PHILADELPHIA, PA - La Salle University basketball standout and Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year Steven Smith has announced that he will return to La Salle University for his final season of eligibility.

 

The announcement was made at a 3:00 PM press conference held at Tom Gola Arena on the University's campus.

 

"I was at the NBA Pre-Draft Camp in Chicago with Steve and the consensus was that he would be a late first to mid-second round pick in this years draft. If he were to return to college, he would be viewed as an All-American Candidate and a likely first round draft choice next year. Steve has chosen to elevate his status in next year's draft and dedicate himself to being the best player in college basketball. These are very exciting and realistic goals. They put Steve in a strong position to enjoy a long and rewarding NBA career," said La Salle University Head Coach John Giannini.

 

The announcement should position Smith, a 2004 All-America Honorable Mention, as one of America's best collegians for the 2005-06 and give him a legitimate opportunity to become the University's fourth National Player of the Year - placing La Salle University with Georgia Tech and Duke as the only programs to boast a quartet of National Players of the Year.

 

Smith was named the Atlantic 10 Co-Player of the Year for the 2004-05 season in which he led the conference in scoring with 20.3 points per game and was third in the conference in rebounding with 8.5 boards per game.  He tallied 10 double-doubles and scored in double figures 14 times.

Smith was also named to the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team in 2003 and was one of the favorites to be named A-10 Rookie of the Year before he broke his foot and missed the final ten games of the season.  He was named third-team Atlantic 10 in the 2003-04 campaign.