Burke decides to stay at Michigan

4/9/2012
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Trey Burke, a 5-foot-11 point guard, averaged a team-high 14.8 points per game in his freshman season.
Trey Burke, a 5-foot-11 point guard, averaged a team-high 14.8 points per game in his freshman season.

ANN ARBOR -- Trey Burke is staying at Michigan instead of entering the NBA draft.

The 5-foot-11 point guard was weighing his options after a superb freshman season, but said Monday he will stick around. He averaged a team-high 14.8 points per game.

"Over the past few weeks, I have spent a lot of time thinking and praying about my future -- not just about next year but many years down the road," Burke said. "After gathering information, I am excited to be continuing my education at Michigan as we look to accomplish even more in our 2012-13 season."

Burke took over at point guard after Darius Morris left early for the NBA following the 2010-11 campaign. Michigan tied for the Big Ten title last season, but the Wolverines have to replace senior starters Zack Novak and Stu Douglass, and sophomore Evan Smotrycz is transferring. Burke would have been difficult to replace.

"I have so much more to develop as both a student and athlete, and there is no better place to do that than here at Michigan," Burke said.

Coach John Beilein said he worked with Burke to help him make an informed decision.

"We wanted him to think this through carefully so he was 100 percent certain of what he wanted to do moving forward," Beilein said. "We loved coaching Trey this season. It is very unusual to have a freshman point guard play with such poise and confidence all year long. He is a clutch performer with a great work ethic and a brilliant future in front of him."

Also:

KANSAS/ROBINSON: Thom-as Robinson, the brawny Kansas forward who overcame personal tragedy to lead his team to a national runner-up finish this season, is leaving for the NBA.

Robinson, a first-team All-American, led the Jayhawks to the national championship game against Kentucky. He averaged 17.9 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in his junior season and led the nation with 27 double-doubles.

The 6-foot-9 forward could very well go in the first five picks of the June draft, which would mean a minimum rookie salary of more than $2.8 million.

VANDERBILT/JENKINS: John Jenkins, the Southeastern Conference's top scorer the last two seasons, is passing up his final year at Vanderbilt for the NBA draft.

The Hendersonville, Tenn., native was an All-SEC first-team pick in 2011 and 2012 and tied the SEC single-season record with 134 3-pointers as a junior.

OREGON STATE/CUNNINGHAM: Oregon State guard Jared Cunningham is skipping his senior season to enter the NBA draft. Cunningham averaged 17.9 points and 3.8 rebounds this season.