Tyler Hansbrough and Ty Lawson will return to North Carolina next season instead of entering the NBA draft early.

"I've definitely decided that I will be back (for) my junior year," Hansbrough said Tuesday night after the team's annual awards ceremony. "Personally, I'm not ready for the next step of the NBA.

"Playing (another) year with coach (Roy) Williams will help me improve my game individually. There's also some team things that I want to accomplish. College is a great experience for me, and I'd like to be here another year."

Lawson, who had the best assist-turnover ratio in the ACC, announced he would return for his sophomore season by deadpanning a joke during the ceremony at the Dean Smith Center.

"I just like being a college basketball player," Lawson said after the ceremony.