The Bulls, Knicks, Warriors and Thunder won their first round series, but fell short of reaching the NBA's Final Four. Each team faces a pivotal offseason with many decisions to consider. Read More. Written by Daniel Leroux on May 21, 2013
The event gives front offices the opportunity to evaluate D-League players with the possibility of offering Summer League or training camp invites. Read More.
Tyus Jones, the No. 2 overall recruit for 2014 and an excellent point guard, was selected by Paul Biancardi, Adam Finkelstein and John Stovall. Read More.
The 2013 NBA Draft has 77 early entry candidates, with 46 players from United States' colleges and 31 internatinoal players.
Players have the right to withdraw no later than June 17 ahead of the June 27 draft in Brooklyn.
College Players Steven Adams, Pitt C.J. Aiken, St. Joseph's Anthony Bennett, UNLV Vander Blue, Marquette, Lorenzo Brown, N.C. State Reggie Bullock, North Carolina Trey Burke, Michigan Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Georgia Michael Carter-Williams, Syracuse Adrien Coleman, Bethune-Cookman Allen Crabbe, Cal Deweyne Dedmon, USC Gorgui Dieng, Louisville Jamaal Franklin, San Diego State Archie Goodwin, Kentucky Tim Hardaway Jr., Michigan Grant Jerrett, Arizona Christian Kabongo, New Mexico State Myck Kabongo, Texas Shane Larkin, Miami Ricky Ledo, Providence Alex Len, Maryland C.J. Leslie, N.C. State Nurideen Lindsey, Rider Amath M'Baye, Oklahoma Ray McCallum, Detroit Ben McLemore, Kansas Tony Mitchell, North Texas Shabazz Muhammad, UCLA Nerlens Noel, Kentucky Victor Oladipo, Indiana Kelly Olynyk, Gonzaga Norvel Pelle, Los Angeles College Prep Otto Porter Jr., Georgetown Marshawn Powell, Arkansas Phil Pressey, Missouri Andre Robertson, Colorado Joshua Simmons, Spartanburg Methodist (JC) Trevis Simpson, UNC-Greensboro Tony Snell, New Mexico Tahj Tate, Delaware State John Taylor, Fresno Pacific Adonis Thompson, Memphis Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State B.J. Young, Arkansas Cody Zeller, Indiana
International Players Alejandro Abrines, Barcelona Giannis Adetokunbo, Filathlitikos Francois Affia Ambadiang, Geoplin Slovan Nemanja Besovic, Partizan Bogdan Bogdanovic, Partizan Matias Bortolin, Arkadia, Linos Chrysikopoulos, PAOK Laszlo Dobos, Zaragoza Dorde Drenovac, Biancoblu Viktor Gaddefors, Oknoplast Bologna Rudy Gobert, Cholet Mouhammadou Jaiteh, Boulogne Livio Jean-Charles, ASVEL Sergey Karasev, Triumph Louis Laveyrie, Paris-Levallois Raul Neto, Lagun Aro GBC Philipp Neumann, Brose Baskets Lucas Riva Nogueira, Estudiantes Alexandre Paranhos, Flamengo Artem Pustovyi, Khimik Bogdan Radosavljevic, Bayern Munich Marko Ramljak, Zadar Dario Saric, Cibona Dennis Schroder, New York Phantoms Strahinja Stojacic, Smederevo Walter Tavares, Gran Canaria Daniel Theis, Ratiopharm Janis Timma, Ventspils Marko Todorovic, Barcelona Axel Toupane, Strasbourg Adin Vrabac, Spars Sarajevo
R.C. Buford was in attendance for Pittsburgh’s home finale against Villanova, presumably to scout Steven Adams.
Adams, a native of New Zealand and a possible first-round selection in the forthcoming NBA draft, did not play in the game because he sprained an ankle in practice the day before.
The Spurs employ another New Zealander, Sean Marks, in their front office.
Marks serves as Buford’s director of basketball operations and remains involved in basketball in his home country.
Steven Adams has declared for the NBA draft and plans to sign with an agent.
Financial hardship is the main reason Adams is turning pro.
"In our conversations he was saying, 'I want to be here,' but I was well aware of the family situation," Pittsburgh coach Jaime Dixon said. "I have a history with the family. It's tough. He really loved it here. He's loved [his teammates] all the way through. It's hard. I know what he'd say, but I also knew what his family was saying when I had discussions with them."
One longtime NBA scout would not commit to saying Adams is a definite first-round draft pick.
"It's a shame, really," the scout said. "There is a lot more development that needs to be done there. Whether he was at Pitt or in the NBA, he is a ways away from helping an NBA team. But there are a lot of guys in the NBA who fit that description."
Jamie Dixon has signed a 10-year contract on Saturday that could keep him with Pittsburgh well into the next decade.
Dixon has been the subject of rumors on a potential move to USC.
"Pitt and Pittsburgh are home," Dixon said in a statement. "My family and I feel blessed to be part of such a great institution and wonderful city. It is the people who truly make a place special. I could not be surrounded by better players, staff and administration."
Dixon is 262-86 in 10 years at Pitt and has the highest winning percentage of any coach in Big East history.
Dixon replaced Ben Howland in 2003 when he left for UCLA.
Georgetown's Otto Porter has been named the 2013 Big East Player of the Year. Porter is the first player from the Hoyas to win the Big East's top honor since Jeff Green in 2007.
Joining Porter on the All-Big East First Team are Notre Dame's Jack Cooley, Bryce Cotton of Providence, Louisville's Gorgui Dieng and Russ Smith, and UConn's Shabazz Napier.
Dieng was also named Defensive Player of the Year, while St. John's Jakarr Sampson was named Rookie of the Year.
Steven Adams pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds, including 9 offensive, and also added 8 points on 4-of-9 shooting in Pittsburgh’s 66-45 win over Duquesne on Thursday.
The Panthers coaching staff has been working with Adams to improve his rebounding, stressing positioning and using two hands to grab the ball.
"Nothing changed overnight," head coach Jaime Dixon said. "He's had some very good rebounding days. He did a good job numbers-wise. I can't explain why all of a sudden he did. As a team, we rebounded better. I think everyone else blocking out was a part of it. It was better, but still not where we need to be."
Adams still struggles to convert offensive rebounds into points -- at least in comparison to former Panthers center DeJuan Blair.
"DeJuan got better at it,” Dixon said. “Let's remember DeJuan wasn't an all-Big East guy going into his sophomore year. He was not a highly ranked guy coming out of high school. It's development and getting better. I think we'll see the same with Steve. Steve is 7 foot. Those guys get ranked higher ... he's doing a great job."
Terrence Samuel has a top six of Tennessee, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pittsburgh, Dayton and Temple.
“It’s wherever I feel comfortable,” said Samuel, who led South Shore High School to the Smartball Classic title on Thursday with seven points, eight rebounds and seven assists in a 62-51 victory over Bayside at Abraham Lincoln Playground in Harlem. “Good graduation rate, where I’m going to play. Distance [from home] doesn’t matter. It’s whoever I like. Every school is a good opportunity. At the end of the day, it’s what fits me.”
Samuel will visit all six schools prior to making a decision on Nov. 1.
“It’s tough, but I have to go somewhere,” Samuel said. “I’m trying to go to college, play ball, achieve my goals.”