Eric Moreland Withdraws Name From 2013 NBA Draft
April 15, 2013
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Eric Moreland announced on Monday that he will withdraw his name from the 2013 NBA Draft and return to Oregon State for his junior season.
"I have done a lot of talking with my family and I've been in coach's office a numerous amount of times trying to weigh out the pros and cons of leaving or staying," Moreland said. "I have decided that I want to withdraw my name and continue as an Oregon State Beaver. I have a great group of guys here and we have a really special team, not only on the court, but we have chemistry that you just want to be a part of. I would love to come back another year and play with them and get to the NCAA tournament and have a great year."
"On behalf of the program and the coaching staff, we couldn't be more excited that Eric is staying," Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson said. "In case it doesn't show on my face, I was extremely nervous about this. But I'm excited that he's coming back." Moreland holds Oregon State records in career blocked shots average (2.10), single-season blocked shots (73), sophomore blocked shots (73), freshman blocked shots (69) and freshman rebounds (245). He is second in career blocked shots with 145, trailing only Scott Haskin who swatted 172 in his four-year career.
A native of Houston, Texas, Moreland was named Pac-12 All-Defensive Honorable Mention after his sophomore campaign when he averaged 9.4 points, 10.6 rebounds and 2.5 blocked shots per game. He became the first Oregon State player since Mel Counts in 1964 to average double-figure rebounds and broke his own single-season blocked shots record with 73.
Moreland signed with UTEP in January 2010 but was released from his scholarship when head coach Tony Barbee left in March 2010 to take a job at Auburn. Moreland signed with Oregon State in May 2010 and was cleared to play by the NCAA with four years of eligibility in August 2010.
He suffered a season-ending injury in the fourth game of his freshman season and was forced to redshirt. He led the Pac-12 in blocked shots as a redshirt freshman (1.9 per game), becoming the first Oregon State player to lead the conference in that category since Nick DeWitz in 2005-06.
Oregon State is expected to return six players who started at least 11 games last season, in addition to Angus Brandt, who missed all but four games, and Daniel Gomis, who was forced to redshirt after surgery. The lone player not expected back is Joe Burton who ended his four-year career with 1,009 points, 730 rebounds and 315 assists in 130 games.
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