MINNEAPOLIS -- University of Minnesota junior Ralph Sampson III has withdrawn his name from the early entrants list for this summer's NBA Draft, according to a statement sent by Gophers Monday afternoon.
The 6-11 center did declare himself eligible, but never hired an agent and was able to withdraw to keep his college eligibility in tact. The deadline to withdraw from the draft was Sunday.
Sampson will return to the Gophers this fall as one of only two seniors on the team and the only center with any Big Ten experience. Colton Iverson left the Gophers in March and sophomore Maurice Walker missed the entire Big Ten season after suffering a knee injury in a non-conference game against South Dakota State.
As a junior, Sampson averaged 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
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