Tag: 2024 NBA Draft

Alabama guard Mark Sears to withdraw from draft, return for senior year

Sears was among the prospects invited to the G League Elite Camp earlier this month.

Alabama guard Mark Sears announced Tuesday on social media that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to the program for his senior season.

Sears declared for the draft in April with the option to return to school. He was among the prospects invited to the G League Elite Camp earlier this month and averaged 10.5 points, four assists, 2.5 rebounds and one steal in two scrimmage games.

Despite a strong showing in the pre-draft process, Sears wasn’t projected to be selected this year by most mock drafts. He now has the opportunity to return to school and continue to work on his game ahead of the draft next year.

Sears was named to the All-SEC second team after averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.2 steals on 34.5% shooting from 3-point range this past season. He ranked third in the conference in free-throw percentage (84.4).

The return of Sears will be a welcome addition to the roster for a Crimson Tide team that advanced to the Sweet 16 last season. The group lost Brandon Miller, Charles Bediako and Noah Clowney to the draft and others in the transfer portal.

Sears had until Wednesday to withdraw from the draft.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

Ole Miss’ Matthew Murrell to withdraw from draft, return for senior year

Murrell averaged 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 assists in 30 games last season with the Rebels.

Ole Miss guard Matthew Murrell on Tuesday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to school for his senior year.

Murrell declared for the draft on April 6 with the option to return to school. He was among the prospects that competed in the G League Elite Camp earlier this month, averaging 6.5 points, two rebounds and 1.5 assists in two scrimmage games.

He recorded the highest max vertical jump at the event (41.5 inches).

The 6-foot-4 Murrell posted averages of 14.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 assists on 36.5% shooting from the field in 30 games last season. He led the team in scoring, assists and 3s (62), and was second in the SEC in minutes per game (34.4).

With Murrell back, the Rebels retain a key player for new head coach Chris Beard. The team also returned Jaemyn Brakefield and added Moussa Cisse, Brandon Murray and Jamarion Sharp through the transfer portal.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

Ryan Kalkbrenner to withdraw from NBA draft, return to Creighton

Kalkbrenner was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks.

Creighton center Ryan Kalkbrenner announced Monday on social media that he will withdraw from the 2023 NBA draft and return to school for his senior season.

Kalkbrenner was among the prospects that competed in the draft combine earlier this month in Chicago, Illinois. He also participated in pre-draft workouts and was said to have visited with the Brooklyn Nets and Chicago Bulls among others.

The 7-footer was named the Big East Defensive Player of the Year for the second straight time this past season after averaging 15.9 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.1 blocks and 1.2 assists. He ranked third in the country in field-goal percentage (69.5) and 15th in blocks (72).

Kalkbrenner was viewed as a potential second-round pick this year. The decision to return to school likely came after gaining feedback from teams throughout the pre-draft process. He had until Wednesday to withdraw from the draft and return to school.

With Kalkbrenner back in the fold, the Bluejays figure to be one of the top teams in the country and a favorite to qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the fifth straight year.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

Auburn forward Johni Broome announces draft decision ahead of deadline

Auburn junior Johni Broome announced on Monday that he has withdrawn from the 2023 NBA draft.

Auburn junior Johni Broome announced Monday on social media that he has withdrawn from the 2023 NBA draft and will return to school for his senior year.

Broome left the door open to return to school when he declared for the draft in April. He competed in the G League Elite Camp this month and was among the eight standouts from the event that were invited to the draft combine.

Despite a strong pre-draft process, Broome wasn’t projected to be selected by most mock drafts. The decision to return to the Tigers likely came after gaining feedback from teams throughout the pre-draft process.

He had until Wednesday to withdraw from the draft and return to school.

Broome, who led the Tigers in scoring, was named to the All-SEC second team after averaging 14.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.4 blocks and 1.3 assists on 52.7% shooting from the field. He ranked 10th in the country in blocks per game.

With Broome back in the fold, the Tigers figure to be among the favorites in the conference and are looking to make their third straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262453]

Baba Miller to return to Florida State for sophomore season

Miller is highly touted for his versatility and athleticism, and ability to defend with his 7-foot-2 wingspan.

Florida State forward Baba Miller on Friday told Jonathan Givony of ESPN that he will return to school after an up-and-down freshman campaign.

Miller, who was born in Palma, Spain, averaged 4.3 points and 3.7 rebounds on 47.4% shooting from the field. He was limited to 15 games due to an  offseason injury and a suspension stemming from a rules infraction committed in 2020.

He was highly recruited last year as a four-star prospect and ultimately chose the Seminoles over Gonzaga. Miller, standing at 6 feet, 11 inches, is highly touted for his versatility and athleticism, and ability to defend with his 7-foot-2 wingspan.

Miller, now healthy, will represent Spain in the 2023 FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in Hungary from June 24-July 2. The event will give him the opportunity to compete against the top players in the world in his age group ahead of his sophomore season.

He is considered a potential first-round pick next year given his overall skill set and physical attributes. The program has helped send several players to the NBA in recent memory and Miller looks to join that list.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=650261127]

Report: Mikey Williams facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon

Williams was reportedly arrested and charged with five counts of assault with a deadly weapon.

University of Memphis commit Mikey Williams was reportedly arrested and charged with five counts of assault with a deadly weapon, according to KNSD-TV Channel 7 in San Diego, California.

Williams, 18, was arrested in Jamul and booked into the San Diego Central Jail around 3:30 p.m. PDT on Thursday. He was released early Friday morning on a bail of $50,000. The police department did not provide further details of the arrest.

The school released the following statement:

“We are aware of the situation and are gathering more information.”

Williams is listed as a four-star prospect and the 17th-ranked player in the class of 2023, according to 247Sports. He signed a letter of intent with the Tigers in November and committed to head coach Penny Hardaway over Arizona State, Kansas and USC among others.

He was considered one of the top players in the country after a decorated high school career. He signed a record endorsement contract with PUMA in October 2021, becoming the first high school player to sign with an apparel company.

Williams is scheduled to appear in court on April 20.

Texas loses 5-star commit A.J. Johnson to professional ranks in Australia

Johnson was ranked 15th in the class of 2023 and is considered a potential first-round pick next year.

A.J. Johnson, a five-star prospect from Fresno, California, told ESPN on Thursday that he has decommitted from Texas and will sign with the Illawarra Hawks of the National Basketball League.

Johnson signed a letter of intent in November and was set to begin playing with the Longhorns in the fall. He has changed course and will instead play professionally in Australia, becoming the highest-ranked prospect to do so since LaMelo Ball during the 2019-20 season.

The 6-foot-5 guard out of Southern California Academy was ranked 15th in the class of 2023 by 247Sports and is considered a potential first-round pick next year. He is highly touted for his ability as a ballhandler and scorer, and his willingness to get his teammates involved.

The NBL has helped produce several first-round picks in recent memory, including Ball, Ousmane Dieng, Josh Giddey and RJ Hampton. The league is viewed as a great route to help prepare players with aspirations of playing in the NBA given its physicality and overall competition level.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=650262612]

Bronny James comments on college basketball recruiting decision

James commented on his college recruitment and offered a small update on that process.

Bronny James, the eldest son of LeBron James, this week commented on his college recruitment and offered a small update on how that process is progressing.

James, who is considered a four-star recruit by ESPN, is leaning toward playing in college, according to his parents. He has received interest from several programs and apparently has a list of three preferred schools: Ohio State, Oregon and USC.

The 18-year-old is among those players participating in the Nike Hoop Summit with USA Basketball in Portland, Oregon. He is the only player on the roster that has yet to commit or sign with a team and rumors about when he may make his decision are swirling.

USA Basketball teammate Isaiah Collier, who is from Marietta, Georgia, is actively trying to recruit James to join him next season at USC. Meanwhile, Jackson Shelstad, a four-star recruit from Oregon who committed to the Ducks, is trying to persuade James to follow him.

James is appreciative of their efforts.

It’s fun times. It’s good to joke with them. Talking to them, talking to coaches, it’s good to know that they want me there with them. But at the end of the day it’s my decision, and I need to make the right one for me.

Bronny, who is listed at 6 feet, 3 inches, is the No. 28 recruit in the class of 2023 in ESPN’s rankings. He recently drew a comparison to Jrue Holiday by former three-time All-Star Gilbert Arenas for his ability to score and be a lockdown defender.

He has improved each year in high school and is considered a potential first-round pick next year. There is still some debate if he can eventually develop into a star, but the guard has made tremendous strides.

“I feel like I’ve grown at a nice pace throughout my four years in high school,” James said of his growth. “I feel like me being consistent at what I’m doing in my workouts and recovery and getting that right mindset has been a great part of me being successful.”

He has yet to set a firm date when he will make a decision on his future. There is speculation that he could make the announcement after the game on Saturday, but he declined to answer when asked about it.

For now, though, James is enjoying the moment.

He is eager to play with USA Basketball for the first time and compete against the top players from around the globe on the World Select Team. He expects to have his family on hand to watch the event.

“They’re definitely going to be in attendance, you’re going to see them and hear them for sure,” James said. “The whole family is going to be out here.”

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=650261351]

Armando Bacot is trying to recruit Harrison Ingram to North Carolina

The former five-star prospect announced this week that he plans to enter the transfer portal and leave Stanford after two seasons.

Former five-star prospect Harrison Ingram announced this week that he plans to enter the college basketball transfer portal and leave Stanford after two seasons.

Ingram averaged 10.5 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists on 40.8% shooting from the field in 33 games this past season as a sophomore. He was one of 19 players in the country, and one of seven in a major conference, to reach those averages.

The 6-foot-7 forward had a tremendous first season with the Cardinal, in which he was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. He entered this past season on several preseason awards lists and was projected to be a first-round pick in the NBA draft.

The team, however, struggled for much of the year and finished 14-19. Ingram is the fourth player from the team to hit the transfer portal and look to play elsewhere next season.

Ingram was heavily recruited as the 19th-ranked prospect in the class of 2021. He received offers from dozens of programs, including Arkansas, Kansas, Memphis, Michigan, North Carolina, Texas Tech and UCLA among others.

Those schools figure to be once again in the hunt for Ingram. Players are already starting to offer their best recruiting pitches to Ingram, including North Carolina All-American Armando Bacot.

Ingram is highly touted for his overall ability and size at 230 pounds. He brings versatility to the wing position and still has much of his game to unlock with more development and reps after only two years at the collegiate level.

He figures to be one of the top players in the transfer portal and should once again be highly recruited. He projects to be able to start immediately for his next team and has the potential to help them make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=650261127]

Arkansas’ Eric Musselman reacts to Trevon Brazile returning to school

Brazile appeared in only nine games this season after suffering an ACL injury on Dec. 6 versus UNC Greensboro.

Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile announced in late March that he will return to school for another season after an injury-shortened sophomore campaign.

Brazile appeared in nine games because of an ACL injury on Dec. 6 versus UNC Greensboro. He averaged 11.8 points, six rebounds, 1.2 blocks, one assist and one steal on 37.9% shooting from 3-point range before the injury.

He had three 20-point games and two double-doubles.

The 6-foot-10 forward was viewed as a potential first-round pick in the NBA draft entering the season given his overall ability and 7-foot, 4-inch wingspan. However, Brazile will return to Fayetteville for at least one more season after having his year cut short.

Arkansas coach Eric Musselman is happy to have him back.

After losing Nick Smith Jr. to the NBA draft, the Razorbacks will get a key piece back with the return of Brazile. Musselman previously said they built their team around him and they will look to make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament with him in the fold.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 tag=650261127]