Bulldogs scoring leader Turiaf to return for senior year

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Gonzaga University scoring leader Ronny Turiaf says he'll return for his senior season.

Ending months of speculation, the 6-foot-10, 243-pound native of Le Robert, Martinique, said Monday he would forego a possible early entry to the NBA to complete his degree and work on his skills next season.

”I love it here. I love the coaches,” Turiaf told a news conference. ”For me to even think about leaving was one of the most difficult decisions in my life.”

Turiaf said he came to ”the right decision” after consulting with his coaches and NBA representatives, who told him another year of seasoning could help his professional chances.

Turiaf led the Bulldogs in scoring last season, averaging 15.5 points per game and pacing Gonzaga to a 28-3 record, 14-0 in the West Coast Conference. The Bulldogs, who advanced to the second round in the NCAA tournament, were ranked No. 3 in the final Associated Press poll.

Coach Mark Few was on the road Monday, but released a statement saying he was pleased with Turiaf's decision.

”In the end, he stuck with the things that he values the most: his teammates, his education and the college experience at Gonzaga,” Few said. ”He now has a great chance to be the Player of the Year in college basketball and a lottery pick in the 2005 NBA draft.”

Turiaf said NBA representatives told him to work on his outside game and to be more consistent.

”Having the opportunity to graduate next year and wear the Gonzaga uniform for one more season is an opportunity I cannot pass up,” Turiaf said. ”I look forward to playing in the NBA in the near future, but that opportunity will have to wait a little bit longer.

”I'm going to play as hard as I can,” he added. ”My main focus is to accomplish something that hasn't been done before.”

Assistant coach Bill Grier said Turiaf's return will give the Bulldogs a proven leader and an energetic floor presence.

Turiaf will anchor a team that is looking to replace record-setting guard Blake Stepp and forward-center Cory Violette.

Turiaf, named to the All West Coast Conference first team, was one of 20 finalists for the Naismith College Basketball Player of the Year.

He averaged 6.4 rebounds per game. He has scored 1,230 career points and is second all time in blocked shots (120) and free throws (466) at Gonzaga.

Turiaf called Gonzaga ”a special place.”

”I want to be a leader of the team” next season, he said. ”I'm pretty excited about it.”