Category: Basketball

Caleb Williams breaks a record set by Caitlin Clark

Caleb Williams and Caitlin Clark are both box-office superstars.

Caleb Williams made history for USC at the NFL draft on a lot of levels. His selection gave USC six No. 1 NFL draft picks, more than any other school. Caleb gave Lincoln Riley the distinction of having coached three Heisman Trophy winners who then became No. 1 NFL draft picks. Caleb made history on another level, too: He shattered a record set by Iowa and WNBA superstar basketball player Caitlin Clark.

USA TODAY Sports has more:

“The hype surrounding first overall pick Caleb Williams is surpassing levels of any draft pick in sports, and that includes Caitlin Clark.

“Both Clark and Williams were the presumed first overall picks in the WNBA and NFL drafts, and after they were officially selected by the Indiana Fever and Chicago Bears, respectively, fans rushed online to buy their jerseys. After Clark was selected on April 15, her merchandise broke Fanatics’ record for draft night merchandise sales for any draft pick across all sports. Her jersey sold out.

“That record would last less than two weeks, as Fanatics says Williams’ merchandise is now the most for draft night sales for any draft pick across all sports.”

Caleb Williams and Caitlin Clark are both marquee attractions. Now we arrive at the point where both athletes will try to live up to huge expectations as professionals.

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Kevin McCullar: NBA draft scouting report and intel

2001 | 6’7 | 6’9 WS | 212 LBS Team: Kansas Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 35 2023-24 stats: In 2023-24, McCullar Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 45.4 percent from the …

2001 | 6’7 | 6’9 WS | 212 LBS

Team: Kansas

Best aggregate mock draft rank: 7 / Worst rank: 35

2023-24 stats:

In 2023-24, McCullar Jr. averaged 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 0.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. He shot 45.4 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from three, and 80.5 percent from the foul line.

Former Michigan basketball head coach Juwan Howard finds NBA landing spot

Wishing Juwan all the best!

From Michigan basketball he came, and to Michigan basketball he returned — but also from the NBA he came, and to the NBA he will return.

The prodigal player-turned-coach Juwan Howard found early success overseeing his alma mater, but in the past few years, the Wolverines didn’t just fall off, they fell off precipitously. After a program-worst 8-24 season, Howard was ousted and Dusty May was hired to facilitate the rebuild.

While Michigan basketball fans are focused on the maize and blue, Howard naturally needed to find another job. And according to ESPN NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski, he’s landing back in the professional ranks as an assistant for the Brooklyn Nets.

Howard spent his pre-Michigan coaching career with the Miami Heat but was a hot commodity for head coaching jobs, even in the NBA, before choosing to come back to Ann Arbor. Though he’s joining a new staff with a new head coach, and despite the past few years of Wolverines basketball not working out, he’ll have a lot of positive experience that could aid a first-year head coach in Jordi Fernandez.

Transfer target Clifford Omoruyi to visit UNC basketball program

Inside Carolina reports that Clifford Omoruyi will visit the UNC basketball program in May.

Hubert Davis and the UNC basketball program will soon get a visit from a top target in the transfer portal.

After showing interest and receiving mutual interest back, the Tar Heels will get a visit from Rutgers center Cliff Omoruyi. Inside Carolina’s Sherrell McMillan reported the news on Friday afternoon, stating that the Omoruyi will be on campus May 2nd for his visit as he looks for a new team.

The center is among the top players in the transfer portal and would be an immediate fit for the Tar Heels who are looking to add a player at the position with Armando Bacot gone. UNC does have Jalen Washington and will welcome in James Brown as well, but having the chance to sure up the position with a player like Omoruyi would be huge as well.

Last season, Omoruyi averaged 10.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. He’s one of the best-shot blockers in the country and will add that dynamic to any team he picks.

Recently, he cut his list down to 10 teams which UNC made the cut for, taking a step forward. He’s also taken a few visits as his recruitment rolls on.

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Eric Musselman and USC basketball land top-60 recruit Jalen Shelley

Eric Musselman brings in another recruit with a lot of upside.

The Muss Bus is picking up momentum. Eric Musselman and USC basketball have landed top-60 2024 recruit Jalen Shelley, filling another roster spot with a high-end talent. It’s true that USC has roster spots which need to be filled, but the Trojans needed to address those roster holes by getting legitimate upgrades and not merely settling for lower-tier players. Shelley gives USC a real chance to raise its ceiling. He provides Musselman with a level of dynamism and explosiveness which could help USC become a legitimate force at the offensive end of the floor.

Musselman’s remaking of the USC basketball roster, after the 2024 group scattered in the wake of Andy Enfield’s departure to SMU, has been substantial. One notable dimension of this transformation is that Musselman has looked to the mid-major ranks for seasoned transfers. Most college basketball analysts felt Muss needed a big-time recruit to add upside to the 2024-2025 roster. Shelley gives Musselman and USC a real opportunity to become something special. There is now a much better balance between portal pickups and incoming recruits on the USC basketball roster.

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Michigan State basketball PG A.J. Hoggard officially enters NCAA transfer portal

A.J. Hoggard has officially entered the transfer portal

Tom Izzo made it clear last week that if A.J. Hoggard decided to return to play more college basketball, it wouldn’t be with Michigan State basketball, so it wasn’t a major surprise on Friday when Hoggard officially entered the NCAA transfer portal.

It will be interesting to see what Hoggard does this offseason. After a stellar 2022-23 campaign, Hoggard seemingly took a stepback last year, with his numbers going down in many categories. Some thought Hoggard might try to pursue some level of pro basketball, but it looks like he is content to go after some of the NIL money that is out there for experienced players like himself.

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Michigan State basketball will reportedly head to Spain in August

Michigan State basketball will reportedly head to Spain in August

For the second time under Tom Izzo, the Michigan State basketball program is heading to Europe. According to insider Justin Thind, the Spartans will head to Spain in mid-August where they will visit Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.

MSU’s first and last European trip was to Italy back in 2015.

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Clemson Basketball star announces return to Clemson for another season

Schieffelin is back for at least one more season with the Tigers.

With all the moving pieces on the Clemson men’s basketball team, star forward Ian Schieffelin made an announcement about his future with the Tigers. 

Taking to Instagram to share the message, Schieffelin announced that he is running it back with Clemson for another season. After four players announced their departure from the program, Schieffelin made a statement with this announcement. 

Schieffelin was an integral part of the Tigers’ success in their run to the Elite 8. The ACC Most Improved Player winner averaged 10.1 points and 9.4 rebounds, shooting 56.4 percent from the field and 46.9 from three. 

I don’t believe there was any doubt he would return, but confirmation is always welcome!

https://www.instagram.com/p/C6MycTPRvli/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

UPDATE: Dayton sharpshooter Koby Brea no longer visiting Duke

Dayton’s Koby Brea no longer plans to visit Duke next week.

After seeing more than nine players leave the program for the portal or professional opportunities since Duke’s season ended, head coach Jon Scheyer has been deliberate in the transfer portal.

However, it seems like Dayton shooter Koby Brea won’t be a part of those plans.

After a Friday report from national insider Jon Rothstein that Brea would visit the Blue Devils from Tuesday to Thursday of next week, The News & Observer’s Stephen Wiseman confirmed Brea would not take a trip to Durham.

Brea averaged 11.1 points and 3.8 rebounds per game this past season while shooting an NCAA-best 49.8 percent beyond the arc for a Flyers group that posted a 25-8 record and reached the NCAA Tournament Round of 32 before ultimately falling to Arizona.

Duke does still have two transfers so far this offseason. Maliq Brown is officially a Blue Devil, and he adds defensive prowess and energy and is an elite finisher at the rim. Purdue transfer Mason Gillis, who also officially joined the program on Friday, is a sharpshooter who can guard multiple positions along the perimeter. He was the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year and brings leadership, toughness, and range to hit big shots.

Nebraska – Creighton schedule 2024 basketball game

The 2024 game will be the 57th meeting all-time between these two schools.

The Nebraska Cornhuskers have finally scheduled their annual non-conference game with Creighton. The Huskers and Bluejays will face off on Friday, November 22, in Omaha.

The 2024 game will be the 57th meeting all-time between these two schools. Creighton currently holds the series lead by a 30-27 advantage.

Last season, the Bluejays crushed the Huskers by a final score of 89-60. Some were concerned that the game could be played on Saturday, November 23, when Nebraska is scheduled to host Wisconsin.

The remaining non-conference and conference schedule will be announced later this spring and summer.

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