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Jeff Goodman

Jeff Goodman is a senior college basketball writer for FOXSports.com. Check out his Yardbarker blog. MORE>>
 
Updated Jul 2, 2009 11:22 AM ET
     
 
I must confess that I'm thrilled Greivis Vasquez returned to school.
The Maryland star could have been like Nick Calathes, Daniel Hackett, Terrence Oglesby and Patty Mills and decided that the money and opportunity to play overseas was enough to cut his college career short. But Vasquez is confident enough — and intelligent enough — to understand that route will always be there while the chance to play in the NBA may not come along again. "I want to play overseas — eventually," Vasquez said. "But not yet. My dream and my goal is to play in the NBA." "They were telling me I could have gone somewhere between 25 to 40 in the draft," he added. "I felt like if I came back, I could improve and hopefully make sure I'll be a first-round pick." Vasquez hails from Venezuela, and there will always be offers on the table from numerous teams across the water with hefty salaries. Offers like the million-dollar ones Hackett and Calathes received to play in Italy and Greece — and the one that Mills will likely get if the second-round pick doesn't make an NBA roster. Vasquez admitted it was difficult to watch the NBA Draft last week and see fellow ACC guys like Tyler Hansbrough, Gerald Henderson, James Johnson, Jeff Teague, Ty Lawson, Wayne Ellington and Toney Douglas all get selected in the first round. "Those were all guys I went up against," Vasquez said. The versatile 6-foot-5 guard's production stacked up with any of them — and he did it with far less help. Vasquez averaged 17.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5 assists per game on a team that was among the least talented in the ACC. He was the main reason the Terps finished with 21 wins and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. Vasquez embodies what college basketball is all about. You watch him and it's clear he loves to play. He isn't afraid to show emotion and isn't afraid to make bold predictions. Even if they are, well, crazy. Prior to the second-round NCAA tournament game this past March, he said that Memphis would have a losing record if the Tigers played in the ACC. The Tigers went out and cruised to the victory, ending Vasquez' junior campaign. He celebrates after baskets on the court and his mouth rarely stops moving. Opposing fans hate him. But college basketball needs more guys like him. Maryland lost one player — hard-working, undersized big man David Neal — who most coaches considered a major reach when he signed with the Terps a handful of years back. "He should have gone to the Patriot League," I clearly recall one fellow ACC coach telling me at the time. Neal started 29 games last season on an NCAA tournament team, but Vasquez is excited that the Terps will return everyone else of note — and add a pair of talented freshmen big men in James Padgett and Jordan Williams. His latest prediction: "I'm going to go with that we're going to win the ACC regular-season title and the league tournament," Vasquez said. "The league is so open and I have a good feeling about it." Let's not get carried away. Maryland should be improved with the return of Vasquez and three other starters — Landon Milbourne, Eric Hayes and Adrian Bowie — as well as part-time starter Sean Mosley. But the Terps aren't sweeping the ACC titles. Even though North Carolina had three first-round picks and Duke lost Henderson and his replacement, Elliott Williams. Even though Johnson and Teague both left Wake Forest early. Vasquez spent the last few days at the Paul Pierce Skills Academy just outside of Boston with nine other top college shooting guards in an attempt to improve his perimeter shot and explosiveness. When asked who stood out the most, Vasquez' response was hardly shocking. "Me," he said with a smile. You've got to love him. Even if you hate him.
Tagged: Clemson, North Carolina, Duke, Maryland, Florida State, Southern California, Florida, Memphis, Mississippi Valley, Wake Forest

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