NBA draft prospect Cassius Stanley: ‘My main goal is to end up being the commissioner’

2020 NBA Draft prospect Cassius Stanley has already accomplished quite a bit but continues to set tremendously lofty goals for himself.

2020 NBA draft prospect Cassius Stanley has already accomplished quite a bit, but he continues to set tremendously lofty goals for himself.

Stanley, 20, won back-to-back state championships when he played high school basketball for Sierra Canyon. As a senior, when his program won the trophy in the California Open Division, Stanley averaged 17.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game and earned USA TODAY All-USA 3rd Team honors.

This season, he earned ACC All-Freshman honors averaging 12.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.1 three-pointers per game during his sole collegiate season at Duke.

He recently caught up with HoopsHype about his pre-draft process and how he is preparing for his transition to the NBA.

Thanks so much for your time today. How have you been keeping busy?

Cassius Stanley: Pretty good. I just worked out, now it’s back to quarantine. I’ve been taking online classes. I have had a good amount of classwork and homework to do, essays and things like that. It’s honestly what I would have been doing if there wasn’t a quarantine.

What are some things you have done to reconcile with the fact that the NCAA season was cut short right before Duke could have made a run?

CS: That was definitely pretty tough. We definitely thought we were going to be playing in Atlanta for the Final Four. We definitely thought we were going to be there. But we all keep up on the group texting. When the whole thing was going down, we were all talking to each other and keeping each other happy and upbeat and letting each know how good we were. It was very disappointing.

Duke is obviously known for its brotherhood. How was your relationship with the players on the team?

(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

CS: My relationship with the guys on the squad is really tight. You hear about the brotherhood on the outside, then you get into it, and you still don’t really know the extent of it until you get into a real battle mode with the guys in practice or big-time games. Early in the season, we were tested in different tournaments and non-conference games. But then in conference games on the road, that is when the brotherhood gets tighter and stronger, especially when things happen like the coronavirus – we all were sitting in the hotel together in Greensboro for the ACC Tournament. That was the closest we have all been. We were just sitting there and talking it all out with all of the coaches. We all came to the conclusion that the smartest thing was to not play. Then, it got ruled that everything would be shut down a couple hours later. I think that was when the brotherhood was most serious.

What were some of those conversations like with your teammates during the whole process? 

CS: The conversations were great. Coach [Mike Krzyzewski] was a great leader. He told us what he knew and what he thought. He let us talk it out and make a decision before there was a decision made by a higher power. We just talked about how we love the game and we want to play the game but at the same time, we want to be smart and we want to think about ourselves and we want to think about our families and we want to think about other people involved. We can’t just think about going out there and playing. We have to think about being in such close contact with other players, refs. Then we would have interacted with our families, coaches, everyone. We can’t think about just ourselves. We had to think about the bigger picture and the people who it would impact.

I am so, so sorry that you were not able to play March Madness. What were some of the things you felt you improved most on during your time at Duke?

CS: I would probably say just being more versatile. I felt like I was improving just being able to impact the game in any way from any position, one through three. I felt my shooting was improving day-to-day. I think just being a competitor, too, and becoming the best player that I could be, which was improving every day. I think that we would have been really special if we had the chance to play in the postseason. Because I felt like while I was improving a lot, we were all improving a lot.

Have any former Duke players given you advice on taking this next step?

CS: Yeah, the brotherhood is really real. In the summer, even before going there, I ran with so many NBA players. I worked out a lot with Justise Winslow. I also worked out with Austin Rivers and Seth Curry and Rodney Hood. They were all great and telling me to go into it with the mindset of learning everything you possibly can from Coach because he knows exactly what he is talking about. That is exactly what I did. I came in as a sponge, just trying to soak everything I could.

I think you were incredibly underrated all season. Can you think of any reason for this?

CS: I didn’t really think about it that much. People can say it’s my age or that I’m playing on teams that have other good players or whatever, so I’m not going for 30 or 40 points every game. I’ve heard it all. I just know that I win and my record speaks for itself. I’m not really worried about what people were saying or why they were devaluing me. I just know that every time I step on the court, I get the job done since high school, Peach Jam and Nike Skills Challenge. I’m a winner. That’s all I know.

One thing people that people do not realize is you have the ability to play the one. Can you share your history as a combo guard?

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CS: I am a combo guard. I am a one and a two. I’ve worked on my ballhandling skills every single day. Coach tested me with the ball in pick-and-roll situations or just creating in isolation situations. So I’m very comfortable with the ball at the one and the two.

I also loved watching you push it as the ballhandler in transition like Russell Westbrook or Lonzo Ball. You ranked in the 99th percentile for points per possession on these looks. How will that help you in the NBA?

CS: I learned that young. Being a rebounding guard, you can set the tempo and you don’t have to wait on an outlet pass or anything like that. You start the break. You can create for yourself or others off of that. I’ve always been a big guy on making sure I’m a rebounding guard on offense and defense.

You were a perfect 10-for-10 on transition leak outs, in a style similar to a team like the New Orleans Pelicans. You had no turnovers. Plus, you drew a couple fouls. How did you develop your skills there?

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CS: It actually started, I think, in the summer during film sessions, just talking to Coach. He really emphasized running the break and running and running and making sure you get a good run out. Because he was telling me he saw in the summer that I was kind of jogging and waiting for the ball. He was just big on getting out there, getting a good sprint, because he felt like he knew I was very fast. He was like: If you beat everyone down the court and you get the ball with your good stride and a good dribble and everything like that, you are going to either get fouled or you are going to convert on the play. After that, I kind of just… if I had the ball, I’m sprinting out with it. If I don’t have the ball, I’m sprinting down the court waiting for the ball and just beating people down the floor.

You played for one of the best coaches of all-time in Coach K. What were some of the lessons he taught you that you are most grateful for now?

Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

CS: I would probably say accountability. He runs the program like a pro team. He supports his players a lot. He taught us so many things. He taught us off-the-court stuff. He would teach it himself or he would have other people just stressing it. We had a nutrition staff, we had a strength-and-conditioning staff. Everything was high level. He taught me and he taught all of us how to be real men and be professionals.

How did your body change during your year with the Duke staff?

CS: I think I gained seven or eight pounds, which was exactly where they wanted me to be. Maybe a pound heavier. But they really told me that this is what I had to do. And the results came immediately. I was in the weight room every time they wanted me to be. I would take all the supplements that they wanted me to take. It helped me a lot to get my body right.

Even at your orientation, you immediately broke the record set by Zion Williamson for the best vertical in program history. Has that changed at all?

CS: My mom ran track and field in college. She was an alternate on the Team USA Olympic team. That’s where I get my leaping ability from, it’s definitely her. As a young kid, she would tell me different things on how to jump high and after that it just became natural. It is probably higher than 46 inches now. I think that was maybe just where I topped out that day. I really think I can jump higher. I could probably max out at an inch and a half more.

You put down some highlight-reel dunks as a freshman. I’d love to hear about your dunking style and how you use your vertical to help you as a basketball player.

CS: I use my vertical ability for rebounding, blocking shots and obviously for dunking. In the summer, I learned a lot of things. [Coach] would always say to stop playing around near the rim – just dunk it. Every time you get near the rim, just dunk it. He wasn’t just directing that towards me. He was directing that at everyone. So I picked up on that. So every chance I got, I put it down.

How do you think your jump shot has improved since high school and where is your confidence in it right now? 

CS: After my junior year of high school, I really started to lock in and things started to click. I feel like ever since then, I have been really confident in my jumper and even throughout this past year, I felt like I was really confident in my jumper I put in a lot of work. Late nights, early mornings with managers and coaches and they definitely helped me tweak a couple things with my performance. But they let me shoot the ball how I wanted to shoot it. I think that’s one of the biggest things. They weren’t trying to change my jumper. They were trying to tell me they were confident it and just keep shooting it.

You shot almost 50 percent on your three-pointers taken from the corner. Why is this such an important part of your game?

Cassius Stanley on 3-pointers from the corner (via Synergy Sports)

CS: I actually didn’t know that. But I know just from talking to some of our video coordinator guys that are big on the numbers that if I can knock down that shot consistently, that’s a big deal because it really spaces the floor. I’d always try to go deeper in the corner during practices and shoot it because I know that the deeper I can shoot it, the more space I can get – especially at the next level.

You also shot 43.8 percent on three-pointers off the catch. How do you see yourself as a catch-and-shoot player moving forward?

CS: I’m very confident in my catch-and-shoot ability. I feel like I am pretty much knockdown if I can get my feet set. It’s going to go in most of the time. I feel that way off the bounce, too. I might not have hit the same amount off the bounce, but I feel very confident in that too.

What are some of the things you can do to improve your three-point shooting above the arc?

Cassius Stanley on catch-and-shoot 3-pointers (via Synergy Sports)

CS: I think I just need to get more reps out of that. I didn’t really rep that out that often during the year because I wanted to simulate more game shots like things I would get from the wings and the corners and the slot.

What are some of your goals for your basketball career?

CS: I just want to have the best career that I possibly can. I want to be an All-Star. I want to win championships. I really just want to be the best player. Simple. I definitely want to win a championship and be MVP and be an All-Star. I want to be the best player in the league.

What about eventually participating in an NBA slam dunk contest?

Rob Kinnan-USA TODAY Sports

CS: [Laughs] We’ll see. I don’t want to say I will, but I definitely will highly consider it. I’ve thought about it every year since, like, sixth grade.

How old were you when you first dunked a basketball on a 10-foot rim?

CS: I was either 11 or 12 years old. I had a lot of friends who were like two or three years older than I was, so they were dunking before I was. But in my grade and in my age group, I was first. It was crazy. I was always close. Everyone knew that one of these days, I was going to get it. It was like before school started in the summer, some orientation day and I was in a Polo and Vans.

Who are some players who you’ve watched that you feel like you can emulate? 

CS: I’d say Russell Westbrook and Zach LaVine. I actually grew up a USC fan, though. But I started gravitating toward UCLA a little bit when Lonzo Ball came around.

BACKGROUND 

What are some of your fondest memories of playing basketball at a big high school like Sierra Canyon?

CS: I’d say probably winning two state championships back-to-back. That’d be it. That’d be it, for sure. That’s a great school. It’s a great environment with great people there from top to bottom. It’s a family. It’s a warm environment. I think they’re going to be very successful every year because people want to go there. Not even just for basketball. Just when you get on campus, you feel at home. I think they’re going to be very successful every year. They are just going to keep getting elite players.

What is it like seeing Drake rep your school and rocking Sierra Canyon gear?

CS: Oh, yeah. It’s pretty crazy. We definitely had our fair share of people there too, though, so I’m not surprised to see it get to that level. We had Kanye at a game. We’ve had many other people. It’s always great to have celebrities rep your school. It’s pretty interesting how I went from Sierra Canyon in a spotlight to Duke in the spotlight. It’s really interesting to see how not much has changed from both environments.

What are the biggest similarities and differences between Sierra Canyon and Duke? That is a path that Marvin Bagley III took as well. 

CS: I think both schools are very well-run. Both schools want the best and want to be the best and know how to teach players and kids how to be the best at whatever they are trying to do.

What was it like playing in front of someone like Kanye West and the Kardashians while in high school?

CS: It was pretty fun. It definitely gets you prepared for the next level of college and especially the NBA. The NBA, you are going to see all kinds of people at your games. So it’s very interesting to have had that in high school and it’s very unique.

What are you currently studying in school for your online courses?

CS: Right now, I’m taking the History of Hip-Hop as well as computer science and a classical musical class and ancient sports in Greece.

Do you think that you’ll eventually try to earn a degree from Duke? 

CS: Oh, yeah. Definitely. Not in the beginning years of my career because I really want to sit down and focus on basketball and being the best player that I can be. But towards the back end of my career, I definitely want to get back to Duke and finish out. That is one of the biggest things my dad preaches, getting a degree. I would like a degree either in economics or in law because I want to be in those two fields. My main goal is to end up being the commissioner of the NBA.

Oh, wow. That is amazing. Please do tell me everything about that goal. 

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CS: It has been a thing of mine since probably a couple years ago. Maybe even junior high school. That’s about the only dream job probably for me if anyone had to ask. I feel like the sport of basketball is the field I want to take on. So right now, I’m obviously working on the playing field in that sport. But I feel like you are only going to play the game for 10 or 12 years max, if you are lucky. After that, you have a whole life story. I feel like I want to stay in the field of basketball and I feel like I don’t really want to be a broadcaster or a coach, so I feel like being the commissioner would be the best thing. I’m really interested in it. I’ll see what I can while I’m playing, what internships and things I can do to get involved.

What are some things you would want to do as the commissioner of the NBA?

CS: I just want to be in a position to help the younger generation and help the guys who are going to be coming after me and then after them and make the league better for them.

Could you see yourself being involved with the NBPA and the union?

CS: Oh, yeah. Definitely. I think I could definitely be a team rep. And just attend meetings and meet the right people and be involved.

What were some of the biggest things you learned from your father, who is an NBA agent?

CS: I’d probably say keeping a routine. Stability in life is one of the most important things I’ve taken from my dad. Trying to keep things stable. A lot changes. It’s hard to deal with, especially if you are doing the change. So a routine, doing everything the same way and mastering it, is important. He has helped a lot. I definitely have a good head on my shoulders when it comes to making decisions when it comes to athletics. But also academics with my dad being a lawyer. I think I got a good mix of both.

What are some of the biggest things that you learned from your mom?

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

CS: I’d say being competitive. Being aggressive. Be the best. Try to win everything. I was going to gravitate toward sports in some way. My mom is an athlete and my dad represents athletes.

What do you like to do when you are not playing basketball? 

CS: Obviously, I’m big into school. Education and knowledge is key. I take school really seriously. After that, I’m really big into listening to music. I like to explore music and many different genres. I’m a big article reader. I like to read a lot of different articles.

You mentioned a wide range of music. What are some of your favorites?

CS: I definitely listen to Drake. I listen to Kanye West for sure. I listen to Travis Scott. I’ll listen to jazz. I have a wide range of jazz. I like to listen to Herbie Hancock and Miles Davis. My dad got me into jazz. That is pretty much all he listens to. That and Motown and soul. I’m not as into that. But I picked up on the jazz.

What are some things that you like about listening to jazz music?

CS: You aren’t going to have many lyrics in your jazz. But you can still pick out tone and what the artist is trying to convey in whatever instrument they are playing.

I love that. Do you like to play any kind of video games at all? 

CS: Ah. Not really. But lately, I have been just because the options of doing things during the quarantine have been very low. But I’ve always been a guy who tries to stay away from video games because I feel like it just hurts my head. It just kills my brain cells. I’ll maybe play an hour or two because I can not play it all day. It hurts my head. I’ll do movies or TV shows instead.

Any movies or TV shows that you’ve seen that you’ve liked recently?

CS: I am watching “The Sopranos” right now. I watched “Entourage.” I’ll pretty much go on HBO and Showtime. I’m getting around to watching Netflix, too. I’m trying out all kinds of shows. Like, I just finished “All-American.” I felt like season one was better than season two. It deviated away from the sport.

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The fifth anniversary of the (missed) call that sunk the Badgers

Five years ago today I was a sophomore in high school sitting on my uncle’s couch watching the Wisconsin Badgers play for the National Championship against the Duke Blue Devils. Though I had no affiliation with the Badgers at the time, something …

Five years ago today I was a sophomore in high school sitting on my uncle’s couch watching the Wisconsin Badgers play for the National Championship against the Duke Blue Devils. Though I had no affiliation with the Badgers at the time, something about their team, how they played and the way they were going toe-to-toe with the blue blood programs of college basketball was intriguing to me and, as a result, was quickly winning my fandom.

 

The majority of the country not located in Durham, N.C. wanted Duke to lose that game. Wisconsin’s story was too perfect: a team who fell short in the closing seconds during the previous year’s Final Four to the Kentucky Wildcats, returned the core of their team, got back to the Final Four, beat the then-undefeated Wildcats–ending their bid at a 40-0 season–and now found themselves going head-to-head with the least likeable program in college basketball, the Duke Blue Devils.

 

Badger fans also knew that the end to Bo Ryan’s legendary tenure as head coach was nearing its end, and this might be the best shot they’d ever get at winning a title.

 

Well, fast forward 36 minutes of basketball and the Badgers trail by one with 3:20 left on the clock. Yes, I’m skipping over how Ryan’s unit got out to a nine-point lead in the second half only to see it get erased almost single-handedly by Grayson Allen. And no, this isn’t the missed call you thought I was talking about.

 

The play in question developed when Justise Winslow caught an inbound pass and immediately drove baseline on Nigel Hayes with Hayes doing a tremendous job at cutting off his angle to the rim. During the drive, clear as day, Winslow stepped on the baseline with his right foot before picking up his dribble, turning and finding Jahlil Okafor under the basket who scored while getting fouled by Frank Kaminsky.

 

The baseline referee during all of this seemed to be staring right at Winslow, though wasn’t able to see that his foot touched the black line on the baseline before giving up the ball.

 

This missed call, made with Duke leading by one, would’ve given the Badgers the basketball back with a shot at taking the lead and having the momentum with three minutes to play. Instead, Duke scored on the play as part of a 7-0 run that put them pretty much out-of-reach given how much time was left in the game.

 

Many people look back at this game and think of the controversial call a minute later when, with Duke leading by five, Bronson Koenig drove to the rim, missed, and hands went flying for the ball before it eventually landed out-of-bounds. In real-time it appeared that Koenig was the last to touch the ball, though on instant replay it was clear that Winslow’s finger grazed the ball as it was flying out of his reach. The referees obviously stuck with their initial ruling that Wisconsin touched it last and the rest is history.

 

There are obviously a lot of what-ifs when you re-watch old sporting events and think about what could have been if a single moment went the other way. In this case, though, these queries are warranted, and it’s hard to think about how history would’ve been different had the baseline referee seen Winslow step out-of-bounds.

Wisconsin, Kentucky and Duke, 5 years later

Wisconsin’s 2015 Final Four

It is a simple question to ask, but not an easy one to answer. It is a simple A or B choice (with the possibility that one could say “neither” or “both”), but it contains very complicated and competing emotions.

The question is this: Five years later, on what would have been the weekend of the 2020 Final Four, which game lingers more in your memory as a Wisconsin Badger fan — the 2015 Final Four semifinal win over Kentucky, or the championship game loss two nights later against Duke?

Take your time. This is a big question.

It might seem like a stupid question, from both sides of the debate.

Well, DUH, Wisconsin beat a 38-0 team at the Final Four and won its first Final Four game since the 1941 championship game against Washington State. OF COURSE the Kentucky game mattered more!

Well, DUH, Wisconsin had a nine-point second-half lead and was SO CLOSE to winning a national championship in front of 70,000 people on national television… and it was F***ING DUKE we lost to! GRAYSON ALLEN BEAT US! OF COURSE the Duke game mattered more!

Wisconsin made history and gained immortality on Saturday night in Indianapolis. Wisconsin almost made history and almost gained immortality on Monday night in Lucas Oil Stadium.

The 2015 Badgers will always be remembered for ruining Kentucky’s dream of a 40-0 season, which would have been college basketball’s first perfect season since Indiana under Bobby Knight in 1976. Yet, the 2015 Badgers will never be remembered as national champions… because Duke stood in their way and wrested that title from UW’s grasp.

It’s a very complicated question, and there is no definitive right — or wrong — answer. It is very personal, very individual, very much dependent on your story, your lived experience, your journey with the 2015 Badgers and with Wisconsin basketball in general.

The win over Kentucky, in addition to being historic on a national scale (stopping UK’s unbeaten season), gained revenge against the Wildcats for their 2014 Final Four semifinal win over Wisconsin. That made the victory extra sweet for the Badgers and their fans.

The loss to Duke, in addition to denying Wisconsin a first national title in 74 years, occurred to the college basketball team America loves to hate more than any other. The other player — in addition to Grayson Allen — who led the Duke rally down the stretch was Tyus Jones, who was Minnesota-born and almost certainly relished, as a Minnesotan, dealing a Wisconsin team a stinging loss.

The side details of the Saturday victory and the Monday loss are both rich and straight out of a Hollywood script. There were Biblical emotions in both games, a cocktail of boiling hatreds and soaring versions of euphoria. The win over Kentucky could not have been more delicious than it actually was, and the loss to Duke could not have unfolded in a more brutal fashion.

Do you remember the Kentucky win or the Duke loss more, five years later?

Simple question. Complicated emotions. As March turns into April and we contemplate a weekend without the Final Four this year, every Wisconsin fan can think about how the past five years have — or haven’t — changed their minds on this topic.

Former Warriors’ guard Quinn Cook announces his first children’s book

Quinn Cook is revealing his “10 recipes to success” in his new children’s book, “The Cook Book.”

While the NBA season is on hold due to the coronavirus pandemic, a bevy of players across the league are finding new ways to fill their free time. Players have been getting creative on social media while playing video games and watching old highlights during the league’s hiatus.

However, former Warriors‘ guard Quinn Cook is taking a unique route while there are no games on the calendar until further notice. On Tuesday, Cook announced his first-ever children’s book. The Lakers’ guard’s text is cleverly titled “The Cook Book.”

Via @QCook323 on Twitter:

According to Cook, the book will reveal his “10 recipes to success.” After winning championships at the college and pro levels, it’s safe to say Cook has some experience in the field of success.

In 2015, Cook hung an NCAA Tournament championship banner in Cameron Indoor as a second-team All-American for the Duke Blue Devils. The G League All-Star later won a Larry O’Brien Trophy coming off the bench for the Warriors in 2018.

In his first season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Cook is averaging 4.8 points and 1.1 assists in 10.8 minutes per game.

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Grad transfer Seth Towns to announce decision between Ohio State and Duke tonight

Harvard graduate transfer Seth Towns will reportedly be announcing his decision between Duke and Ohio State tonight on SportsCenter.

We’ve been on the Seth Towns watch now all week after he announced his intention of deciding his transfer destination this week via Twitter. It now appears as though we’ll know where the nation’s No. 1 rated transfer will be headed before the clock strikes midnight Saturday.

According to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports, the 6-foot, 7-inch power forward from Columbus will make his decision known for all the world sometime tonight. In fact, further information from 270Hoops has confirmed that he will be announcing between Ohio State and Duke at 11 PM Eastern on SportsCenter.

Towns was the Ivy League Player of the Year in 2017 but has been befallen by injury since. If he’s healthy, he provides a stretch four that has great length and sneaky smooth moves to the rim. He can also step out and bomb away from long range.

Duke has expressed serious interest at the eleventh hour, but with Columbus being his hometown, Ohio State has been thought to be the leader to land his services. Anytime the Blue Devils are in on it, you just never know though.

Towns has the type of skill set that fits any program, but it would be a huge get for Ohio State to add another versatile player that can plug into one of many positions on the court and be effective as a scoring threat at multiple spots on the floor.

We’ll have his decision once it is announced later tonight.

 

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Harvard graduate transfer Seth Towns to choose between Ohio State and Duke

Columbus native Seth Towns will choose to continue his basketball career at either Ohio State or Duke. A decision should come this week.

Harvard’s Seth Towns is a wanted man when it comes to schools looking to add a graduate transfer. Widely considered the No. 1 option as a transfer available, he was inundated with interest when he placed his name in the transfer portal just a few short weeks ago.

It now appears as though the Columbus native has been able to cull that list down to just two schools according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. One of them is blue blood Duke, the other is the hometown Ohio State Buckeyes. That’s right — OSU is trying to pry away a very talented basketball player away from the Blue Devils and Coach K.

That may sound like it’s far fetched, but the fact that Towns has whittled his list down to two means he is seriously considering both. That should mean OSU has a legitimate shot here especially considering he is a graduate of Northland High School, and since OSU was thought to be the front-runner all along.

Still, having Duke come calling at reportedly the eleventh hour has to have him intrigued, and at this point, there’s at least a very good shot that Towns decides to head to Durham to continue his career.

A 6-foot-7-inches and 215-pounds, Towns was the Ivy League Player of the Year for the 2017-2018 season, but has struggled with getting back on the court after a knee injury suffered at the tail end of the 2018 season.

If he is truly healthy and can be anywhere near the player he was, getting his 16 points and almost six rebounds a game would be a great addition for Ohio State and Chris Holtmann.

Many programs have been awaiting his decision ever since he Tweeted out his intention of picking a school this week, so the news could come at any time.

As soon as it happens, we’ll have the news.

 

Tyus Jones offers scouting report on brother, NBA prospect Tre Jones

As the NBA responds to coronavirus, scouting has become more challenging. So we asked Tyus Jones for help evaluating his brother Tre Jones.

As the NBA responds to coronavirus, scouting has become more challenging. So we asked Tyus Jones for help evaluating his brother Tre Jones.

After the 2018-19 NCAA Men’s Basketball season concluded, the point guard tested the waters to be in the 2019 NBA draft alongside Duke teammates Zion Williamson as well as RJ Barrett and Cameron Reddish. One of the reasons that he opted to return to college, according to his older brother Tyus, who currently plays for the Memphis Grizzlies, was to try to make another impact in March Madness.

HoopsHype caught up with Tyus when he was in Brooklyn to play the Nets on March 4. He said that Duke was “ready to go on a run” and that he knew his brother “was going to do his thing.”

Now that the season is over, Tre officially averaged 16.2 points with 6.4 assists and 1.3 three-pointers per game while shooting 36.1 percent from beyond the arc. Those marks helped him secure ACC Player of the Year in 2020.

Tre also averaged 1.8 steals per game, securing his conference’s Defensive Player of the Year Award as well.

“I know he is an NBA player. He has been. I’ve known that for a few years now,” explained Tyus. “Obviously, I’ve seen him from a closer perspective. But I’ve known for a few years that he is an NBA player whenever he decides he is ready for it.”

One of his most impressive accolades: Tre had the second-most assists in his conference during both of his collegiate campaigns thus far.

He also averaged 1.9 assists per game in a transition offense, per Synergy Sports, which ranked Top 10 among all D1 players in 2019-20. Duke also played at the fastest adjusted-tempo of any team ranked Top 50 or better, per KenPom.

“He can continue to be who he is but in the league,” noted Tyus. “He is a tremendous leader. He is a guy who can get to his own shots when he needs it. But he can also run the team as a crazy, on-ball defender. He can take any point guard out of the game and make his night long. I see him continuing to be who he is at the next level because he has done at every level.”

Opponents finished 297 possessions when guarded by Jones but scored just 0.66 points per possession on these opportunities. That ranked in the 96th percentile among all NCAA players, per Synergy Sports.

It was also the second-best mark among all D1 players who had at least 275 finishes, as noted by WhiteAndBlueReview.com.

His adjusted defensive rating (89.7 percent) and his steal percentage (2.8 percent) both ranked Top 5 among underclassmen in his conference who played at least 55 percent of minutes possible for their team this year, per Bart-Torvik.

“We both play the game the right way with a high basketball IQ. We are unselfish. We are leaders,” added Tyus. “He has got me on the defensive end. That is just something that I can’t even begin to claim. Tre is one of the best defenders I have ever seen.”

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Meet Trevon McSwain, Duke’s gem of a DL prospect

Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Duke defensive line prospect Trevon McSwain

If your favorite NFL team is looking for an under-the-radar defensive line prospect in this year’s draft, Duke’s Trevon McSwain has all the traits to be one of this year’s best bargain picks in the defensive trenches.

An experienced, disruptive defender, McSwain recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his all-star experience, what about his skill set sets him apart, and how playing for the Blue Devils prepared him for the next level.

JM: What was your experience like at the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl?

TM: It was an amazing experience. All of the guys were so great out there. The coaching staff was fantastic. They gave us some great in-sight into what the NFL is like and what’s expected of you as a pro. I feel like they gave me the knowledge necessary for me to go have a long career.

JM: For our readers who are still getting familiar with you, how would you describe your skill set?

TM: I’m a quick and agile defensive linemen. I’m a big guy, but I can really move. I play fast and physical.

JM: What do you enjoy more: Playing as a run stopper, or getting after the quarterback?

TM: Playing in the run game is fun, because there’s some grittiness to it. It’s an excellent way to test an opponent’s will. At the end of the day, I’d definitely side with playing in the passing game, though.

(AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

JM: You prefer to get after the quarterback. How would you describe your pass rush arsenal?

TM: I’m a quick defensive linemen that’s going to try and beat you off the ball. I’m gonna play fast and physical from the whistle. I enjoy working the edge, as well. I’m that type of pass rusher.

JM: How much of being a successful pass rusher is accomplished pre-snap?

TM: I would say a good bit of that is accomplished pre-snap. Pre-snap awareness is huge. If you’re able to identify a play before the snap, the advantage is in your favor. It’s important to know and understand your opponent’s tendencies. Is he the kind of guy that lunges at you? I’d say about 70% of a successful pass rushing rep is accomplished pre-snap.

JM: Playing at Duke afforded you the opportunity to play against some of the best talent around the nation. Who are some offensive linemen that stood out to you?

TM: I wouldn’t say that I can single out any offensive linemen in particular, to be honest with you. I pay closer to attention to the offensive scheme in general. I moved around our defensive line so much that I had a great vantage point. Scheme-wise, I thought that Clemson and Notre Dame were very impressive. Those would be my top two.

(Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)

JM: I know you’ve had so many great teammates throughout your time at Duke, but I’m gonna put you on the spot. If you were going into battle tomorrow and could only bring one with you, who would you bring and why?

TM: I would have to go with Chris Rumph II. If you take a look at him, he may appear a little underweight, but he can hold his own out there. He’s a snappy little guy (laughs). We moved him all over the place. He’s listed as a defensive end, but we played him at linebacker in certain sub-packages. He played as a stand-up rusher, as well.

JM: How did your time at Duke prepare you for what’s next?

TM: I feel like they really taught me the game of football. Our defensive line coach and co-defensive coordinator coach [Ben] Albert really taught me so much from a defensive perspective. He taught me how to really watch film and take notes on the opponent’s tendencies. He helped me identify little subtle hints that tip off which way an offensive linemen’s kick-slide is gonna go. I learned what I should be looking for pre-snap.

I played as a scout for the offense during my freshmen year. That gave me a lot of time to look at the offense. It allowed me to learn and understand what they look for. I felt like a double agent there for a bit (laughs). There was a time where I actually switched over and practiced as an offensive tackle. I never played in a game as an offensive tackle but I spent some time there during camp. I ended up sticking at defensive tackle but I got to look at things from the perspective of the offense. It still gave me some great in-sight into what they do.

JM: What kind of impact is Trevon McSwain going to make at the next level?

TM: Hopefully, I’m going to make a very large impact. I’m making sure that I’m treating my body the best way that I can. Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. I’m just soaking it all in. I’m learning everything I can. I’m doing a lot of learning right now. Hopefully, I’ll be making plays all over the place.

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North Carolina at Duke college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing North Carolina at Duke sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks and tips.

The North Carolina Tar Heels (13-17, 6-13 in the ACC) visit their Atlantic Coast Conference rival, the Duke Blue Devils (24-6, 14-5 in the ACC),  Saturday for a 6 p.m. ET tip-off at the Cameron Indoor Stadium. We analyze the North Carolina-Duke odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

North Carolina at Duke: Three things you need to know

  1. North Carolina is playing its best basketball of the season. The Tar Heels are on a three-game winning streak (all against ACC competition) following a seven-game losing streak. Duke has been struggling lately losing two of its last three games.
  2. North Carolina lost a heartbreaker, 98-96, in the first game this season against Duke thanks to Wendell Moore Jr.’s buzzer-beating putback in overtime. 
  3. Duke got revenge against North Carolina State in its previous game, 88-69 on March 2, after the Wolfpack upset the Blue Devils on NC State’s home floor. 

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North Carolina at Duke: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 10:00 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Duke 78, North Carolina 70

Moneyline (ML)

North Carolina (+475) out-rebounded and shot better from the field than Duke -667 in their first meeting. The Tar Heels’ major flaw in that game was committing 18 turnovers to the Blue Devils’ 11. Both teams are stacked with well-recruited talent. The key matchups of Duke’s PG Tre Jones and C Vernon Carey Jr. versus North Carolina’s PG Cole Anthony and PF Garrison Brooks were essentially draws. It’s hard to fathom the Tar Heels scoring an upset in Duke after blowing a double-digit lead in their own home. We certainly aren’t spending the exorbitant Duke moneyline price. PASS ON THE MONEYLINE.

Against the Spread (ATS)

North Carolina +11.5 (-125) have covered five consecutive games, and six out of seven, against Duke -11.5 (+105). Plus Duke has been struggling lately losing two of its last three games and are 4-6 ATS in their last 10 games. The Tar Heels get up for tough teams on the road—they are 6-4 ATS versus winning teams. Also, Duke is 1-3 ATS when laying 10-12 points.

LIKE NORTH CAROLINA +11.5 (-125).

Over/Under (O/U)

The last North Carolina-Duke game went Over the projected total, snapping a six-game Under streak. I think Saturday’s game will go Under, but it’s only a slight LEAN toward UNDER 152.5 (-110). It’s only a lean though because Duke has a 21-9 Over/Under record on the season, and both the Tar Heels and Blue Devils went Over the projected total in five of their previous six games.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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NC State at Duke college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Previewing Monday’s NC State at Duke sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks, tips and best bets.

The NC State Wolfpack (18-11, 9-9 ACC) pay a visit to Cameron Indoor Stadium to take on the Duke Blue Devils (23-6, 13-5) in a 7 p.m. ET ACC contest Monday. We analyze the NC State-Duke odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

NC State at Duke: Three things you need to know

1. NC State routed Duke 88-66 in Raleigh Feb. 19. The Wolfpack held the ACC’s top offense (82.1 points per game) to a 37.7% mark (26-of-69) from the floor in a game controlled wire-to-wire. The Blue Devils entered the game favored by six points. The result spelled the sixth straight win against the spread for the underdog in this series.

2. With two losses in closer fashion, the Devils are 1-2 since that dismantling in Raleigh. The two losses have included problems on defense (in a 113-101 double-overtime loss at Wake Forest Feb. 25) and on offense (52-50 loss at Virginia Saturday). Although Duke does not shoot threes at a high rate, one common theme in the recent losses has been an inability to hit shots from beyond the arc. Over the losses to the Wolfpack, Demon Deacons and Cavaliers, the Blue Devils shot an aggregate 24.6% (14-of-57) from 3-point range.

3. Like Duke, NC State has followed that first meeting with a win and two losses. The game the Wolfpack did win — Saturday vs. Pitt — was one which saw the Panthers lead for all but the final five minutes.


Get some action on this college basketball matchup or others by placing a legal sports bet at BetMGM! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.


North Carolina State at Duke: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 8:35 a.m. ET.

Prediction

Duke 82, NC State 68

Moneyline (ML)

The overall lean is on Duke in a revenge game at home, but PASS on the price, as there is just too much chalk on Duke (-909) to win outright.

Against the Spread (ATS)

Duke is 8-7 ATS at home. When the Devils cover, they’ve tended to cover by double digits.

The home five here have an elite ability to create and score off turnovers and get second-chance looks off the offensive glass. Over recent home games, the Blue Devils have had too many dominant 6-to-10-minute stretches to ignore. Those surges produce enough of a point differential to warrant a moderate-confidence play on DUKE -13 (+105).

Over/Under (O/U)

This game has a big number with the total set at 151.5 (Over: +100, Under: -121). In a few scenarios, the expected game flow gets us close enough to sit this one out. PASS.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

Gannett may earn revenue from audience referrals to betting services.  Newsrooms are independent of this relationship and there is no influence on news coverage.

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