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Expect official word to come from BYU in the next day or so, but I've learned that Jonathan Tavernari is pulling his name out of the NBA Draft. --UPDATE: See Wednesday night BYU Press Release confirming the withdrawal at end of this blog entry.
I anticipated JT's return to BYU for his senior season, so this development is not unforeseen. It does, however, allow Dave Rose and his staff to firm up plans for the coming season without fearing that professional opportunities (either stateside or overseas) might result in a late personnel shakeup involving a key returning starter. Tavernari's decision to retain his eligibility also keeps alive the quest for a personal "four-peat" at BYU, as no Cougar player has ever won conference championships in four consecutive seasons.
The draft withdrawal also allows JT to devote his short-term energy to Brazil's national team, with which he plans to spend most of the summer competing. As outlined in an earlier blog, Tavernari will be part of the national team roster that will ultimately be pared down to the group that will participate in the Tournament of the Americas in late August and early September--a national team expected to include NBA stars Nene, Leandro Barbosa and Anderson Varejao, along with European phenom and San Antonio Spurs property Tiago Splitter.
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I mentioned a few notes yesterday about BYU's upcoming basketball schedule, and while certain dates and opponents cannot be released until all contracts are signed and the calendar is set, I can confirm a few matchups:
First of all, the season opener is not your typical "warm-up" game. BYU will face Bradley in the Marriott Center on Friday, November 13th in the first year of BYU's commitment to the "Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge."
The season-opening date is probably not what BYU anticipated, as most other schools are playing their "Challenge" games later in the preseason. In 2010, MWC and MVC schools are advised to keep dates between November 27th and December 4th open for "Challenge" games.
Among the dates that other schools have confirmed are the December 28th Fiesta Bowl Classic game at Arizona and the November 20th game at Hawaii.
On December 2nd, BYU visits Utah State, while on December 12th, BYU will play Fresno State at USC's Galen Center. The Cougars play December 22nd and 23rd in the Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena (Nebraska, Tulsa and Nevada provide the pool of two possible opponents).
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In addition, BYU is exploring scheduling a game at Energy Solutions Arena once again this season. Among the motivating factors is the now "traditional" and increasingly popular appeal of staging an annual contest in Salt Lake City against what has been a variety of opponents. Furthermore, Marriott Center availability is somewhat limited as "Christmas Around the World" occupies BYU's home floor from November 30th through December 5th. Plus, this season there is added incentive to play at ESA, as the building has been selected to host the NCAA Tournament West Regional in March of 2010.
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UPDATE--
PROVO, Utah (May 21, 2009) - BYU forward Jonathan Tavernari has withdrawn his name from the 2009 NBA Draft and will return to the Cougars for his senior season. Tavernari declared for the NBA draft on April 22 but did not hire an agent to maintain his eligibility for his senior season.
"After consulting with my family and coaches I have decided that the best thing for me is to return to school to complete my education and play my senior season," Tavernari said. "Next year's team has a chance to be special. I have great teammates and great coaches and I look forward to being part of the program and competing for a fourth consecutive conference title."
The 6-foot-6 Tavernari is the only player in the Mountain West Conference returning for the 2009-10 season with three MWC honors on his resume. In 2007 he was the MWC freshman of the year before earning third-team honors the past two seasons. In 2008-09 Tavernari averaged 15.7 points and led the team in rebounds (7.2) and made threes (85) while finishing second in steals (49).
The Sao Bernardo, Brazil, native has helped BYU win three MWC regular season titles and has a chance to become the first Cougar to win four conference titles. Tavernari has helped BYU to a 77-25 (.755) overall record and 39-9 (.813) conference record in his three seasons. He has also helped the Cougars reach the NCAA Tournament the last three seasons and has a chance to help lead BYU to a fourth-straight appearance for the first time since 1990-93.
In three seasons Tavernari has made his mark among BYU's all-time leaders in several statistical categories. He owns the top two marks for threes in a season with 88 in 2007-08 and 85 in 2008-09 and is second all-time in career threes (202) and career attempts from downtown (535). Tavernari owns the single-season record for consecutive games with a made three (22) set in 2008-09. He is also 25th all-time in scoring (1,157 points) and 10th in career steals (115).
Last summer Tavernari was the lone non-professional to earn a spot on the 2008 Brazilian Senior National Team that played in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Athens. He will join the Brazilian National Team again this summer and play in several exhibition games and tournaments, including the FIBA Americas Championship for a chance to qualify for the 2010 FIBA World Championship.
