Curry announced his decision Thursday. (Tim Cowie photo)

So we’re losing Steph.

You have to feel for anyone facing a decision as difficult as the one Stephen Curry made this week: Whether to leave one great thing behind to reach for another.

Even as he was about to answer The Question, the Davidson College basketball guard still seemed uneasy. He took a deep breath as he sat down next to Coach Bob McKillop at the microphone Thursday morning.

He looked at his coach. Coach McKillop just looked back, biting his lip.

Another deep breath. And then: “After a lot of discussion with my parents, Dell and Sonya, who are here right now, Coach McKillop and my teammates, and after a long period of personal reflection, I’ve decided to forgo my senior year and enter the NBA draft this year.”

“My goal since I can remember has always been to play in the NBA and that goal has now become a viable opportunity for me. After weighing my options, I came to the conclusion that it is in my best interest to take hold of that opportunity,” he said.

LEANING TOWARD LEAVING

The junior sociology major had all but made up his mind at least a week ago, but something still didn’t feel quite right.

Asked Thursday when he finally decided, he said, “It was about an hour and a half ago, when I ate my omelet in Commons. It took me that long to figure it out. I decided to sleep on it last night. And I was at peace this morning. That’s what I was looking for: (to) have a decision in my head, and to feel good about it and confident.”

Junior Bryant Barr, who has been Mr. Curry’s roommate all three years, said Mr. Curry had been trying to keep a low profile about the decision, though it clearly was weighing on him.

“He didn’t want to make it like a huge deal around the apartment,” Mr. Barr said. “But we did talk about it quite a bit a couple of weeks ago, and then we sat down for about a half-hour or so last week and really talked about it. I talked with him this morning, and he was really at peace with his decision.”

Mr. Barr was not surprised by Mr. Curry’s final decision. “When we talked last week, I would have said I knew his decision, and that was that he was leaving,” Mr. Barr said. “He was still a little uneasy, and just wanted to feel at peace, just comfortable about it. Like he said in the press conference, he woke up this morning and felt good about it.”

Mr. Curry said it will be hard to walk away from Davidson. He was free with praise and gratitude Thursday for nearly everyone in the room – and for help from beyond.

“I also want to thank God for helping me make this decision. It’s been a pretty challenging three weeks for me.”

DAVIDSON ON HOLD

Leaving means Mr. Curry will not finish his degree, at least not now. He said he’ll be back eventually. Davidson doesn’t offer summer classes, so he would have to be on campus during the regular school year.

In an interview after the press conference he said, “I’ve got a plan to graduate at some point. It means coming back to school for another semester, whenever that happens. So maybe after my career’s over, down the road.”

He said he will have seven courses remaining after this semester, including two in his sociology major. He’ll have to take those courses at Davidson to finish. According to the college website, students who qualify to graduate must: “Complete satisfactorily 32 courses, at least one-half (16) in residence at Davidson College. The period of residence must include the senior year (at least the final 7 courses).” CLARIFICATION: College officials say to graduate students must take Davidson courses, but it is not necessary to live on campus. (Updated Friday, April 24, 11:15 a.m.)

He even took time to thank his teachers.

“I want to thank my professors for nurturing me through extremely challenging courses (he didn’t name them) and I hope to finish what I started and get a Davidson degree at some point.

Davidson College President Tom Ross, who admitted to mixed feelings about Thursday’s announcement, said he would miss Mr. Curry as a student as much as a player. “He’s been such a tremendous addition to our campus as a person,” he said.

President Ross was one of many family members, teammates and friends who met with Mr. Curry in recent weeks. “I talked to him, but I don’t know that I had a role to play, because I’m not somebody who is smart enough to understand the business side of basketball,” President Ross said. “I talked to him a little about the college and I think he considered everything. In my conversation with him, he thought very carefully about his friends, about his senior year, about his diploma. I think he’s definitely committed to getting his diploma. … if I know Steph and I know his mom and dad, I suspect he’ll be back here.”

Added President Ross: “You know, he had a tough decision, and life’s about tough decisions sometimes.”