Gee Announces He'll Play Senior Year

Alonzo Gee has announced that he will withdraw from the NBA draft and return to play the 2008-09 basketball season at the University of Alabama. This is the decision that had been expected of the 6-6 Crimson Tide forward.

“I learned a lot from the draft process and I appreciate everyone’s support,” said Alonzo Gee, who will be a senior on the Crimson Tide basketball team this fall. “I have decided to return to Alabama and look forward to helping our program reach our goals for the 2008-09 season.”

Gee, a 6-foot-6 wing from Riviera Beach, Fla., started in all 33 games for Alabama this past season, averaging 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds.

“We supported Alonzo through this process,” said Alabama Coach Mark Gottfried. “He has evaluated all the input. We look forward to him continuing to develop and are excited that he will return. It’s important to understand that he is on track to graduate next year as well which is important to him and to all of us.”

Two other upcoming Alabama seniors also are in the process of NBA draft evaluation. Point guard Ron Steele was a pre-season All-America in 2006-07, but knee injuries have had him on the sidelines for most of the past two seasons. Power forward Richard Hendrix is an All-Southeastern Conference performer who was the only player in the SEC to average double figures in both scoring and rebounding last season.

Steele and Hendrix have already earned degrees from The University.

Draft analyses do not include Gee, Steele or Hendrix in the first round.