RealGM Basketball Wiretap

List Of 77 Early Entry Candidates For 2013 NBA Draft

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:18:23 EDT

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 

Shabazz Muhammad To Declare For Draft

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:26:36 EDT

UCLA freshman Shabazz Muhammad has announced that he will leave school for the NBA.

The Pac-12 co-freshman of the year was the leading scorer for the Bruins with 17.9 points per game.

"I am so thankful for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to play at UCLA and will always be proud to be a Bruin," Muhammad said in a statement released by the school. "From a young age, I have dreamed of playing in the NBA, and I believe that this is the right time for me to move to the next level."

Alford Assumes Shabazz Muhammad Leaving UCLA For NBA

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 21:05:43 EDT

Steve Alford revealed that he has not had any contact with Shabazz Muhammad since being named coach of UCLA last month.

"I have not spoken to him," Alford said. "I've seen everybody else and spoken to everybody else. I've placed some phone calls but I have not been able to touch base with him."

Muhammad has yet to make a formal announcement.

"I'm assuming that it's pretty clear," Alford said. "All projections have him as a lottery pick, so I assume he's going."

UCLA Hires Steve Alford

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 13:06:16 EDT

Steve Alford has been hired to become the next head coach at UCLA, replacing Ben Howland.

Alford had agreed to a 10-year extension at New Mexico last week.

"I have been so fortunate and blessed in my life, and an opportunity to lead the one of the greatest programs in college basketball history is once in a lifetime," Alford said in a statement released by the school. "It is an honor to be the head coach at UCLA, yet it is also a responsibility to ensure that our former, current and future players and fans are proud to be Bruins. I am grateful to chancellor Gene Block and Dan Guerrero for this amazing opportunity and I can't wait to get started."

Alford had spent six seasons at New Mexico with tournament appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013.

Kyle Anderson Has No Plans To Enter NBA Draft

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:09:38 EDT

Kyle Anderson “does not have plans” to enter his name in the June NBA draft.

"At this time, (he) is returning to UCLA," Kyle Anderson Sr., his father, said via text message on Friday.

The 6-foot-9 Anderson struggled to play in the post this season after spending most of his life as a point guard.

Anderson appeared in 35 games for the Bruins and averaged 9.7 points on 41.6 percent shooting, along with 8.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists.

Sources: UCLA Pursuing Brad Stevens

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 13:28:00 EDT

Brad Stevens is the top target of UCLA’s coaching search, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.

Stevens declined comment in a text message to ESPN.

"I'm the coach at Butler," he wrote.

Stevens has been the top target for nearly every major opening over the past couple years.

Source: Shaka Smart Turns Down UCLA, Staying At VCU

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 13:57:40 EDT

Shaka Smart turned down an opportunity to coach UCLA and instead signed a contract extension with Virginia Commonwealth, according to a source with direct knowledge of the situation.

Smart’s extension will run through 2023 and pay him approximately $1.5 million annually, a 25 percent increase from his previous salary.

Smart, 35, was pursued by Illinois last season and North Carolina State two years ago.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Expresses Interest In UCLA Coaching Job

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 21:02:18 EDT

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wants to be considered for the UCLA Bruins’ coaching job.

Abdul-Jabbar played under John Wooden and led the Bruins to three straight NCAA titles beginning in 1967.

"Like all Bruin supporters," Abdul-Jabbar said, "the recent trend at our school hasn't made me happy. The players don't seem to be learning how to play, and haven't been graduating.

"We can do better."

Abdul-Jabbar said that he has "reached out" to UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero, "and hopefully, I can get a chance to make my case."

Report: Mark Gottfried Receiving Support From UCLA's Boosters

Tue, 26 Mar 2013 19:33:47 EDT

While UCLA's top two candidates for their head coaching vacancy are believed to be Mark Stevens and Shaka Smart, sources say Mark Gottfried may end up being the eventual hire.

“Mark said he wants it and the boosters want Mark Gottfried,” the source told SNY.tv. “He’s got the support of the boosters.”

Smart is negotiating an extension at VCU, while Stevens is not interested in the exposure the job would bring.

“Shaka and Brad Stevens were their top choices,” the source said. “Neither of them wants it.”

Gottfried is currently the head coach at N.C. State and was an assistant at UCLA for eight years.

Gottfried has a $3.75 million buyout in his contract with N.C. State.

Shabazz Muhammad Answers Questions About Birth Certificate

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 22:58:41 EDT

Shabazz Muhammad addressed a report which revealed he is actually 20 years old and not 19 as depicted in the UCLA media guide.

Muhammad's birth date had long been reported as Nov. 13, 1993.

"I tell everyone I am 20. I don't even know what the big deal is,” Muhammad said. “People try to get stories these days, and it's really ridiculous. Twenty years old in college, guys are 22, 23 24. Most of those guys out there are old. I always say I am 20."

When asked if he knew that his age was known publicly as 19, Muhammad said: "No, I didn't. I have my ID all the time. I show my driver's license, it says 1992. That's just ridiculous … It's '92. I always say I am 20. People know I am 20."

UCLA Fires Ben Howland

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 21:01:13 EDT

Ben Howland has been fired as head coach of UCLA.

UCLA was eliminated in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Howland was hired as head coach in 2003 and led the Bruins to Final Four appearances in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

NBA Talent Evaluators Question Whether Muhammad Can Make Teammates Better

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 10:55:18 EDT

Shabazz Muhammad seams to have played his way down the draft board, with NBA executives and scouts categorizing the 6-foot-6 guard as a one-dimensional scorer.

"He doesn't really make anybody better," one executive said. "He is athletic. And he can score in a lot of ways. But I'm not sure what he does for everyone around him."

"I'd like to see if he can pass the ball," one scout said. "He's a scorer, not a shooter."

Muhammad averaged less than one assist per game during his freshman year at UCLA.

One general manager called Muhammad a "really talented kid," but also noted that "some nights he looks like the No. 15 pick."

Shabazz Muhammad Actually One Year Older Than Previously Believed

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 12:27:09 EDT

Shabazz Muhammad was born in Los Angeles on Nov. 13, 1993 according to the UCLA media guide, but a copy of his birth certificate indicates he was born exactly one year earlier in 1992.

Asked about the discrepancy, Holmes insisted his son was 19 and born in Nevada. "It must be a mistake," he said.

Several minutes later, he changed his account, saying that his son is, in fact, 20 and was born in Long Beach.

"Bazz is going to blow up in the NBA lets team up and blow this thing up!!!" Holmes wrote in a text message. "I'm going to need a publicist anyway why shouldn't it be you. We can do some big things together."

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