Fans differ on Simon's decision

Tanith L. Balaban Arizona Daily Wildcat UA junior guard Miles Simon (34) makes a lay up in front of UCLA forward J.R. Henderson earlier this season. There are mixed opinions on campus about Simon's decision to return to Arizona for his senior year rather than go pro.

The general consensus among UA athletes was that Simon should have left school early and gone on to play professional basketball.

"I would leave because there is always the chance of injury. I would leave to go make money. You can always finish school later," said freshman Marques McFadden, an offensive lineman on the UA football team. "I would leave especially with all of the academic problems that he has had this year.

"I would also leave because they will pay for you to go back to finish school later on," said McFadden, referring to how NBA teams which draft players out of college early will later help them go back and finish their degrees.

"I would leave school because his draft status will be lower next year. He can make a lot of money," freshman offensive lineman Jason Kopydlowski said. "We are glad he is staying, but I would decide to leave."

The thoughts about Miles Simon leaving school early to play in the NBA varied among UA students and Wildcat fans.

"I think it's good for him to stay. You can only play college ball for a certain amount of time and you need to get an education," Wildcat fan Don Burtchin said.

UA student Denise Tomlan agreed.

"Education lasts a lifetime," she said. "He should stay in school. He should stay to make a run at a second national championship, this is his only chance at it."

"I would personally go to the NBA. You could always go back to school, but it's cool that he is staying another year" UA student Jeremy Adams said.

The final day for Simon to make himself eligible for the NBA draft is May 10. He has until then to finalize his decision to stay in school for his senior year. Simon was MVP of the Final Four as well as the Southeast Regional.