Report: Aldridge leaving, Barnes staying at TexasThe Texas Longhorns will reportedly be without one of their leading scorers next season.LaMarcus Aldridge, whose sophomore season ended with a disappointing performance in Texas' overtime loss to LSU in the NCAA Tournament's Elite Eight, has told teammates and the Longhorns coaching staff he will enter the NBA draft, three sources told The Dallas Morning News.Aldridge is projected as a possible high first-round pick in the NBA draft -- and ranks at No. 3 on ESPN Insider Chad Ford's Top 100 -- but declined to discuss his future after Texas' loss.Aldridge's 26-point, 13-rebound performance against West Virginia in the Sweet Sixteen had scouts buzzing that he had solidified his place as a potential No. 1 pick in the draft, according to Ford. But his 2-for-14 performance against LSU had scouts backing off a little bit.The 6-10 forward averaged 15.0 points and 9.2 rebounds a game during the regular season.In related news, Longhorns coach Rick Barnes will remain at Texas, despite reports the North Carolina State had targeted Barnes in its coaching search, the Morning News also reported.Barnes' annual base salary will increase from $1.3 million to $1.8 million, and he will receive a $125,000 bonus if Texas reaches the NCAA Tournament, according to the newspaper.In 2006, the Longhorns won a school-record 30 games, and earned a share of the Big 12 regular season title. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2403280
I don't know if he has the strength to play in the NBA, even though i do still think he is a top 5 pick. He should have stayed at Texas for one more year to develope.
this sucks he's leaving us so early, but we got the number 2 prospect in the country coming in kevin durant, 6'9 and he's only 17 years old, he was co-mvp at the mcdonalds all american game, so we'll be fine.........i'm sure aldridge will be a top 5 pick, and i hope he is cause he has a lot of talent, even though he got rapped in the paint by fat baby in the elite 8
