Naz Reid plans to make NBA decision in ‘next several weeks’
By ADAM ZAGORIA WASHINGTON -- Naz Reid said
By ADAM ZAGORIA WASHINGTON -- Naz Reid said
By ADAM ZAGORIA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Naz Reid’s next loss appears like it will mark his final game in an LSU uniform.
No. 3 LSU is set to face No. 2 Michigan State in a Sweet 16 matchup on Friday night in Washington, D.C. If the Tigers win, they would advance to meet the Duke/Virginia Tech winner in an Elite Eight matchup on Sunday in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament. If the Tigers lose this weekend, the staff expects the 6-foot-10 Reid to declare for the NBA Draft after a one-and-done season.
“Yeah, we’re expecting to lose him,” LSU assistant Greg Heiar said in the locker room in Jacksonville, Fla., after the team held off Maryland, 69-67, in the second round last Saturday. “If you’re a top-20 pick in the draft, you need to go. You need to go. It’s what his dream is so we want him to chase his dream. You never want to hold a young man back.”
The Asbury Park, N.J. native is currently projected as the No. 47 pick per ESPN.com. A number of NBA teams have recently checked in with Reid’s high school coach, Dave Boff, including San Antonio on Monday night.
By ADAM ZAGORIA
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — On the eve of his first NCAA Tournament game, Naz Reid said he wanted to make a statement like some of his role models from the New York and New Jersey area: Kemba Walker and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Both of those players reached at least a Final Four, with Walker and UConn winning the whole thing in 2011
The 6-foot-10 Reid has a ways to go before he gets that far but he had an impressive performance in his first NCAA Tournament game, going for 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting and 10 rebounds as No. 3 LSU fought off No. 14 Yale, 79-74, in a first-round East Regional game here at Veterans Memorial Arena.
“I think I did [take a step],” the Asbury Park, N.J., native and former Roselle Catholic star said in the locker room. “Not a huge step like I thought it would be. You don’t know what to expect in NCAA March Madness. We won our first game and hopefully we’ll win this one.”
By ADAM ZAGORIA Tony Benford said Monday he
By ADAM ZAGORIA After announcing Friday that head
By BRETT MARTEL
(AP) — What could go down as LSU’s most successful basketball season in about four decades also has been tarnished by the suspension of coach Will Wade amid concerns about the recruiting tactics he used to build his team.
LSU Chancellor F. King Alexander and athletic director Joe Alleva announced on Friday that they suspended Wade indefinitely and appointed assistant Tony Benford interim head coach. Benford’s first game in his new role comes Saturday, when No. 10 LSU (25-5, 15-2 Southeastern Conference) hosts Vanderbilt (9-21, 0-17) with an opportunity to win at least a share of the SEC regular season championship.
The suspension came a day after reports that an FBI wire-tap captured Wade’s telephone conversations with a person convicted last year of funneling money to the families of basketball recruits. In a joint statement, Alexander and Alleva said the suspension will continue until LSU can ensure that Wade’s recruiting tactics have been in full compliance with NCAA and university policies.
