DePaul’s Melvin Leaves Program
DePaul announced that senior forward Cleveland Melvin is
DePaul announced that senior forward Cleveland Melvin is
Even though he has just made his college debut, Florida freshman forward Chris Walker has appeared on some Mock Drafts for 2014.
ESPN’s Chad Ford has Walker going at No. 20 to the Boston Celtics, and also has Australian point guard Dante Exum going No. 4 to Boston.
But multiple NBA scouts say the 6-foot-9 Walker should stay at least one more year.
“He is a raw athlete that can run the floor, block a shot and dunk,” one veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv. “He needs to develop an offensive game. Needs to stay another year.”
By BEN BASKIN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW YORK — Rawle Alkins is not your typical high school sophomore, even among other top-rated basketball players. And that’s not just because he is atypically unselfish.
“Scoring to me is not a big thing,” Alkins said in an exclusive to SNY.tv after he scored 14 points in a 67-49 home win over rival Bishop Loughlin on Sunday afternoon. “I don’t care about points like that. I just want to win basketball games.”
While Alkins did not display his best offensive game in the contest— not taking one shot from outside the paint, although known to have a good shooting stroke— his presence was always felt. Whether on defense, as he had five blocks, or on the boards, as he pulled down five rebounds, or helping out teammates, as he had five dimes, Alkins showcased his complete, all-around game.
NEW YORK — Doug McDermott’s Madison Square Garden debut didn’t turn out the way he had hoped.
McDermott and No. 12 Creighton were upset by a surging St. John’s club, 70-65, Sunday night, leaving McDermott 0-1 in his career at the World’s Most Famous Arena.
Still, the Bluejays will return to the Garden for the Big East Tournament March 12-15, and McDermott said he’s now even more motivated to perform well there.
“Very motivated,” McDermott told SNY.tv after going for 25 points in the loss. “We kind of got our feet wet in the Garden, we weren’t used to it. It’s a great crowd but I’m sure we’ll see a lot more fans here during the Big East Tournament.”
By BEN BASKIN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW YORK — With just under two minutes left to play in Christ the King’s 67-49 home win over rival Bishop-Loughlin on Sunday afternoon, 6-foot-11 center Adonis Delarosa caught the ball on the left wing, about 18 feet away from the basket.
He then made a quick crossover dribble from right to left, blowing right by his man, and exploded to the hoop for a ferocious two-handed slam.
Bishop-Loughlin then quickly inbounded the ball and rushed it ahead, hoping to beat the defense down the court. Delarosa, all 267 pounds of him, immediately sprinted towards the hoop and exploded into the air, swatting the ensuing lay-up attempt into the crowd. And although the play was ruled a goaltend, the home crowd was stirred into a frenzy as Delarosa let out a feral scream, a rare sign of emotion from the phlegmatic big man.
“I think that right there was the dagger, I think that finished them,” Delarosa said after posting 23 points on 6-for-11 shooting, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks with South Carolina head coach Frank Martin watching at Christ the King.
By JOSH NEWMAN
Special to ZAGSBLOG
NEW YORK – St. John’s would not be part of the NCAA Tournament if it started tomorrow, but Sunday evening gave the Red Storm new hope that they can still find a way to sneak into the field of 65 next month.
A stellar defensive effort late on leading National Player of the Year candidate Doug McDermott and a team-high 19 points, including a game-altering 3-pointer with 2:09 left, from junior guard D’Angelo Harrison steered the Red Storm to a 70-65 victory over No. 12 Creighton in front of 6,739 at Madison Square Garden.
An 0-5 start in the Big East left St. John’s NCAA Tournament hopes for dead following an 84-83 double-overtime loss at Providence on Jan. 16, but it has now won six of seven to get to 15-9 overall and 5-6 in conference-play with seven games remaining.
The one loss during this string was a 63-60 loss at Creighton on Jan. 28 in which McDermott scored 39 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer. Before these last seven games, the Red Storm lost to the Friars, DePaul and Villanova over a five-day period by a combined 10 points.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ha3S3kwAQE&w=560&h=315]
Marcus Smart’s draft stock is unlikely to be impacted much by Saturday night’s incident in which Texas Tech booster Jeff Orr allegedly used the N word, but says he called Smart a “piece of crap.”
Smart, who was suspended three games for the incident, could have been the No. 2 pick had he come out last season but opted to return for his sophomore season. Both DraftExpress.com and Chad Ford have him at No. 6.
“I really do not think so if he handles the suspension in the proper way,” one former NBA executive told SNY.tv. “He is frustrated with the season and I believe that had a lot to do with his outburst.
