Budinger to return next season

By taking his name out of next week's NBA draft just before Monday's withdrawal deadline, Budinger avoided any chance he might slip into the draft's second round, where contracts and futures are not guaranteed.

His return to UA, at the same time, gives his coach three proven players plus highly regarded incoming point guard Brandon Jennings.

Olson said during a news conference Monday that he was still waiting to hear if Jennings would qualify academically, but was optimistic about the Wildcats regardless because of Budinger's decision.

"He immediately makes us that much stronger as a team," Olson said. "In my text (message), I told him he'd be playing with very good passers on the team, and Chase is a great passer. I don't know that he's had an opportunity to show how good a passer he is. He makes a huge difference to us."

The Wildcats will still be thin. Even with Budinger returning, they have only 11 scholarship players scheduled for next season, and Olson said he did not anticipate any late additions this summer.

But the Wildcats could still assemble a lineup with Jennings at point guard and Wise either backing him up or playing alongside him in the backcourt. Budinger will start on the wing, possibly with Wise or Jamelle Horne, while Jordan Hill is slated for the middle alongside options such as freshman Jeff Withey or senior Fendi Onobun.

"The key thing is now we've got vets at the point, Chase can play either wing spot and with the kind of year Jordan had… that's a strong nucleus, I think," Olson said.

In return for significantly upgrading Olson's 2008-09 roster, Budinger will get another year to work on weaknesses such as defense and assertiveness, while benefiting from an potentially weaker draft field if he departs next spring.

Jonathan Givony, president of Draft Express, said he expected Budinger would go between the 18th and 30th picks this year but could land higher next year. Givony placed Budinger at No. 14 in his 2009 mock draft on Monday.

"This year's high school class is much weaker than last year's, so where we might have 10 one-and-dones (freshmen in the draft) this year we might only have two next year," Givony said.

"Coming back, he's putting a lot of pressure on himself and he needs to be very assertive, work on his ballhandling and his defense, but he could end up being drafted pretty high."

Budinger's stock slipped slightly after six NBA workouts, the last at Sacramento on Monday. ESPN.com pegged Budinger as the No. 21 overall pick, while Chris Monter of Monter Draft News said he would have placed Budinger somewhere in the 20s.

"I haven't heard that he was great (in workouts). Just that he was OK," Monter said. "He wanted some assurance and was concerned about slipping out (of the first round). Look at what happened with Marcus Williams."

Williams, who left last year after his sophomore season, went in the early second round, No. 33 overall, to the Spurs. He did not make the team initially and spent most of the season in the NBA's developmental league, but had brief stints with the Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers.

Budinger instead is assured a standout role next season in what Olson said will be an uptempo offense, rather than the more deliberate one interim head coach Kevin O'Neill ran last season.

"The opportunity to play again for Coach Olson in my mind best prepares me to have a successful NBA career," Budinger said in a UA statement. "I want to enter the NBA with great certainty of my future potential and believe the chance to develop further under Coach Olson enhances that opportunity."

Budinger said last week after working out for the Phoenix Suns that Olson was trying to recruit him again, and Olson credited new top assistant Mike Dunlap for helping pull Budinger back.

A former assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets, Dunlap was able to find out how Budinger was faring in workouts and drew up salary scenarios on what Budinger might make this year versus next year.

"Mike Dunlap worked very hard at this and it helped tremendously that he just spent the last two years in the NBA," Olson said.

"He was able to get information and passed it on to Chase and his dad, and that information was important."

Budinger's father, Duncan, was unavailable for comment Monday. Duncan Budinger had scheduled his son's spring workouts since Chase was unable to sign with an agent in order to retain his college eligibility.

Rim shots

● Guard Jawann McClellan said he would be working out for the 76ers tomorrow, having already done so for the Bulls. He has said his goal is to get an NBA summer league invitation.

● Kentucky transfer Derrick Jasper opted to transfer to UNLV, declining to visit UA as intended, according to the Las Vegas Sun.

Other Cats who tested the waters

With his decision to play for the UA next year, Chase Budinger becomes the fourth Wildcat to return to school after declaring early for the NBA draft. Of the other three, none were drafted by NBA teams.

Player Position Year

Mustafa Shakur G 2006

Chris Rodgers G 2005

Jason Gardner G 2001