Lamb Is Returning For Sophomore Season

Carolina Kat Wed Apr 20, 2011 2:26 am

Updated: April 19, 2011, 5:13 PM ET

Doron Lamb will return to Kentucky

Associated Press

Lamb Is Returning For Sophomore Season Ncb_g_lamb_b1_200

Richard Mackson/US Presswire

Kentucky's Doron Lamb said he will return for his sophomore season next year.

LEXINGTON, Ky. -- Kentucky freshman Doron Lamb is not "one-and-done."

The 6-foot-4 guard announced Tuesday he will return for his sophomore season. Lamb averaged 12.3 points and shot 48 percent from 3-point range for the Wildcats while helping them to their first Final Four appearance in 13 years. He scored a then-school freshman record 32 points in a victory over Winthrop in December, a mark later broken by teammate Terrence Jones.

Lamb said the tough loss to Connecticut in the national semifinals and the addition of another top recruiting class next fall are the main reasons he decided to not enter the NBA draft.

"Losing the last game against UConn was tough and I don't want to end my college career with that feeling," Lamb said. "With the guys we have coming in next year, I know we have the talent to make another run at a national title. I want to help bring a national championship back to the Big Blue Nation because I know they've been waiting too long."

Kentucky coach John Calipari said Lamb would benefit from another year in school.

"A lot of players have opted to return to school which made it a tougher decision for him," Calipari said. "Not only does he gain another year of maturity and school work, but he now has the chance to put in the extra work to elevate his game. I'm excited to have him back."

It's still unclear whether Jones, freshman guard Brandon Knight and junior swingman DeAndre Liggins will return next fall. Underclassmen have until April 24 to enter their names in the draft.

Last year four freshmen: John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins, Eric Bledsoe and Daniel Orton all went to the NBA after just one year at Kentucky.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press