May 2020 Basketball Wiretap

Zeke Nnaji Leaving Arizona For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 31, 2020 2:53 PM

Zeke Nnaji is entering the 2020 NBA Draft, leaving Arizona after his freshman season.

Nnaji is ranked No. 34 by ESPN for the draft class. Nnaji was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year and also received All-Pac-12 first-team honors.

"Ever since 4th grade I have had the dream of playing professional basketball in the NBA. After consulting with my family and praying about it, we have submitted the required paperwork to the league office. I'm officially making myself available for the draft," Nnaji told ESPN in an email.

Nnaji averaged 16.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.

"It still feels like I'm dreaming because I have never heard of anything like this pandemic happening," Nnaji told ESPN. "Now I'm back at home in Minnesota. I just started doing some light workouts, and I'll continue to ramp things up in the coming weeks. Every now and again, I still go back mentally to Wednesday, March 11th, going through my process of getting ready to play USC before the season was canceled. Now it's time to move forward to the next level, so I'm doing everything possible to maximize this process.

"This is all new to me but I have continued to pray for all the health workers on the front line of this pandemic," Nnaji added. "I can't imagine what their families are going through. I'm continuing to take precautions and do my part through social distancing, but I'm also finding ways to get my work in as much as possible."

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Zeke Nnaji, Arizona Wildcats, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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NCAA Announces Winter Sports Athletes Will Not Be Granted Extra Year Of Eligibility

Mar 31, 2020 1:35 AM

The NCAA announced that winter sports athletes will not be given an extra year of college eligibility.

The organization extended the eligibility of spring athletes for another year due to their season getting cut short by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NCAA reasoned that the regular seasons for many winter sports were already completed, thus declining to extend eligibility.

NCAA.org

Tags: NCAA, NCAA B-Ball IQ

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Mac McClung Leaving Georgetown For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 29, 2020 4:40 PM

Mac McClung will enter the 2020 NBA draft, leaving Georgetown after his sophomore season.

"I have declared for the 2020 NBA Draft while also maintaining eligibility," McClung told ESPN in a text message. "I have submitted my form to the Undergraduate Advisory Committee, and sent in paperwork to the league office. I have also signed with an NBA/NCAA certified agent which gives me an opportunity to go through this process while also maintaining eligibility."

McClung has a big social media following due to his explosive dunks and deep pull-up three-pointers.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Mac McClung, Georgetown Hoyas, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Top-50 Recruit Cliff Omoruyi Commits To Rutgers

Mar 29, 2020 1:53 PM

Cliff Omoruyi committed to Rutgers, giving the school its highest recruiting prospect since Mike Rosario in 2008.

The 6-foot-10 Omoruyi is ranked No.49 on ESPN's Top 100 for his class.

Omoruyi picked Rutgers over Arizona State and Auburn.

Omoruyi is part of a four-player Rutgers class that also includes Mawot MagDean Reiber and Oskar Palmquist

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Tags: Cliff Omoruyi, NCAA, NCAA Commitment

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Johnny Juzang To Transfer From Kentucky

Mar 28, 2020 5:29 PM

Freshman Johnny Juzang announced that he will transfer from Kentucky.

"What a ride. This last year at Kentucky was one of the best experiences of my life. I grew so much not only as a player, but as a young man as well. I'd like to thank all my coaches, my brothers, the trainers, the staff, BBN, and everyone who made this year so special. From the bottom of my heart I'm going to miss this place. With lots of thought and consideration, I've decided to put my name into the transfer portal," tweeted Juzang.

Juzang was the 30th ranked recruit in ESPN's Top 100 in 2019.

Juzang averaged 2.9 points and 1.9 rebounds on the season.

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Tags: Johnny Juzang, Kentucky Wildcats, NCAA, NCAA Transfer

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Shaka Smart To Remain As Texas Coach Next Season

Mar 28, 2020 2:42 PM

Shaka Smart will return as the head coach of University of Texas next season.

"Shaka's our coach. Nothing's changed. We won five of the last six down the stretch, finished third in the conference. We have a good team coming back. Nothing's changed on my end," said Athletic Director Chris Del Conte.

Smart was reportedly on the hot seat due to not making the NCAA tournament in two of the previous three seasons.

Texas has yet to win a tournament game with Smart as the head coach.

Smart would have been owed $10 million if he were fired this spring.

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Tags: Texas Longhorns, NCAA, NCAA Misc Rumor

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Canadian Guard Josh Primo Commits To Alabama

Mar 28, 2020 2:06 PM

Canadian prospect Josh Primo announced his commitment to Alabama.

"I am grateful to all of the schools that have recruited me during this process, however it is time to make a decision. I'm excited to say that this fall, I will be attending the University of Alabama!! Roll Tide!!" said Primo.

The 17-year-old Primo emerged as one of the top international prospects for his age group.

Primo is currently projected as a mid-first round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft by ESPN.

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Tags: Joshua Primo, Alabama Crimson Tide, NCAA, NCAA Commitment

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NCAA Distributing $225M To Division I Schools Instead Of $600M Due To COVID-19

Mar 27, 2020 10:58 AM

The NCAA board of governors will distribute $225 million to Division I schools in June instead of the $600 million they had planned to distribute.

With the cancelation of the NCAA basketball tournament due to COVID-19, revenues will be down dramatically for the amateur athletic body.

The NCAA generates most of its revenue from TV and marketing rights from the men's basketball tournament, along with ticket sales from national championship events.

"We are living in unprecedented times not only for higher education but for the entire nation and around the globe as we face the COVID-19 public health crisis," Michael V. Drake, NCAA board of governors chairman and Ohio State president, said in a statement. "As an Association, we must acknowledge the uncertainties of our financial situation and continue to make thoughtful and prudent decisions on how we can assist conferences and campuses in supporting student-athletes now and into the future."

Mark Schlabach/ESPN

Tags: NCAA

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Carlik Jones Enters Transfer Portal

Mar 26, 2020 1:11 AM

Radford guard Carlik Jones has entered the transfer portal, and will have one more year of eligibility remaining.

Jones, the Big South Player of the Year, averaged 20.0 points and 5.5 assists on the season.

Jones is in the top two of available transfers, alongside Bowling Green's Justin Turner. 

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Tags: Carlik Jones, Radford Highlanders, NCAA, NCAA Transfer

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Onyeka Okongwu Leaving USC For 2020 NBA Draft

Mar 25, 2020 5:02 PM

Onyeka Okongwu is declaring for the 2020 NBA Draft, leaving USC after his freshman season.

“I’m going to forgo my last three years,” Okongwu said.

Okongwu is widely expected to be a lottery pick.

“I honestly have a lot of confidence in myself and I think I established my name this freshman year and I’ve shown that I can play with anyone,” he said. “It gives me more confidence in this decision because I feel like I can develop my game on the next level and really be successful."

“I feel like I can go anywhere in the first round if I keep working during this pre-draft stuff and never lose focus,” he added.


Evan Daniels/247Sports.com

Tags: Onyeka Okongwu, USC Trojans, NCAA, NBA, NBA NBA Draft, NBA Draft General, NBA Draft Declarations

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Obi Toppin Leaving Dayton For 2020 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony/ESPN

Graduate Transfer Patrick Tape Commits To Duke

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Cole Anthony Delays Decision On Draft Declaration

Myron Medcalf/ESPN

Tyrese Haliburton Leaves Iowa State For 2020 NBA Draft

Jonathan Givony, Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Daniel Oturu To Leave Minnesota For 2020 NBA Draft

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Sabrina Ionescu Unanimously Voted NCAA Women's Player Of The Year

ESPN

Elijah Hughes To Enter 2020 NBA Draft Process

Chris Carlson/Syracuse.com

Rick Pitino Says Iona Will Play 'EuroLeague Offense With Full-Court Pressure Defense'

Steve Serby/New York Post

Seth Towns Commits To Ohio State

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

Obi Toppin Unanimously Voted To AP All-America First Team

ESPN

Tre Jones To Leave Duke For 2020 NBA Draft

Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

Anthony Edwards Declares For 2020 NBA Draft

Evan Daniels/247Sports

Kansas Finishes No. 1 In Final AP Poll, Followed By Gonzaga, Dayton

ESPN

NBA Still Seeking Applications To Provide Feedback To Early Draft Entrants

Jonathan Givony, Adrian Wojnarowski/ESPN

NCAA: Rudy Gobert Positive Test For COVID-19 Was 'Seminal Moment' In Canceling Tournament

Mark Schlabach/ESPN

Rick Pitino Admits He 'Deserved To Be Fired By Louisville'

ESPN

Rick Pitino Replaces Tim Cluess As Iona Coach

Jeff Borzello/ESPN

NCAA Has No Plans To Release Official 68-Team Bracket

ESPN

NCAA Considered Playing 16-Game Tournament Over One Weekend In Atlanta

ESPN

NCAA Men's/Women's Basketball Tournaments Canceled Due To Coronavirus

ESPN