North Carolina State University Athletics
Powell to Remain in Draft
6/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
June 18, 2003
Following a brief two-year stay at NC State, Josh Powell says he will forego his final years of college eligibility and remain in the NBA Draft. Upon initially declaring his eligibility for the draft last month, the 6-9 forward/center from Riverdale, Georgia left open the possibility of returning to the Wolfpack for at least one more season. But with the June 19th deadline for underclassmen to withdraw their names looming, Powell has since decided to stay in the draft.
Averaging 27 minutes per game in his sophomore season, Powell put up 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per contest. Playing the best basketball of his career late in the year, he averaged 19.4 points in four postseason games.
Powell's departure means that NC State will be losing two starters from last season's NCAA Tournament team that posted an 18-13 mark. The Pack will also have to replace its only senior, point guard Cliff Crawford.
One of the holes will likely be filled by versatile forward Ilian Evtimov, who will be returning from a knee injury that caused him to miss the entire 2002-03 campaign.
