Tag: Paolo Banchero

Michael Savarino, Paolo Banchero face DWI charges after traffic stop

The two Duke players reportedly face driving while impaired charges after they were stopped early Sunday morning.

Michael Savarino and Paolo Banchero reportedly face driving while impaired charges after the two Duke Blue Devils players were stopped early Sunday morning, according to the Charlotte Observer.

Savarino, the grandson of Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski, was charged with DWI after getting stopped in Orange County, North Carolina. Banchero, a potential No. 1 overall pick next year, was charged with aiding and abetting DWI.

The N.C. Highway Patrol stopped Savarino for a stop sign violation and later observed signs of impairment. He registered a blood-alcohol level of .08 and was taken into custody. He was charged with DWI, driving after consuming alcohol under the age of 21 and the stop sign violation. His court date is set for Dec. 9.

The two players were riding in a 2017 Jeep SUV registered to Banchero. He was released at the site of the stop and will have a court date on Dec. 8. According to the report, aiding and abetting a DWI can be cited when a person knowingly turns their vehicle over to someone that is impaired or when they fail to stop an impaired person from driving.

Krzyzewski released the following statement through the program:

We are reviewing a legal matter involving two members of the men’s basketball team. Any further actions as a result of this situation will ultimately be determined by the Vice President/Director of Athletics and University officials.

Savarino joined the program as a walk-on in 2019 and was elevated to a scholarship player this past offseason. He made his season debut on Friday, recording one rebound in four minutes during a win over Army. He logged two appearances last season.

Banchero, the No. 3 recruit, was named the ACC Preseason Player of the Year and is widely considered to be in the conversation to become the top pick in the NBA next year. He produced 22 points in his debut on Nov. 9 and is averaging 19.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals.

The seventh-ranked Blue Devils return to play on Tuesday against Campbell at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The status of the two players in that contest is not yet known.

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

[lawrence-related id=43967,38929,37772]

[mm-video type=video id=01fm5zm0367bwy461byr playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fm5zm0367bwy461byr/01fm5zm0367bwy461byr-501b2fa1fbe145c164544c01a4223450.jpg]

[listicle id=36125]

Paolo Banchero reacts to LeBron James mentioning him on Instagram

Banchero had a wholesome reaction to seeing James give him a shoutout on Instagram.

No. 2 overall prospect Paolo Banchero made his official collegiate debut with the ninth-ranked Duke Blue Devils on Tuesday, and even earned a shoutout from LeBron James afterward.

Banchero produced 22 points, seven rebounds and two steals during the 79-71 win over the No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats. He connected on 7-of-11 shot attempts from the field, going 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. He had his mid-range shot working, while he also finished at the rim.

The first look at Banchero in a Blue Devils uniform further fueled the immense hype surrounding him. He showed why he is considered to be a potential No. 1 pick in the NBA draft next year after dazzling during his time on the court.

James gave Banchero a shoutout on his Instagram story after his debut.

Screenshot/Instagram

Banchero previously took part in a photoshoot with SLAM Magazine where he is seen lacing up the LeBron 11s. While he didn’t wear those on Tuesday, instead opting to go with the Kyrie Irving 7s, James still gave him a shoutout on Instagram.

He took to Twitter to offer a wholesome reaction to seeing James’ post.

Certainly, to receive a shoutout from James will be a moment Banchero remembers for a long time. He watched plenty of James growing up and tried to take elements of his game into his own development.

He could even join James as an eventual No. 1 overall pick.

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

[lawrence-related id=38929,33493,24563]

[mm-video type=video id=01fm589c4z23fbnzhvs8 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fm589c4z23fbnzhvs8/01fm589c4z23fbnzhvs8-49b744bbebc6142698fe1105b3207489.jpg]

[listicle id=43746]

Paolo Banchero dropped 22 points amidst cramping issues in Duke debut

Banchero needed an IV in the second half but still managed to score 22 points in his debut as Duke defeated Kentucky.

Trevor Keels produced a team-high 25 points, Paolo Banchero battled through cramping issues but still managed to score 22 points on Tuesday to lead the No. 9 Duke Blue Devils to a win over the 10th-ranked Kentucky Wildcats.

Banchero left the contest briefly in the second half to receive treatment, and was among four Blue Devils players to deal with cramps. Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said Banchero, along with Wendell Moore Jr., received IVs inside of the locker room.

The cramping, Banchero said, was the first of its kind.

I’ve never cramped that early in a game. I have cramped before. It’s not really a problem for me. I gotta figure out why that was. I thought I was pretty hydrated. It wasn’t fun but it is what it is. You gotta adjust and Trev and the rest of the team stepped up and we were able to pull it out.

The first look at Banchero with the Blue Devils only further ignited the immense hype surrounding him. He showed precisely why he is considered to be a potential No. 1 overall pick next year in the NBA draft, and dazzled during his time on the court.

Banchero connected on 7-of-11 shot attempts from the field, going 8-of-9 from the free-throw line. He had his mid-range shot working, often creating space with his patented jab-step move, while he was also able to finish strong at the rim.

The effort was further highlighted in a primetime win over Kentucky.

Seeing that clock hit zero with us with more points than them was a relief. We wanted to get this win, especially for Coach in the first game. It was a big game for us coming in. We felt like we had a chance to make a statement with this game and come out and play well.

While Banchero put up a strong effort in his debut, Keels stole the show after emerging as the leading shot-creator for the Blue Devils throughout the game. He is considered to be a mid-to-late first-round pick next year but could improve that stock with more performances like on Tuesday.

His 25 points were tied for the third-most in a debut under Coach K.

With Banchero and Keels leading the way this season, along with A.J. Griffin and Mark Williams, Duke will likely be one of the top teams in the country this season. They certainly showed just how powerful they can be against the Wildcats.

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

[lawrence-related id=43872,38929,37772]

[mm-video type=video id=01fm589c4z23fbnzhvs8 playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fm589c4z23fbnzhvs8/01fm589c4z23fbnzhvs8-49b744bbebc6142698fe1105b3207489.jpg]

[listicle id=36125]

2022 NBA draft: Breaking down the best freshmen in college basketball

It’s no secret that in the NBA draft, the first few players selected are almost always one-and-done freshmen. So who will it be next season?

It’s no secret that in the NBA draft, the first few players selected are almost always one-and-done freshmen. So who will it be next season?

Of course, it’s hard to say definitively before the college basketball season begins. But with the Champions Classic tipping off at Madison Square Garden on Nov. 9, another year of collegiate hoops is about to begin. That means another year of prospects are going to make their NCAA debuts and show scouts what they can potentially do as pros.

Below are ten of the best freshmen who are making the transition to the college ranks — as well as another watch-list of some other notable and interesting freshmen to pay attention to as well.

(Note that Memphis’ Emoni Bates was not included because he is not eligible to be drafted until the 2023 NBA draft.)

Paolo Banchero becomes first college player to appear in NBA 2K

Banchero signed an endorsement deal with 2K Sports, becoming the first collegiate athlete to appear in any NBA 2K video game.

Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero on Friday announced that he has signed an endorsement contract with 2K Sports, becoming the first collegiate athlete to appear in any NBA 2K video game.

The news was first reported by The Boardroom.

On Friday, NBA 2K22 was released worldwide across all platforms ahead of the 2021-22 season. Banchero will be a playable character on the video game and will help 2K Sports create additional content throughout the upcoming season.

Banchero is the latest player to sign an endorsement contract following recent legislation enabling collegiate athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness. He recently signed with CAA Basketball to negotiate future NIL opportunities.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CTpWJWkDS4w/

Banchero opted out of playing last season but was named the Washington Gatorade Player of the Year two years ago as a junior after averaging 22.6 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 blocked shots. He is considered to be the No. 2 overall prospect in the class of 2021.

The 19-year-old is in the conversation to be the No. 1 overall pick next year. He has been highly touted for his ability on both ends of the floor and has proven that he can score at all three levels on the court. He also has the size at 6 feet, 10 inches that NBA teams covet.

Given his skillset on the court, Banchero was viewed as a prime candidate to cash in on his name, image and likeness this season at Duke. With the news on Friday that he will sign with 2K Sports, his NIL deal will go down in the history books.

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

[lawrence-related id=37772,37122,38795]

[mm-video type=video id=01febs9f38yem812nkxs playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01febs9f38yem812nkxs/01febs9f38yem812nkxs-dd27b73aac40377e51ea1e8d20140b95.jpg]

[listicle id=36125]

2022 aggregate NBA mock draft: Debut ranking of all notable prospects

The 2021 NBA draft class finished their first go-around in the summer league, which means evaluators are fully focused on next year’s class.

The 2021 NBA draft class finished their first go-around in the summer league, which means evaluators are fully focused on next year’s class.

In order to help us get a better sense of where all of the projected top prospects in the class stand as of right now, we compiled mock drafts from Bleacher Report, Yahoo, The Athletic, Yahoo, SB Nation, NBADraft.net, CBS Sports, and USA TODAY Sports Media Group’s For The Win.

Please note that these rankings reflect the composite score to get a feel for consensus, not our own opinion.

Collegiate teams who had more than two players appear on a mock were Auburn, Baylor, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, Tennessee and UCLA. Three players will be on the G League’s Ignite roster and one is on Overtime’s Elite squad.

Additionally, seven players are rostered in Spain and four are playing in Australia’s NBL. There are also three players on Serbia’s KK Mega Basket included.

Freshmen one-and-done candidates who didn’t make the list but could climb on to join during the season: Harrison Ingram (Stanford), Trevor Keels (Duke), Bryce McGowens (Nebraska), Josh Minott (Memphis), Kowacie Reeves (Florida), Bryce Hopkins (Kentucky), Nathan Bittle (Oregon) and Jeremy Sochan (Baylor).

Some of the most notable collegiate returners who were snubbed from these rankings: Marcus Williams (Texas A&M), Jonathan Davis (Wisconsin), Kofi Cockburn (Illinois), Zach Edey (Purdue), Adam Miller (LSU), Colin Castleton (Florida) and Tyson Etienne (Wichita State).

Relevant international prospects to know who were not included below: Fedor Zugic, Lefteris Mantzoukas, Jayson Tchicamboud, Nikita Mikhailovskii, Yoan Makoundou, Tom Digbeu and Makur Maker.

Otherwise, you can learn the latest updates on every single prospect who has been included in recent mock drafts by scrolling below.

HoopsHype’s Alberto de Roa contributed research to this report

Main Image: Coley Cleary / USA TODAY Sports Media Group

Paolo Banchero signs with sports agency to pursue NIL opportunities

Banchero is the latest collegiate player to hire representation to negotiate future name, image and likeness deals.

Duke Blue Devils forward Paolo Banchero has signed with CAA Basketball to pursue name, image and likeness endorsement and sponsorship opportunities.

Banchero, who committed to Duke in August 2020, is the latest player to join an agency following the legislation enabling collegiate athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness. As the third-ranked player in the class, Banchero is a prime candidate to earn future endorsement deals.

The five-star recruit opted out of playing at O’Dea High School in Washington last season. However, he was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state two seasons ago as a junior after averaging 22.6 points, 11 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 blocked shots.

Banchero is considered to be the potential No. 1 overall pick next year.

He has been highly touted for his ability on both ends of the floor and has proven to be a player that can score at all three levels on the court. Banchero projects to be a difficult matchup in college given his size at 6-foot-10 and overall ability.

The recent legislation enabling collegiate athletes to profit off of their name, image and likeness will likely go a long way in helping programs land big-time recruits over professional leagues. Certainly, Banchero figures to cash in this season at Duke.

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

[lawrence-related id=37759,35318,37122]

[mm-video type=video id=01fdfre7fp4454977w4t playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01fdfre7fp4454977w4t/01fdfre7fp4454977w4t-3a30e1b6d07817e81c45c26a4b86ec27.jpg]

[listicle id=37550]

2021 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting all 59 picks, starting with Chet Holmgren

Let’s look ahead to next year’s draft.

We are only a couple of weeks removed from the 2021 NBA draft and it’s silly to publish a mock draft for next year. But let’s do it anyway.

Because frankly, far away as though it may seem, ten months can go by fast. Although a lot is going to change, some things stay the same. For example, I published my first mock draft of the 2020 cycle in May 2019 and all three of the first projected picks heard their names called within the first three picks nearly fifteen months later. Much of the rest, of course, is utterly wrong and embarrassing. But it is still helpful to track progression and regression.

Before we discuss the next crop of future NBA talent, however, let’s address the elephant in the room. You have probably noticed that the headline said this mock draft highlights 59 picks. No, that isn’t a typo.

Allow me to explain. The Milwaukee Bucks have forfeited the rights to their second-round pick in the 2022 NBA draft due to violating league rules regarding an attempted transaction made back in Nov. 2020. While it sucks for the additional person who is going to go undrafted, undrafted free agency isn’t the worst thing.

Otherwise, the order of this draft was determined by reversing the NBA futures odds courtesy of Tipico SportsBook. The teams whose odds fell outside the eight best in each conference composed the projected lottery. Meanwhile, all picks involved with previous trades were included in the order as well.

Another quick housekeeping note: My mock drafts tend to be fairly data-driven. But that can sometimes lead to some blind spots for evaluating prospects playing outside the NCAA (e.g. high school, AAU, FIBA, etc.), which made pre-season mock drafts particularly difficult.

That’s no longer the case thanks to the help from our fantastic new partners over at Cerebro Sports, a stats and analytics resource that scrapes box scores to determine how top basketball prospects have stacked up against all their previous competition.

With all that in mind, far away as we may be from draft night on June 22, here is how I see everything shaking out just based on what we know so far:

Marquese Chriss working out with Zach LaVine, Isaiah Thomas, Jamal Crawford, Paolo Banchero and others

Golden State Warriors center Marquese Chriss was spotted working out with Zach LaVine, Isaiah Thomas, Jamal Crawford and others in Washington.

As the basketball world prepares for November’s NBA Draft, Marquese Chriss is in the gym working on his game.

On Monday, Kenan Oliver of K.O. Development and Pacific Courts shared a video of the former lottery pick practicing his long-distance shot. Alongside fellow Washington Huskies product Noah Dickerson, Chriss splashed a series of 3-pointers from different locations beyond the arc.

In addition to working on his range, Chriss joined a group of talented players for a workout in Washington. The Golden State Warriors big man and Dickerson joined Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, plus NBA veterans Isaiah Thomas and Jamal Crawford.

Via @k.o.development on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGzFUvenJ1-/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Along with the NBA talent, Washington’s Naz Carter and consensus five-star recruit Paolo Banchero were on the court for the run. The 17-year-old forward is committed to joining Coach Mike Krzyzewski’s Duke program.

In the video of the star-studded scrimmage, Chriss is featured during a putback rebound and a drive to the basket. During the drive, Chriss showed off a quick crossover paired with a strong finish on the score.

The next time Chriss will be able to join his Golden State teammates on the floor will be at the Warriors preseason training camp in San Francisco.

[lawrence-related id=32064,28903,26437,26121]

[vertical-gallery id=30708]