CARDINALS

Montrezl Harrell returning to Louisville for junior season

Jeff Greer
@jeffgreer_cj

Star forward Montrezl Harrell will return to University of Louisville for his junior year, he announced Monday afternoon via his Twitter page.

The 6-foot-8 Harrell toyed with declaring for the NBA Draft after a breakout sophomore season, but feedback from professional teams indicated the North Carolina native would be a mid-to-late first-round selection who would likely spend time in the NBA Development League.

He talked to his parents on Sunday night and made the final decision Monday morning.

"I didn't know what I wanted to do," Harrell said. "I made so many pro and con lists it's not funny."

His return gives U of L a major boost in what otherwise was considered a transition year and instantly makes the Cardinals a Final Four contender.

"This is obviously great news," said UofL Coach Rick Pitino. "Like Gorgui Dieng, he will benefit tremendously from playing his junior season. We hope, like Russ Smith, that he can become a first-team All-America selection.

"Montrezl is a Louisville man and we're all very excited to have Montrezl as a co-captain with Wayne Blackshear."

Added Blackshear: "He made a good decision. He can only get better. Everyone knows what's at stake here."

There was a sense among those around the program that Harrell was struggling with the decision more than the outside world understood.

The prospect of returning to school, playing in the Atlantic Coast Conference and working his way higher up the NBA Draft board were all enticing possibilities to Harrell, who originally signed with Virginia Tech before coach Seth Greenberg was fired in 2012.

He said Monday that competing for another national title also played a factor.

Harrell, at 6-8, 245 pounds, improved as a jump shooter and scorer on offense over his sophomore season, averaging 14 points and 8.4 rebounds a game. He was named the American Athletic Conference's most improved player and earned All-AAC first-team honors.

He said he'd like to work on his 15-foot jumper and perhaps expand his shooting range. Defensive positioning, free-throw shooting and a larger, more refined offensive arsenal are also areas NBA teams would like to see Harrell improve.

"They liked my energy, passion," Harrell said.

His return gives Louisville two returning starters and five key members of the 2013-14 squad that finished 31-6 and won the AAC regular season and tournament titles.

He'll be the leader of a young group of big men that will feature redshirt freshman Mangok Mathiang, freshman Akoy Agau and four incoming high school prospects.

Reach Louisville writer Jeff Greer at (502) 582-4044 and follow him on Twitter (@jeffgreer_cj).