Budinger, Hill Done at Arizona

Press Release — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 08:26:20 -0700

TUCSON, Ariz.- University of Arizona men's basketball player Jordan Hill has decided to make himself eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft. Hill has signed with an agent and will not return to the program in 2009-10.

Hill, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound, junior forward from Atlanta, Ga., averaged 18.3 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game in 34 appearances this year. He shot 53.7 percent (252-of-469) from the field and led the Pac-10 with 20 double-doubles. Hill scored in double figures a team-leading 33 times in 2008-09, including a high of 30 on Jan. 24 vs. Houston, and posted 21 double-figure rebounding games with a high of 22 on Nov. 18 vs. UAB. He had 14 20-point and six 15-rebound games to his credit this season.

Hill received third-team All-American honors from The Sporting News and was an honorable mention All-American pick by the Associated Press. He earned first-team all-Pac-10 and Pac-10 all-Defensive team honors in addition to all-district honors by the USBWA and NABC. Additionally, Hill was among 24 players on the final ballot for the John R. Wooden Award.

He posted season bests in nearly every statistical category as a junior, including minutes played (1,213), field goals (252), field goal attempts (469), free throws (117), free throw attempts (179), rebounds (375), rebounding average (11.0 rpg), assists (50), blocked shots (58), steals (30), points scored (621) and scoring average. Hill is the first Arizona player to average double figures in both points and rebounds in the same season since Larry Demic accomplished the feat in 1978-79 (19.3 ppg/10.3 rpg).

"I just want to thank the fans of Tucson, my coaches and my teammates for all of their support," said Hill. "Playing at Arizona has been a great experience and puts me in the position to move to the next level. It's always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA."

In three seasons at Arizona, Hill averaged 12.5 points, 7.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocked shots per game in 97 career appearances (79 starts). He connected on 57.8 percent of his field goal attempts (494-of-855) in that span, a figure that ranks fifth on the UA career field goal percentage list.

Hill finished his career with 1,208 career points, which ranks 27th on the UA career scoring list with 89 percent of that output coming in the last two seasons (15.8 ppg). He also ranks sixth on the Arizona career blocked shots list with 140 and 10th on the career rebounds list with 763. Furthermore, Hill set a UA single-season record for rebounds (375) in 2008-09, while ranking fifth in field goals, tied for sixth in rebound average, ninth in blocked shots and eighth in minutes played.

The 2009 NBA Draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 25, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

TUCSON, Ariz. - University of Arizona men's basketball player Chase Budinger has decided to make himself eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft. Budinger will not return to the program in 2009-10.

Budinger, a 6-foot-7, 218-pound junior forward from Encinitas, Calif., averaged 18.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game in 35 appearances. He shot 48.0 percent (219-of-456) from the field and 39.9 percent (67-of-168) from three-point range. Budinger ranked among the Pac-10 leaders in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals (1.4 spg), free throw percentage (.801), three-point field goals made (1.9 per game), assist:turnover ratio (1.4:1) and minutes played (37.6). Budinger finished in double figures 31 times this year, including 16 20-point games.

A first-team all-Pac-10 selection, Budinger earned all-District IX honors from the USBWA and second-team all-District 20 kudos from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. He averaged 19.0 points and 5.0 rebounds while shooting 56.1 percent (23-of-41) from the field during Arizona's three-game NCAA Tournament run.

He posted season bests in nearly every statistical category as a junior, including field goals (219), free throws (125), free throw attempts (156), rebounds (217), assists (118), steals (50), points scored (630) and scoring average. His 1,317 minutes played in 2008-09 are the most in school history for a single season, while his scoring tally equaled the 11th-best figure in UA annals.

"I am so thankful for the fans and alumni at Arizona that have been so supportive of me throughout my time in Tucson," said Budinger. "I'd like to express my appreciation to my coaches and teammates for their support in one of the most important decisions I've ever made."

In three seasons at Arizona, Budinger averaged 17.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game in 100 career appearances (all starts). He connected on 46.9 percent of his field goal attempts (599-of-1,276) in that span, including 38.3 percent (190-of-496) from three-point range.

Budinger finished his career with 1,697 career points, a figure that ranks 11th on the UA career scoring list. No Wildcat to play three seasons or less has ever tallied more points than Budinger. Additionally, he ranks among the Arizona career leaders in the following statistical categories: scoring average (17.0 ppg/9th), field goal attempts (1,276/9th), three-point field goals (190/6th), three-point field goal attempts (496/5th), and minutes played per game (35.4/2nd).

He was a two-time Associated Press honorable mention All-American (2008 and 2009), a two-time all-Pac-10 honoree (third team 2008/first team 2009), and the 2007 Pac-10 Freshman of the Year.

Due to the fact that Budinger went through the NBA Draft evaluation process last season, he is not eligible to return to school. He has indicated that he has signed with an agent.

The 2009 NBA Draft is scheduled for Thursday, June 24, at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

-- www.arizonaathletics.com

Better Arizona Prospect: Chase Budinger or Jordan Hill?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 09:53:09 -0800

Chase Budinger: NBA Draft Profile

Jeff Fox — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 12:38:57 -0800

Chase Budinger

College: Arizona

Class: Junior

Position: SG/SF

Height: 6’7”

Weight: 203bs

Accolades: Third Team All-Pac-10 (08), Second Team Freshman All-American – CHN (07), Pac-10 Freshman of the Year (07), co-MVP McDonald’s All-American Game – high school (06), McDonald’s All-American – high school (07), First Team All-American – Parade – high school (06), MVP Nike Junior World Championship (06).

Scouting Report: A long-range bomber who can also jump out of the gym.

Strengths: Incredible leaper – his vertical is apparently over 40 inches. Big-time scorer – put up very good scoring numbers throughout college. Played in one of the toughest conferences around, the Pac-10. Averaged big minutes all three years in school. Amazing athlete – excels in volleyball also. Good outside shooter – good for two to three made three-pointers a game. Solid rebounder for a wing player. Solid passer and ball-handler.

Weaknesses: Not always aggressive enough. Needs to work on his defense. Can take too many outside shots – shoots almost six three-pointers a game. Inconsistent – can be a streaky scorer. Needs to improve his assist to turnover ratio – had almost as many turnovers as assists.

Projected 2009 Draft Range: Lottery to mid first round pick.

Consensus: Chase Budinger has all the tools to be a very good NBA player, despite criticisms of his game in college. However, he needs to improve his defense and become more consistent to fully capitalize on his amazing physical gifts.

NBA Draft on CollegeHoops.net

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CHN's Six-Star Ranking System w/ 2008 Equivalents

= Superstar/All-NBA Potential - Michael Beasley

= Potential NBA All-Star - Derrick Rose

= Consistent NBA Starter - Brook Lopez

= 6th Man/Fringe Starter - Russell Westbrook

= Career Reserve - Roy Hibbert

= Fringe NBA Player/12th Man - JR Giddens

0 stars = Life in the Minor Leagues - Drew Neitzel

chase budinger

Budinger, Hill Done at Arizona

Better Arizona Prospect: Chase Budinger or Jordan Hill?

Chase Budinger: NBA Draft Profile