Pressey Looking to Prove Himself as NBA Draft Looms

By JOSH NEWMAN
Special to ZAGSBLOG

South Carolina State v MissouriEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Whatever the preconceived notions of what an NBA point guard should be, 5-foot-11, 175-pound Phil Pressey doesn’t believe he is fighting those as he makes his way through the NBA Draft process this spring.

“I’ve played against bigger point guards, I really don’t see them as being more athletic than me, just taller,” the Dallas native and University of Missouri product told SNY.tv after his session at the Nets Draft Combine on Wednesday morning at PNY Center. “When it comes to athleticism, I match up with the best of them. If a guy is a couple inches taller than me, I don’t feel like that affects me at all. I feel like what I do is a lot better than what they do.”

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Big Man Blaise Mbargorba Considering Seton Hall, Others

Seton Hall could bolster its frontcourt going forward if SMU transfer Blaise Mbargorba opts to stay local.

The 6-foot-11 center who played high school ball at The Peddie (N.J.) School has been approached by more than a dozen schools, but Seton Hall seems to be in good position right now.

“He likes Seton Hall, which is closer to home and he likes the situation,” Sandy Pyonin of the New Jersey Roadrunners told SNY.tv.

“I think it’s the best situation for him. Whether he goes there or not I don’t know.” To read more of this story, click here

Coach K to Return for 2016 Olympics

Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski will return to coach Team USA in the 2016 Olympics, according to SI.com.

Coach K led the United States to gold medals at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and the 2012 Olympics in London, but initially said he would not coach again.

Now he has reportedly changed his mind.

“I think it’s very close to being resolved,” USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo told SI.com. “That’s all I can say for sure.” To read more of this story, click here

USA U19 Training Camp Roster Named

Twenty-four players, including 16 with previous USA Basketball experience, have accepted invitations to attend the 2013 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team Training camp that will be held June 14-19 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Here’s the roster:

2013 USA Basketball Men’s U19 World Championship Team Training Camp Roster

 

NAME                              Pos.    Ht.      Wt.    DOB          School                                        Hometown

Ryan Arcidiacono             G        6-3      190    03/26/94    Villanova University                      Langhorne, Pa.

Bryce Alford                    G        6-3      175    01/18/95    La Cueva HS/(UCLA)*                   Albuquerque, N.M.

Brandon Ashley                F/C     6-8      190    07/15/94    University of Arizona                    San Francisco, Calif.

Robert Carter                   C        6-8      250    04/04/94    Georgia Tech                               Thomasville, Ga.

Damyean Dotson             G        6-5      200    05/06/94    University of Oregon                    Houston, Texas To read more of this story, click here

Theo Pinson to North Carolina

Theo Pinson is staying home.

The 6-foot-6 small forward from Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) picked North Carolina on Wednesday over Indiana, Louisville, Duke and Georgetown.

Ranked No. 15 by Rivals in the Class of 2014, Pinson joins fellow five-star recruits, 6-2 guard Joel Berry and 6-6 wing Justin Jackson in Roy Williams‘ class for that year.

Pinson gives the Heels a long athlete who can create mismatches on offense and who can guard several positions on defense.

“He’s good,” one coach at another school involved in his recruitment said. “He needs to add weight and to work on his shot.”

Indiana coach Tom Crean and his staff had also worked very hard for Pinson, traveling several times to watch him and his CP3 All-Stars play, including at last month’s Nike EYBL stop in Hampton, Va.

But in the end Pinson chose to stay home with the Heels.

Photo: Dave Telep / ESPN.com

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Tim Hardaway Jr.’s Draft Stock is Climbing

By JEREMY WOO

Special to ZAGSBLOG 

CHICAGO — This year’s NBA draft class looks especially thin on shooters.

The lack of three-point specialists is Tim Hardway Jr.’s gain.

Hoping to solidify himself as one of the top long-range threats in the draft, Hardaway has showcased his jumper for NBA teams in workouts. Another strong showing in drills at last week’s Chicago Pre-Draft Combine greatly helped his stock.

ESPN’s Chad Ford bumped Hardaway up from No. 34 to No. 27 overall.

“I competed very well,” said Hardaway. “I gave it my all, didn’t take any plays or anything off in the drills. I tried to dominate everything I did. You got one or two chances to make a coach or GM happy, so you want to go out there and put in maximum effort while playing against these guys.” To read more of this story, click here

Sheridan Hoops Mock Draft

By JOE KOTOCH

With the NBA combine and draft lottery officially wrapped up, we can now update our Mock Draft to officially represent the 2013 NBA draft.

Cleveland won the lottery for the second time in three years and is primed to expedite its rebuilding effort with the first, 19th, 30th, and 33rd picks in the draft to go with tons of cap space and plenty of assets to pull off a big deal, including possibly trading center Anderson Varejao.

While in Chicago this past week, there was a lot of buzz on prospects such as Steven Adams, Reggie Bullock, Allen Crabbe, Cody Zeller and Rudy Gobert, among others. With the draft still over a month away, nothing is set in stone. To read more of this story, click here

Knicks Emphasize ‘Continuity,’ But Will Try to Be ‘Creative’

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Knicks GM Glen Grunwald and head coach Mike Woodson met with the media on Tuesday and their message emphasized “continuity” with the current core group that lost to the Indiana Pacers in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

“We’re in the period of time now where we have an opportunity to be successful,” Grunwald said of the team’s short window to compete for a title. “We were somewhat successful, not as successful as we wanted to be. We’re going to continue to try to improve this team.”

Grunwald said he would do his due diligence and try to improve the team, but because they are over the $74 million tax apron they are prohibited by league rules from engaging in sign-and-trades. So anyone dreaming of Chris Paul is probably living in a fantasy-world. To read more of this story, click here

2014 Guard Brandone Francis Piling Up Offers

By JACK LeGWIN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

If you haven’t heard of Brandone Francis, get used to the name.

The 6-foot-5, 205-pound junior combo guard from Jacksonville (Fla.) Arlington Country Day has catapulted himself from a 3-star recruit to a borderline 5-star recruit in the past couple months.

Francis’ coach, Rex Morgan, feels that Francis’ health has been a key to his recent emergence.

“He broke his wrist last year, hurt his knee this year and got sidelined with the flu for a little bit,” Morgan told SNY.tv. “Now he’s gotten healthier, started to knock down shots with more confidence, and now he’s in the best shape of his life.” To read more of this story, click here

Nets Announce Combine Names

The Nets will host the following NBA Draft eligible players Wednesday and Thursday at a league-wide combine

SESSION  #1:  WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 9:30 a.m.

PLAYER POSITION HEIGHT/WEIGHT COLLEGE
JAKE COHEN Forward 6-10/235 Davidson
JAMES ENNIS Guard/Forward 6-7/210 Long Beach State
DURAND SCOTT Guard 6-5/203 Miami
JAMELLE HAGINS Forward 6-9/235 Delaware
ROMERO OSBY Forward 6-8/238 Oklahoma
PHIL PRESSEY Guard 5-11/175 Missouri
ANGELO SHARPLESS Guard 6-4/190 Elizabeth
MICHAEL SNAER Guard 6-5/202 Florida State
DJ STEPHENS Guard/Forward 6-5/187 Memphis
JASON WASHBURN Center 6-10/242 Utah
CHRISTIAN WATFORD Forward 6-9/232 Indiana To read more of this story, click here