North Carolina's Tony Bradley declares for the NBA Draft

Should Berry, Pinson and Bradley elect to return, coach Roy Williams would have a formidable lineup to defend the Tar Heels' national championship.

The trio has until May 24 to remove their names from consideration.

North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II announced Tuesday he will return to school for the 2017-18 season.

He scored a game-high 22 points against the Bulldogs as UNC found redemption for their 2016 national championship loss.

Putting off the draft for another year is a sensible decision for Berry. On the year he averaged 7.1 points and 5.1 rebounds while shooting 57.3% from the floor.

Berry was considered a second round pick at best if he had stayed in the draft. For his performance, he was awarded Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four.

"My family and I have enjoyed every part of playing at Carolina".

Whether Berry would have been chosen early, late or not at all, he would have ultimately gotten a shot, and that opportunity will still be there next June thanks to the fact that he's helped the Tar Heels go 66-14 in two seasons as a starter, with Carolina playing on the final night of the season in both. It's a whole new world for the Tar Heels, with Berry, Theo Pinson and Luke Maye the only major contributors returning.

The school announced Monday that Berry would join teammates Tony Bradley and Theo Pinson in declaring for the draft but wouldn't hire an agent to maintain his college eligibility. They welcome in guards Jalen Felton and Andrew Platek and return Kenny Williams, Brandon Robinson and Seventh Woods. He was second on the team in rebounds and became the first Tar Heel with 150 or more rebounds in a season with more offensive rebounds (98) than defensive.

Berry, who was also an All-Final Four player previous year, was not expected to be a first-round pick in June's two-round draft.