BOSTON — God will visit St. John’s on Easter weekend.
God’s Gift Achiuwa, a 6-foot-8 power forward who averaged 22.3 points and 11.7 rebounds at Erie (N.Y.) Community College, will trip to St. John’s this weekend after taking officials to Washington and Cincinnati.
Rhode Island and Charlotte are also in the mix, but he is likely to decide between the three schools he’s visited sometime soon.
BOSTON — Kentucky junior DeAndre Liggins and freshmen Terrence Jones and Brandon Knight have declared for this year’s NBA Draft, according to a release by the school. None of the three have signed or announced plans to sign with an agent.
The announcement comes one day after freshman Doron Lamb of Queens announced he would remain in school.
Liggins, a 6-foot-6 guard from Chicago, averaged 8.6 points and 4.0 rebounds while shooting 39.1 percent from 3-point range.
“I’m excited about the opportunity to enter my name into the draft, putting me one step closer to realizing my dream,” Liggins said. “Growing up in a tough environment in Chicago, it’s a pleasure to have an opportunity to do something special. This is another challenge I’m looking forward to, to have my game evaluated by pro scouts and see how I rank against some of the top players in the world.”
BOSTON – One glance around the Knicks locker room after Game 2 of their playoff series with the Boston Celtics and the team looked like a M*A*S*H unit.
Here was Carmelo Anthony, fresh off his 42-point, 17-rebound outburst in a 96-93 loss, hobbling around with two huge ice packs on his knees.
There was Amar’e Stoudemire standing upright like a mummy after missing the entire second half with back spasms.
And 34-year-old point guard Chauncey Billups was still in his suit after sitting out with a knee strain suffered in Game 1.
“It was fun, for the most part of it,” said Anthony, who tied his career postseason high on a night when both Billups and Stoudemire were ailing. “We was out there fighting, man, and my teammates stuck with me. I had confidence in them. It was just a battle.
BOSTON — Pittsburgh sophomore guard Ashton Gibbs says he plans to remain in the NBA Draft and not return to school.
“I feel I can play at the NBA level,” Gibbs said by text. “I’m looking forward to the challenge. When I entered the Draft, I entered to work my hardest to get drafted.”
The 6-foot-2 Gibbs averaged 16.8 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists for a Pittsburgh team that won the Big East regular season crown but was upset by No. 8 Butler, 71-70, in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
BOSTON — At least one member of Kentucky’s vaunted freshmen trio will return for his sophomore season.
Queens native Doron Lamb announced he will not declare for the NBA Draft.
Fellow frosh Brandon Knight and Terrence Jones have yet to announce their intentions.
The 6-foot-4 Lamb was named to the Southeastern Conference All-Freshman Team by the league coaches and was also named Yahoo! Sports’ National Sixth Man of the Year. He averaged 12.3 points while shooting an SEC-leading 48.6 percent from 3-point range.
“Last season was an unbelievable run for me and my teammates, winning the SEC Tournament and advancing to the Final Four,” Lamb said.
BOSTON — Incoming Duke guard Austin Rivers is looking forward to playing with forward Alex Murphy this season instead of next.
“It’s going to be awesome,” Rivers said by text. “I’m very excited to get to have another top play-maker with me. He only makes us better. Unselfish player! He’s a ‘we-first’ before ‘me-first’ type of guy. And simply just has game.”
The 6-foot-4 Rivers has played with the 6-8 Murphy at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 event.
Rivers and Murphy will be joined in the Duke 2011 class by point guard Quinn Cook, center Marshall Plumlee and wing Michael Gbjinije.
BOSTON — Negus Webster-Chan, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Huntington (WV) Prep, has decommitted from Louisville for 2012.
“I just didn’t feel comfortable with all of the changes at Louisville,” he told Alex Kline of The Recruit Scoop. “I had a great relationship with Coach [Mark] Lieberman and with his new role [as Director of Basketball Operations], I just didn’t feel like it was the best fit for me. I appreciate all of the Louisville fans that have showed their support for me and hope they understand.
