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3.22.2000
Richard Jefferson Says He is Not Planning on Leaving
Ending the speculation about whether he would return to school or make himself eligible for the NBA Draft, University of Arizona sophomore forward Richard Jefferson (Phoenix, Ariz.) said today he is not considering leaving and he will be back with the Wildcats for his junior 2000-01 season.
"There are still a lot of things I need to continue to work on, both on and off the court, before I will be ready to play in the NBA," Jefferson said. "When you look at the players we have coming back for next season, we have a chance to be a really good team and I would not want to miss out on that. Since I was a little kid, it has always been my dream to play in the NBA, but that can wait for now."
Jefferson, who missed 13 games this past season with a stress fracture in his right foot, played in 21 games in 1 and started 17 times at the small forward position. The 6-foot-7, 222-pound sophomore averaged 11.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game for the 27-7 and Pac-10 Conference co-champion Wildcats.
He also shot .503 from the floor (84-of-167), .425 from the three-point line (17-of-40) and .714 from the free throw line (45-of-63).
As a freshman in 1998-99, Jefferson was an Pac-10 All-Freshman Team performer after averaging 11.3 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 2.9 apg.
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