The Boston College Eagles got a big win on Wednesday without setting sneaker to court, as star point guard Olivier Hanlan announced he will return to Chestnut Hill for his junior season.
Hanlan had been considering leaving school early to enter the NBA draft, and after Boston College fired coach Steve Donahue the move seemed even more likely.
But after testing the pro waters and meeting with new coach Jim Christian, the 6-foot-4, 188-pound Hanlan decided to stay in school.
Tom Layman of the Boston Herald first reported the news.
An Aylmer, Quebec, native, Hanlan ranked in the top 10 in the ACC in multiple statistical categories in 2013-14. He was third in scoring (18.5 points per game), fourth in minutes (36.2), sixth in free-throw shooting percentage (81.1) and seventh in field goal percentage (44.7).
"I was kind of just looking at all my options, trying to find the best fit in terms of getting better and improving," Hanlan told the Herald. "I was not leaning on one side or the other. I was just trying to put myself in the best situation to where I can get better.
"I felt like hearing back from different people just helped me with what I have to improve on this summer and really focus on the little details of my game and try to put that into play next year," he said.
Hanlan is ranked No. 137 overall on Chad Ford’s Big Board, and No. 31 at the point guard position. Ford projected Hanlan to either be a second-round pick or go undrafted.
After Ryan Anderson announced he would transfer, Hanlan’s decision to stay is a big boost to Christian and the Eagles for 2014-15.
Jack McCluskey is an editor for ESPN.com and a frequent contributor to ESPNBoston.com. Follow him on Twitter @jack_mccluskey.
