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The Nevada Wolf Pack received some good news this week when point guard Deonte Burton is bypassing his chance at the NBA Draft, and will return to Nevada for his senior season. Getting the all-conference guard back will definitely help Nevada possibly rise out of the bottom third of the Mountain West for the 2013-14 season.
Burton's decision was based on having a poor junior season, and he wants to help Nevada have a better season:
"We didn't have a good season this past season and the fans stuck with us and stood by our side and I want to do the same thing for them," Burton said. "I don't want to leave them. I want to stick by their side and stay with them and fight. I'm very excited for next year."
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"The NBA is right there and it's everything you dream about," Burton said. "But we have unfinished business next year. I felt like we didn't play to our potential. I was leaning toward coming back just because of how we ended the season and how our season went."
His goals beyond helping his team improve are to graduate, appear in the NCAA Tournament, owes it to the fans and prove that Nevada belongs in the Mountain West. Getting to the NCAA Tournament will be difficult since the Wolf Pack were not all that great this past year. There are some teams that will take a step back in Colorado State and Air Force, so there is a chance to move up the Mountain West pecking order.
This is the right choice for Burton since he was graded out to be a late second round pick, or possibly even not be drafted. Heading back to Nevada will help him accomplish his goal of getting the Wolf Pack better, and to improve upon his draft stock.
Here is Burton talking about his decision: