St. John’s guard Julian Champagnie to enter NBA draft, hire agent

Champagnie was named to the first-team All-Big East after averaging 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, two assists, two steals and 1.1 blocks.

St. John’s junior Julian Champagnie told Zach Braziller of the New York Post that he will declare for the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility.

Champagnie, who was named to the All-Big East first team, averaged 19.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, two assists, two steals and 1.1 blocked shots in 31 games. He finished second in scoring in the conference and 35th in the country, overall.

The 6-foot-8 guard established himself as a great scorer at the collegiate level. He scored in double figures 26 times and had three 30-point performances last season. Champagnie tested the pre-draft process last year but ultimately opted to return to school.

Champagnie is most commonly projected to be a second-round pick this year. He will have the opportunity to improve his draft stock by participating in private workouts with teams. He also figures to be a candidate to earn an invitation to the draft combine next month.

The 2022 NBA draft will take place on June 23.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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2022 NBA draft race: April 3 update for Rockets, Nets picks

With Brooklyn’s loss at Atlanta, the Nets are currently the No. 10 seed in the Eastern Conference and would need to win two road play-in games to avoid giving a draft lottery pick to the Rockets.

With Houston owning one of the NBA’s worst records, the 2022 playoffs are no longer an option for the Rockets. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to still watch for in the final two weeks of the 2021-22 season.

From now until the regular season’s conclusion on Sunday, April 10, we’re updating where the Rockets stand in relation to their closest competitors in the race for 2022 NBA draft lottery odds and positioning.

Houston owns two picks in this year’s first round: Their own, and one from Brooklyn. For purposes of these updates, we’re going to focus on teams (at the time of publication) within three games in either direction of both the Rockets and Nets in the standings.

After a second straight season at the bottom of the West, will the Rockets land another elite prospect such as Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith or Paolo Banchero for their troubles? Scroll on for the latest updates as of April 3, along with information on odds and tiebreaker scenarios.

2022 NBA draft race: April 2 update for Rockets, Nets picks

Between Houston’s loss Friday and another Detroit win, the Rockets (20-58) now have at least two games of separation versus all NBA teams except Orlando. Only four games are left to play.

With Houston owning one of the NBA’s worst records, the 2022 playoffs are no longer an option for the Rockets. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to still watch for in the final two weeks of the 2021-22 season.

Until the regular season’s conclusion on Sunday, April 10, we’re regularly updating where the Rockets stand in relation to their closest competitors in the race for 2022 NBA draft lottery odds and positioning.

Houston owns two picks in this year’s first round: Their own, and one from Brooklyn. For purposes of these updates, we’re going to focus on teams (at the time of publication) within three games in either direction of both the Rockets and Nets in the standings.

After a second straight season at the bottom of the West, will the Rockets land another elite prospect such as Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith or Paolo Banchero for their troubles? Scroll on for the latest updates as of April 2, along with information on odds and tiebreaker scenarios.

Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham declares for 2022 NBA draft

Branham was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year after averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and two assists.

Ohio State freshman Malaki Branham on Friday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will declare for the 2022 NBA draft while maintaining his collegiate eligibility.

Branham, who was named the Big Ten Freshman of the Year, averaged 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and two assists in 32 games. He was one of just five freshmen in the country to have multiple 30-point games, and one of two from a Power 5 school.

The 6-foot-5 guard proved to be a strong offensive weapon throughout the season, one that can score from all three levels. He wasn’t on the radar much entering the season but quickly shot up draft boards after a strong showing in conference play and is now a potential lottery pick.

Branham will have the opportunity to participate in private workouts with teams by testing the pre-draft process. He also figures to be a strong candidate to earn an invitation to the draft combine or NBA G League Elite Camp in May.

The early-entry withdrawal deadline for underclassmen is June 1.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Florida basketball’s Anthony Duruji declares for NBA draft

Florida forward Anthony Duruji announced Friday that he will declare for the NBA draft and forgo the rest of his college eligibility.

New head coach Todd Golden is set to see another player from Florida’s roster last season not return. Gators forward [autotag]Anthony Duruji[/autotag] announced on Friday that he will declare for the NBA draft on Friday and will forgo the rest of his college eligibility.

“First, I would like to express my gratitude and say how grateful I am for my time at Florida,” Duruji wrote on Twitter. “I’m thankful for Coach White and the whole coaching staff for giving me the opportunity to further my college career. Huge thank you to Gator Nation & the community of Gainesville. I am blessed to have found my wife and become a Gator graduate. I have gained such great relationships and memories that will last a lifetime.”

He also thanked his teammates, mentors and advisers that have helped him along the way before announcing his intention to enter the NBA draft.

Duruji spent the past two seasons with the Gators after he started his college career at Louisiana Tech. He finished his career at Florida, averaging 7.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 0.5 blocks per game. In his final season, Duruji posted an average of 8.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game.

His departure likely won’t be the last player for Florida and Golden this offseason. Center [autotag]Colin Castleton[/autotag] could elect to take the same route as Duruji after he tested the NBA waters last offseason. Point guard [autotag]Tyree Appleby[/autotag] plans to use his fifth year of eligibility but isn’t sure where yet.

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2022 NBA mock drafts: Houston Rockets picks entering April

As March Madness winds down and the calendar turns to April, here’s who the experts are currently projecting to the Rockets in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft.

As the calendar turns to April, only three games remain in the NCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Tournament — better known as March Madness. Other than results from the annual NBA Draft Combine in May (where many top prospects decline to fully participate), many of the data points available for public consumption are already in.

With that in mind, it’s a good time to check in with the experts and peruse the latest wave of mock drafts for the NBA’s 2022 first round.

The Houston Rockets own two first-round picks in 2022: Their own, and one from Brooklyn. With only a few games left in the 2021-22 regular season, the Houston (20-57) one is certain to be in the lottery, and it’s possible that Brooklyn’s could be, too — since they are currently tracking to play in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.

If the Nets (40-37) advance out of the play-in tournament and make the playoffs, No. 16 is the most likely spot for that pick in the first-round order. If they do not, that pick would likely enter the 2022 NBA draft lottery slotted at No. 14, with a small chance of jumping into the top four.

Scroll on for a look at the latest probabilities and pick options. The draft lottery, which will finalize the order, takes place on May 17.

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Nate Oats has ‘gut feeling’ that JD Davison will declare for the NBA draft

Nate Oats discusses JD Davison’s pending NBA draft decision.

The Alabama men’s basketball roster is likely to look completely different during the 2022-23 season. With the transfer portal hotter than a fire-cracker and the option to move on to the NBA, roster turnover is eminent for the Tide.

One player for the Tide that has yet to make a final decision on his future is freshman guard JD Davison. When asked about Davison’s looming decision while on “The Field of 68 Podcast”, head coach Nate Oats said his “gut feeling” is that Davison will eventually declare for the 2022 NBA draft.

Coach Oats would go on to say that even though Davison’s freshman season may have been a slight disappointment, the explosive guard is still expected to be either a late first-round selection or an early second-round pick.

During his freshman campaign, Davison averaged 8.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.3 assists.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to monitor JD’s draft decision over the next few weeks.

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Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Stacey Blackwood on Twitter @Blackwood89.

Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

2022 NBA draft race: April 1 update for Rockets, Nets picks

Detroit’s shocking win over Philadelphia on Thursday restored Houston’s lead over the Pistons in the 2022 NBA draft race. Milwaukee’s rally versus Brooklyn helped the Rockets, too.

With Houston owning one of the NBA’s worst records, the 2022 playoffs are no longer an option for the Rockets. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to still watch for in the final two weeks of the 2021-22 season.

Until the regular season’s conclusion on April 10, we’re regularly updating where the Rockets stand in relation to their closest competitors in the race for 2022 NBA draft lottery odds and positioning.

Houston owns two picks in this year’s first round: Their own, and one from Brooklyn. For purposes of these updates, we’re going to focus on teams (at the time of publication) within three games in either direction of both the Rockets and Nets in the standings.

After a second straight season at the bottom of the West, will the Rockets land another elite prospect such as Chet Holmgren, Jabari Smith or Paolo Banchero for their troubles? Scroll on for the latest updates as of April 1, along with information on odds and tiebreaker scenarios.

Wisconsin sophomore Johnny Davis declares for 2022 NBA draft

Davis was named the Big Ten Player of the Year after finishing third in scoring in the conference.

Wisconsin sophomore Johnny Davis announced Thursday on ESPN’s “NBA Today” that he will declare for the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his remaining collegiate eligibility.

Davis, who was a consensus first-team All-American, averaged 19.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals in 31 games. He was also named the Big Ten Player of the Year after leading the Badgers to the conference regular-season title.

The 6-foot-5 guard had an incredible rise up draft boards this year and has his name in the mix to be a high pick. He finished third in scoring in the Big Ten and proved to be a dynamic scorer by creating for himself or by working in the mid-range.

Davis is considered to be a top-10 pick on June 23 after a tremendous season. With three 30-point performances, including a season-high 37 points against then-No. 3 Purdue, Davis showed all season long how dynamic of a scorer he can be and that should translate to the next level.

Underclassmen have until April 24 to declare for the NBA draft.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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Potential top-five pick Jaden Ivey declares for 2022 NBA draft

Ivey was one of just two players in the country to record at least 600 points, 175 rebounds, 100 assists, 30 steals and 20 blocked shots.

Purdue Boilermakers sophomore Jaden Ivey on Thursday announced that he will declare for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining collegiate eligibility.

Ivey, who was a consensus All-American, averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 36 games. He finished as one of just two players in the country (Paolo Banchero, Duke) to record at least 600 points, 175 rebounds, 100 assists, 30 steals and 20 blocked shots.

With Ivey leading the way, the Boilermakers advanced to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He averaged 16.3 points, five rebounds and two assists in three games on 37.5% shooting from 3-point range as Purdue lost to No. 15 seed Saint Peter’s.

The 6-foot-4 guard was considered one of the top returning players this season, and that decision to come back paid off in a big way. Ivey boosted his draft stock throughout the season and appears to be a lock as a top-five pick on June 23.

Ivey is as explosive as they come with the ball in his hands, something that can fit in with any NBA team. His decision-making and shot creation seem to have improved throughout the season, which should help him now that he is transitioning to the next level.

The 20-year-old projects to be a dynamic player at the next level that can eventually develop into a franchise cornerstone. He accomplished quite a bit in just two years in college and will be looking to carry that momentum into the pre-draft process.

Underclassmen have until April 24 to declare for the NBA draft.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

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