Clemson starting guards Mitchell, Reed withdraw from draft

Published

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson's starting backcourt of Marquise Reed and Shelton Mitchell is returning for one more season.

Reed, the Tigers leading scoring last season, and Mitchell both announced they have withdrawn from the NBA draft and will play one more year with the Tigers.

Reed averaged 15.8 points while Mitchell had a career-best 12.2 points a game this past season in helping Clemson (25-10) reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. It was the Tigers first NCAA trip since 2011.

Reed and Mitchell, Clemson's point guard, both entered the draft last month. Neither hired an agent making them eligible to return. It also means the core of this year's NCAA team is back with the guards joining forward Elijah Thomas next season.

Clemson coach Brad Brownell says having Reed and Mitchell back gives the Tigers one of the better backcourts in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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