Vandy's Damian Jones not entering NBA Draft

Damian Jones will be back for Vanderbilt basketball next season.

The 6-foot-10 center announced on Monday that he will return for his 2015-16 junior season rather than enter the NBA Draft.

"After consulting with my family and Coach (Kevin) Stallings, I felt it was in my best interest to return to Vanderbilt next season," Jones said in a news release. "I love it here at Vanderbilt, and I am extremely excited about our team. I can't wait to start working toward making our team better this spring."

Jones has been projected as a second-round pick by most draft analysts. ESPN ranked him as the 54th top prospect of the potential 2015 draft class after earning All-SEC first-team honors, averaging 14.5 points and 6.5 rebounds per game and leading the SEC in field-goal percentage (55.1).

Instead, Jones will be back for a Vanderbilt squad set to return seven of its top eight players after a 21-14 season and NIT quarterfinal appearance.

"We're thrilled that Damian has decided to return for his junior season," Stallings said. "This was a process that he and his family took very seriously, and we're happy that he came to this decision. Damian has the potential to be one of the top big men in the country next season, and we're excited to see him work with a promising group of returnees and outstanding incoming players this spring and summer to see that come to fruition."

The Commodores will carry high expectations into the 2015-16 season, and Jones' return only heightens that status.

Five talented freshmen — including SEC all-freshman team honorees Riley LaChance and Wade Baldwin — will be back for their sophomore campaigns, along with versatile 7-footer Luke Kornet, sharp-shooting Cornell transfer Nolan Cressler and a four-player recruiting class ranked No. 21 by ESPN.

Reach Adam Sparks at 615-259-8010 and on Twitter @AdamSparks.