ACC Basketball

Kiyan Anthony, the son of 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony, announced he has received a scholarship offer from the Syracuse Orange.

Beyond blessed to receive an offer from Syracuse University! #GOORANGE🍊🍊 pic.twitter.com/uBMq5Kwdv7

— Kiyan Anthony (@kiyananthony) November 13, 2022

His father spent one year at Syracuse and played a starring role as the Orange won their first national title during the 2002-03 season.

Anthony is the No. 62 overall player and No. 14 shooting guard in 247Sports' ranking of the 2025 recruiting class.

Per 247Sports, he has scholarship offers from Bryant, George Mason, Manhattan and Memphis as well.

The offer comes the same weekend the Anthony family visited the campus to watch the Syracuse football team's 38-3 loss to Florida State.

Welcome home @carmeloanthony‼️ 🍊 pic.twitter.com/DBIFmXQrXz

— Syracuse Athletics (@Cuse) November 13, 2022

A reunion of two @Cuse_MBB greats. I love seeing @therealboeheim and @carmeloanthony together. pic.twitter.com/VV6Yf3q8Jt

— Jeff Rubin (@jhrubin) November 13, 2022

Anthony obviously has a lot of time before he needs to make a commitment, and more schools are bound to signal their interest in the months ahead. But Syracuse is the early favorite now and might be tough to beat.

"Syracuse is a big one for me because of my dad," Anthony said to 247Sports' Dushawn London. "He set the foundation over there so I won't go wrong if I went there. My options are really open, though, since I'm only a sophomore."

The future of legendary head coach Jim Boeheim could be a wild card, though. The 77-year-old hasn't set a date for his retirement but has worked with the school to lay out a succession plan.

If Boeheim steps down before 2025, it could impact Anthony's recruitment.

Former Louisville head basketball coaches Rick Pitino and Chris Mack won't be disciplined by the NCAA following an investigation into allegations of violating recruiting rules and ethics standards.

Per Matt Norlander of CBS Sports, both men avoided any type of punishment and Louisville only received a $5,000 fine with two years of probation, no postseason ban and a "small" reduction in recruiting days.

The FBI announced in September 2017 the arrest of 10 people related to an investigation into bribes and corruption in college basketball. Four assistant coaches and Adidas executive James Gatto were among those arrested.

Louisville was among seven schools implicated in the first wave of the scandal, specifically its recruitment of Brian Bowen II.

Per ESPN's Mark Schlabach, an unidentified Louisville assistant coach had a phone call with three others, including then-Adidas employee Merl Code, financial advisor Munish Sood and an undercover agent for the FBI.

"The men discussed how they were going to mask an initial $25,000 payment from Adidas to the father of a high school player who had recently committed to Louisville, which has a shoe and apparel deal with Adidas," Schlabach wrote.

Schlabach noted the FBI complaint also said Gatto and Christian Dawkins, a former agent at ASM Sports, along with the other men previously "agreed to funnel $100,000" to Bowen's father in four payments.

"Dawkins told the others he was paying the player's father at the request of a Louisville coach," according to Schlabach.

Pitino was placed on unpaid administrative leave and athletic director Tom Jurich was placed on paid administrative leave by Louisville.

Jurich was originally fired for cause by the university in October 2017, but the two sides agreed to a settlement seven months later that paid him $4.5 million, his employment ended without cause since he resigned and described his settlement as a "retirement."

The University of Louisville athletics board unanimously voted to terminate Pitino's contract for cause in October 2017.

Pitino filed a $38.7 million lawsuit against the University of Louisville Athletic Association. Both parties reached a settlement in September 2019 in which Pitino received no money, but his personnel file changed his termination to a resignation.

Mack was named Louisville head coach in March 2018 after spending the previous nine years as Xavier's head coach. He was added to the NCAA investigation in October 2021 for three alleged violations that came to light following former assistant coach Dino Gaudio's dismissal earlier in the year.

Per The Athletic's Dana O'Neil, Gaudio threatened to go to the NCAA if he wasn't paid his full salary in a conversation recorded by Mack. The conversation initiated an extortion claim, leading to Gaudio pleading guilty and receiving one year of probation.

Mack was suspended for the first six games of the 2021-22 season for not following school guidelines after Gaudio's attempted extortion.

Louisville fired Mack in January after the team got off to a 6-8 start. He finished 63-36 in four seasons with the Cardinals.

Fresh off the most successful first season for a men's basketball coach in North Carolina history, Hubert Davis is getting a raise.

The university released details of the head coach's new deal Wednesday, a little more than two months after it was signed. Davis is now under contract through the 2027-28 season, and he'll make about $16.7 in guarantees over the course of the deal. He can also earn an additional $1.1 million per season in performance bonuses.

"I love this job," Davis told reporters this month. "I've always wanted to be a part of this program. And to say that I've been able to be a part of it as a player, as an assistant coach and now as a head coach is a really cool deal."

An assistant for a decade under Roy Williams, Davis took over last season and became the first coach in program history to lead the Tar Heels (29-10) to the national championship game in his first year.

North Carolina will enter the 2022-23 season with a veteran-laden roster seemingly primed for another deep run in March. Four of the team's five starters from last season return, highlighted by leading scorers Armando Bacot and Caleb Love. Both the Associated Press and Coaches polls ranked the Heels as the nation's top team by a significant margin in preseason voting.

After coming into last season as the No. 19 team in the country with minimal expectations, it'll be interesting to see how Davis handles the weight of national championship pressure. The Heels' NCAA tournament run in March was largely a happy surprise; they were a No. 8 seed, matching the all-time record for the lowest seed to compete for a national title.

While few will quibble with Davis getting a contract extension now, don't be surprised if things turn if North Carolina struggles out of the gate. Heels fans don't have to look far into history to remember Bill Guthridge, who had a Final Four run in his first season (1997-98) replacing Dean Smith before the program started to falter.

Paolo Banchero apparently wasn't a fan of all the attention he received as a student during his lone season at Duke.

Appearing on The Young Person Basketball Podcast with R.J. Hampton (h/t TMZ Sports), Banchero said there were times last year the then-freshman felt like "a zoo animal" because he would see people in classes "whispering about you" and "staring at you."

The Orlando Magic rookie recalled one time when another student brought their family to his dorm to see him.

"I open my door and it's a mom, dad, their daughter who goes to Duke and, like, their little brother," Banchero explained. "And, I'm just like, 'Damn.'"

Despite the intrusion on his life away from Cameron Indoor Stadium, Banchero did speak well of his time with the Blue Devils.

"I definitely enjoyed it," he said.

There were a lot of expectations put on Banchero's shoulders when he committed to Duke. The Seattle native was a 5-star prospect and No. 2 overall prospect in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports composite rankings.

Banchero led the Blue Devils in scoring average (17.2 points per game) and rebounds (7.8) in 39 games. He helped the team advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2014-15, but they lost to North Carolina in the national semifinal.

After declaring for the 2022 NBA draft in April, the 19-year-old was selected No. 1 overall by the Magic. He had a historic debut with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists in Wednesday's opener against the Detroit Pistons.

Banchero joined Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and LeBron James as the only No. 1 picks since 1969 to have at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists in their first career game.

Notre Dame guard Blake Wesley is officially off the board after the San Antonio Spurs selected him with the 25th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft on Thursday.

---

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Blake Wesley

Position: SG

Height: 6'3"

Pro Comparison: RJ Hampton

Scouting Report: Wesley immediately stood out this year with his athleticism and length for beating defenders off the dribble and getting into passing lanes. His shooting and finishing skills are lagging, but he's also demonstrated enough three-level shot-making for teams to stay patient.

---

Spurs Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Jeremy Sochan, PF (rookie scale contract)

Malaki Branham, SG (rookie scale contract)

Blake Wesley, SG (rookie scale contract)

Dejounte Murray, PG: $16M (2024)

Doug McDermott, SF: $13.8M (2024)

Josh Richardson, SG: $12.2M (2023)

Jakob Poeltl, C: $8.8M (2023)

Zach Collins, C: $7.4M (2024)

Devin Vassell, SG: $4.6M (2024)

Joshua Primo, SG: $4.6M (2025)

Romeo Langford, SG: $4.1M (2023)

Keldon Johnson, SG: $2.5M (2023)

Jock Landale, C: $2.3M (2023)

Keita Bates-Diop, SF: $1.8M (2023)

Tre Jones, PG: $1.4M (2023)

Free Agents

Lonnie Walker IV, SG: RFA

Devontae Cacok, C: RFA

Joe Wieskamp, SF: RFA

Robert Woodard II, SG: RFA

D.J. Stewart Jr., SG: RFA

The 19-year-old had a solid freshman season for the Fighting Irish, averaging 14.4 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists while shooting 40.4 percent from the floor and 30.3 percent from deep in 35 games.

Given his quickness and ability to penetrate into the lane, Wesley will be a difference-maker for the Spurs during the 2022-23 campaign and beyond.

One of the most highly touted prospects is off the board as Duke Blue Devils star Paolo Banchero was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Orlando Magic on Thursday.

---

Bleacher Report Draft Expert Jonathan Wasserman's Scouting Report

Player: Paolo Banchero

Position: PF

Height: 6'10"

Pro Comparison: Chris Webber

Scouting Report: Powerful and skilled, Paolo Banchero projects as the draft's most pro-ready scorer. His ability to self-create, shoot off the dribble, hit threes and play-make carves out a path toward NBA stardom.

---

Magic Active Roster and Average Salary (Expiration Year)

Paolo Banchero, PF: Rookie Scale

Jonathan Isaac, PF: $17.4M (2025)

Markelle Fultz, PG: $16.7M (2024)

Terrence Ross, SG: $13.5M (2023)

Wendell Carter Jr., C: $12.5M (2026)

Jalen Suggs, SG: $7.5M (2025)

Franz Wagner, SF: $5.7M (2025)

Cole Anthony, PG: $4M (2024)

Chuma Okeke, PF: $3.8M (2024)

R.J. Hampton, PG: $2.8M (2024)

Moritz Wagner, C: $1.8M (2023)

Devin Cannady, PG: $1.3M (2024)

---

Free Agents

Gary Harris, SG: UFA

Mo Bamba, C: RFA

Robin Lopez, C: UFA

Bol Bol, C: RFA

Admiral Schofield, SF: RFA

Ignas Brazdeikis, SF: RFA

---

Banchero is a solid fit with the Magic as the franchise has been looking for a primary creator for a long time. The 19-year-old can create offense off the bounce unlike most of the other Orlando players.

Banchero was also one of the best ball handlers in this year's draft and will easily add playmaking to take the pressure off Jalen Suggs, Markelle Fultz and Cole Anthony.

It wouldn't be surprising to see Banchero slot into a starting role in Orlando immediately. He could easily play alongside Anthony, Suggs, Franz Wagner and Wendell Carter Jr.

With Jonathan Isaac recovering from hamstring surgery after suffering an injury during his ACL rehab, it's unclear if he'll be ready for the start of the season or how he'll fit into the rotation moving forward.

Banchero had an impressive freshman season with the Blue Devils, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from deep in 39 games.

He led Duke to an appearance in the Final Four during the 2021-22 season and was also named ACC Rookie of the Year.

Given his size and athletic ability, Banchero will be an instant difference-maker for Orlando.

Paolo Banchero believes he is the best player in the 2022 NBA draft because of his offensive skill set.

The former Duke star discussed his abilities in an interview with Zion Olojede of Complex:

"I'm able to do stuff that is not normal for people my size. Just the way I move, just stuff I'm able to do on the floor at my size is unique. I just think I'm a mismatch whether you put a bigger player on me or a smaller player on me to make me uncomfortable; anybody you put on me is a mismatch."

Banchero was listed at 6'10", 250 pounds during his college career but said he recently measured 6'10½" without shoes and that he has grown since starting his freshman season.

ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday morning that Banchero is likely headed to the Houston Rockets as the No. 3 pick behind Jabari Smith and Chet Holmgren.

Even if he isn't drafted first overall, Banchero will have plenty of confidence as he gets to the next level.

"Just having that mindset that I'm the best player on any floor that I step on," he said. "Regardless of who's on the floor, that's just on my mind. I want to go out there and prove it."

Banchero showed his abilities throughout his lone year at Duke, averaging 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.9 blocks per game. He was the go-to option for a team that won the ACC in the regular season and reached the men's Final Four.

During the NCAA tournament, the forward posted 18.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 52.6 percent from three-point range.

Banchero has certainly been a mismatch at the high school and college levels, with few players having the size or agility to defend him. Excelling in the NBA will be a different challenge, but he believes that the success will continue.

Hercy Miller, the son of rapper Master P, plans to walk on for the men's basketball team at Louisville, according to On3's Matt Zenitz.

Miller began the 2021-22 season at Tennessee State and averaged 2.0 points and 0.2 assists in six appearances. He had also signed a $2 million name, image and likeness deal prior to suiting up for the Tigers.

However, Miller entered the transfer portal for the first time in December after suffering a season-ending hip injury. Master P explained the injury was the impetus for the decision.

"We've got a great program at Tennessee State. We've got great people. We loved the culture. We just don't have enough trainers," he said, per The Tennessean's Mike Organ. "We don't have enough medical people to take care of what needs to be taken care of. We don't have the technology that the Dukes and all these major universities have. An injury like this could have been prevented."

Miller eventually settled on Xavier as his next step. Although the NCAA instituted a rule allowing athletes to transfer one time and maintain immediate eligibility, the 6'3" guard was unable to play for the Musketeers because he switched schools in the middle of the season.

Per 247Sports, Miller will be Louisville's second addition through the transfer portal after power forward Brandon Huntley-Hatfield joined the Cardinals from Tennessee. First-year head coach Kenny Payne also has commitments from a pair of 4-star high school recruits, small forwards Kamari Lands and Devin Ree.

Payne, who played at Louisville and was a part of the national championship-winning squad in 1985-86, took over for Chris Mack.

The Cardinals started well under Mack, reaching the 2019 NCAA tournament and winning 24 games in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season. However, Mack was out of a job by January after the team went 6-8 to open the year.

The North Carolina Tar Heels got a major boost to their title hopes for the 2022-23 season, landing former Northwestern forward Pete Nance in a transfer.

Northwestern, thank you for everything. Super excited about the next steps.#gotarheels pic.twitter.com/kBcJBmnKnS

— Pete Nance (@peteln22) June 18, 2022

Nance had put his name into the NBA draft ring this offseason but ultimately withdrew, choosing to play one last season of college basketball.

The 22-year-old averaged 14.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.1 blocks last season, shooting 49.7 percent from the field and 45.2 percent from three.

For his career he's averaged 9.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, shooting 35.6 percent from three. But his shooting from the perimeter has improved in each of his four seasons, and while the huge jump he took in 2021-22 may not be sustainable, he'll still be expected to hover around the 40 percent mark.

At 6'10" and 225 pounds, Nance should fit into the team's current starting lineup seamlessly, fitting into a similar stretch-4 role that the departing Brady Manek handled last season.

For #UNC fans...

Brady Manek career averages pre-UNC: 12 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 0.7 apg, 37.4% 3PT shooter

Pete Nance career averages pre-UNC: 9.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 35.6% 3PT shooter

Not a one-for-one replacement (no one could be), but pretty freaking close. Big-time addition.

— Brendan Marks (@BrendanRMarks) June 18, 2022

“my name is Pete Nance and i’m a Tar Heel…”😁

— Caleb Love (@caleb2love) June 18, 2022

The Tar Heels return their other four starters—Armando Bacot, Caleb Love, R.J. Davis and Leaky Black—to a team that lost to the Kansas Jayhawks in the national championship game last season. They are also bringing in the 15th-ranked recruiting class in 2022, per 247Sports.com's composite rankings, highlighted by a trio of 4-star players in point guard Seth Trimble, center Jalen Washington and power forward Tyler Nickel.

A number of college basketball analysts believe the Tar Heels should open the season as the top-ranked team in the country, including ESPN's Jeff Borzello, College Hoops Today's Jon Rothstein and Stadium's Jeff Goodman.