April 2014 Basketball Wiretap

Texas Loses Isaiah Taylor For Several Weeks With Wrist Injury

Nov 21, 2014 12:14 PM

Isaiah Taylor will be out for several games with an injured wrirst.

Taylor received X-rays following the game, but Texas' medical staff will seek additional tests in Austin to see if there is a fracture.

"It looks like he's going to be out for several weeks," one source said, "but it's not season-ending."

Taylor is one of the top point guards in the country and averaged 12.7 points and four assists last season as a freshman. 

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Tags: Isaiah Taylor, Texas Longhorns, NCAA, NCAA Injury

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Jahlil Okafor Considered By NBA Teams As Consensus Top Prospect In 2015

Nov 19, 2014 1:43 PM

Jahlil Okafor is No. 1 on the big boards of Chad Ford and Jonathan Givony and figures to remain there throughout the season.

Okafor is one of the best low post scorer prospects in many years.

"I was sitting with a number of GMs and scouts last night during the Duke-Michigan State game," wrote Ford. "They love him. He's big and physical, however he was quick feet and a soft touch around the basket. He's a legit, old school big man who is just so poised right now. Emmanuel Mudiay and possibly Karl Towns and Kristaps Porzingis will make a run, but it's Okafor's to lose. Of the 30 guys I spoke with last night and polled, all of them had Okafor atop their board."

Chad Ford/ESPN

Tags: Jahlil Okafor, Duke Blue Devils, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Self: Cliff Alexander Not Tall Enough To Score Over Kentucky's Length

Nov 19, 2014 11:35 AM

Cliff Alexander's lack of length was problematic in Kansas' 72-40 loss to Kentucky on Tuesday.

Alexander had just eight points and eight rebounds as he struggled against the length of Willie Cauley-Stein, Dakari Johnson, Karl-Anthony Towns and Trey Lyles.

According to Bill Self, Alexander must learn to put himself in better position to score before he receives the ball.

“He’s not tall enough, and it was very evident tonight, to score over that length,” Self said.

Steve Greenberg/Chicago Sun-Times

Tags: Cliff Alexander, Kansas Jayhawks, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NCAA B-Ball IQ

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RealGM Radio: Dan Hanner On The Start Of The College Basketball Season

Nov 17, 2014 6:35 PM

In this episode, host Daniel Leroux (@DannyLeroux) enlists the help of Sports Illustrated and RealGM's Dan Hanner (@DanHanner) to preview the upcoming college basketball season.

The two discuss Kentucky's unusual platoon system, Duke's status as a title contender, potential breakout players and much more.

Click here to listen or download

You can also click here to subscribe to the podcast on iTunes.

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: NCAA, RealGM Radio

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Kentucky Adds Five-Star Duo

Nov 13, 2014 7:05 PM

Five-star prospects Skal Labissiere and Isaiah Briscoe committed to Kentucky on Thursday as members of the 2015 recruiting class.

Labissiere is rated as the No. 11 player in the ESPN 100. He's a 6-foot-10 center regarded as a shot-blocker with lots of upside. He chose Kentucky over Baylor, Georgetown, Memphis, North Carolina, and Tennesseee.

Briscoe is rated as the No. 13 player in the ESPN 100 and the No. 1 point guard. The 6-foot-3 prospect is a powerful presence that can play either guard spot. He chose Kentucky over Connecticut and St. John's.

The five-stars join shooting guard Charles Matthews as members of Kentucky's 2015 class.

Jeff Borzello/ESPN.com

Tags: Isaiah Briscoe, Skal Labissiere, Kentucky Wildcats, High School, High School Recruiting, NCAA, NCAA Recruiting, NCAA Commitment

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Scout: Freshman Class Weak, Ball Dominant

Nov 12, 2014 10:03 AM

The incoming freshman class has several talented players, but at least one NBA scout believes it is not terribly strong.

"It's a weak freshman class in terms of skill and basketball talent," the NBA scout told Yahoo Sports. "They don't have the ability to make other players better. It's all about them. They're ball dominant."

Jahlil Okafor, Karl Towns, Myles Turner, Kelly Oubre and Stanley Johnson are considered the strongest NBA prospects.

"(Okafor) has a body ready for the NBA, nimble feet and good hands. He needs to improve on his conditioning and not playing down to the competition."

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Calipari: Kentucky Would 'Get Buried' By Any NBA Team

Nov 10, 2014 11:57 AM

Kentucky defeated Georgetown College 121-52 in an exhibition game on Sunday.

Georgetown College coach Scott Briggs suggested John Calipari's team is good enough to beat some NBA teams.

"I told the guys in the locker room, they could have beaten some NBA teams tonight, there’s no question in my mind," Briggs told reporters after the game.

"I knew they were good coming into this game, but sitting out there watching it in front of their eyes, on the sideline, honestly I don't see how they're going to get beat this year. I don't like to say that, because I know people have off nights, and things can happen and this-and-that, and injuries and things like that, but if they play like they did tonight, they're an NBA playoff team."

Calipari quickly shot down that narrative by responding on Twitter.

"I hear Coach Briggs got excited after the game last night. Let me be clear: If we played ANY NBA team, we would get buried. ANY."

Jeff Eisenberg/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA, NBA, NCAA B-Ball IQ

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Krzyzewski Expects Jahlil Okafor To Leave Duke After Freshman Season

Nov 5, 2014 12:32 PM

Mike Krzyzewski does not expect Jahlil Okafor to stay at Duke beyond his freshman season.

"We'll have him this year and he'll be one of the top picks," said Krzyzewski.

Okafor is currently projected as the top overall pick by DraftExpress.

Stephen Wiseman/Herald Sun

Tags: Jahlil Okafor, Duke Blue Devils, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General

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Okafor, Paige, Kaminsky, Harrell, VanVleet Named Preseason All-Americans

Nov 3, 2014 1:25 PM

Jahlil Okafor has been named an AP Preseason All-American, which is just the third time a freshman has been named to the team.

Joining Okafor on the team are North Carolina junior point guard Marcus Paige, Wisconsin senior forward Frank Kaminsky, Louisville junior forward Montrezl Harrell and Wichita State junior point Fred VanVleet.

ESPN

Tags: Jahlil Okafor, Marcus Paige, Montrezl Harrell, Fred VanVleet, Frank Kaminsky, North Carolina Tar Heels, Duke Blue Devils, Louisville Cardinals, Wisconsin Badgers, Wichita State Shockers, NCAA, NCAA Award

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Devin Davis In Serious Condition After Being Hit By Car Driven By Hoosier Teammate

Nov 1, 2014 2:25 PM

Indiana sophomore Devin Davis was injured after being struck by a vehicle driven by freshman teammate Emmitt Holt just moments after exiting the vehicle.

Davis was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital and is currently in serious condition. Hospital spokeswoman Amanda Roach said the hospital had no information on Davis.

"I've been with him all night," Indiana coach Tom Crean said in a text to ESPN.com. "Big 48 hours coming."

Holt was cited for illegal consumption and operating a vehicle with a blood alcohol content above 0.02. Holt registered a 0.025, according to the school. Someone is considered to be over the limit in Indiana if they have a BAC of at least .08 percent. If they are younger than 21 years old -- as was the case with Holt -- the limit is only .02 percent.

Holt was driving away "when, for unknown reasons, Mr. Davis came into the roadway and struck the side of the vehicle near the front passenger windshield," according to the police.

Police found Davis unconscious with a head injury on the street that's just off the IU campus. Holt's Jeep Liberty had damage to its passenger side, front fender and windshield, Canada said.

 

Jeff Goodman/ESPN

Tags: Devin Davis, Emmitt Holt, Indiana Hoosiers, NCAA

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