(Sports Network) - University of Arizona sophomore forward Chase Budinger announced on Monday that he will return to the university for the 2008-09 season. Budinger had entered his name for the upcoming NBA Draft, but he did not sign with an agent, leaving him the option of returning to school for his junior season.

"Over the last several weeks I have experienced the NBA draft process, attended several workouts with a variety of NBA clubs and received much positive feedback from those teams, however, it is my decision to return to the University of Arizona," said Budinger. "The opportunity to play again for Coach Olson in my mind best prepares me to have a successful NBA career. I want to enter the NBA with great certainty of my future potential and believe the chance to develop further under Coach Olson enhances that opportunity."

A 6-foot-7, 203-pounder from Encinitas, CA, Budinger averaged 17.1 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists per game during his second season in Tucson. He also became the 42nd player in school history to eclipse the 1,000-point mark during his career, and just the sixth sophomore to do so.

The Wildcats finished 19-15 on the season -- 8-10 in Pac-10 conference games -- and were ousted by West Virginia in the NCAA Tournament's first round. Head coach Lute Olson, who took a season-long leave of absence from his team, announced shortly after the tournament loss that interim head coach Kevin O'Neill would not be retained for the 2008-09 campaign.

As a freshman in 2006-07, Budinger averaged 15.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game en route to second-team freshman All-America and Pac-10 Freshman of the Year honors.

























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