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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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Thursday / March 28.
  • By JOHN PAVIA

    8391617

    Photo via: msuspartans.com

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    Michigan State sophomore guard Gary Harris has declared for the 2014 NBA Draft today, first reported by Gary Parrish.

    “I’d like to thank everyone at MSU for their incredible support,” Harris stated. “Coach [Tom] Izzo, Coach [Dwayne] Stephens, Coach [Dane] Fife and Coach [Mike Garland] have all taught me so much about basketball, but also helped me develop as a man. But it’s not just the coaches. Everyone around the program, and throughout the university, has made this an amazing two years. It’s the reason that I plan to complete my Michigan State degree down the road.

    Cauley Stein

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    Willie Cauley-Stein has announced that he will return to Kentucky for his junior year.

    The big man tweeted Monday evening: “I’m proud to say I’m coming back for my junior year. I still have an empty spot to fulfill and in no rush to leave the best fans in the USA!”

    Cauley-Stein averaged 6.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.9 blocks in his second year playing for the Wildcats, before having to sit out of the Final Four with an injured ankle.

    “I want to come back and have a chance to win a national championship, while also getting closer to earning my degree,” Cauley-Stein said. “Being at the Final Four this year was special, but not being able to help my teammates on the floor was tough. I look forward to helping us get back there next year, while playing in front of the best fans in the nation.”

    Syracuse sophomore forward Jerami Grant and Michigan sophomore forward Glenn Robinson III are both headed to the NBA Draft.

    “After extensive discussions with my family and coaches, I have decided to pursue my dream of playing professional basketball and enter the 2014 NBA Draft,” Grant announced. “I am so thankful to coach [Jim] Boeheim and the rest of the Orange coaching staff for guiding me throughout my college career, and am grateful to my teammates for two incredible seasons. I am excited to start my journey in the NBA, but I also look forward to finishing my college degree. I cannot thank my coaches, teammates and the entire Orange community enough for all of their support.”

    “We’d like to thank Jerami for his tremendous contribution to Syracuse Basketball over the last two years,” said Boeheim. “We wish him well in all of his future endeavors.”

    DraftExpress.com has the 6-foot-8 Grant going at No. 20 to the Toronto Raptors, and the 6-6 Robinson III going No. 27, also to the Raptors.

    cal-randleJohn Calipari says he doesn’t know how many of his current players will head to the NBA Draft, but he hopes it’s fewer than five.

    “I don’t know. I really don’t know right now,” Calipari said Monday on “The Dan Patrick Show,” according to Dan Bodner of KYSportsConnection.com.

    According to Bodner, Calipari said he hopes fewer than five players go pro so he can coach them for another season.

    Julius Randle, Willie Cauley-Stein and James Young are all projected as first-round picks, while twins Andrew and Aaron Harrison are projected as late-first or second-round picks should they decide to go.

    Chris Obekpa gave St. John’s fans hope that he might stay at the school by Tweeting Sunday night, “Let’s do this @philgreene31.”

    Greene, a St. John’s guard, recently Tweeted that he would remain at St. John’s.

    The 6-foot-9 Obekpa was granted a release on April 3, as first reported by SNY.tv, but it appears he has had a change of heart and desires to return to St. John’s.

    Johnnies head coach Steve Lavin is busy on the road recruiting but would be willing to meet and listen to what Obekpa has to say, sources told SNY.tv.

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