After last season's disappointing loss in the Sweet 16 to Louisiana State, Blue Devil fans knew that it was finally time to say farewell to one of the best senior classes Duke has ever seen.
And as tough as it was to say goodbye to players like J.J. Redick and Shelden Williams, the possibility of freshman Josh McRoberts leaving school early and declaring for the NBA Draft made Duke fans even more nervous.
In the few weeks after Duke's season-ending defeat in Atlanta, McRoberts assessed both options and ultimately decided to stay in school for his sophomore season.
"This was the best decision for me," McRoberts said. "I feel like I still have a lot to learn here at Duke."
Despite modest numbers as the Blue Devils' third scoring option last season-8.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game-many NBA draft analysts projected McRoberts as a potential lottery pick. Analysts cited his athleticism and skill-level at 6-foot-10 as something NBA general managers would not ignore as they made their draft selections.
By deciding to stay at Duke, McRoberts turned down millions of dollars worth of guaranteed money. Nonetheless, McRoberts' mother, Jennifer, said her son's decision to stay had nothing to do with his NBA draft position.
"Josh didn't look at that at all," she said. "He knew that by staying at Duke he'd become more developed. He also knew that he would become a better player and a better man.. He's always known that Duke is that best place for him."
Josh McRoberts leaned on head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski while making his decision, talking to his coaches on numerous occasions about staying in school.
"Josh did a lot of communicating with Coach K and Wojo about his situation," Jennifer McRoberts said. "But in the end, it was his decision to stay. Josh knew he had his family to support any decision he made."
McRoberts and his family also have another big decision to make, as staying in school creates a big financial risk. Although it is more common among football players, some high-profile collegiate athletes have taken out insurance policies in the past to cover any injuries that could prevent the collection of future earnings as professional athletes.
"We're looking into it," his mother said.
McRoberts insists he decided to stay at Duke because it was the best decision for him and his family. Nonetheless, he did not overlook the fact that this season he would be a captain and team leader.
As a freshman, McRoberts developed a strong relationship with Redick, and the forward said the two remain best friends. He added that he briefly discussed his situation with the former Blue Devil star but not to the extent that some in the media have suggested.
Just as Redick developed a strong friendship with him last season, McRoberts has also began to develop strong ties to this year's freshman class, naming Lance Thomas as his closest friend among the group.
"Obviously I care a lot about the guys on this team," McRoberts said. "The opportunities I had in general-not just being a captain-is why I chose to come back. It definitely was intriguing."
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