HoopsHype.com Draft Rumors

Friday, March 19

The Turner-Wall debate isn’t limited to Kobe-LeBron. Several NBA scouts told Yahoo! Sports they were split on which of the two college basketball stars would be selected first. One NBA executive isn’t even sure there’s a consensus 1-2, saying he preferred Wall first, then Georgia Tech freshman forward Derrick Favors second and Turner third. “You can make a case for either [Wall or Turner],” one NBA general manager said. “Wall is the better athlete. But Turner is the better ball-handler and a more complete player. He’s a guy who can do it all. He’s more experienced, as well.” Yahoo! Sports

Another GM said Turner could eventually compare to Atlanta Hawks guard Joe Johnson, at best. Wall’s upside, he said, is too much to pass on because Wall could quickly become one of the top five point guards in the league. “If you miss on John Wall, the worst you get is Derrick Rose,” the GM said. “If you miss on Evan Turner, you get Larry Hughes.” Yahoo! Sports

Only two Division I men’s basketball players averaged more than 15 points, nine rebounds and four assists this season. One was Evan Turner. The other was much-less heralded New Mexico junior swingman Darington Hobson, the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year whom one NBA scout thinks has comparable talent to Turner. Sources say Hobson will enter the NBA draft. One NBA general manager expressed skepticism about Hobson’s athleticism, but he has been projected to go as high as Nos. 18-22. Yahoo! Sports

Less than an hour passed after Georgetown's humiliating tournament loss to 14th-seeded Ohio before Hoyas center Greg Monroe said he would return for his junior season. The 6-foot-11 sophomore averaged 16 points and 9.5 rebounds this season and is a projected first-round pick should he enter the NBA draft. "I'm ready to go back and see how I can help my team next year," he said. USA Today

Georgetown coach John Thompson III isn't convinced. "You know, I think that he's going to sit and make that decision as time goes on right here," he said. USA Today

Yet it’s a foregone conclusion Aldrich is off to the NBA after this season. Ostertag played 11 years on the highest level. “More power to him, if he does (turn pro),” Ostertag said. “From what I understand, he’s a true big guy. He likes to get in the paint and push you around, block shots and rebound. He has to get a little stronger and bigger. He’s a big defensive guy. Everybody in the NBA is looking for guys who can play defense. He clogs the middle up.” Lawrence Journal-World

Houston coach Tom Penders says Maryland senior guard Greivis Vasquez "is probably a [NBA] lottery pick," meaning he would be selected in the upper portion of the first round. Penders was asked to compare Vasquez to Aubrey Coleman, the Houston guard. "I don't see any comparison," Penders said. "Aubrey is just a basketball player learning how to play what Greivis already knows. And I'm not demeaning Aubrey." Baltimore Sun

Top prospect Jeremy Tyler has left Israel to go back to his homecountry, the United States. American forward has agreed to terminate his contract with Maccabi Haifa, giving up his salary until the end of the season. Tyler agent contacted other Israeli teams (Hapoel Alufa, Maccabi Rishon LeZion and Galil Gilboa) to find a place for the player, but there was no offers for the 18-year-old forward. The Hoops Market

Former U.S. high school basketball star Jeremy Tyler quit Israeli team Maccabi Haifa and returned home Friday, cutting short a disappointing first pro season. The 18-year-old Tyler arrived in Israel on a wave of publicity in August after deciding to skip his senior year at San Diego High School to gain professional experience. ESPN.com

Tyler's agent said he wasn't aware of his client's plans to leave the team. "I'm as surprised as you are. We had no idea he was coming home," Makhtar Ndiaye of the Wasserman Media Group told ESPN's William Weinbaum. "I'm speechless at this point and look forward to speaking with Jeremy. A contract, a learning process -- things weren't great -- but it was part of growing up. I'm disappointed and frustrated." ESPN.com

Ndiaye said he spoke to Tyler earlier this week and "everything was cool." "The kid decided on his own," Ndiaye said. "We did everything humanly possible to make it a success story for him and his family." ESPN.com

Two NBA sources said the Players Association could push hard for a new rule in the next collective bargaining agreement that anyone recruiting players for agents become certified. The union has become leery of “runners” making contact to NBA prospects on an agent’s behalf. Yahoo! Sports

Thursday, March 18

If you’re the Warriors and you’re lucky to have this option–by winning the lottery, a very non-Warriors thing, I know–what do you do? “They’d take Wall,” the NBA source said immediately. “Any team that gets the first pick has to take Wall.” Even the Warriors. This source is not the only person who has been dead sure about this, and there’s great logic to it: You cannot bypass a potential superstar PG like Wall, no matter who you are, but especially if you’re a team lacking a superstar. These are the guys who lead you out of misery. San Jose Mercury-News

There’s no guarantee C.J. will stick around for a second season at KU, with brother Xavier expected to enter the 2010 NBA Draft. “I mean, shoot, all I know is about today,” C.J. said. Of Xavier, he said: “Eventually, he wants to play in the NBA. I know he wants to do that. I don’t know whether it will be this year or two or three years down the line. I don’t know. When he feels he’s ready, I think he’ll go.” Lawrence Journal-World

Along his jagged path, Caracter was overweight and academically underwhelming, and he transformed from a can’t-miss preps-to- pros prospect to being labeled a washout at age 20. “If I could do it all over again?” Caracter asked. “Maybe pray that David Stern didn’t change the rule about high school kids entering the draft. Some guys just aren’t built for college.” New York Times

Doherty recalled Caracter telling him, “I don’t understand why I have to be here in math class. I don’t need this. I’m just going to go to the N.B.A.” That year, as Caracter climbed atop the recruiting rankings and LeBron James transformed from phenomenon to N.B.A. sensation, Doherty said things began to change. He said Caracter could call a Nike representative and they would ship gear to him by overnight mail. Caracter would show up with things like a new watch or a cell phone with a California area code. Doherty said Caracter’s explanation would be, “People give me things.” New York Times

Caracter got his grades, but his game regressed with limited playing time and his weight ballooned. He openly clashed with Coach Bill Barton, now an assistant coach at Duquesne. Barton found Caracter lazy and irresponsible, though Caracter still managed to qualify academically for college. “He really wanted the N.B.A. lifestyle for the lifestyle and not the game itself,” Barton said. New York Times

With well over 100 N.C.A.A. draft prospects who need to be evaluated before the college season is over, it’s nearly impossible to get an accurate read on the class as a whole unless a G.M. starts the scouting process in November. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always happen. It’s for that reason that a single outstanding N.C.A.A. tournament game can weigh heavily on a prospect’s draft stock in the minds of N.B.A. teams. Players like Patrick O’Bryant, Julius Hodge, Jared Jeffries, Bo Kimble, Bryce Drew and many others rode terrific performances in March to improving their draft position substantially, but ended up being major disappointments relative to where they ended up being picked. New York Times

Tuesday, March 16

The agent for Michael Washington said Arkansas’ 6-9 forward needs rest to heal his injuries before beginning training for the NBA predraft camp and other workouts. Charles Briscoe of BP Sports Management of Atlanta, whose agency announced the signing of Washington on Monday, said Washington played through pain more than he let on during the 2009-2010 season. NWAOnline.com

Jonathan Givony: In case you haven't heard, the NBA Combine will be held in Chicago from May 19th-23rd. Will be like last year, no 5 on 5. Twitter.com

Cousins is thankful that the folks in Lexington were willing to let him establish his own identity instead of judging him by the labels that have always defined him. “I’m a thug,” Cousins said. “I’m a bad guy, a criminal. I know that’s what people say about me, people that don’t know me. “Nothing could be further from the truth.” Yahoo! Sports

NBA scouts know that Cousins has all the tools to be a dominant force at the next level and help turn a dormant program into a winner. But some of them also wonder whether Cousins has anger management issues that could cause him to implode. “Ask all 30 teams about DeMarcus Cousins’ temper and you’ll get 30 different answers,” an NBA executive said last weekend. “I think that whole issue is overblown. Yahoo! Sports

Monday, March 15

Da'Sean Butler, 6-foot-7, small forward, West Virginia. Butler had a great Big East tournament for the Mountaineers, leading them to the tournament title with two game-winning shots, and a No. 2 seed in the NCAAs. At the next level, Butler's strength and defensive prowess will get him and keep him in some team's rotations. "He's not as good as Evan Turner (the Ohio State sophomore), but he plays the game similar," said one scout. Another scout says Butler is just fair in terms of lateral quickness and burst, "but he's an extremely tough, aggressive defender. That's probably what teams will depend on him on night in and night out at the next level, but there will be nights when he gives you an offensive boost." NBA.com

The Pacers will to have a very high pick in June NBA draft. If you were the general manager of the Pacers, who would you select? Danny Granger: Honestly, you’d want the No. 1 pick and, if we had the No. pick, I’d take (Kentucky point guard) John Wall. I think he’s the best player in the draft. There’s some other good players in this draft: Evan Turner (a guard from Ohio State), the big kid from Kentucky, DeMarcus Cousins ... But I would still take John Wall. HoopsHype.com

James loves what he sees of Ohio State’s Evan Turner. “Evan Turner is really, really good,” he said. “If not for (Kentucky stars) John Wall or DeMarcus Cousins, he’d be the No. 1 pick in the NBA draft. He does everything. He scores, rebounds and passes the ball. He’s a rare talent.” Morning Journal

University of Arkansas power forward Michael Washington has signed an agreement with BP Sports Management (BPSM) to represent his professional basketball career. The 6 foot 10 senior became the fifth Arkansas player to record at least 1,000 points, 600 rebounds and 100 blocked shots in his career. After the 2008-09’ season, Washington was named second-team All-SEC and Arkansas’s first conference rebounding champion since 1999. BP Sports Management

Sunday, March 14

Do you see yourself as a 2, a 3, or swingman in the NBA? Theo Robertson: Definitely a 2. I think, just in college I've been forced to play other positions that will definitely help my game, but definitely a 2 going forward. NBADraft.net: What do you offer to an NBA team...what would you bring to the table? Theo Robertson: That I'm a winner. I can fill various different roles to help teams win. That I'm a complete player there to field any role a team may need. I think versatility is my biggest asset and for that I can be plugged into lot's of different spots. NBADraft.net

Saturday, March 13

Fox said he’ll be meeting soon with Trey Thompkins to discuss the sophomore forward’s thinking on whether to enter the NBA draft or remain at UGA. “Trey is a very, very good basketball player, and I think he could get even better. I really do,” Fox said. “We’ll sit down, he and his family, and discuss what his future will be. Trey will make the best decision for Trey. Because this is his life.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

As for the other Georgia player projected as a future NBA first-round pick, Travis Leslie: Fox noted that Leslie “has already said he’ll be back” and added that it’s important that Leslie “approach the off-season the right way.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Fresno State freshman center Greg Smith is considering putting his name in the draft, sources said. NBA scouts think that would be a mistake, even though some of them are intrigued by Smith’s potential. Yahoo! Sports

Mississippi State senior Jarvis Varnado is now college basketball’s all-time leading shot-blocker. But will that be enough to get him into the NBA? The slender 6-foot-9, 210-pound forward/center entered the Southeastern Conference tournament averaging 4.8 blocks and 10.6 rebounds. He also averaged 12.9 points on 54.9 shooting from the field and thinks he has a solid mid-range jumper and improving post game. Varnado says he’s been hearing he can be a late first-round pick, while one NBA scout said Varnado will go early second round at best. Scouts remain skeptical about Varnado’s offensive skills and project him as a forward more than a true center. “The good part of me being a senior is the experience,” Varnado said. “I’ve been through the wars. But most scouts take chances on younger guys.” Yahoo! Sports

Jonathan Givony: Not sure Luke Babbitt has the lateral quickness to guard the perimeter in the NBA, which will surely make him a target to isolate against. Twitter.com

Friday, March 12

Brian Windhorst: Evan Turner is a stud. Scouts tell me he's a top 3 pick and he just went Kobe on the Wolverines from 40 feet at the buzzer. Twitter.com

Iowa State coach Greg McDermott says junior forward Craig Brackins will skip his final year of eligibility and enter the NBA draft. Brackins, a 6-foot-10 forward from Palmdale, Calif., averaged 16.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season as the Cyclones finished 15-17. Brackins nearly left for the NBA last spring before deciding to return to school. AP

Hours after Fresno State was bounced from the WAC tournament, sophomore forward Paul George let it be known on Twitter that he intends to declare for the NBA draft and is strongly considering leaving school. "Testing the waters my tweets but I'm leanin towards leavin to the draft," George tweeted. ESPN.com

ESPN.com reporter Chad Ford says that Luke Babbitt may be making the jump to the NBA after his sophomore season. Ford wrote a blog about underclassmen who are considering leaving school early for the NBA. He specifically lists five players he's heard may declare for the draft, and Babbitt is one of them. He lists Babbitt as a second-round selection if he were to declare this season. But Ford does say that he has first-round talent. KOLOtv.com

Thursday, March 11

Iowa State junior Craig Brackins and Cyclones teammate Marquis Gilstrap are both expected to declare for the NBA Draft. A source close to the situation told FOXSports.com that both players will make an announcement in the next few days. FOXSports.com

According to NBA executives, Brackins' stock has fallen this season, but he could still be a first-round pick in the June NBA Draft. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound Gilstrap came into the program this season from the junior college ranks and averaged 14.8 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 38 percent from beyond the arc. FOXSports.com

When asked if he considered that the SEC tournament might be the final week of his college career, he said: “Not at all. It’s not even on my mind, to be honest with you. We’ve got practice right now and Arkansas tomorrow. That’s what I’m thinking about. “I haven’t made my decision yet. I’ve actually given it very little thought. Somebody said recently that I was seriously thinking about leaving, but that’s just not true. I’m not paying much attention to the talk.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Neither Thompkins nor Leslie are listed on 2010 mock drafts. That’s not surprising because usually only underclassmen projected as potential lottery picks are listed. Neither is considered in that group right now. Fox said he and Thompkins have spoken “a couple of times” about the process. But he added: “He has been remarkably focused on the season and we’ll deal with that part of it after we’re done. We had a couple of kids who left early at Nevada, and that attention and that process can get to even the greatest of kids. But Trey has handled it very well.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

There’s been plenty of whispers about whether the Oklahoma freshmen Tommy Mason-Griffin, a point guard, and Tiny Gallon, a power forward, could leave for the N.B.A. But Sooners Coach Jeff Capel made it clear after his 10th-seeded team’s 81-67 opening-round loss to No. 7 seed Oklahoma State in the Big 12 tournament that he didn’t think either was N.B.A. ready. “That’s an insult to players in the N.B.A. for anyone on our team to be or for anyone to think those guys are N.B.A. players right now,” Capel said. New York Times

Yet as blunt as Capel was, he didn’t rule out that his team had players who could eventually end up being N.B.A. players. “They possibly can be at some point,” he said. “But not right now.” New York Times

Tuesday, March 9

Jonathan Givony: Spoke to Jeremy Tyler's agent Bernie Lee. "This year was transition year for Jeremy, showing amount of work needed. Haifa was great to him" Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Lee: Jeremy Tyler "Didn't fully understand everything required of him going in.Worked really hard last 3-4 months.Better for the experience" Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Lee: Jeremy Tyler's next team? "I prefer European development model over D-League, in terms of practice time, support system, nutrition,etc" Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Lee: Jeremy Tyler "Needs to play a little more. I see him staying in Europe, league similar to Israel, where he can contribute a bit more." Twitter.com

Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney said Monday afternoon that he hasn't thought about leaving school early for the NBA but that he would make a decision that is best "for me, Virginia Tech and my family" after the season. Delaney, a junior, capped a stellar regular season by becoming the first Hokies to be a unanimous first-team all-ACC selection on Monday. He led the conference in scoring in the regular season and has been mentioned in the conversation for the league's player of the year. Although his stock is high at the moment, Delaney said he hasn't "talked to one person about the NBA," and as of now, he said he planned to return to Blacksburg next season. Washington Post

Delaney is an earnest leader and a player who seems sincere in his team-first attitude. Asked if he would return to Virginia Tech in order to see through what could be a promising senior season, Delaney said: "That’s a big thing. I think even when I sit down and think about that type of stuff, I'm going to talk to some people on the team to see what they think about the whole situation and just keep it within my family and the team." "I wouldn’t put myself out there and do something dumb and make a dumb decision when I know we’ve got a great team," Delaney said. "I know how good the team will be next year. I don’t have that in my mind and I never had that in my mind-set, that I'm going to leave. But my goal in HS was to make the NBA." Washington Post

Is South Atlanta High legend Derrick Favors ready for the NBA after one season of college? That’s what we asked one of the members of his inner circle, South Atlanta High basketball coach Michael Reddick. What was Reddick’s response? “I haven’t really thought about that. At the moment, Derrick needs to focus on Georgia Tech and how they can improve. He needs to help Georgia Tech make the NCAA tournament and do well. “You know, when the season is over, you can sit back and think about where things stand. But right now, I wouldn’t even want to speculate on (going to the NBA).” Altanta Journal-Constitution

Perhaps no one knows Derrick like his high school coach. Together, Favors developed into one of the most accomplished prep basketball players in state history. Has he met expectations as a college freshman? “It depends on whose expectations you’re looking at,” Reddick said. “Some people thought he would come in average 20 points and 15 rebounds. But realistically, you’ve got to do the best you can in a great conference like the ACC. I think he has done very well.” Altanta Journal-Constitution

Capel believes Warren will still have options even though the guard didn’t have the kind of season he expected. “I don’t think a lot of NBA teams anymore draft on necessarily on what you do. I think a lot of it is based on potential, and what they think a guy can become. The draft is different than it used to be,” Capel said. “You had to have a body of work in college, but that’s not necessarily the case anymore.” Norman Transcript

Still, Warren isn’t sure his immediate future is in the NBA. “The main thing in my mind is why not come back next year and prove everybody wrong. What could be worse? Be in the lottery again?” he said. “They had me projected there this year. If I come back, they might have me projected there again. I think it would relieve pressure. I probably wouldn’t come in as national player of the year candidate like I did this year. I think it would relieve a lot of stress and I would be able to just go out there and play basketball.” Norman Transcript

At his weekly press conference Monday, Izzo spoke on the topic of junior guard Kalin Lucas thinking about the NBA and how it might be hindering his recent performance for the No. 11 Spartans. “I’ve been through so many guys that have pro aspirations,” Izzo said. “You’ve got to make sure you don’t pack your bags too early. That’s what I’ve been spending time with him about. I said, ‘There’s nothing wrong with getting to the NBA and making it a goal. But enjoy the process a little bit more. Just unpack your bags. Put your clothes on the chair next to the bed. Don’t put them in the closet, just leave them there.’ “Its OK to admit that some of those things are on your mind and I don’t want you to lose those, but let’s learn how to deal with them a little better so they don’t ruin every day.” State News

When asked later if he thought Lucas would leave after this year, here’s what Izzo had to say: “No. I don’t. Like I did with Jason Richardson and Shannon Brown, at the same point, where were we with Shannon Brown? What happens in these cases is there was a time I thought Kalin Lucas was playing great. You don’t know what’s out there yet. But I’m sure, for the first time, I don’t think he’s going to worry about it in the next couple weeks. I don’t think that’s part of his daily thought right now. I think he’s beyond that. I don’t worry about it. I didn’t worry about it before because I talked to him about it. But talking to somebody and going through the pressures that none of us are going through or can understand are two different things. State News

Oklahoma guard Willie Warren said Monday he remains undecided about whether he’ll return to school for his junior season or declare for the NBA Draft. "I’m not sure what I’m going to do,” Warren said. "We’ll see how the rest of the season goes, and then after the season, me and Coach (Jeff) Capel and my mom and the rest of the coaching staff will talk. And we’ll make the best decision for me and my family.” Oklahoman

Jonathan Givony: According to Israeli media, Maccabi Haifa has asked Jeremy Tyler's agent to find him another team. Fed up w/poor behavior +lousy performance. Twitter.com

Monday, March 8

Seattle University forward Charles Garcia will be the first player this year to announce he is testing the NBA waters. According to sources close to the situation, Seattle will make an announcement sometime this week. FOX News

According to NBA executives, Garcia is a potential first-round pick in the June NBA Draft. Garcia was slated to go to Washington this season after spending two years in the junior college ranks, but wasn't admitted and chose to go to Seattle University with former Washington assistant Cameron Dollar. FOX News

Kevin Pelton: Whoa, did Goodman say Garcia is a potential 1st-round pick? in December, yes. Not now unless he really kills workouts. Twitter.com

On Sunday, one NBA scout told The Daily Progress that Landesberg, as it stands now, would not have a very good chance of getting selected in the first round. The scout, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he isn’t permitted to talk about college players, said that Landesberg, in all likelihood, would be a second-round pick — in which case his contract would not be guaranteed. However, the majority of NBA mock drafts don’t have Landesberg being selected in either of the first two rounds. “I don’t want to kill the kid, but he’d probably spend the next year or two in the D-League,” said the scout, referring to the NBA’s minor league, “which is not a better life than staying at UVa. I can tell you that.” Charlottesville Daily Progress

Of course, Landesberg could very well decide he is tired of school, hire an agent and pursue his pro dreams with full force beginning now. However, the scout doesn’t believe that would be in Landesberg’s best interests. The scout, who has seen Landesberg play in person on a number of occasions over the last two seasons, said Landesberg made improvement from his first year in college, but still has work to do. “His freshman year, it seemed like he went to his right almost every time,” the scout said. “This year, there was a lot of growth in putting the ball on the floor with either hand and making some perimeter shots.” Charlottesville Daily Progress

Sunday, March 7

Kentucky's John Wall is drawing the kind of special attention you'd expect for the player seen as a lock to go No. 1 overall in the June draft. No fewer than five NBA agents have been knocking on his door during his freshman season. Ohio State's Evan Turner hasn't gotten the same attention, but he's raised his play and has worked his way into a top-three pick. New York Daily News

Virginia guard Sylven Landesberg has been suspended for the remainder of the season for "failure to live up his academic obligations." He might have played in his final game in a Virginia uniform. Throughout the season, there's been speculation Landesberg will leave early for the NBA. "Definitely considering it," said a source with direct knowledge of the situation. Washington Post

"This is a very difficult decision," Virginia Coach Tony Bennett said in a statement released by the university. "Sylven is a fine young man who I deeply care about, but our players need to take personal responsibility for their academic obligations. There are standards and expectations that Sylven and every player in this program now and in the future must uphold. When they are not upheld, there are consequences. "It's important for our current and future players players to understand it's a privilege to compete in the ACC and attend one of the finest institutions in the country. My hope is through this action it will help Sylven and the other young men in our program understand the value of a degree from the University of Virginia and the opportunities it provides for life after basketball." Washington Post

Saturday, March 6

T.J. said Jimmer will definitely put his name into the NBA Draft this spring (just as Jonathan Tavernari and Lee Cummard did after their junior years) so he can go through workouts for teams, etc. “If there is not something real concrete on the table, he will pull out and come back for his senior year,” T.J. Fredette said. “So that is probably what is going to happen. But he will keep his options open, just in case.” T.J., seven years older than Jimmer, said the NBA has always been Jimmer’s dream and that the brothers talk about it a lot. Salt Lake Tribune

“He definitely is leaning towards coming back,” T.J. said. “He wants to come back for his senior year. He really likes it here. He has had a great experience, so it would be tough for him to leave. There would have to be something really concrete on the table for him to leave, because he really likes it here. Chances are he is going to be back for next year.” Salt Lake Tribune

NBA teams are very interested in Rautins. I don’t think he’s a first-round pick. I think he’s more likely a second-rounder. Both Rautins and Onuaku received invitations to the NBA’s Portsmouth (Va.) Invitational. That’s a positive sign that the NBA has interest. It’s not definite that Rautins and Onuaku will play in Portsmouth, especially if Rautins’ stock continues to rise. Onuaku’s history of knee problems will hurt his chances of being drafted. There are only two rounds and picks are valuable. However, I am hearing that NBA teams have interest, so it’s likely that Onuaku will get a chance to play for a summer-league team and then go to camp with an NBA team. Post-Standard

Friday, March 5

Cole Aldrich heard the fans' chants of "One More Year" at the end of Wednesday's Senior Day victory over Kansas State. "It's cool," Aldrich, Kansas University's 6-foot-11 junior center, said of the fans wanting him to return to KU instead of heading to the NBA. He was speaking before practice Friday. "I still don't know what I'm going to do. I'm still just trying to play ball. Whether it is my last year or not, I'm just trying to make it the most fun I could ever have." Lawrence Journal-World

So he's not totally sure he's headed to the NBA? "Not really," Aldrich said. "I'm just going and having fun. I'm going to do the same thing that Sherron (Collins) and I did at the end of the year (last year in assessing options), see where things are and kind of assess it." Lawrence Journal-World

An NBA scout projects Fresno State sophomore swingman Paul George to be selected somewhere in the Nos. 15-20 range if he enters his name in this year’s draft. George told Yahoo! Sports that if he continues to receive similar first-round projections, “it’s pretty much safe to say” he’ll enter the draft. George is averaging 16.6 points, 7.1 rebounds and three assists. “I haven’t fully made the decision,” George said. “I want to test the waters a little bit. From there, we will see where it ends up. It just depends on what my situation is as far as what scouts and teams think.” Yahoo! Sports

Jonathan Givony: Michigan's DeShawn Sims rejected his Portsmouth invitation. I guess he's giving up on this NBA thing and headed straight to Europe instead. Twitter.com

SMU's athletics public relations staff said 20 scouts from 15 NBA teams have requested seats for Saturday night's game against Marshall. They're not coming to try the pretzels at the Moody Coliseum concession stands. The scouts will be there to see Marshall's Hassan Whiteside, a 7-0 freshman who has been tearing up Conference USA. Whiteside has three triple-doubles this season and has already set the Marshall career record for blocks with 165 - including 13 in one game. He has been named C-USA Rookie of the Week six times. Dallas Morning News

Lance Stephenson says he is sticking with his decision of staying for his sophomore year at Cincinnati, even if the Bearcats make it to the NCAA Tournament and he performs well in the Big Dance. After leading Lincoln to four straight PSAL championships, Stephenson was widely regarded as a one-year player for the Bearcats, but he believes he is not ready for the NBA just yet. "That's definite," Stephenson told the Daily News of his decision, which was reported by The Cincinnati Enquirer last week. "I want to work on a lot of stuff that I need to improve. It's not a disappointment thing. It just wasn't my time." New York Daily News

The 6-5, 210-pound freshman guard is averaging a team-high 11.6 points for the Bearcats, but says he needs to be more consistent to make it as a pro. "I want to be a spectacular (NBA) player," Stephenson said, "not average." New York Daily News

While Tyren Johnson remains focused on leading the UL men's basketball team to a Cinderella postseason run, the versatile forward has already garnered the attention of NBA scouts over the course of this season. Johnson, named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year on Tuesday, has skills that could allow the 6-foot-8 senior to make a living at the pro level. "He can pass, he shoots the ball well and has improved quite a bit," said Ryan Blake, the assistant director of NBA scouting. "How do you label a player like this, a guy who is still developing and finding his position and role? You can't label him as a tweener because if he's a tweener he can't play, but this guy can play. "What we call him is basically a swing guy. He's a versatile player." The Advertiser

Thursday, March 4

Luke Babbitt and Armon Johnson said Wednesday that they are considering leaving the Nevada Wolf Pack after this season for the NBA. “People ask me that all the time,” said Babbitt, a sophomore this year. “I keep saying the same thing. That will all take care of itself after the season.” Johnson, a junior, gave a similar answer. “That's not something I'm focusing on at all right now,” Johnson said. “We'll see after the season. All I'm thinking about right now is helping this team win a WAC championship.” Nevada Appeal

“I'm planning on being here (next season),” Babbitt said. “But it's something I'll look at after the season.” Nevada Appeal

Wednesday, March 3

Warren was thought to be a surefire lottery pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, after deciding to come back to school following a banner freshman season in which OU advanced to the Elite Eight. But after his team struggled with him on the floor this season, many draft gurus dropped him on their boards. Warren has not publicly announced whether he will declare for the draft, or return for his junior season. Oklahoman

Tuesday, March 2

Forward Luke Harangody, Notre Dame's leading scorer and rebounder, might not return this season from a bone bruise to his right knee. "There's a chance he would not come back this season; there's a chance he could. I think we're week to week," coach Mike Brey said yesterday. Harangody, a senior, said he hopes to return this season, but could not give any timetable of when that would be. "The thing about this injury is you never know when it's going to be healed. I'll have to know when I know," he said. Philadelphia Daily News

E'Twaun Moore and JaJuan Johnson, two of the leading scorers for seventh-ranked Purdue, said Monday they plan to return to the Boilers next season. Moore, a 6-3 shooting guard, and Johnson, a 6-10 forward, are both juniors and are possible early entry candidates for the NBA draft. "I think we'll be back next year," Moore said outside the locker room before Monday's practice. "At least speaking for myself. I can't speak for JaJuan." Indianapolis Star

Former Tennessee forward Tyler Smith has signed a two-month contract to play in Turkey. Smith was dismissed from the Volunteers on Jan. 8, a week after his arrest on gun charges. He pleaded guilty Feb. 12 to possession of a firearm and possession of firearm with altered serial number and was sentenced to two years of judicial diversion. Smith will play for Bornova in the Turkish Basketball League, filling in for an injured Kedrick Brown. "I'm leaving for Turkey Wednesday morning. I'm real excited to finally get back on the court and start playing again,'' said Smith, who signed a two-month contract with Bornova. "I've been working out and keeping up with my (Tennessee) team, but I've really missed playing.'' Tennessean

The two-month contract will allow Smith to be available for the June 24 NBA draft. "I still have my dream, to play in the NBA; but as long as I can provide for my family doing something I love, that's all I can ask for,'' said Smith, who has a 3-year-old son, Amare. "This (Turkish) team is 10-10 with about eight games left, and they're signing me with hopes of making a run into the playoffs.'' Tennessean

Saturday, February 27

The end result is that the Nets, who’ve endured potentially the worst season in NBA history simply for the chance to sign a major free agent, now will have to get in line behind other teams that have more to offer. “What New York and Chicago did,” one rival executive said, “didn’t help the Nets at all.” And if the Nets don’t wind up with the No. 1 pick (a.k.a. John Wall)? “They’re screwed,” the executive said. CBSSports.com

Michigan State's Tom Izzo even conjured up a legend when asked about the Buckeye. "He does make other people better and I think that's his biggest strength,'' he said. "The other thing is he rebounds pretty well on the defensive end. When he gets it, he goes with it like a Magic Johnson used to.'' Such praise embarrasses Turner. "I remember back when nobody even knew my name,'' he said. "Nobody even cared. It's cool now.' ' Turner says he loves college and isn't really considering jumping to the NBA a year early. He's a celebrity as he walks around campus, and is almost a lock to be the Big Ten's player of the year. And he dates Samantha Prahalis, perhaps the favorite to be the women's player of the year in the conference. SI.com

After the season, Weber and Davis will decide the best route to get Davis ahead again. One option is for Davis to test the NBA Draft waters, trains with some high-level prospects and pull his name out of the draft to return to Illinois for his senior season. "For one, I will never hold anyone back from it," Weber said. "It can be good where you have guys in the gym pushing him. It also can be a negative and be a blow to a players' confidence if they don't do well and fail." ESPN.com

Which brings me to my annual obsession with how players select agents. It's getting to that time of year, when there is a lot of chatter about which agent is honing in on this or that lottery pick. I don't know what this or that runner, or this or that agent, has been promising to this or that pick. (I can get you drafted in the lottery! I can get you to the Knicks! I can get you $30 million from Nike!) But I have heard some stories. And I know they're just that, stories, because NBA teams do not know, in February, whom they will draft in June. They just don't. Some teams don't know on the afternoon of draft day. Think about the NBA's "green room" invites every year. They have some good connections in putting that list together, and still manage to make major errors frequently. Anyone who claims to know now what will happen then is lying. An honest agent will promise to try. An honest agent will show you what they have done in the past. But an honest agent will not promise ideal results, because that's impossible. ESPN.com

Friday, February 26

Contentious talks between the NBA and the players union pose the threat of a lockout in 2011, and some collegians might want the immediate payday instead of waiting and earning nothing next year if the league shuts down. "The likelihood is people will panic" and enter the draft prematurely, agent David Falk, who represented Michael Jordan during his NBA career, said this week. "You should come out when you're ready to make an impact." USA Today

Falk said underclassmen expected to be drafted outside the top 10 should go back to school unless they have dire financial needs. "Most people look at the money for the next year," he said. "You have to look at what a player can earn over the course of a career." USA Today

Ohio State junior swingman Evan Turner’s stock is rising, but does he have any chance of overtaking Kentucky freshman guard John Wall to become the top pick of the 2010 NBA draft? “Don’t think so, but maybe,” one longtime NBA scout said. Yahoo! Sports

Twenty-two NBA team executives and scouts, including Atlanta Hawks general manager Rick Sund, were at San Jose State last Monday to scout Seattle University junior forward Charles Garcia. The versatile 6-10, 220-pounder is averaging 19.4 points and 8.3 rebounds this season, but has come off the bench the past four games. While one NBA scout said Garcia will go late first round, another projects him as a mid-to-late second-rounder. Yahoo! Sports

One scout said Texas center Dexter Pittman has digressed significantly since his strong outing against North Carolina on Dec. 19 and projects Pittman to be a late first-round prospect, at best. Yahoo! Sports

Thursday, February 25

Jonathan Givony: NBA prospects considering attending Uof Miami should inquire about their policy regarding receiving publicity discussing their NBA potential. Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Uof Miami's response to credential request: "We do not allow coverage of our student-athletes w/draft publications while they are in season" Twitter.com

While it's probably unlikely that he will ultimately challenge John Wall for the #1 spot, there could be some debate that emerges as Turner is the more complete and better "player" right now. He lacks Wall's upside and superstar athleticism, but has even more versatility, having 2-3 inches on Wall and currently being better at creating offense for others. Most scouts feel Turner has all but locked up the #2 pick in the draft barring an injury or a late season meltdown. NBADraft.net

So why isn't Cousins projected as a top 3 pick? One scout when asked about Cousins chances of going top 5 texted me this (over a week ago): "No way...mental issues...he is on bigtime meds i hear...not athletic enough for me talent wise also...but he has been great last month..." NBADraft.net

That same scout has since stated that he thinks Cousins will probably go "very high" in the draft, but says he wouldn't touch him in the top five for fear of off court issues. Coach Calipari has been outspoken about the fact that Cousins is still very immature emotionally. His body language is often extremely immature, showing frustration with teammates when they fail to get him the ball or make mistakes. He also shows an unwillingness to be coached. He has been seen tuning out Coach Cal when he gives him advice during games. Cousins' cell phone number got out before the Mississippi State game and students bombarded him with calls and texts. At one point during the Mississippi State game Cousins made light of the situation. After converting on a dunk, he raised his hand to his ear as if talking on the phone. Cousins got the last laugh as Kentucky won the game in overtime, and just as important, he didn't get baited into any damaging conduct in response to the rowdy fans. NBADraft.net

Cousins has had three separate incidents this year involving throwing elbows (amazingly none of which drew an ejection or suspension for a game). The first was against Louisville (Jan 2nd) as he threw an elbow at Louisville's Jared Swopshire while scrambling on the floor for a loose ball. After Kentucky's loss to South Carolina (Jan 26th), it was reported that Cousins threw "uppercuts" at a South Carolina student as the fans rushed the court. The third was (Jan 30th) against Festus Ezeli as Cousins threw a stiff forearm shiver to the chin of Ezeli. Cousins was also kicked off his Erwin high school team as a sophomore for punching an assistant coach. Labeled a "thug" by some, Cousins' apparent mean streak is both a positive and a negative. If he can channel it, he can draw from it and use it on the floor. But it could easily derail him if he allows his temper to get the best of him in an on or off court altercation. NBADraft.net

Jonathan Givony: Not sure whether Chris Singleton should come out, but he's a guy that could really shake things up if he does. Some NBA people think he will. Twitter.com

The stagnant NBA would be a lot more fun if teams took chances on guys like Devan Downey. But three NBA scouts interviewed about Downey sounded as if speaking with one voice: Plenty of heart, not enough height. The scouts, all of whom have seen Downey play in person this season, insisted on anonymity. Scout A: “The size thing is really going to hurt him. He’s really put up some big numbers and against some good teams. But the question with him is, will he be able to come out and be a true point guard where he doesn’t have to score? Remember, he’s been a scorer his whole life.” Scout B: “I don’t know if he’s really 5-9, either. Maybe 5-8.” Scout C: “Is he 5-9? No more than 5-10. That tall? He is very, very fast. But that isn’t as much a factor in the NBA because it’s so much more of a halfcourt game.” Times & Democrat

Wednesday, February 24

Several folks have inquired on the blog if Trey Thompkins will consider entering this year’s NBA draft. The answer appears to be: Maybe, but not yet. “I haven’t really thought about it,” Thompkins, UGA’s sophomore forward, said today, “just because I want to take care of this season before I let anything else come to mind.” Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Jeremy Tyler wrote on his Twitter page that he is packing and going home ("PACKING!!!!!!! HERE I COME CALI") but later, Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, on the same social network page denied the news after speaking with one of his agent ("Tyler 'had a little incident this weekend, but he isn't going anywhere"). Sportando

Now on the official Twitter page of the Israeli team was written "Jeremy Tyler will not dress to play this week & possibly the season. Former NBA Center Mamadou N'Diaye will replace him in the lineup". Sportando

Tuesday, February 23

Lance Stephenson told the Enquirer’s Bill Koch today that he will likely return next season, saying he has not had an NBA-type year. Stephenson, the pre-season rookie of the year, leads all Big East freshmen in scoring with an 11.2-point average. He also ranks fifth in rebounding with an average of 4.8. Cincinnati Enquirer

Is Charles Garcia ready for the NBA? Seattle’s star junior gives away his answer by revealing a gap-toothed grin before saying, “I think I’m ready.” ESPN.com

Twenty-two NBA scouts were credentialed to attend Seattle’s 90-88 win against San Jose State on Monday, with the talent evaluators filling up press row while empty seats dotted the front row at The Event Center. The 14-14 Redhawks, currently making the transition to Division I, have become a somewhat of a traveling circus. “I like to say rock band,” coach Cameron Dollar said. “They’ve followed us all year long.” ESPN.com

Monday, February 22

A great example of Vujosevic’s dedication to player development is our trip’s main focus, 6-11, and now top NBA draft prospect, Jan Vesely. A super athlete from the Czech Republic who did not receive a great deal of high-level coaching earlier in his career, Vujosevic nonetheless had the foresight to elect to develop him as a small forward rather than as a power forward when he arrived here two summers ago, despite the fact that he couldn’t really shoot or dribble at that time, and was severely lacking in the fundamentals department. Fast forward to today, and the results are astounding—the 19-year old Vesley is a huge part of their defensive philosophy--an active and aggressive style of pressure defense in the half-court, mixed in with spurts of trapping and pressing--which suits Vesey perfectly with his fantastic physical tools. He’s made incredible strides on the offensive end as well, sprinting the floor like a deer in transition and regularly beating opposing players down the court, crashing the offensive glass extremely well, and becoming an increasingly respectable 3-point threat and ball-handler, looking incredibly comfortable in his own skin. DraftExpress.com

Sunday, February 21

Thompson, following the worst offensive game of his college career, told CF.C on Saturday that he is no longer considering the possibility of making himself eligible for the NBA draft this summer. “I’ll be here for sure,” Thompson said after scoring a career-low two points in the Cougars win over USC at Friel Court. “I just don’t think I’m ready yet physically. “Hopefully one day, whether that’s next year or (after) my senior year, I’ll have a chance to play at that level.” Scout.com

Jonathan Givony: Surprised not to see a single NBA scout in building (in Belgrade). I know the hotels in Bilbao are a lot nicer and all, but all the NBA prospects are here. Twitter.com

Wednesday, February 10

I still haven't found one NBA scout, general manager or player personnel director who will tell me they will take anyone other than Kentucky's John Wall No. 1 in the draft, assuming he declares. Ohio State's Evan Turner might win the national player of the year award, but he won't supplant Wall as the top pick. Even if a team like Utah, which has Deron Williams as its lead guard, were to get the top pick (it holds New York's unprotected pick), the Jazz would take Wall. ESPN.com

Jonathan Givony: FMP Zeleznik head coach Vlado Djurovic: "Miroslav Raduljica is not interested in playing in the NBA. He will go to a big team in Europe." Twitter.com

On your blog on HoopsHype, you mentioned that you call him “Rock Star”. What’s the craziest scene of fans interacting with Ricky Rubio that you’ve seen in Spain? Pete Mickeal: Well, he’s got the long, bushy hair and he wears his shorts down… down low (laughs) – and the Rock Star thing came in our first game of the year. We played a team in Galicia, a northern part of Spain, and I saw two girls actually… I mean… I mean… whoa… I don’t know if they passed out, but it was very close to that. I mean, it was unbelievable. I just couldn’t believe it. There were people when we opened the door to come out of our hotel room, and they were already there on the floor. We couldn’t even go to the elevator because they were waiting to see him. And I’ve seen girls... this girl’s face was so red, and she broke down, on the ground. On the ground! Like, two of them – they broke down on the ground. It was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that in basketball. The Painted Area

Tuesday, February 9

Walt will not come out and say Cole is definitely headed to the NBA Draft this May, but it long has been believed that’s a certainty. Coach Bill Self has said all along nobody should expect four years out of KU’s big man. Walt said he personally didn’t regret his son’s decision to stay at KU for his junior year, even though the Aldrich family has been hit hard by the economy. “I told him, ‘It’s your choice,’’’ Walt said. “He’s having a lot of fun. He loves Kansas.” Lawrence Journal-World

But what about the millions of dollars the family would have earned had Cole turned pro? “First of all, he would have the millions. His name is on the check, not mine,” Walt said with a laugh. “Things work out. They always have and always will. “If he keeps it up ... I prefer not to say. If I say something, everybody will make it a big deal. More than likely he’ll be gone. There are months left, so you never know.” Lawrence Journal-World

Wednesday, February 3

Kentucky star John Wall insists he "loves" coach John Calipari and the freshman guard says his complaint following a win over Vanderbilt last weekend that he wasn't having any fun was simply a sign of frustration. Wall received pointed criticism from Calipari following a 68-62 loss at South Carolina last week, even though Wall said he didn't think he played that badly. AP

"When you are frustrated you say things you don't mean," Wall said. "We sat down and talked about it and I realized after I watched the film that I did play bad. I had a lot of turnovers and didn't lead the team like I was supposed to." AP

Former Timberwolves guard Troy Hudson said he's talked to Minnesota freshman forward Royce White about the obstacles he'll face if he tries to make it to the NBA without playing college basketball. White, who announced his intentions to withdraw from the university Tuesday, told the Star Tribune Monday that he will consider all of his options, which might include an attempt to go pro. Hudson, one of White's mentors, said he advised White to stay in school for at least a year, so he could give himself an opportunity to showcase his skills for NBA scouts. "I've always told him to make it work at the U," Hudson said Tuesday. Minneapolis Star Tribune

Hudson, who made it to the NBA without being drafted, said he hasn't talked to White about his decision to leave the university but said he believes White has the potential to play professional basketball because of his size, skill set and athleticism. "I definitely think he can play at the next level," Hudson said. "He's just as athletic as any guy in the NBA." Minneapolis Star Tribune

Tuesday, February 2

Is it John Wall or bust for the Nets? Should they fail to land the No. 1 pick (and the chance to draft the Kentucky superfreshman), league sources expect New Jersey to explore trading its choice-which, barring a miraculous turnaround, can be no worse than fourth. One option could be Ricky Rubio. The Timberwolves hold the rights to the Spanish point guard, who signed a six-year deal with Regal Barcelona last summer that does not have a buyout clause until 2011. However if the Nets—who are high on Rubio’s wish list—were to acquire his rights, he would try to negotiate a buyout after this season…. Nets Daily

Jonathan Givony: Stansbury lowering expectations on Renardo Sidney (if he ever gets cleared).Says conditioning is "zero" & he's "a body" Twitter.com

One NBA team official familiar with his organization's scouting said he had heard little buzz about Fredette. However, a scout who watched BYU play Nevada in Las Vegas in December said of Fredette, "we like him." Last year, BYU's Jonathan Tavernari entered his name in the NBA Draft, but withdrew it before the deadline. Fredette knows that's an option. "After the season, I will have a good talk with the coaches and with my family, obviously, and everybody that is close to me, and make a decision of what to do.....So it could be an option, but obviously right now I am not thinking about it too much," he said. Salt Lake Tribune

What advice do you have college kids who are on their way to the draft this June? Courney Lee: "I'd tell them not to look at any of the mock drafts. Just go and workout and work as hard as you can. If you look at the mock draft, they list your strengths and weaknesses. Work on your weaknesses the most. As a player you should know your weaknesses as much as possible and be in the best shape as possible. HoopsWorld

Monday, January 25

An NBA personnel man said he expects Ohio State guard David Lighty to return for another season with the Buckeyes. He said the former Villa Angela-St. Joseph High star is a marginal NBA prospect right now. News-Herald

Sunday, January 24

After filling his stat line again on Saturday (16 points, seven assists, three steals), Kentucky freshman John Wall said he had "no choice" but to enter this year's NBA Draft. That echoed UK Coach John Calipari insisting to radio host Dan Patrick earlier in the week that Wall would turn pro after this season. "I joke about coming back, and like you say, he tells me, no," Wall said after UK's 101-70 victory over Arkansas on Saturday. Lexington Herald Leader

When a reporter noted that players must obey their coach, Wall smiled and said, "Yeah. I really have no choice." Calipari told Patrick he'd wrestle with Wall rather than let the freshman return for a second UK season. "Coach might," a smiling Wall said. "He might pull my eye out. You never know." Lexington Herald Leader

Thursday, January 21

Ivan Rangel has never played a basketball game for Plano West, but he doesn't need to be on the court to turn heads. The junior center only needs to stand next to it. Or stand anywhere, because the native of Colima, Mexico, is 7-feet tall. He might be an inch under that, but Rangel turned 17 just a few months ago and he's probably still growing. He's big enough to dream about playing in the NBA someday. "A lot of people say I'm going to be there, and each day I wake up, I say I'm going to be there," Rangel said. "But right now it's just a dream." Dallas Morning News

Kentucky coach John Calipari joined the show to talk about his 18-0 start and more. Calipari said several interesting things, including a very frank comment on freshman star John Wall. Calipari said he hopes Wall isn't around for more than one year. "If he came to me and said he was the No. 1 pick in the draft, and he wanted to come back, we'd probably be wrestling on the floor," Calipari said. SI.com

Tuesday, January 12

We continue to keep our eye on a number of freshmen and a few have drawn interest from NBA scouts over the past few weeks. A number of NBA scouts remain very high on LaSalle big man Aaric Murray. His numbers don't particularly wow you and he's been inconsistent. However, he has good size and has impressed scouts with his ability to step away from the basket and shoot the jumper. In fact, Murray has shown terrific range from the college 3. He missed 8 of 9 3-pointers in a recent game against Xavier, yet is still shooting 41 percent from beyond the arc for the season. On Saturday, his 18-point, 9-rebound performance against UMass was his best of the season. With so few dominant centers in this year's draft, Murray may get some suitors as we approach April. Several scouts say he could be a late-first-round pick if he declares for the draft. ESPN.com

Radford center Artsiom Parakhouski has one goal: to become the first Belarusian to play in the NBA. It's a lofty goal, no doubt. But when one reviews the road Parakhouski has traveled so far, there is little reason to believe he can't make it. You may not have heard of him yet, but the NBA sure has. SI.com

The Toronto Raptors had a scout at Radford's practice on Monday, in fact, as the 6-foot-11, 260-pound senior continues to play his way onto the radar of a draft lacking center prospects. Parakhouski leads the nation in rebounding at 12.9 per game, is second in field goal percentage at 63.2 percent and third in scoring with 24.1 points per game. He had double-doubles at Duke (23 points, 14 rebounds) and Kansas (21, 13) and has scored in double-figures in every game. NBADraft.net projects the senior to go early in the second round, while DraftExpress.com has Parakhouski as the last pick of the first round -- a spot that would make history in his home country. "That is my goal," Parakhouski said of the NBA (heavily emphasizing the "N" in his Russian accent). "I'm trying to prove that people in my country can be in the NBA if they want to be." SI.com

A Knoxville sports agency says it signed Tyler Smith as a client over the weekend--and they're already fielding inquiries from the NBA and overseas. Jared Karnes of the A3 sports agency is expected to release a statement shortly. A3 sports agent Jared Karnes told 10News "We're trying to help him look at all the opportunities that might be available." The Tennessean

Saturday, January 9

Let John Wall have all the pressure. Derrick Favors will just continue watching cartoons. Wall, Kentucky's freshman point guard, is the consensus choice by scouts to be the No. 1 pick in June's NBA Draft while Georgia Tech freshman power forward Derrick Favors is the consensus No. 2 selection. But there's a world of difference between the two when it comes to hype. Google "John Wall Kentucky basketball'' and you get 685,000 results. Google "Derrick Favors Georgia Tech basketball'' and it's 194,000. "I don't really like all that pressure on me,'' Favors said recently in an interview with FanHouse. "So give him all the pressure. Let it stay like that. I don't need none of that. Just staying under the radar (is fine with Favors).'' FanHouse.com

One NBA executive said he recently asked 10 scouts to each project the 10 top picks in June's draft. The only two names provided by all 10 were Wall and Favors. "It's a two-man draft,'' the executive said. FanHouse.com

"If I'm ready, I'll go,'' Favors, averaging 12.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.2 boards, said of coming out after one college season. "If I'm not, I'll stay another year.'' FanHouse.com

Wednesday, December 30

From what I can gather from people close to (Malcolm) Lee, Lee will bolt UCLA for the Draft. Despite a so-so year from him, someone will take him in the first round based purely on upside. ESPN.com

Saturday, December 12

Asked whether NBA executives and scouts told him to curtail his on-court theatrics when he went to a couple of tryout camps last spring, Vasquez said, "They love my passion; that's what I haven't been playing with. "For some reason, I just wanted to change a little bit, just play the game instead of wasting energy. It's not working. It's not me. I have to go back to playing with a lot of energy and leading by example. In order for us to win big games, I'm going to have to step up." Baltimore Sun

Friday, December 11

Now another relatively anonymous player from the Northwest, Charles Garcia of Seattle University, is attracting attention from NBA scouts. Garcia is the NCAA’s fourth-leading scorer, averaging 25.7 points per game and 10.4 rebounds through nine games. The 6-foot-10, 230-pound junior forward scored a career-high 41 against Wofford and 24 in a win at Utah. Close to 10 NBA scouts were on hand to see Garcia play against UC-Davis last week, and several told Yahoo! Sports they are now keeping close tabs on him. The former Riverside City College star worked on his guard skills before growing seven inches in high school. He originally committed to Washington, but couldn’t get eligible. “He’s certainly the hot player of the moment,” one Western Conference scout said. “I highly doubt he was on anyone’s radar. He could be a first rounder. Everyone has to see him twice to see if he’s a true prospect. You’ll hear more about him as the season goes on. I’ve seen him once, and I want to see him again. “He has the body and everything. No one realized he was that good.” Yahoo! Sports

One Western Conference scout said of Kentucky freshman guard John Wall, “He’s an absolute beast. He’s better than Derrick Rose at this point in college. He’s faster from end to end than any guard I’ve seen in a while.” Yahoo! Sports

About a dozen NBA scouts, including Sacramento Kings president Geoff Petrie and Los Angeles Clippers assistant general manager Neil Olshey, scouted the Iowa State-Cal game last Saturday to watch Cyclones forward Craig Brackins. The 6-foot-10, 230-pounder scored 42 against Kansas last season and is on the Wooden Award Watch list. But several of the NBA scouts left disappointed. Brackins scored 21 points, but didn’t show much improvement from last season. “He needs to improve his rebounding and improve his range,” one NBA scout said. “He has a nice midrange game and he’s a good passer, but he needs to get more physical.” Yahoo! Sports

Chad Ford: Guys NBA scouts are warming to in search of legit PGs: Harvard's Jeremy Lin & UC Davis' Mark Payne tinyurl.com/nbadraftblog Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Freshman Xavier Henry is wowing Kansas fans bit.ly/5jvL0y Bill Self: "he has been very unselfish" Twitter.com

Sunday, December 6

Other than his ability on the court, that’s what stands out the most about Wall. He cares about what others think of him – probably because he realizes there are so many perceptions about him that aren’t true. A 6-foot-4 point guard, Wall will almost surely turn pro after just one season at Kentucky. Most NBA analysts say he would’ve been the top overall selection in last year’s draft had he been eligible to submit his name straight out of high school. Yahoo! Sports

Still, Wall hardly fits the stereotype of an arrogant, one-and-done player who views college as an annoying pit stop en route to the NBA. If anything, he’s just the opposite. “It’s nice to be known as a good player,” Wall says. “But I want to be known as a good person, too.” It may be awhile before Wall gets that reputation nationally. In Lexington, though, it’s already established. Yahoo! Sports

During the summer, he achieved a 4.0 grade-point average – mainly, he says, because he made it a point to sit in the front row of each class. “Some of the best advice I ever got,” Wall says. “If you sit in the back, you can laugh and get away with anything. But if you’re in the front, you have to pay attention.” When he’s out in public, Wall says he never lets his pants sag below his waist, and he has no plans to regrow the braids his AAU coach made him shave when he was 14. Wall doesn’t have any tattoos. “I’m not trying to put down the people that have them,” Wall says. “But for me right now, it’s all about image. You can’t walk around looking like a thug. There are kids out there looking up to me. I’ve got to set a good example.” Yahoo! Sports

On the final day of the vacation, Wall’s father fell ill and had to be hospitalized. He died the next morning. “Everyone tells me I look like him and that I act like him,” says Wall, who was only 9 at the time. “People say he was a good guy, a fun guy to be around.” Wall pauses. “That weekend is the best memory of my life,” he says. “Just playing on the beach with him, going out to eat and having good conversations … I’m just so glad we took that trip so I have that to remember him by. I was so young, you know … I just don’t have much else.” Yahoo! Sports

Williams became the first player to be drafted out of high school by the D-League when the Tulsa 66ers made him the final selection of the first round last month. A star forward from the Humble (Texas) Christian Life Center Academy, Williams was rated as the 17th best player in the 2009 recruiting class by Rivals.com. He selected Memphis over Georgetown, Kansas State and Florida International, but had trouble qualifying academically and began to consider his professional options. Like Jennings, Williams wanted to improve his stock for the NBA draft. He chose to stay closer to home to do it. “There are no regrets at all,” said Williams, who has played sparingly since the 66ers’ season started last week. “…I just came here to get better.” Yahoo! Sports

Dutt’s initial plan was to send Williams overseas, where he had already received a guarantee for a $100,000 contract in China. Following Jennings’ blueprint seemed like a good plan. Dutt, however, also looked into the D-League and ultimately recommended it would be better for Williams to stay in the United State where NBA teams could easily monitor him – even though he would be paid only $19,000. “It would have been hard,” Williams said of playing in China. “I was a little nervous.” Yahoo! Sports

The D-League offers players a chance to play for teams run by NBA franchises. Oftentimes, the teams have a coach who is appointed by their NBA affiliate and who runs a system similar to that of the NBA team. Presti met with Williams at the Thunder practice facility after the D-League draft and attended the 66ers’ first team meeting and practice. The 66ers also will attend several Thunder games in Oklahoma City. “I will learn more here than [overseas],” Williams said. Said 66ers coach Nate Tibbetts: “We get a chance to work with ‘Tay’ every day, try to teach him how to be a pro and find out what kind of kid he is." Yahoo! Sports

Though Jennings was a much better NBA prospect than Williams, Jennings, too, had trouble getting consistent minutes in Italy. Eighteen-year-old Jeremy Tyler has also struggled after forgoing his senior year in high school to play professionally in Israel. Williams, at least, has the comfort of playing in his own country, albeit without some of the riches. Judging by the amount of emails he’s received, his transition to the D-League is being watched closely by other prospects weighing their options. “Most kids go to college,” Tibbetts said. “But he’s here and he’s playing against older guys. …He’s going to have to come in and learn how to fight and battle just like he would at a college level. But now he’s doing it against grown men.” Yahoo! Sports

Friday, December 4

Donatas Montiejunas’ name isn’t easy to pronounce, but NBA fans might want to remember it. The 7-foot-0, 215-pounder is projected to be the top international prospect in the 2010 NBA draft. One NBA international scout compared the Benetton Treviso forward-center to Dirk Nowitzki and Andrea Bargnani. NBA scouts become enamored with the Lithuanian when he had 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists in the World Team’s 97-89 win over the United States in the 2009 Nike Hoop Summit. “He has all the skills and the tools in the world,” the scout said. “People are questioning his toughness and mentality, but he’s a 7-footer who can shoot it, can pass it, is athletic and can get steals. He has all the basketball components.” Yahoo! Sports

Wednesday, December 2

Nevada basketball coach David Carter said Tuesday he anticipates sophomore forward Luke Babbitt and junior guard Armon Johnson will play for the Wolf Pack again next season but doubts Babbitt will be back for his senior year. He also said Johnson still could decide to enter the NBA's 2010 draft if it appears likely he would be a first-round pick. The two former Reno-area prep stars were all-Western Athletic Conference first-team selections a year ago and Babbitt is this year's preseason favorite for the WAC's most valuable player. The 6-foot-9 forward is averaging 19 points and nearly 11 rebounds per game this season. KOLOTV.com

Carter said some of that speculation could be based on the fact he sometimes allows NBA scouts to attend practices. "NBA scouts have come to our practice to evaluate the kids, evaluate their demeanor, their character. They talk to their teammates," he said. "You give a kid $1 million, you better come see him practice. If you don't, you're stupid." KOLOTV.com

Monday, November 30

A lot of NBA scouts are beginning to ask whether Oklahoma's Willie Warren made a mistake by returning to the Sooners for his sophomore season. With Griffin in the frontcourt last season, Warren got lots of open looks and appeared to be a top-10 pick. However, the Sooners are struggling this season, and Warren is having a tough time carrying the load. ESPN.com

After serving a one-game suspension for being ejected from a game following a altercation in which he reportedly head-butted an opponent, an embarrassing story in the New York Times, and a series of contests in which he was mostly a spectator, there is finally some positive news to report from Israel about Jeremy Tyler. Tyler played 12 minutes and finished with 5 points, 4 rebounds, 3 fouls, 2 turnovers and 1 block on 2-4 shooting from the field this weekend, helping his Maccabi Haifa team secure the victory on the road over Barak Netanya. It's good to see him crack the rotation in a more significant way and find some productivity at such a young age. Hopefully he can build on this and continue to progress. DraftExpress.com

Motiejunas appears to be playing a bit better these days since we last wrote about him, even starting a couple of games as of late, while Seraphin continues to struggle to get off the bench for Cholet. He’s seen just 7 minutes in each of the last two games his team has played in Pro A France. The two teams and their highly touted NBA draft prospects will meet on January 5th for a rematch in Treviso. DraftExpress.com

Saturday, November 28

Jonathan Givony: Someone emailed to ask how big Erving Walker is. Well,he walked by me in press conference & was clearly shorter. Im 5-8 1/2, or 173cm, so... Twitter.com

However, every year one or two players sneak in from the mid-majors. VCU's Eric Maynor, IUPUI's George Hill, Eastern Washington's Rodney Stuckey, Nevada's JaVale McGee and Western Kentucky's Courtney Lee have all been taken in the first round in recent drafts. None of those players are what you'd call household names, but all have found a measure of success in their early careers. This year could be a really good year for players from smaller conferences. We already profiled one potential lottery pick, VCU's Larry Sanders, two weeks ago. Here's a look at seven other players from mid-major schools that NBA scouts and executives say have a realistic shot of landing somewhere in the first round. Paul George, 6-foot-7, F, So., Fresno State. George is the highest-rated player on the list. He was totally off the radar screen for much of last year, but now scouts are following him virtually every game. A number of NBA scouts I spoke with think he could end up in the lottery at the end of the season. George is the prototypical small forward who can shoot, rebound and run the floor. ESPN.com

Tuesday, November 24

Vaccaro: The problem with David Stern's system -- and I think David is the smartest, and you can quote me on this because I don't have to kiss anybody's ass -- everybody wants to play in the NBA. If you don't you can't ever reach your acclaim. You can't. But the whole point of this is everybody got caught up in [the brawl in] Detroit. And they never forgot Detroit. And then it became an age limit thing. Well, Brandon was able to overcome it all. He singularly did it. Let's go back to John Wall, Lance Stephenson and Renardo Sidney. These are the kids who could have gone to Europe -- who had the ability to be professional. They would have been drafted in last year's draft. They may have gotten cut, but they would have gotten drafted. All three had different situations occur during their freshman years in college. Wall had to pay back $800 to his friend who turned out to be an agent. Stephenson wondered if his professionalism had been violated by starring in some video. And Renardo's situation, whatever it is, to the harm of the kid, he still hasn't been allowed to play and we're going into December. ESPN.com

Brandon Jennings has a chance to be the Spencer Haywood of his generation. To change the rules. Do you have a sense of how likely that is? Any chance they'll abolish the age restriction in collective bargaining? Vaccaro: I have a feeling, a Sonny Vaccaro feeling, that the age limit won't be a factor anymore. I think in collective bargaining, everyone will come to their senses, and allow this to happen. I have more than just a feeling. I believe totally that something good will happen out of something negative, and we'll go on. The only way you stop [high-schoolers going professional] is don't draft them. That'll stop it, quick. ESPN.com

Now that you've seen it up close, do you think the European model of basketball development (with players going professional at a young age and training year-round) is better than our university-based system? Vaccaro: I've got a much better understanding. I have my own intellectual understanding of the way they do things, and I believe them! Because there's no bull crap. ... There's no detour in your life. You either are going to be this example, this professional athlete, or you're not and you'll have to find ways to acclimate yourself to other parts of your life. But it's no different from being a serious student of anything. Preparing yourself to be the best at whatever field they want to go into. So, they do it right. It's painful. They go running in the mountains. It's much different than going to the island of Hawaii or whatever we do in America for training camp. It's certainly much different than the pitiful way we get kids ready with the twenty hours a week in the NCAA, but I don't even want to get i nto the college basketball thing. But basically, I agree with the European model. They're proteges getting ready to be professionals. ESPN.com

Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury is understandably worried this week about Renardo Sidney's capacity to handle the unknown. Every day, Stansbury said, Sidney comes to practice and asks the same question: Any word? The answer has been no for quite some time. No word on his eligibility -- and even though it was changed recently to being "under review" -- there is no guarantee that a decision about his eligibility is forthcoming. Earlier this year, the L.A. Times reported that there were questions about how the Sidneys, who moved from Jackson, Miss., to the Los Angeles area, could afford housing in the area for the two years they lived there. The story detailed the connections between sneaker sponsorship and Sidney's odyssey to Southern California. ESPN.com

Sidney's attitude apparently fluctuates. He isn't in great shape yet, because it's hard for him to push himself to the maximum without knowing whether he'll play. The coaching staff has similar feelings since they can't count on using him at this juncture. Through a variety of sources, the school is under the impression that the NCAA hasn't found a violation yet to hang the case on. The school is hoping to hear more early this week, but with the Thanksgiving holiday, this could drag on into December. ESPN.com

Meanwhile, from a variety of sources with knowledge of the situation, if no decision occurs then Sidney is essentially ineligible. The NCAA knows that Mississippi State isn't going to run the risk of playing Sidney, even if Jackson were to get a court injunction. Why? Because if he's ultimately ruled ineligible, the Bulldogs would have to vacate games -- and it's not worth doing that. Sources said that the NCAA legal counsel has been in the loop and it would defy logic from the NCAA's standpoint if the organization purposely used this as a stall tactic to help a legal case that could be forthcoming. If Sidney were to sue to force an injunction, then the NCAA could use that lawsuit as a way to use discovery to get some of the information that it still covets. The case has been completely tossed upside down with it moving from the enforcement wing to the eligibility center, which the head of that operation, Bill Saum, has been removed from his post. This has slowed the case down by forcing others to get involved who haven't worked on the case from the outset. The NCAA won't say anything about Saum's departure except that it was a personnel matter. ESPN.com

Monday, November 23

Jonathan Givony: DX D-League scout Richard Walker attended Tulsa preseason game and says Latavious Williams was impressive, active. Twitter.com

Sunday, November 22

Chad Ford: Draft tip from a GM today: "Watched that John Wall kid. He's really good. You should probably have him in the lottery." Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: New trend: Int'l players entering name in draft 1st year they're allowed, trying to go 2nd round to circumvent rookie scale, ala Chrs Eyenga. Twitter.com

Friday, November 20

Speaking of my coach, he happens to live on the same street as me. It's kind of interesting to catch your head coach out walking the dog at night. Also, while on the topic of interesting things, my teammate Tyreke Kirksay shot a medium-sized medicine ball from half-court the other day in practice and made it on his first try. Unbelievable. HoopsWorld

Jonathan Givony: NBA scout sitting next to me says that Wesley Johnson is a "probable lottery pick" in his opinion. If he keeps playing this way all season. Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Wesley Johnson is making a strong impression on the NBA people here. Hearing some Wilson Chandler, Shawn Marion comparisons. Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Always interesting for me to see how the scouts at these events go about evaluating guys. Some take notes w/pen & paper, some on blackberry. Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: One guy here has a laptop he busts out at every timeout, but most don't write anything. Some don't even seem to be watching the game. Twitter.com

Monday, November 16

He took the detour heard around the world, and he's been hearing since from a growing global chorus that he's on the wrong track. But despite three turbulent months in Israel, Jeremy Tyler says he's undeterred in his quest for the promised land of the first round of the 2011 NBA draft. "There's never a day that I regret my decision," Tyler, 18, said this week. ESPN.com

As for the schoolboy superstar's early opinion of himself, Hasin said, "I cannot say we knocked it down from 10 to 0, but I think from 10 to 7." After an up-and-down preseason and highly publicized struggles adjusting to life on his own 7,500 miles from home, Tyler's early regular season has been a virtual bust. Through three league games, he has played a total of only 20 minutes and scored just two points, both on free throws. ESPN.com

Makhtar Ndiaye, an agent with the company that represents Tyler, has been in Israel for more than two weeks and has a different perspective. "I don't think he realized how hard it would be," Ndiaye says. "We did." Ndiaye, the first player from Senegal to reach the NBA, says he can identify with the pressures Tyler is experiencing as a pioneer in his own right. "It's an honor and a burden, and you're under the microscope." "Sometimes Jeremy doesn't realize the effect of what he's saying," Ndiaye says. "He's a kid finding his way. He's a kid who needs guidance, and all parties need to step up [to support him]." ESPN.com

With a little more than three minutes left in a blowout loss Saturday, Tyler and 6-9 Moti Moscovitz of Gilboa Galil exchanged shoves. Then, according to Tyler, "He [Moscovitz] grabbed my jersey, and I accidentally head-butted him when he pulled me closer to him." Tyler was ejected, which also meant an automatic suspension for the next game. Moscovitz received two free throws and no penalty. Teammate Davon Jefferson, who played a year at Southern California and is Tyler's longtime friend, corroborated his account. "I don't think he did anything wrong, and the refs were real ridiculous," Jefferson said. "The other guy faked it with a flop, and Jeremy's a foreigner and a rookie." ESPN.com

After transferring this summer from a tiny team competing in a small league in his local first division to Italian based Benetton Treviso, we’re witnessing the first steps taken by top Lithuanian prospect Donatas Motiejunas. So far, the transition hasn’t been easy, which is to be expected considering the immense jump in the level of competition he's facing, but he has been making progress from week to week, something we’ll have to continue to track as the season moves on. Motiejunas is coming off the bench for Benetton, playing most of the frontcourt minutes (16.4 on average at the moment) left over by power forward Judson Wallace and center Sandro Nicevic. In contrast to last season, he’s not a focal point for his team offensively in the least bit, mostly living off scraps in the form of pick and roll finishes, weak-side cuts, spot-up jumpers, easy finishes recieving the ball in transition, and the occasional post-up play. Considering his rookie status and the stage of development he’s currently at, this is not a surprise in the least bit. This season has been a learning experience for Motiejunas thus far, one that will very likely be very beneficial as he makes the transition to first round draft pick and eventually, NBA player. DraftExpress.com

One of the best NBA draft oriented storylines developing in the always-interesting Adriatic league revolves around 19-year old Serbian wing player Andreja Milutinovic. Despite coming off a lackluster spring and summer at the junior level, when he played very uninspired basketball, Milutinovic has bounced back in a major way, emerging as the go-to guy of his very young FMP Zeleznik squad, and leading them in scoring thus far with nearly 14 points per game. DraftExpress.com

Wednesday, November 11

Now, Calipari. They vacated his Final Four with Memphis and I think that’s a crime. I don’t think that should be vacated. On three occasions, the NCAA clearinghouse was there in Memphis and cleared Derrick Rose to play. Flat out said, ‘play him, he’s eligible.’ Why have a clearinghouse? If they tell you somebody is eligible … don’t you have to take some responsibility as the clearinghouse? I don’t think they have any right to take away that banner. You said he was eligible. The Big Lead

One-and-done seems to be a problem plaguing college hoops right now - the latest ESPN 2010 mock draft has seven freshman going in the lottery. What needs to be done? Dick Vitale: I don’t like the one-and-done. I think it’s a disgrace to the game. I think it embarrasses the term “student-athlete.” It makes that a farce. Kids like Rose and Beasley - there’s no way in the world those kids wanted to be in college. Why should we deny them the NBA? I’d like to see this plan, we can call it the V Plan - I would love to see a panel of experts - Jerry West, Larry Bird - guys that are GMs and presidents in the NBA and have great knowledge of players’ ability - designate 5-6 kids a year that they think are legit 1st round draft choices. Those kids should have an option - college or pros. But if they go to college, they should not be allowed out until they complete their 3rd year. One and done is a joke. The Big Lead

How much longer do you want to work? You just turned 70 this summer … Dick Vitale: My idols are people like Vin Scully and Ernie Harwell. You work as long as you possibly can. Physically, emotionally, if you can handle the travel … Obviously ESPN has become a big-time player in all sports now, but I think it’s going to be really tough for CBS to give the NCAA tournament up. The Big Lead

This summer, two coaches dominated the headlines - Pitino and Calipari. How damaged are their legacies after Pitino’s sex scandal and Calipari had another Final Four scrubbed from the books? Vitale: It certainly doesn’t help their image, or their resume, and it brings the doubters out in full force. However - remember this - Rick Pitino has said it once, twice, 20 times, 50 times: He made a mistake. He made an absolute mistake. No doubt whatsoever. What he did, as a married guy, he knows was wrong. However - saying all that … he was a victim of an extortion attempt. The trial is coming up. This woman has been charged with extortion, which is a criminal offense. Rick, when I talked to him [Friday] … is so dedicated to two factors: Family and Louisville basketball. That’s all he wants to concentrate on and that’s all he wants to do. As long he has admitted to his wife and kids what a mistake he made … you know, people make mistakes. The Big Lead

When we sat down to chat with Tyler, he was very likable, though, and had the charm that one day could pay big dividends alongside NBA successes on the court. He came off as a bright, personable high school kid. But he was just that — a kid. And he still is. Except he has a $140,000 contract to play a game in a foreign country without the benefit of informed, trusted people looking out for his best interests. San Diego News Network

Sunday, November 8

I returned from Israel after spending a few days with Jeremy Tyler, and in short, things are not well with Tyler. (For all the details, here’s my story from Haifa, Israel). Tyler, according to his teammates and coaches, is immature, distracted and caught up in a web of agendas. He’s far from a bust, but with nearly two years until he’s eligible for the N.B.A. draft, things aren’t going well and need to change soon. New York Times

I spent a few days in Rome last year with Jennings and his mom, Alice Knox and little brother, Terrence Phillips. (I’m still convinced Terrence could become president some day.) Jennings was adjusting to life as a pro while there, but his struggles weren’t as intense and obvious as Tyler’s. Here are a few basic thoughts on both situations. The key difference is that Tyler went over by himself, and it’s clear he needed some structure. One of his agents, Makhtar Ndiaye, has now moved over there indefinitely to try and help Tyler better adjust. According to his teammates and coaches, Tyler isn’t in shape and doesn’t work hard. Tyler denied just about every piece of criticism about him, sounding much like a typical thin-skinned American teenager. New York Times

His coach calls him lazy and out of shape. The team captain says he is soft. His teammates say he needs to learn to shut up and show up on time. He has no friends on the team. In extensive interviews with Tyler, his teammates, coaches, his father and advisers, the consensus is that he is so naïve and immature that he has no idea how naïve and immature he is. So enamored with his vast potential, Tyler has not developed the work ethic necessary to tap it. “The question is whether he’ll take responsibility of his career,” Haifa Coach Avi Ashkenazi said. “If he thinks he’s going to be in the N.B.A. because his name is Jeremy Tyler and he was a very good high school player, he will not be.” New York Times

Discussing his problems, Tyler tended to point fingers. Asked about his immaturity, he said his teammates should treat him like a man. Asked about his reluctance to work and listen to his coaches, he said he was skeptical of their knowledge and methods. Tyler, the captain and focus of his high school’s offense, said he was still adjusting to a new role. New York Times

Two games into the season, Tyler is very much a work in progress. He’s averaging just more than seven minutes a game and has scored all of one point. He is already is beginning to confront questions about whether he should have stayed in school. “I only make history if I succeed. I didn’t come here to fail,” Tyler, sounding both frustrated and determined, said after playing a scoreless 4 1/2 minutes in a Haifa victory this week. YNetNews.com

Tyler had complained he was bored with high school competition. He now acknowledges a difficult adjustment. No longer the big man on campus, he is just another player on a professional roster, living on his own in a foreign land. There is little socializing with his teammates—grown men, many with families, all trying to carve out professional careers of their own. YNetNews.com

“My mission,” he said, “is to shake David Stern’s hand.” New York Times

Tyler still talks openly about retiring with $200 million in the bank after a 15-year N.B.A. career. He also talks about modeling, the documentary being made about him, and how he and his girlfriend, Erin Wright, the daughter of the rapper Eazy-E, will grow up to be an American power couple. But he scored just 1 point in his first two games, and his coach was baffled that a player with such great potential could arrive without basic skills like boxing out and rotating on defense. Tyler is lost, Ashkenazi said, if he cannot do what he does best: taking the ball to the rim and dunking. New York Times

For missing a workout and showing up late to an interview, Tyler was fined $1,000, the largest penalty the team had levied in three years. Tyler said he would be fined $1,000 for each subsequent violation, no matter how small, a sign the team is losing patience. “These are all men out here,” Rich said. “The way you earn respect is by keeping your mouth shut and going to work and being a professional.” New York Times

Friday, October 23

Things didn't start out exactly as he planned when Jeremy Tyler - the 18-year-old phenomenon from San Diego who signed with Maccabi Haifa this past summer, becoming the first US player to skip his senior year in high school and opt to play in Europe - got into his first game as a burly 12-year-old. The way he remembers it, Tyler - who previously had been "mostly into baseball," had fallen asleep for a while on the floor beneath the team bench, and woke up just as the second half of his local summer league team's game was starting. The youngster then checked into the game, but was unfamiliar with the rule that the teams switch baskets at halftime. "So I came in, and I don't know what happened, but I got a rebound and put it back up, and it wasn't supposed to go back up on that side," he says with a laugh after a recent Winners Cup game in Jerusalem. The mistake earned him his first nickname: Minus Two. Jerusalem Post

But Tyler is confident he's made the right move, even though he's still missing two very important things about San Diego: "Jack-in-the-Box [hamburger chain] and Mexican food." Indeed, it's hard to take the boy out of the man-child, but Tyler sounds like he knows what he's up against - a boy in a man's world on the court until he earns the respect of some of the other players in the Israeli league. "In high school, everything was a good move, but here I don't know if I've found a good move yet," he says after a practice game that saw him held to just a handful of points. "I'll just have to play it out and see what works. First, I'm here to try to help the team as much as possible to win. But individually, I'm just trying to show the world that I did make the right decision... It doesn't matter how old you are; if you have the talent, you should be able to go do it. Jerusalem Post

Despite the difficult learning curve ahead, he's still convinced making the jump from high-school ball in San Diego to the Israeli league was the right move. "What I believe is that sometimes college can take away from your game, because in college, everyone has a certain role to play... if you're the rebounder, you're supposed to get rebounds, and that's OK... but as a professional you have to be able to rebound, block shots, make outlet passes, alter the other team's shots. I just thought that college would take away from my game," says Tyler, still looking for an Israeli food he likes, despite getting invited to teammates' homes more often now. Jerusalem Post

Friday, October 16

A former Big East Player of the Year, Harangody entered his name into the NBA Draft last summer. In what coach Mike Brey referred to as a key recruiting victory, the Andrean grad decided he would return to South Bend for his fourth and final season. "The most important thing is my teammates -- I came back to spend another year with them," Harangody said Thursday at basketball media day. "I'm never going to be around a group of individuals like this again." NWI Times

Thursday, October 15

Isaiah Thomas of Tacoma said he is looking forward to his sophomore season at the University of Washington, while also admitting that it might be his last. “Whatever God has in his plan, that’s what is going to happen,” Thomas said Wednesday. “If the opportunity (to go to the NBA) is there, I’ve got to take it. If it’s there and it’s wide open and they’re talking about first round, you’ve got to look at that. But if it’s not, why not come back to college? It’s the best four years of your life.” The Olympian