Utah’s Miller Vows to Return Next Year Despite Graduating

Utah guard Andre Miller’s NBA prospects soared with his performance throughout the NCAA tournament, but the former Verbum Dei High player from Compton said for now he plans to return to Utah for another season even though he’ll graduate this year.

“That’s what everybody’s asking me,” Miller said after Utah’s loss to Kentucky in the NCAA championship game Monday. “I plan on coming back to school. I want to come back and regroup. I just enjoy college basketball.”

Miller was required to sit out his freshman year because he didn’t meet academic standards, but an NCAA rule allows former Proposition 48 players to regain the lost year of eligibility if they graduate.

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The balance of power for next season won’t be determined until May 10, the deadline for players to declare for the NBA draft.

North Carolina could lose both Antawn Jamison, the national player of the year, and Vince Carter, a second-team All-American. Both players are expected to meet with former coach Dean Smith and Coach Bill Guthridge to make a decision in the next few weeks.