Notre Dame's Francis Pulls Out of Draft

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) -- Notre Dame leading rebounder Torin Francis withdrew from the NBA draft Tuesday and will return to school for his senior season.<br> <br> The 6-foot-11 Francis, who led the Fighting Irish in rebounding the past three years, announced April 14 he was entering the draft despite career lows of 9.3 points and 7.8 rebounds per game last season.<br> <br> But after working out for NBA teams and taking part in a pre-draft camp in Chicago, Francis changed his mind.<br> <br> &#34;I&#39;m excited about being back here with my teammates,&#34; he said, &#34;and looking forward to having a good season from both a team and personal standpoint,&#34; he said.<br> <br> Coach Mike Brey met with Francis after the predraft camp earlier this month.<br> <br> &#34;I was disappointed in how we ended the season last year and I want to lead this team back to the NCAA tournament,&#34; Francis said.<br> <br> Francis averaged 14.2 points and 8.8 rebounds as a sophomore, and 11.1 points and 8.4 rebounds as a freshman.<br> <br> © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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