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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Monday / October 7.
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    Prairie View A&M at UCLAUCLA sophomore guard Kyle Anderson will declare for the NBA Draft, his father has told SNY.tv.

    Following UCLA’s 79-68 loss to Florida in the Sweet 16, Kyle Anderson Sr. told SNY.tv he planned to sit down with his son to “figure things out.” Anderson went for 11 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals in the game.

    “Kyle is totally prepared mentally to come out,” Kyle Anderson Sr. told SNY.tv earlier this season. “He knows he’ll have to get adjusted to the rigors and physicality of the NBA but mentally he’s always been a little more mature than the average age he’s at.

    “His approach to the game right now is that of a person who knows this is going to be my job, this is going to be my livelihood.”

    ShakaShaka Smart turned down an offer to be the next coach at Marquette, according to a report from Gary Parrish of CBS Sports.com.

    This despite the fact that TV reports in Milwaukee had Smart as a done deal to Marquette to replace Buzz Williams just a couple days ago.

    Williams reportedly took a big pay cut to leave Marquette for Virginia Tech last week.

    Former UCLA coach Ben Howland, Syracuse assistant Mike Hopkins and Green Bay coach Brian Wardle remain on the list at Marquette, according to Parrish’s report and sources.

    Deandre KaneNEW YORK – DeAndre Kane burst out laughing when the question was asked.

    The 6-foot-4 Iowa State senior guard  was on the podium at Madison Square Garden getting set to take on UConn in the Sweet 16 on Friday…and here came a question about former Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez.

    How close did Kane come to playing for Gonzo and how would his career have unfolded differently if he ended up at Seton Hall — where he initially committed in December 2008?

    “Oh,” Kane said laughing. “I don’t know, man. I don’t know. That’s a long time ago.”

    Syracuse freshman point guard Tyler Ennis met with head coach Jim Boeheim on Thursday and informed him he will enter the NBA Draft.

    “Tyler’s talked it over with us and he’s decided to enter the draft,” his father, CIA Bounce coach Tony McIntyre, told SNY.tv by phone Thursday.

    Syracuse later issued a statement making it official.

    “I’d like to thank Coach Boeheim, the coaching staff, my teammates and the amazing fans of Syracuse for the opportunity to play at a great university like Syracuse,” said Ennis. “I feel this experience has helped prepare me to fulfill my lifelong dream – to play in the NBA.”

    The 6-foot-2 Ennis, who averaged 12.9 points 5.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds in his lone season at Syracuse, is projected anywhere from 6-15 in the Draft, his father said.

    NapierBy JOSH NEWMAN
    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORKShabazz Napier wanted no part of last season’s NCAA Tournament and with good reason.

    The University of Connecticut senior guard and his teammates were banned from all postseason play in 2012-13 thanks to poor Academic Progress Report (APR) scores. That meant neither the NCAA Tournament, nor the final Big East Tournament were part of the Huskies’ March plans.

    So, with Napier in Storrs instead of a neutral NCAA Tournament site last season, what did he do to bide his time?

    “To be honest, I didn’t watch, not one game,” Napier said on the eve of Connecticut’s East Regional semifinal against Iowa St. on Friday evening at Madison Square Garden. “I was more into watching ‘River Monsters’ and stuff like that. I didn’t want to watch because I felt like if I did, I would be aggravated. I just really watched certain TV shows and like I said, I didn’t want to watch.”

    TRENTON, N.J.Now that he has his championship, Karl-Anthony Towns hopes his future college gets one, too.

    The 7-foot-1 Towns captured the New Jersey Tournament of Champions crown on Monday night with his St. Joe’s-Metuchen teammates and is now turning his gaze to his future school — Kentucky — and their chances of winning a second NCAA championship in three years.

    “I definitely think they got the talent,” Towns, who was also named the Gatorade National Player of the Year, told SNY.tv Monday night. “They got the talent. They’re coming together at the right time at the right place. It’s March Madness, anything’s possible.”

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    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    Ty Graves has a No. 1 school. The University of Virginia.

    “They’re my No. 1 choice,” Graves told SNY.tv Tuesday night. “Tony Bennett is a great coach. I love what he is doing with his players. All of the guys that he has right now are guys that he brought in, so that shows a lot from him as a coach. I can’t wait to see they do the rest of the tournament.”

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