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Peter Jok's return gives Iowa a star to build around next season

Peter Jok's return gives Iowa a star to build around next season

Once he was not invited to participate in the draft combine or to work out for many NBA teams, Iowa guard Peter Jok made a rational decision.

The 6-foot-6 senior-to-be realized he was unlikely to be selected in next month's NBA draft and opted to return to the Hawkeyes instead.

"I'm excited to be returning for my senior season and leading our team," Jok said in a statement released by the school. "This has been an invaluable learning experience for my career, and I appreciate all the support I have received from Coach McCaffery and the entire staff."

The return of Jok is monumental for an Iowa team that won 22 games this past season and advanced to the NCAA tournament's round of 32. Jok was one of the Big Ten's most improved players as a junior, averaging 16.1 points per game and shooting over 40 percent from behind the arc.

Iowa badly needed Jok back because its four other leading scorers — forward Jarrod Uthoff, guards Mike Gesell and Anthony Clemmons and center Adam Woodbury — each have exhausted their eligibility. Had Jok also left, the Hawkeyes' leading returning scorer would have been junior-to-be Dom Uhl, who averaged six points in 17.6 minutes per game this past season.

What Jok learned from NBA scouts was likely that he needs to be a more well-rounded prospect in order to have a better chance of being drafted next year. Jok has NBA size and range, however, he could stand to improve his ability to create off the dribble or to defend opposing wings.

"The entire experience has been beneficial to Peter in assessing where he stands heading into his final college season," Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said in a statement. "He has learned a great deal in regard to this process and his experience will prove valuable a year from now. We are excited that Peter will be a part of our team in the coming season and we anticipate his senior leadership playing a key role for us."

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Jeff Eisenberg is the editor of The Dagger on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at daggerblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!