Griffin to Forego Remaining Eligibility and Enter NBA Draft
4/3/2001 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA, PA - Seton Hall freshman Eddie Griffin (Philadelphia, PA) has
announced that he will forego his remaining years of college eligibility to
enter the 2001 NBA Draft.
"I have determined that I will forego my remaining years of college eligibility at Seton Hall University to enter the NBA draft in June, 2001. After many hours of self-examination and discussions with my family, I feel that I am prepared to take this next challenge," said Griffin.
"My decision is based solely on my abilites and desire to take the next step in basketball. Since I am projected to be a first round draft pick, I feel this is an opportune time for me to pursue my life-long dream," said Griffin. "I have assessed my skills and abilities and am confident that I will excel at this next level of playing in the NBA. I know it will require a lot of hard work, but I am dedicated to being the best player I can be."
Griffin continued, "In the season I spent at Seton Hall, I learned from Coach Amaker and am thankful I was given the chance to excel there. I was honored to be named BIG EAST Rookie of the Year. I enjoyed my experiences and have many great memories. Although I will not remain at Seton Hall, I am glad that I had the opportunity to attend such a prestigious University and I plan to stay involved in the future."
The 6-9 forward established himself as one of the top players in the nation this season, leading the country in blocked shots with 4.5 per game. He led Seton Hall in scoring with 17.8 points per game and 10.8 rebounds, which ranked him fifth in the nation. Griffin set a new Pirate single-season record with 133 blocks in 31 games for Seton Hall, which went 16-15 and reached the NIT.
Griffin, from Roman Catholic High School, became the first ever Seton Hall player to be named the BIG EAST Rookie of the Year. He was also chosen as the national Freshman of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association and was an Honorable Mention All-American by Associated Press. In addition, Griffin was selected to the All-BIG EAST 2nd Team, the All-Rookie team and to the BIG EAST All-Tournament Team.
The 18-year old Griffin is the first Pirate to forego his final years of eligibility since Luther Wright entered the 1993 NBA Draft after his sophomore year. Wright was the 18th pick in the first round by the Utah Jazz.
