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Thursday, May 10
Updated: May 11, 4:11 PM ET
Source: Lyde will return to Temple
ESPN.com news services
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Temple junior Kevin Lyde has decided to return to school after announcing last month that he would forgo his senior season to enter the NBA draft, a university source told The Associated Press on Friday.
The source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Lyde informed coaches of his decision Thursday. He is the second underclassman to reconsider his decision. Fresno State sophomore guard Tito Maddox became the first underclassman to return to college when he told the Bulldogs' coaching staff of his intentions Wednesday.
Neither Lyde nor Temple coach John Chaney could be reached for comment.
Lyde, a 6-foot-9, 260-pound center, averaged 12.8 points and 8.9 rebounds this season and led the nation with 4.8 offensive rebounds per game.
He helped the Owls (24-13) win the Atlantic 10 tournament and advance within one game of the Final Four before losing to Michigan State 69-62 in the NCAA South regional.
Lyde would have been just the fourth player to leave Temple early during Chaney's 19 seasons as coach. Mark Karcher left after his junior season last year, was selected by the Philadelphia 76ers in the second round and failed to make the roster.
Lyde, who lives in Maryland, is expected to register for summer classes next week. The first summer semester begins May 21. Lyde will have to pass two classes in each of the two summer sessions to maintain his eligibility.
With Lyde returning, the Owls will have everyone except Quincy Wadley back from last year's team.
Maddox said he would send in a letter asking his name to be withdrawn from the list of early entrants in the draft. Maddox had met the deadline to file of Sunday and had until June 20 to withdraw. The official list of underclassmen who've declared for the draft will be released next week.
"I knew he would come back," Fresno State coach Jerry Tarkanian said. "He said he's anxious to get going and he's excited about coming back."
The 6-foot-4 Maddox was projected as a player who could play his way into the first round if he went to the Chicago pre-draft camp (June 5-9) and did well in individual workouts. His size and court vision were a plus but his questionable shot and high turnover ratio made him a gamble.
"I don't know who he talked to, but he found out that he's not a first-round pick," Tarkanian said. "He had some people getting in his head at the end of the year."
Franchise Sports America representatives said they were anticipating signing Maddox when they were at the Desert Classic in Tempe, Ariz., last week.
"But he swears he hadn't signed with them," Tarkanian said. "He's not close to being ready to go."
Tarkanian said Maddox stayed in school and would be eligible as a junior in the fall. Meanwhile, senior Melvin Ely is on track to graduate and earn his fourth year of eligibility back. Ely has to finish a class over the next three weeks to be eligible. He was an ineligible freshman.
The only definitive loss from last season's WAC champion and NCAA second-round team is shooting guard Demetrius Porter. Power forward Shannon Swillis is appealing for another year of eligibility after claiming he was runoff at USC. Swillis transferred to Fresno State two years ago and played one year. He has been in college for five years and earned his degree from USC last week.
The Bulldogs return small forward Chris Jefferies, one of the best on-the-ball defending forwards in the country, and add junior college transfers guard Chris Sandy and forward Hiram Fuller. Both players are expected to spend the summer at Fresno State.
"We've got a chance to be real good, the best we've had here," Tarkanian said. "We could make a deep run next year."
ESPN.com senior writer Andy Katz contributed to this report.
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