NBA waits for Hibbert, others

WASHINGTON -- Ask Roy Hibbert why the heck he's still a student at Georgetown instead of banking millions of some NBA team's dollars, and the 7-foot-2 senior sounds a bit like the politician he thinks about becoming one day.

He speaks earnestly about taking responsibility for his decision.

He looks you in the eye while talking about wanting to "finish off my four-year plan."

He mentions the importance of getting a good education.

Then again, it also took Hibbert less than 10 seconds into an interview with The Associated Press this week to drop a reference to having "a shot at a title."

By which he meant, of course, an NCAA championship, a prize that has eluded the Hoyas for 23 years, although Hibbert and Jeff Green -- a classmate who did opt for the NBA -- led the team to last season's Final Four before losing to Ohio State.

"It's been a long time since we won the (NCAA) Tournament," Hibbert said, sitting not far from a case protecting the 1984 trophy at McDonough Arena. "It would mean a lot."

He's one of a handful of college basketball's Big Men on Campus who are back in school instead of heading to the pros, players such as North Carolina's Tyler Hansbrough, Marquette's Dominic James, Tennessee's Chris Lofton and Virginia's Sean Singletary.

"Timing's everything. I didn't want to rush my dream," said James, a junior. "I've been working on it my entire life, so there was no need for me to just rush it."