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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Friday / April 19.
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    • Articles, Kentucky, NBA Draft

    ExumNEW YORK — Dante Exum had an offer to join Kentucky for the second semester last season, as ESPN’s Jeff Goodman reported, so what would have happened had the Australian guard been with the Wildcats for the NCAA Tournament?

    The 6-foot-6 guard would have played in the backcourt with Andrew and Aaron Harrison and perhaps been the difference-maker when Kentucky lost to UConn in the NCAA title game.

    “It changes everything,” Exum said Wednesday at NBA Draft media availability of the hypothetical. “It’s a butterfly effect so you never know what could happen.”

    Projected as the No. 4 pick by DraftExpress.com, Exum said he spoke last year with Kentucky coach John Calipari about the option of joining them midway through last season after he finished school at the Australian Institute of Sport.

    Andrew Wiggins, Articles, NBA Draft

    andrew-wiggins1.jpg?w=600&h=425By JOSH NEWMAN
    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORK – As it becomes increasingly likely that Jabari Parker will be selected No. 2 overall at the NBA Draft by the Milwaukee Bucks, that would leave Andrew Wiggins for the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 pick.

    If that does happen and newly-minted free agent LeBron James somehow ends up going back to the Cavaliers next month, that potential pairing is something Wiggins would obviously be interested in.

    “I could play there forever, I think that would be a good combination obviously,” Wiggins said at NBA Draft media day on Wednesday afternoon in midtown. “He’s arguably the best player in the NBA right now.”

    Articles, NFL Draft

    Jabari siNEW YORK — Reiterating comments he made to ESPN’s Andy Katz, Duke freshman Jabari Parker says he expects to be selected by the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 2 in Thursday’s NBA Draft.

    That would reinforce the widespread belief that Canadian guard Andrew Wiggins of Kansas will go No. 1 overall to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

    “I got that answer, I got that fair assessment and they sat with me and said, ‘We’re going to go with you,'” Parker said of the Bucks. “I didn’t get that with the Cavs.”

    “I have some comfort level with them, especially with them just telling me briefly, ‘We want you,” he added. “I didn’t get any really answers from the Cavs so I’m just going with what I’m certain with.”

    Articles, UConn

    Tyus Battle will visit UConn on Thursday as the Huskies remain one of a handful of schools in the mix for the Battle/Derryck Thornton package we reported on this week.

    Kentucky, Michigan and Florida are among the other schools in the mix for the 2016 guards who are friends.

    Evan Daniels of Scout.com first reported the visit, adding that 2015 Las Vegas wing Ray Smith and Connecticut power forward Steve Enoch will also visit UConn Thursday.

    USA Basketball, USA U18 Team

    USAThe USA won a gold medal Tuesday night in the FIBA Americans U18 Championship in Colorado Springs, CO, with a 113-79 rout of Canada.

    Duke freshman Justise Winslow went for 20 points and 10 rebounds, Arizona freshman Stanley Johnson had 19 points en route to MVP honors and uncommitted junior guard Isaiah Briscoe tallied 14 points and five rebounds.

    For Winslow, Johnson and Duke freshman point guard Tyus Jones, it was their third gold medal for USA basketball.

    Winslow Tweeted: “Looks like we all got 3 gold medals now.. Congrats brothers! @Tyusjones06 @Chief_Justise @StanMan_5 #TeamUSA”

    It was also the third gold medal in three years for head coach Billy Donovan.

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