Between Mother’s Day, weekend house projects and family activities, I had another weekend mostly without computer time.  I got a little lucky because I checked Twitter Saturday evening on my cell to see that Ashton Gibbs had pulled out of the NBA draft and was returning to Pitt.

A more cynical person would have immediately noted that he made the decision within a few hours of his NBA group workout in New Jersey. Not that he will talk too much about what he was told — or how he actually performed against other hopefuls.

He had a workout Saturday before scouts for all 30 NBA teams at a combine in New Jersey. Gibbs also had a private workout with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.

“I was very close to keeping my name in,” Gibbs said Saturday night. “When I entered the draft I entered it to stay in. It’s what I set my mind to. There was no point to just go through the motions. But in the end, I felt like the NBA could wait for a year.”

Gibbs did not disclose much of what NBA scouts told him in terms of feedback other than to say he has to “work on his body.”

“It was nothing in particular,” he said. “I’m really not worried about the NBA now. Right now, I’m a college player and I’ll worry about the NBA next year.”

The scouts at the combine put players through individual drills and evaluated players in scrimmages.

I like in his official statement he mentions his fellow senior and graduating.

“The NBA can wait a year,” Gibbs said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing the success that we’ve established here at Pitt and finish my collegiate career with all of my teammates and fellow senior Nasir Robinson. It will also be extra special to earn my degree.”

Gibbs, only the ninth Pitt player to earn Big East first-team honors, will enter next season ranked among Pitt’s career leaders in several categories, including free-throw percentage (87.9, second), 3-point percentage (44.1, second), 3-pointers (216, fourth) and points (1,207, 23rd). He has started 64 of his 100 games at Pitt, averaging 12.1 points.

“I am extremely excited that Ashton will return to the court for us next year,” coach Jamie Dixon said. “Ashton is a tremendous representative for the University of Pittsburgh. He embodies everything you want in a student-athlete and has always made decisions for the right reasons. This is just another example.”

The conflicting stories between Ashton Gibbs, his dad Temple and Coach Dixon about Gibbs’ intentions probably made this a lot more dramatic than it needed to be. Really, this was a reasonable thing for Gibbs to do. He’s got one year of eligibility left. He had the opportunity to at least find out his status and what he needs to do to have a shot at the next level.

Now some other notable players in the Big East also made choices.

Terrance Jennings, Louisville — staying in the draft

Carlton Scott, ND — staying in the draft

Kevin Jones, WVU — returning to Hoopieville

Hollis Thompson, Georgetown — returning to Hoyas

Now that the early entry list is finished and players like Terrance Jones is returning to Kentucky and Shelvin Mack is gone from Butler that means the next wave of way too early top-25 lists will come out.

Mike Miller at NBC.com is one of the first and pegs Pitt at #10 (the third team in the list from the Big East behind Cuse and Louisville).

10. Pitt

Record: 28-6 (Second round of NCAA tournament)
Key returnees: SG Ashton Gibbs, SF Nasir Robinson, PG Travon Woodall, PF Dante Taylor, SG J.J. Moore, SF Lamar Patterson, PF Talib Zanna
Key losses: SG Brad Wanamaker, SF Gilbert Brown, C Gary McGhee
Incoming recruits: PF Khem Birch, SG Durand Johnson, C Malcolm Gilbert, PF Jaylen Byrd, SG John Johnson.

The skinny: The Big East champs are out three starters, but Gibbs’ return gives them a solid scorer in which their young, talented roster can thrive. There’s every reason to think that coach Jamie Dixon can put together another 25-win season and vie for the Big East title.

Man, Jaylen Bond can’t get any respect. No one noticed he decommitted from Pitt,they can’t keep his name straight, and he’s not getting the pursuit and offers expected yet.