MINNEAPOLIS — Trevor Mbakwe now has a decision to make after being granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA, but the Gophers senior forward said Saturday that he's leaning toward returning to Minnesota next season.
"But the situation's kind of complicated," Mbakwe added. "We'll know more after the season. There's a lot more that needs to be played out before I'll be able to make a decision."
Mbakwe tore the ACL in his right knee during a Nov. 27 game against Dayton and was ruled out for the season. Since then, he's had to wait to hear whether the NCAA would grant him another year of eligibility. The complications Mbakwe alluded to include his multiple transfers — first from Marquette to Miami Dade Community College and then to Minnesota — as well as off-the-court issues that resulted in Mbakwe missing the 2009-10 season.
Mbakwe continues to rehab his injured knee, saying Saturday that he's doing leg presses and squats in the weight room. He'll start running in a few weeks and eventually be able to make cuts with his leg. He won't be able to return to the court until late May or June.
He'll have to decide well before that whether he'll turn pro. The deadline to declare for the NBA draft is April 29, but the deadline to withdraw after declaring is April 10.
"The deadline's a month from now. Just kind of playing it by ear," Mbakwe said. "I know the biggest question is going to be my knee and how the rehab's been going. … I think (NBA teams) know what kind of player I am from all the success I've had in the past. I think the biggest question is definitely going to be my knee."
Before Mbakwe was injured, he led the Gophers in scoring (14.0 points per game) rebounding (9.1 rpg). During his breakout junior season a year ago, he averaged 13.9 points and a Big Ten-best 10.5 boards.
If all the other non-seniors return from this year's team — which coach Tubby Smith says he expects — Minnesota would likely be much improved from this season, in which the Gophers finished 6-12 in the Big Ten.
"Trevor, he's definitely a presence on the inside for us. He rebounds the ball well," said junior Rodney Williams, a potential candidate to leave a year early. "He's going to get 18 to 20 points a night with 10-plus rebounds, so that's definitely a plus for us if he actually does decide to take that sixth year next year."
Even Mbakwe's teammates aren't sure whether he'll be back, however.
"You never know with Trev," Williams said. "But I'm definitely hoping that Trev comes back next year because with him, there's no telling how great this team could be."
If Mbakwe does indeed return, the Gophers will have to do some maneuvering to figure out their scholarship situation. They'll welcome two incoming freshmen for the 2012-13 season, and only one senior — Ralph Sampson III — will be leaving if Mbakwe stays.
But both Smith and Mbakwe sound optimistic that something can be worked out with the NCAA to ensure that the scholarship situation wouldn't be a hang-up.
"Our compliance people are checking into all avenues and all possibilities," Smith said. "There are probably ways that I'm sure if the NCAA is willing to give someone a sixth year, they're probably willing to work with us along those lines as far as scholarships are concerned. We expect everybody back that's in our program this year to be back next year."
For now, a weight has been lifted off Mbakwe's shoulders. He no longer has to worry about whether he'll have another chance to prove himself at the college level.
Now, his future is in his hands.
"It's not a bad problem to have at all. Before, I was sweating bullets the last month or two, just waiting and not knowing what my future is going to be," Mbakwe said. "Especially with the scholarship situation going on, it's a complicated situation to be put in. I know Coach Smith's going to do the best that he can do. We're going to figure some things out with the NCAA. At the time, just going to play it by ear and hope for the best and see what ends up happening."
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