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Notre Dame Basketball: Bonzie Colson to Return For Senior Season

By Noah Strackbein

Feb 26, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) celebrates after a basket in the first half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 26, 2017; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish forward Bonzie Colson (35) celebrates after a basket in the first half against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at the Purcell Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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After debating on declaring for the 2017 NBA Draft, Bonzie Colson will return to Notre Dame Basketball for his senior year.

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Colson informed Notre Dame Monday that he will be returning to South Bend for his senior year. After testing the NBA Draft waters early in the offseason, he decided to stay with the Irish and finish out his college career.

“After a lot of discussion with my family and Coach (Mike) Brey about possibly entering the NBA Draft this season, I have decided to pursue my dream of earning a degree from the University of Notre Dame and return for my final year of eligibility,” Colson said.

Colson, who led Notre Dame with 17.8 points and 10.1 rebounds per game last season, could have saw how far his draft stock rose this summer without hiring an agent, like teammate V.J. Beachem did last year, but decided to stay at Notre Dame instead.

“I promised myself and my family when I committed to Notre Dame that I would earn a degree from the University and help lead the program to new heights,” stated Colson. “Returning to play another season with my brothers and the possibility of hanging more banners in Purcell Pavilion and establishing ourselves as one of the best teams in program history is an opportunity of a lifetime.”

After accumulating a list of awards during his junior season, finishing it off with a third-team All-American selection, Colson may have been a first-round draft pick this offseason. But, the Irish are set to be one of the best returning rosters of the ACC and Colson will be leading the charge. Alongside Matt Farrell and Rex Pflueger, Colson and the Irish will be hoping to have even more success then they did in 2016.

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“It is exciting to know that Bonzie will be back for his final season,” coach Mike Brey stated. “He has an opportunity to finish his career as one of the best to take the court here and I am impressed with the way he has handled this decision.”