ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 17, 1997 TAG: 9704170067
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-8 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: CHAPEL HILL, N.C.
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
Antawn Jamison, a sophomore, wants to graduate with his class at North Carolina.
North Carolina sophomore Antawn Jamison said Wednesday he will remain in school.
Speculation that Jamison would enter the NBA draft began last season, when he helped lead the Tar Heels to their 13th ACC tournament title and 13th Final Four.
``Contrary to what I have read and heard in the past few weeks, I at no time decided to enter the draft and have continued to regularly attend class working toward my degree,'' Jamison said in a statement issued by the school. ``I plan on graduating with my class. That is very important to me.''
Jamison said the decision to remain in school was his, but that he received advice from his parents and coach Dean Smith.
Jamison, a 6-foot-9 forward from Charlotte, led the Tar Heels in scoring (19.1 points per game) and rebounding (9.4 rpg) last season, and was named a second-team All-American.
He was the ACC's third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder as a sophomore, and earned first-team All-ACC honors as a freshman and sophomore, a feat no other North Carolina player had accomplished.
``Money is not an issue,'' Jamison's mother, Kathy, told The Herald-Sun of Durham. ``He is wanting for nothing. He's living free, he's eating free. The only thing we have to pay is a telephone bill and a cable bill.''
LENGTH: Short : 39 linesby CNB