Press Conference Quotes

April 14, 2005

WINSTON-SALEM - Wake Forest sophomore All-American guard Chris Paul announced today that he will officially put his name into the NBA Draft, ending weeks of speculation about where the Lewisville (NC) native will play next season.

"This was the most difficult decision I have ever made," Paul said. "I have mulled over this decision for several weeks. I have talked at length with my family and the coaching staff. In the end, I felt like I was ready for the challenge."

Paul, a consensus first team All-American in 2005 and the ACC Rookie of the Year as a freshman in 2004, is the first Demon Deacon to leave school early for the NBA since Rodney Rogers left after his junior season in 1993. Most of the experts consider the 6-foot Paul to be a top-five selection in the June draft.

"I have always welcomed challenges," Paul said. "Playing in the NBA against some of the greatest athletes in the world is what I consider the ultimate challenge."

Paul will leave Wake Forest with 948 career points, 395 assists (7th in WFU history) and 160 steals (7th in WFU history). His career three-point percentage (46.9) is the second-highest in Deacon history and his career free throw percentage (83.8) ranks fifth all-time. His 212 assists this past year were the third-most single-season assists in school history and the most since Muggsy Bogues in 1987. His 76 steals in 2004-05 were the fourth-most single-season pilfers in Wake history.

During his two-year stint, Paul played in 63 games and started 62 times. He helped lead Wake Forest to 48 wins, including a school-record 27 victories in 2004-05. During Paul's tenure, the Deacons went 22-10 in ACC play and 3-2 in the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 in 2004.