April 2015 | Page 21 of 29 | Zagsblog
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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.
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Friday / November 22.
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    • Duke

    NCAA Basketball: Final Four-Michigan State vs DukeDuke freshman Jahlil Okafor will enter the 2015 NBA Draft, the school announced Thursday.

    The 6-foot-11 freshman from Chicago is a projected top-2 pick by DraftExpress.com.

    Okafor, a consensus first team All-America selection, joins Corey Maggette (1999), Luol Deng (2004), Kyrie Irving (2011), Austin Rivers (2012) and Jabari Parker (2014) as Blue Devil freshmen to enter the NBA Draft after just one season of college basketball. The five previous freshmen early entrees were each selected among the first 13 players in their respective drafts, including Irving, who was the No. 1 overall pick in 2011.

    “What a great decision!” head coach Mike Krzyzewski said in a statement. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Jahlil and he has earned it. Obviously, he has done an incredible job here at Duke and he will always be a part of our Duke basketball family. We could not be happier for he and his family.”

    Articles, Kentucky, NBA Draft

    UK KidsBy JOSH NEWMAN & ADAM ZAGORIA

    To the surprise of no one, there will be a mass exodus at the University of Kentucky.

    Freshmen Devin Booker, Trey Lyles and Karl-Anthony Towns, sophomores Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison and Dakari Johnson, and junior center 7-footer Willie Cauley-Stein all declared their intentions to enter the 2015 NBA Draft on Thursday afternoon in a press conference held at the Joe Craft Center on the Lexington, Ky. campus.

    We reported a week ago that seven Kentucky players “are gone” to the NBA.

    “It’s about each individual up here making a decision – not based on what’s right for this university, not based on what’s right for me and our staff – but what’s right for them and their families,” UK head coach John Calipari said at Thursday’s press conference.

    “The way this works, I meet with each player after the last game, and truly it’s the morning after the last game. I ask, ‘Do you want me to explore your options?’ They all said yes. A few said no. We gather the information. We talk to about 20 NBA teams, maybe more. We let the parents talk directly to the NBA so there’s no confusion. We have about a five-minute meeting – maybe. I’m not convincing them to stay and I’m not pushing anybody out the door. This is their choice.”

    The whopping seven Wildcats leaving outdoes the six who left in 2012 in the wake of the program’s most-recent national championship. That year, all six were drafted, including four in the first round. Freshman sensation Anthony Davis was the No. 1 overall pick, while classmate Michael Kidd-Gilchrist went No. 2.

    “It’s the start of something big for all of us,” Cauley-Stein said. “We think it’s the time to go.”

    Articles, St. John's

    Darien WilliamsDarien Williams, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound junior college forward who initially pledged to Iowa State, has committed to St. John’s, a source confirmed to SNY.tv.

    He is eligible right away and will have three years of eligibility.

    Williams sat out last season after undergoing surgery on both shoulders, according to the Des Moines Register. He averaged 16.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and made 41.1 percent of his 90 3-point attempts during the 2013-14 season at Iowa Western of Council Bluffs.

    “I’m versatile, that’s the biggest thing,” he told SNY.tv by phone. “I can shoot the ball, I can handle the ball. I can rebound. I play defense. I just think I’m very versatile.”

    He asked for his release from Iowa State and will end up following St. John’s assistant Matt Abdelmassih to Queens.

    Arizona State, Articles, Hurleys

    Bobby HurleyFormer Buffalo coach Bobby Hurley is the new head coach at Arizona State and will be introduced at a press conference on Friday morning.

    “While it was an extremely difficult decision to move on from my team in Buffalo, this is a tremendous opportunity and I want to thank Mr. Anderson and Dr. Crow for selecting me as the leader of the ASU men’s basketball program,” Hurley said in a statement.

    “To the 942 Crew: You are pioneers and are truly special, so thank you for changing the way students participate in the game with the Curtain of Distraction. To the fans: Our passion, enthusiasm and energy will breed a culture you will be proud to support. To all of our former players: You are the lifeblood of the program and one of my primary objectives will be to engage you and bring you back home. With our fast-paced and aggressive style of play, we are going to make Sun Devil Basketball a destination for in-state, national, and international basketball talent.”

    Duke, NBA Draft

    Jahlil OkaforBy JOSH NEWMAN

    NEW YORK – Elton Brand went to Duke, so you’ll have to excuse him for being a little biased, especially this week given the Blue Devils won their fifth national championship on Monday evening.

    In the wake of the title, Jahlil Okafor, Justise Winslow and Tyus Jones have decisions to make on their futures. Okafor is a projected top-2 pick in June’s NBA Draft and when the topic comes up, yes, Brand is a bit of a homer there, too.

    “He’s definitely gonna be one of those top three picks for sure,” Brand told SNY.tv Wednesday evening after his Atlanta Hawks defeated the Nets, 114-111 at Barclays Center. “I follow it, I watch the other guys and I don’t want to go full nepotism, but I would take him No. 1.”

    Articles, Recruiting

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    Entering Saturday’s Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore., seven elite uncommitted players now remain on the board in the Class of 2015 after Caleb Swanigan pledged to Michigan State on Friday.

    That group includes six on the USA roster — Jaylen Brown, Brandon Ingram, Malik Newman, Ivan Rabb and Stephen Zimmerman — and two on the World roster — Cheick Diallo and Thon Maker, who has said he’s “70 percent” on reclassing to 2015.

    The game will air on Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN2.

    Kentucky

    Dakari

    Kentucky sophomore center Dakari Johnson will declare for the NBA Draft, a source close to the situation told SNY.tv.

    Kentucky has a press conference set for 2:30 p.m. on Thursday that “will include UK players who are ready to announce their NBA Draft decisions, as well as head coach John Calipari,” the school announced.

    Makini Campbell, Johnson’s mother, told SNY.tv earlier this week: “The family with Dakari is gathering information and will make a decision by week’s end.”

    The 6-foot-11 Johnson is currently slotted at No. 39 overall according to the latest DraftExpress mock draft.

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