Vaden returns for senior season at University of Alabama at Birmingham

Former Indiana guard Robert Vaden will take his name out of the player pool for the June 26 NBA Draft and return to University of Alabama-Birmingham next season, said Andy Katz of ESPN.com.\nKatz said former IU coach Mike Davis informed him of the Vaden's decision via text message this morning.\nVaden came to Indiana as a member of the heralded class of 2004 which included standout D.J. White and budding Atlanta Hawks star Josh Smith.\nVaden played two seasons at IU under Davis. As a sophomore, Vaden led the team in both assists and steals while finishing second on the team with 13.5 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.\nWhen Davis resigned from his duties as head coach in 2006, Vaden followed the man who guided him through his first years of college basketball. Last season, Vaden averaged 21.1 points per game for the Blazers after sitting out the 2006-07 season to transfer. One highlight of Vaden's season was a then-career high 33 points, including 28 in the second half, against Kentucky.\nVaden was projected by ESPN.com as a second round draft pick. The deadline for underclassmen to remove their names from the draft is 5 p.m. Monday.