SPOKANE, Wash. — Gonzaga All-America forward Adam Morrison declared for the NBA draft Wednesday, passing up his senior season for a chance to be a lottery pick.
The 6-foot-8 floppy-haired, mustachioed forward, who led Division I in scoring last season at 28.1 points per game, is a diabetic and said uncertainty over his future health prospects was a factor in his decision.
"It's been a great process so far. It's been fun, but I've decided to try to take my game to the next level and further my career as a basketball player," Morrison said at a campus news conference.
Morrison said he had a verbal agreement "etched in stone" with Chicago-based agent Mark Bartelstein, who also represents former Gonzaga stars Dan Dickau and Blake Stepp, and Bulls guard Jannero Pargo, brother of Gonzaga's Jeremy Pargo. That agreement means Morrison will not be able to change his mind and return for his senior year.
The West Coast Conference player of the year, Morrison edged Duke's J.J. Redick for this year's national scoring title. He finished second to Redick for the Naismith and John R. Wooden Awards for college basketball's player of the year.
Gonzaga coach Mark Few said his staff and team were "ecstatic" for Morrison.
"This truly is a great day. A great day for Adam, a great day for our basketball program and me personally," Few said. "It's the right decision because he and his family went about it the right way . . . It's what he wants to do and he is ready for it. He's going to be a great player at the next level."