declare their intentions to make themselves eligible for the NBA draft. (Staff video by Travis Long)

Staff video by Travis Long

With a national championship in hand, UNC juniors Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington are headed to the NBA.

The backcourt pair declared for the draft on Thursday at a farewell press conference at the Smith Center.

The pending question for Duke’s Gerald Henderson and North Carolina’s Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington isn’t  so much “if.” It’s “when” will the three juniors will declare for the NBA Draft.

They have until Sunday at 11:59 p.m. to declare. If they do, only Henderson would be able to play another season of college ball. The two Tar Heels used their free pro inspection shot last spring. Underclassmen don’t get a second chance.

Henderson could declare and return for ‘09-’10 under the stipulation that he doesn’t hire an agent and removes his name from consideration by 5 p.m. June 15.

What would change if they all leave?

CHAPEL HILL — North Carolina coach Roy Williams plans to gather information from at least 10 different NBA general managers before juniors Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington make their final decisions about whether to turn pro.

The deadline for underclassmen to declare is April 26; the NBA only allows players to withdraw their name from the draft once. Since both did that last year, their decisions this time around will be final.

“I think they are relying on the information, not necessarily my advice, because they’re going to do what they want to do, and that’s what I want them to do, but I want it to be an informed decision,’’ Williams said Thursday, after the team’s awards ceremony.

DETROIT — After North Carolina won the 2005 national championship, coach Roy Williams said he knew at least three underclassmen would leave early for the NBA.

Asked Tuesday morning if he knew what would happen this time around, he responded: “Kind of, but not with the conviction that I had last time.”

DETROIT - After being part of North Carolina's 89-72 defeat of Michigan State on Monday night in the NCAA championship game, Tar Heel junior guards Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington did not reveal whether they would return next season or leave for the NBA draft.

Lawson said he will consult with coach Roy Williams, and predicted they will both come to the same decision. But Lawson said the decision hasn’t already been made.

DETROIT — All eyes were on point guard Ty Lawson's grasp on the Cousy trophy Monday morning when he accepted the award for the nation's best point guard.

After all, coach Roy Williams didn't want him to handle it quite the same way as UNC point guard Raymond Felton did in 2005.

"They handed the award to Raymond, and Raymond grasped the award in a very casual manner without realizing how heavy it was,'' Williams said Monday. "He almost dropped the award and threw his back out, and for two hours during that day I had a massage therapist working on Raymond so he could play in the national championship game that night.