University of Connecticut Athletics
Statements From Caron Butler and Jim Calhoun
4/18/2002 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
"I'd like to thank every body for coming out. I'm here to announce that I'm declaring myself for the 2002 NBA draft. This was a very hard decision. Talking to the coaches and my family, it was a very hard thing to do, but it was something we decided to do that was best for me. I want to say I love my teammates and the family I've found here at Connecticut—the fans, everybody that supported me. I'd like to thank all of you. This is one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make in my life—very hard. Hopefully, I'll always be a part of this program, because I left my mark and I'm going to take a piece of it with me. Thank you for the support and everything. I love you all in Connecticut."
"I think Caron and I didn't choose the time, the situation and circumstance, but in the year 2002, the situation dictated, not necessarily in Caron's heart and certainly not in my desires all the time, but I firmly sense that he will be a lottery selection, according to everybody that we talked to in the NBA draft. During the past two years that I've had Caron as part of our program, he's been special to me. He's been particularly special because as Caron has grown, it's been something we've watched and he's helped carry a team to almost a Final Four and a national championship, and he's done it with incredible dignity and tremendous, tremendous will. With all that said, the situation, as we look upon the world we live in today, professionally, in basketball, he's ready to go into the NBA draft, he's certainly on both sides, in my assessment and our assessment as a coaching staff and according to the NBA, he's ready to play professional basketball. The circumstances under which he finds himself simply cry out that he needs to take advantage of this tremendous opportunity. It would be foolish of me, as I said a couple of times, to have him come back, to get stronger, to get better vision, and the most remarkable thing, going through the process for the past month or so with Caron has been the incredible maturity. There hasn't probably been a day when he hasn't called me, talked to me—amazing. I don't remember an experience like this. He's our fifth kid to go early, and he's more than ready, and we are certainly all of us going to miss him next year as a player. I can tell you personally, there will be a void, because it's going to take a while to fill, because he's a very special young guy. I told people that a long time ago, when he first came here, just give him a chance, and I want to take this moment, which I'm sure is going to surprise the guys in the media, but the majority of you that treated him so fairly and watched his story develop, thank you. On behalf of Caron, thank you. You told his story so well. You told about a kid coming to a college, and that's what this institution, and all institutions in America are about, they're about watching people grow. Well, guess what, you watched a young guy come here and grow into true manhood, right before your eyes."
