Two days after being named the Naismith Player of the Year, sophomore forward Blake Griffin made national headlines again Tuesday with the announcement that he will forgo his final two years of collegiate eligibility to enter the 2009 NBA draft.
“This past week I have been going over in my mind what I should do,” Griffin said. “I sat down with coach Capel and my family and I think it is time for me to move on and take my game to the next level.”
Sitting beside the 6-10, 251-pound forward was head coach Jeff Capel, who said there was no question the Oklahoma City native he recruited two years ago was doing the right thing.
“This is the right decision. In my mind it was a no-brainer,” Capel said. “It was the best thing for Blake, it was the best thing for the University of Oklahoma and it was the best thing for our program.”
Also on hand were Griffin’s parents, Tommy and Gail, as well as his older brother, Taylor. For as big as an influence as the trio has had on Griffin over the course of his life, this was something he had to decide on his own.
“We told him last year the most important thing is he has to make the decision himself,” Tommy Griffin said, “and it was the same this year. He cannot live his life if I tell him what to do.
“I just told him make sure whatever you do, it’s going to take care of you, because if you have too many people pulling on you, that’s not good. We just told him whatever decision he comes up with, we’re going to back him 100 percent.”
Many people have speculated for the past few months that Griffin would not be returning to school. Although that prediction turned out to be correct, the consensus national player of the year still had to think about it.
“The decision was tough. I love playing here, this is my home state,” he said. “This is the school I wanted to come to, obviously. It is tough to walk away from something like this, but at the same time this is a big opportunity. I felt like I was ready for it this year as opposed to last year.”
Griffin, who set OU and Big 12 single-season records for rebounds, field goal percentage and double-doubles, will leave OU as one of the greatest players in school history.
For Capel, his departure is bittersweet.
“It’s sad on one end,” Capel said, “but it’s a great thing to know that you had a kid that has worked his butt in something he’s wanted to do his whole life, and he’s going to have a chance to pursue that, not only pursue it but to be very successful.”
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OUSooners 3 years, 1 month ago
We will miss you, but we wish you the best. Good luck.