Sophomore Willie Warren to Enter NBA Draft

Originally Published: Apr 8, 2010 10:40 AM CDT

Dave Carty
Oklahoma Sports Staff Writer

NORMAN, Oklahoma -- After a turbulent, injury-riddled season at the University of Oklahoma, guard Willie Warren announced he will enter the 2010 NBA Draft.

The guard averaged a team-best 16.3 points per game during the 2009-10 season, but missed Oklahoma’s final eight games with an ankle injury. He also missed time due to illness.

"This was a stressful decision and one that I've been stuck in the middle on for a little while," said Warren in a release. "I didn't like how things went this year with my injury and everything, but I also feel like I have the skills to take the next step. Some of the things I need to work on like being a better leader and being more vocal are things I can do at the next level.

Warren stormed onto the scene as a freshman, averaging 14.6 points and 3.1 assists as a consensus first-team freshman All-American.

"My freshman year I feel like I made some big contributions and I was somewhat satisfied," said Warren. "I feel like I could have scored more, but I understood the makeup of our team and it was a great feeling to make it all the way to the Elite Eight. My sophomore year was up and down and tough on all of us. It was a rollercoaster ride, especially for me with my ankle injury and being sick.”

Warren has not signed with an agent yet, but said he expects to soon.