May 2015 | Page 8 of 22 | Zagsblog
Recent Posts
About ZagsBlog
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.
Follow Zags on Twitter
Couldn't connect with Twitter
Contact Zags
Connect with Zags:
Tuesday / October 8.
  • LovettMarcus LoVett waited until the very end, but he ultimately committed to St. John’s.

    On Friday, St. John’s announced that LoVett signed his National Letter of Intent.

    “We are excited to welcome Marcus to our basketball family,” said head coach Chris Mullin. “Marcus has an instinctive playmaking ability at a position we know is very important. I look forward to working with Marcus and developing his skills on and off the court that will help him reach his goals.”

    The 5-foot-11 LoVett, a First Team All-State selection by the Chicago Tribune, finished fourth in the statewide vote for Illinois Mr. Basketball in 2015 after a standout senior campaign at Morgan Park High School. LoVett averaged approximately 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists playing for head coach Nick Irvin. He served as a team captain and helped lead the Mustangs to a 21-5 overall record and third place finish in the state tournament last season. LoVett set an Illinois Class 3A playoff record with 45 points on 20-of-27 shooting in the semifinals.

    Feb 8, 2015; Piscataway, NJ, USA; Rutgers Scarlet Knights guard Bishop Daniels (2) defends against Ohio State Buckeyes guard D'Angelo Russell (0) during second half at Louis Brown Athletic Center. Mandatory Credit: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

    Ohio State Buckeyes guard D’Angelo Russell could be a perfect fit for the Sixers at the No. 3 pick: Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

    NEW YORK — The Philadelphia 76ers’ long-term tanking plan hasn’t paid off yet.

    But the Sixers could add another valuable piece to their rebuild project with the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft, and Ohio State guard D’Angelo Russell could be the perfect fit for a team that already has two young bigs in Nerlens Noel and Joel Embiid.

    Bigs Karl-Anthony Towns of Kentucky and Jahlil Okafor of Duke figure to go 1-2 in some order to Minnesota and the Lakers at the top of the draft, unless either franchise trades the pick or pulls a surprise.

    “If I end up there [in Philadelphia] it would be a blessing,” Russell told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer after Tuesday night’s Draft lottery. “I know I would make the best of the situation. So I am ready for it.”

    The Knicks are also interested in the 6-foot-5 Russell — who has proclaimed himself the ‘best player in the draft‘ — and President Phil Jackson met with him last week in Chicago. But Russell could be gone at 4, potentially leaving the Knicks to take the draft’s other top guard in Emmanuel Mudiay.

    NCAA Basketball: Vanderbilt at KentuckyNow that the NBA Draft lottery is over, DraftExpress.com has its latest mock draft up taking into account individual team needs.

    Six Kentucky players are on the mock, including projected No. 1 pick Karl-Anthony Towns to Minnesota.

    In 2012, Kentucky also had six players drafted, a record.

    Aaron Harrison, who at one point was listed at No. 60 — or Mr. Irrelevant — did not make the final mock draft.

    Here are the projected Kentucky picks:

    BBjYTCM.imgNEW YORK — Karl-Anthony Towns won’t be playing his NBA games at Madison Square Garden after all.

    Not until he visits the Big Apple, anyway.

    The 6-foot-11 former Kentucky and St. Joe’s-Metuchen star could possibly be wearing a Minnesota Timberwolves jersey next season after the Wolves won the NBA Draft lottery and the rights to the No. 1 pick in the June 25 NBA Draft.

    Not since Orlando won the right to pick Dwight Howard in 2004 had the NBA’s ultimate game of chance came out in favor of the team with the best odds. The Timberwolves had a 25 percent chance of landing the top pick after finishing 16-66.

    “It would be a blessing and an honor to even have a chance to play for Minnesota and be able to have the chance to play for a great organization and learn from a great mentor like Kevin Garnett,” Towns told SNY.tv at the lottery.

    } });
    X