Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
PHILADELPHIA — With 37.3 seconds left in Creighton’s 66-50 loss to Duke here late Sunday night, Doug McDermott walked off the court at the Wells Fargo Center to a smattering of applause from the Creighton fans and hugged his father and coach, Greg McDermott.
Was it his last appearance in a Creighton uniform, or will he return for his senior year to help the Bluejays try to win a Big East championship next year when the Missouri Valley Conference team switches leagues?
The 6-foot-8 McDermott is projected as the 37th overall pick by DraftExpress.com, but that could change depending upon on who enters, or does not enter, the draft.
“I’ll probably look at it here in the next couple weeks,” he said in the Creighton locker room after going for 21 points on 4-of-16 shooting and 12-of-12 from the line.
“I’ll be going down to the Final Four probably with my family. I figure it’s just going to hit me. At some moment, I’ll be like, ‘This is what I’m going to do.’ It’s still up in the air. I have no idea what I’m going to do.
“Either way you really can’t go wrong. It’s a decision that’s good in both ways. You can’t really go wrong.”
A finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year, McDermott averaged 23.2 points and 7.6 rebounds this season and earned praise from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski after the loss.
“He’s a great player, especially on the offensive end,” he said.
Two NBA scouts told SNY.tv that McDermott would do well to come out now.
“I do not think he can do more in college to help himself at this point,” one veteran scout said. “He can only stay to enjoy his senior year and possibly get back to the [NCAA] Tournament. He is a first-round pick but probably in the 20s or at best late teens depending on what other underclassmen come out.”
McDermott conceded his decision is even harder because his father is the coach.
“Yeah, because he’s happy for me either way, too,” Doug said. “We’ve talked about it. I’d love to go out in a better way than this, obviously. But he supports me either way, and it definitely does make it a tougher decision having someone so close as your head coach.”
Said Greg McDermott: “We’ll let all this sink in and when the time is right. He’s not going to be in any hurry to make a decision. We’re not in any rush to sit down and talk but we will and he’ll do what’s best for Doug McDermott.”
Doug said he’s never even been to Madison Square Garden and is interested in seeing Creighton play in the Big East Conference next year when it joins along with Butler and Xavier.
“Absolutely, yeah,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to play in the Garden, I never have. I’ve been to New York City once for a tournament, but I’ve never even seen the Garden So that definitely does play into it.
“I feel like we can compete there next year and it’s something to look forward to.”
FREE THROWS
McDermott’s teammate, Gregory Echenique, played his last game in a Creighton uniform and said it was sad to end his career. “Obviously, I don’t get to come back like some of them do,” the former St. Benedict’s Prep standout said in the locker room. The 6-9 Echenique left Rutgers in 2010 and said he was glad he made the decision he did. “I know I’ll look back at this and I’ll be glad that I came here and that we accomplished what we did,” he said. “Obviously, right now it’s normal for people to feel sad because this istt’ the way we wanted it to end, but I’m happy that I was part of this family and what we’re able to accomplish.”…Creighton assistant Steve Lutz will watch Christ the King senior guard Jon Severe work out Monday in New York. The 6-2 Severe went off for 40 points in the New York State Federation semifinals, and added 28 points in the championship game win over Long Island Lutheran. The newly-minted New York Mr. Basketball is also considering several A-10 schools, Pitt, Rutgers and West Virginia.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
PHILADELPHIA — With 37.3 seconds left in Creighton’s 66-50 loss to Duke here late Sunday night, Doug McDermott walked off the court at the Wells Fargo Center to a smattering of applause from the Creighton fans and hugged his father and coach, Greg McDermott.
Was it his last appearance in a Creighton uniform, or will he return for his senior year to help the Bluejays try to win a Big East championship next year when the Missouri Valley Conference team switches leagues?
The 6-foot-8 McDermott is projected as the 37th overall pick by DraftExpress.com, but that could change depending upon on who enters, or does not enter, the draft.
“I’ll probably look at it here in the next couple weeks,” he said in the Creighton locker room after going for 21 points on 4-of-16 shooting and 12-of-12 from the line.
“I’ll be going down to the Final Four probably with my family. I figure it’s just going to hit me. At some moment, I’ll be like, ‘This is what I’m going to do.’ It’s still up in the air. I have no idea what I’m going to do.
“Either way you really can’t go wrong. It’s a decision that’s good in both ways. You can’t really go wrong.”
A finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year, McDermott averaged 23.2 points and 7.6 rebounds this season and earned praise from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski after the loss.
“He’s a great player, especially on the offensive end,” he said.
Two NBA scouts told SNY.tv that McDermott would do well to come out now.
“I do not think he can do more in college to help himself at this point,” one veteran scout said. “He can only stay to enjoy his senior year and possibly get back to the [NCAA] Tournament. He is a first-round pick but probably in the 20s or at best late teens depending on what other underclassmen come out.”
McDermott conceded his decision is even harder because his father is the coach.
“Yeah, because he’s happy for me either way, too,” Doug said. “We’ve talked about it. I’d love to go out in a better way than this, obviously. But he supports me either way, and it definitely does make it a tougher decision having someone so close as your head coach.”
Said Greg McDermott: “We’ll let all this sink in and when the time is right. He’s not going to be in any hurry to make a decision. We’re not in any rush to sit down and talk but we will and he’ll do what’s best for Doug McDermott.”
Doug said he’s never even been to Madison Square Garden and is interested in seeing Creighton play in the Big East Conference next year when it joins along with Butler and Xavier.
“Absolutely, yeah,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to play in the Garden, I never have. I’ve been to New York City once for a tournament, but I’ve never even seen the Garden So that definitely does play into it.
“I feel like we can compete there next year and it’s something to look forward to.”
FREE THROWS
McDermott’s teammate, Gregory Echenique, played his last game in a Creighton uniform and said it was sad to end his career. “Obviously, I don’t get to come back like some of them do,” the former St. Benedict’s Prep standout said in the locker room. The 6-9 Echenique left Rutgers in 2010 and said he was glad he made the decision he did. “I know I’ll look back at this and I’ll be glad that I came here and that we accomplished what we did,” he said. “Obviously, right now it’s normal for people to feel sad because this istt’ the way we wanted it to end, but I’m happy that I was part of this family and what we’re able to accomplish.”…Creighton assistant Steve Lutz will watch Christ the King senior guard Jon Severe work out Monday in New York. The 6-2 Severe went off for 40 points in the New York State Federation semifinals, and added 28 points in the championship game win over Long Island Lutheran. The newly-minted New York Mr. Basketball is also considering several A-10 schools, Pitt, Rutgers and West Virginia.
