Washington Huskies Basketball: C.J. Wilcox To Return For Senior Season

January 12, 2013; Stanford, CA, USA; Washington Huskies forward C.J. Wilcox (23) drives to the basket during the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at Maples Pavilion. Washington won 65-60. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports.

Big news on Montlake today as about-to-be senior guard, C.J. Wilcox announced that he would return to Washington for his senior season.

He was a projected second round pick in the NBA draft and rumors had been swirling recently that he was leaning toward declaring. He proved the rumors false, though, as he informed Lorenzo Romar that he would be teaming up with Nigel Williams-Goss and Andrew Andrews to form one of the most formidable backcourts in the Pac-12.

After UW was eliminated from the NIT by BYU, it was reported that Wilcox was “50/50” on returning for next season. Each time the situation was updated it seemed to stay the same, but it was reported last week that Wilcox had been interviewing agents and had one foot in the NBA waters.

Luckily for the Huskies, those waters seemed a little cold for the sharpshooter and he hopped right out and into the Huskies boat.

With Wilcox returning for next season, the Huskies most likely will not have anyone taken in the NBA draft. That will be just the second time that has happened since 2004, the year before Nate Robinson left school.

Wilcox thinks that he can improve his draft projections by playing on a healthy foot all season and slide into the first round. By playing on a team that should win more than 18 games, he will improve his draft stock even more.

He was the make or break factor to the 2013-2014 Huskies squad. If Mike Moser decides to join Wilcox at UW, it will be hard to name a team better than the Dawgs in the Pac-12. Colorado and Arizona come to mind, but it will be a tight race at the top between the three in a much-improved Pac-12 next season. It will be a fun race now that the Huskies have their MVP back for his senior season.