ESPN Men's Basketball

HOUSTON -- Rice guard Morris Almond withdrew his name from NBA draft consideration on Friday and will return for his senior season.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Almond averaged 22 points per game last season, which led Conference USA and ranked 16th in the nation.

"A phenomenal opportunity awaits me and our team next year," he said. "Coupled with the fact that I am on pace to graduate as well as further enhance my status for next year's draft, this was the best decision for me."

Almond worked out for five NBA teams, including the Houston Rockets, and just finished participating in the pre-draft camp in Orlando, Fla., which ended Tuesday.

He flew back to Houston, then decided on Wednesday morning to return for one more college season.

"I followed my gut," he said. "I wanted to take a night or so to let everything settle in my mind, evaluate all the feedback I got, and go from there."

The Owls went 12-16 last season, but the squad had only three seniors, raising expectations for next year. Rice coach Willis Wilson called Almond's decision a "great day" for his program.

"He really has put himself in line with a lot of great players who've gone on to have a lot of success in the NBA by coming back for his senior year," Wilson said.

The NBA draft is June 28. Almond said scouts projected him as an early second-round selection -- not good enough for him to make the jump.

"My goal throughout was to get a a guarantee for the first round," said Almond, a native of Powder Springs, Ga. native.

"It was tempting. I was like, 'I don't want to move back, I want to keep moving forward.' But in the end, I had to make the best decision for the long run and this was that decision."