It’s official, they are gone

Wayne Ellington & Ty Lawson

What we all expected, heck, what we all knew but didn’t want to face, happened a couple of hours ago. In a news conference that final finished the wait, or in some case, agony it is now possible to say “it’s over”. Junior point guard Ty Lawson, who was the Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year, is heading to the NBA Draft. Junior shooting guard Wayne Ellington, who was the Final Four Most Outstanding Player, is doing the same thing as well. Just for those that do not know, since both of them tested the waters last year, they can not do so this time. That means they are in the draft to stay. I been reading the web boards and some of the comments said I had to shake my head at. Yes, I will say most every single comment was positive. But I saw some, not many, but some of them that indicated since they had won the national title it was ok for them to go. Not sure I agree with that.

Actually I am sure, I do not agree with that at all! These two young men did all they could for three years to make North Carolina the best it could be. This year was the special year and they were key in the Tar Heels becoming national champions once again. But had they played just as well, but not won it all they should had stayed one more year makes no sense to me. Both Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington have arrived at their level where if they want to jump to the next level they should. Almost, they have to, because, as we have seen with Tyler Hansbrough (and others), staying that extra year, with the rule of thumb being when you should go you go, people start looking at why they didn’t and find more and more faults.
 
As a fan of North Carolina I am sadden that these two young men won’t be on the floor next year. As someone who has watched basketball for close to three decades I am sure they will both be playing at the next level for years to come. But as a blogger/fan/someone who thinks he knows something about the hardwood, both Lawson and Ellington were in that time frame that they should be heading out of Chapel Hill. And that is whether or not they would have won the national championship. They both played so well down the stretch that this is when the old proverb “hit the iron while its hot” comes to play.

I will end with this, how weird will it be for the Tar Heel fans to see next year’s team playing and #5, #14, #22 and #50 not being on the floor? And while the first three numbers will be able to be used by others, Hansbrough’s 50 will never be on the floor again, as it will reside in the front row of the “jerseys in the rafters”. To Ty Lawson and Wayne Ellington (as well as to Tyler Hansbrough and Danny Green and Bobby Frasor and all the walk ons that were on this team): a great thank you from a Tar Heel that has been watching this program for over a quarter of a century. All of you have made us proud, and not just for the national title, but for the way you have handled yourselves, remembering that the name in front of the jersey is always more important than the one on the back.

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