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Baddour: Hansbrough Might Test NBA Stock

The UNC athletics director discusses the basketball program and other issues on The Fan.

Posted — Updated
NCAA San Antonio Friday 4/4/08
By
Tim Hall

As of Thursday morning, Tyler Hansbrough, Ty Lawson, and Wayne Ellington still had not announced whether they would return to school or to enter the 2008 NBA Draft.

And North Carolina Director of Athletics Dick Baddour gave no new information on the "Big Three's" choices when he joined Mike Maniscalco and Dan Mason on 99.9 FM The Fan.

"Roy Williams told me yesterday with three potentials there, he had never spent as much time on it in contacting pro teams as he has this year," Baddour said. "He is in constant communication, so that's exploration."

Baddour did say that the news will obviously be coming soon, given the April 27 deadline, and when Mason asked why we haven't seen a guy like Hansbrough test the waters yet , he answered, "You might."

Hansbrough is allowed to declare for the draft, go through pre-draft workouts, see where he stands and then decide to return – as long as he doesn't hire an agent.

Going through the process would give Hansbrough more experience and information as he weighs whether to return.

The NBA Draft isn't the only thing Tar Heels are taking part in as defensive tackle Kentwan Balmer is likely to be a first-round selection in Saturday's NFL Draft. Balmer was not highly recruited coming into UNC, but has made himself a top prospect through constant effort.

"It says (that) at North Carolina, that's available to anyone and everyone who wants to work hard," Baddour said. "It's just a great story."

You can hear more from Baddour as he addresses Roy Williams and "Stickergate" and Duke's search for a new athletics director in the full interview.

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