Kentucky freshman Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, projected as the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com, will turn pro after this season, ESPN.com reports.
“He hopes he’ll be able to announce right after they win the NCAA championship,” one source told Chad Ford. “But even if they don’t win it all, he’s coming. He knows he’s going to be a top-5 pick. He can’t pass that up.”
UConn signee Omar Calhoun was named the Gatorade New York Player of the Year and uncommitted junior point guard Tyler Ennis was named the New Jersey Player of the Year.
A 6-foot-5 senior guard at Christ the King, Calhoun averaged 25.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.2 steals this season while leading the Royals to a 19-8 record.
A First Team All-State selection, he was the Catholic High School Athletic Association Player of the Year and finished his high school career as Christ the King’s all-time scoring leader with 1,770 points.
Villanova junior guard Maalik Wayns will hire an agent and remain in the pool of candidates for the 2012 NBA Draft.
“The NBA has been a lifelong dream of mine and I have decided now is the time to pursue it,” said Wayns, who paced the Wildcats in scoring in 2011-12 with a 17.6 ppg average. “I loved my three years at Villanova. I had the best teammates, coaches and professors anybody could ask for. I will always be a Wildcat.”
Linsanity is fired up for Tebowmania.
With Tim Tebow now a Jet, he will share the same city with fellow sensation Jeremy Lin of the Knicks.
“It’s awesome. I’m just excited for him and to see what he does,” Lin told the New York Post after scoring 16 points in the fourth quarter of Knicks’ 82-79 win over the 76ers last night. “We’ll see what happens next year, but I’m excited obviously that he’s going to be in New York.”
Troy Williams, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound wing from
Gilvydas Biruta, the most consistent and effective frontcourt player at Rutgers, has decided to transfer.
“Gilvydas is a fine young man and we appreciate his contributions to the program,” said head coach Mike Rice. “We wish him the best in his future endeavors, both on and off the court.”
The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Lithuania averaged 9.7 points and 5.3 rebounds last season for the Scarlet Knights, who finished 14-18, 6-12 in the Big East.
UConn big man Alex Oriakhi is the first player out the door for the embattled program, and the question now is whether Jeremy Lamb and Andre Drummond will follow.
“Alex will transfer because of the NCAA Tournament next year,” Alex Oriakhi Sr. told the Hearst Connecticut Media Group.
The Huskies are currently banned from the 2013 NCAA Tournament because of APR issues.
The 6-foot-9 Oriakhi hopes to play immediately next season at another school because the NCAA typically grants waivers for players whose eligibility would expire before the program comes off probation.
