Notre Dame’s Bonzie Colson Returning For Senior Season
Notre Dame star forward Bonzie Colson has decided to bypass the NBA Draft and return to school for his senior year, giving the Fighting Irish a major boost for the 2017-18 season.
Notre Dame star forward Bonzie Colson has decided to bypass the NBA Draft and return to school for his senior year, giving the Fighting Irish a major boost for the 2017-18 season.
Bonzie Colson plays much bigger than his 6-foot-5 frame, with proof being the 19 double-doubles he registered this past season.
NBA Draft experts don’t have the Notre Dame star pegged as a potential first-round selection, though, helping lead to Colson’s decision to return to the Fighting Irish for his senior year.
Colson announced Monday on Twitter that he’ll be staying in school for one more season.
“After a lot of discussion with my family and Coach (Mike) Brey about possibly entering the NBA Draft this season, I have decided to pursue my dream of earning a degree from the University of Notre Dame and return for my final year of eligibility,” Colson wrote.
“… Returning to play another season with my brothers and the possibility of hanging more banners in Purcell Pavilion and establishing ourselves as one of the best teams in program history is an opportunity of a lifetime.”
Colson was one of only 17 players in the nation to average a double-double, finishing with 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season. He also extended his range as a junior, hitting 43.3 percent of his 60 3-point attempts after shooting only 12 from beyond the arc as a sophomore.
But Colson’s size and limited offensive skills away from the basket don’t impress NBA scouts, and he never seriously was considered to be a first-round pick — with the guaranteed money and roster spot — if he entered the NBA Draft this year.
