May 9, 2003
ATLANTA – Georgia Tech basketball player Chris Bosh has applied to enter the National Basketball Association draft, the rising sophomore announced Friday.
The 6-10 freshman, who is meeting the NBA’s May 12 deadline to declare his intentions, will not sign with an agent in order to retain his college eligibility and be able to return to Tech for his sophomore year. He made the announcement in a press conference at Lincoln High School, in Dallas, Texas, the high school which he attended.
“It was a very difficult decision,” Bosh told a gathering of friends, family and members of the media. “I enjoyed myself at Georgia Tech. It was really tough because I had teammates there that were depending on me. But this was the best decision for me at this time.”
Bosh is now allowed to work out for NBA teams and speak directly with team officials to gather information in determining his potential draft status. He has until June 19, a week before the June 26 draft, to make his entry official or remove his name and remain at Tech.
“Chris has decided to explore his options, and hopefully get an accurate read about what NBA teams think about him, and his potential draft status,” said head coach Paul Hewitt. “I’m sure, with the support of his family, he will come to the best conclusion for his future. It goes without saying that I will support him in any way possible, whatever he decides.”
A second-team all-Atlantic Coast Conference selection and the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2003, Bosh led Tech in scoring and rebounding, ranking eighth in the conference in scoring (15.6 points per game) and second in rebounding (9.0 per game). He also ranked first in the ACC field goal percentage (56.0) and blocked shots (2.16 per game).
The Lancaster, Texas, native led Tech’s post-season run in the National Invitation Tournament, averaging 18.0 points and 9.3 rebounds while shooting 58.1 percent from the floor in three NIT games. He recorded double figures in both points and rebounds 13 times during the season.
The only freshman to make either the first or second all-ACC team, Bosh also made the national all-freshman team chosen by the United States Basketball Writers Association, which also named Bosh to its all-South region team. Bosh also was named to the all-District 5 team by the National Association of Basketball Coaches.
If Bosh makes his entry official in June, he would become the fifth Tech player to make an early entry into the NBA, joining Dennis Scott (1990), Kenny Anderson (1991), Stephon Marbury (1996) and Dion Glover (1999).
