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Big 12 Conference news gathered from around the net.

Andre Roberson Left Colorado To Develop Game Quicker For NBA

Andre Roberson left Colorado a year early so he could develop his game quicker for the NBA, his father said Wednesday.

John Roberson, who played 12 years professionally overseas, shed light on his son’s decision.

“For him, it was just development and where he saw he'd be developing more,” John said from his home in San Antonio. "You look at all the different dynamics. You have what he'd be doing in Colorado versus the NBA. We felt it best for him to forgo his senior year."

John Roberson didn't feel Colorado developed his son to play in the NBA.

"That's the struggle he was fighting," John said. "Was it more about Dre and fulfilling his dream or more about getting wins?

"I think it has to go both ways. If you're going to develop him, develop him. Don't just take the point of view of, 'We need Dre so we can have a Final Four team or a top-10 team.' Now, if you look at it that way, it's selfish as opposed to (Andre) being selfish."

Roberson is currently projected as a second-round pick in this June's draft.

Via John Henderson/Denver Post

Marcus Smart Eager To Prove He Can Compete With Next Year's Draft Class

Marcus Smart took on critics who have questioned why he didn’t declare for the NBA draft.

Smart was projected as a top-five pick.

“First thing this morning I hear Skip Bayless say I had to go,” Smart said during a news conference announcing his draft intentions. “In my mind I'm like, ‘No disrespect, but why?' He says it's because the draft class is weaker this year than next year. Well, that's telling me, from a competitor standpoint, you have no respect for my game and my ability to compete with those guys.

“You tell a competitor that, it just fuels his energy to go out there and prove him wrong. It got me fired up. I wanted to go out there and start working out right then. And it definitely fueled my energy to come back here and start preparing for next year and getting better.”

The 2014 draft class is expected to be rich with talent, led by Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker.

Via John Helsley/Oklahoman

Myck Kabongo Declares For NBA Draft

Myck Kabongo will bypass his final two years of eligibility at Texas and enter the NBA draft.

Kabongo was suspended 23 games at the start of the season for accepting improper benefits and providing false information to NCAA investigators.

During the 11 games he played, Kabongo averaged 14.6 points, 5.5 assists and 5.0 rebounds in 37.3 minutes per contest.

Kabongo is projected as a fringe first-round pick.

 



Via Mike Finger/San Antonio Express-News

NBA Scout: McLemore Is A 'Better Version' Of Ray Allen

On condition of anonymity, an NBA scout assessed how Ben McLemore’s skill set will translate to the NBA.

“McLemore is a better version of Ray Allen. He will play shooting guard the way it is supposed to be played,” the talent evaluator said. “The only negative to his game is sometimes he defers. He could definitely use another year in college to learn to take over games.

“Obviously, he had to go (pro),” the scout quickly added. “The draft is only about potential now.”

McLemore’s shooting stroke has drawn raves from NBA observers.

McLemore shot 49.5 percent from the floor, including 42 percent from the three-point line, during his redshirt season at Kansas.

Via Gary Bedore/Lawrence Journal World

Marcus Smart Remains Undecided On NBA Draft

Marcus Smart is still pondering whether to enter the NBA draft or return for his sophomore season at Oklahoma State.

Smart took to Twitter to refute rumors that a decision has been reached.

Smart and his family were scheduled to meet with Cowboys coach Travis Ford at some time on Friday, likely discussing the pros and cons of both sides.

Via Anthony Slater/Oklahoman

McLemore Defers Decision On NBA Draft

Ben McLemore deferred talk of his NBA future after the Kansas Jayhawks’ 87-85 overtime loss to Michigan.

“No, not at all, I haven’t thought about what I’m going to do,” McLemore said. “Not right now, not yet. I’ve spent this year focused on playing college ball and getting better each and every day.”

McLemore led the Jayhawks with 20 points on 8-of-15 shooting, further solidifying his projection as a top-5 pick.

Bill Self plans to sit down with McLemore and his family, after gathering pertinent information from league insiders, and go over the pros and cons.

“I’ll support whatever direction (McLemore) and his family wants to go,” Self said. “And he needs to explore. He needs to look into doing what would be potentially great for his family, and if it’s the right time, he needs to go.

“But if it’s not, he should stay. But we’ll discuss it.”

Via Tony Adame/Wichita Eagle

Hoiberg Agrees To 10-Year, $20M Extension To Remain At Iowa State

Fred Hoiberg agreed to a 10-year, $20 million deal that will keep him at Iowa State through the 2022-23 season.

“I wanted to be here,” Hoiberg said after the contract was announced. “I’m thankful this deal got done. I’m excited to be the coach of the Cyclones for a very long time.”

Hoiberg acknowledged that he received coaching inquiries from NBA franchises.

“It's been great for me to be home,” Hoiberg told reporters at last week’s NCAA Tournament. “I grew up five blocks from Hilton Coliseum, used to walk to games. I was a ball boy as a kid. I was a ball boy for the football team, and I've just always had such a great passion for Cyclone athletics.

“To be back there coaching now, it's a dream come true for me.”

Via Randy Peterson/Des Moines Register

Amath M'Baye Forgoes Senior Season, Enters Draft

Amath M’Baye will forgo his senior season of eligibility to enter the NBA draft.

M'Baye, a native of France, is a longshot to make an NBA roster next year.

"I grew up watching the Euro league stuff. I can tell you it's not that bad over there," he said. "They make a great living for themselves. It's a great environment to play in. The NBA is definitely a dream. It's still a goal of mine. But the options are not bad at all."

M’Baye is set to graduate from the University of Oklahoma in May.

Via Guerin Emig/Tulsa World

Marcus Smart Defers Decision On NBA Draft

Marcus Smart hasn’t decided whether to enter the NBA draft.

Smart was held to 14 points on 5-for-13 shooting in Oklahoma State's first round loss to Oregon.

“I don't know,” Smart said on multiple occasions, brushing off any talk of his draft plans. “I have no idea. We just came off this loss. I'm going to get back home and go from there.”

Travis Ford said the probability was “50/50 at this point.”

“It wouldn't surprise me one bit if Marcus wanted to come back,” Ford said. “Or if he left, it wouldn't surprise me.”

Ford praised Smart’s focused sense of preparation.

“His intent on winning is the best I've ever seen,” Ford said. “This season he's had a great impact. We had a total team effort, but no question, we had the best freshman in America on our team. The force he played with. He brings it every day in practice.”

Via Anthony Slater/Oklahoman

Wiggins Still Weighing College Options

Andrew Wiggins is still contemplating his college choice.

"I really don't know when I'm going to sign," said Wiggins. "When I know where I want to go, I'll sign. But I just don't know."

Huntington Prep coach Rob Fulford made up an Excel chart for Wiggins, so he could rank his final four schools -- Florida State, Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina – in areas of interest such as atmosphere, fans, weather, coaching style, play style, campus, general feel and more.

"With the sheet, we want to help him to figure out exactly what is most important to him, what might not be most important and rank them among those schools," Fulford said. "At the end, you add it up and see who is leading. That doesn't necessarily determine the final decision, but that gives you a solid basis to build off of."

Via Grant Traylor/Huntington Herald-Dispatch

Big 12 Conference Archives

Withey, Kansas Win Big 12 Tournament

Kansas defeated Kansas State 70-54 to win the 2013 Big 12 Tournament.

Marcus Smart Headlines Big 12 Awards

Marcus Smart has been named the Big 12 Player of the Year, becoming the first freshman to win the award since Michael Beasley in 2008 and Kevin Durant in 2007.

McLemore Overcame Extreme Poverty To Become Top Prospect

Ben McLemore grew up in one of the poorest urban communities in Missouri.

Kansas Plans To Retire Mario Chalmers' Jersey

Mario Chalmers led Kansas to the 2008 NCAA championship.

Big Ten Currently First In Conference Rankings, SEC 7th

The Big East ranks second, followed by the Pac-12, ACC and Mountain West.

McLemore Patterns Game After Pierce, LeBron

Ben McLemore is regarded as one of the top wing prospects in the country.

Ben McLemore Improving As Catch-And-Shoot Option From Outside

Ben McLemore has emerged as the go-to scorer for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Kansas, Georgetown Interested In Acquiring Joshua Smith

Joshua Smith intends to transfer from UCLA.

Self Wants Perry Ellis To Play With Free Mind

Bill Self envisions a larger role for Perry Ellis.

Jayhawks Struggling To Defend Opposing Guards

Defending opposing guards has been a problem for the Kansas Jayhawks.

Stephen Clark Signs With Oklahoma State

Stephen Clark finalized his decision to attend Oklahoma State.

Le'Bryan Nash Wants To Lead NCAA In Free Throw Attempts

Le'Bryan Nash Nash is averaging 9.6 foul shots per game.

Wiggins Set To Visit Florida State, Will Likely Travel To Kentucky, Kansas, North Carolina

Andrew Wiggins reportedly has Florida State and Kentucky at the top of his list.

Sam Presti Attends Oklahoma State Practice

Sam Presti traveled to Stillwater on Thursday to watch the Oklahoma State Cowboys practice.

Stephen Clark To Announce College Decision Next Week

Stephen Clark is expected to make his college decision known next week.

Myck Kabongo Cleared To Travel While Investigation Continues

Myck Kabongo is still waiting for his eligibility case to be resolved.

Wiggins To Make College Selection After High School Season

Andrew Wiggins will not make a decision during the early signing period.

Stephen Clark To Choose Between Baylor, Oklahoma State

Stephen Clark is a top-100 player in the 2013 class.

Myck Kabongo To Sit Out Texas Opener As NCAA Continues Investigation

Myck Kabongo will sit out Texas’ season opener while the NCAA continues its investigation.

Baylor Lands Dominic Woodson

Dominic Woodson is a top-40 player in the class of 2013.
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