Duke's Paolo Banchero Says He Thinks He's Best Player in 2022 NBA Draft
Jun 18, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 02: Paolo Banchero #5 of the Duke Blue Devils reacts in the first half of the game against the North Carolina Tar Heels in the first half of the game during the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four semifinal at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Auburn's Jabari Smith Jr., Gonzaga's Chet Holmgren and Duke's Paolo Banchero are considered the three best players in the 2022 NBA draft class, but one of those three made it clear Friday that he believes he's the cream of the crop.
Banchero, who starred as a freshman for the Blue Devils during the 2021-22 men's college basketball season, told reporters that he should be selected with the No. 1 pick on Thursday.
"I feel like I am the best player in the draft, and I feel like I showed that throughout the year," he said. "I feel like I showed everything with my skill sets and my intangibles."
Banchero averaged 17.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.1 steals in 39 games last season while shooting 47.8 percent from the floor and 33.8 percent from deep. He helped lead Duke to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament, where the Blue Devils were eliminated by the North Carolina Tar Heels.
The Orlando Magic hold the first overall pick this year, and Smith is widely expected to be the first player off the board.
In his latest mock draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman also projected Smith to land in Orlando, with Holmgren going to the Oklahoma City Thunder at No. 2 and Banchero to the Houston Rockets at No. 3.
Duke Men's CBB Hires Rachel Baker as 1st-Ever GM to Oversee NIL Contracts, More
Jun 7, 2022
CHESTNUT HILL, MA - FEBRUARY 12: General view of the Duke logo on a pair of game shorts during a college basketball game against Boston College Eagles on February 12 2022, at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, MA. (Photo by M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Duke announced Tuesday it has hired Rachel Baker to serve as the general manager of the men's basketball program.
"In this exclusive position, Baker will specialize in helping players enhance their personal and professional skill sets, capitalize on strategic partnerships, including NIL opportunities, and work to support players in navigating the opportunities and challenges that come with being a student-athlete at the highest level," a school statement said.
Baker previously worked at Nike and in the NBA. With Nike, she helped the company's Elite Youth Basketball League build partnerships at the grassroots level, and she managed "strategic initiatives" involving Nike signature athlete Kevin Durant.
Baker's hiring is a reflection of the new normal in college sports. Although schools can't provide name, image and likeness deals as a direct inducement for athletes to sign, the eventuality of those sponsorships can clearly be a motivating factor.
General managers have become especially popular across college football, where there's a heightened level of danger for Power Five programs to lose their best players through the transfer portal. Fred Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison left Pittsburgh behind for USC this offseason.
That's not as much of a problem for Duke because the Blue Devils' top men's basketball stars often leave for the NBA after one season. But first-year head coach Jon Scheyer and his staff clearly need to have a leg up on the NIL front in order to not only continue landing blue-chip recruits but also to potentially poach ready-made talent in the portal.
The basketball landscape is also different from football in that there are alternatives for high schoolers, such as Overtime Elite and the NBA G League pathway, that allow them to be paid while working toward the pros.
The Athletic's Brendan Marks explained how Duke "can’t afford to rely solely on the strength of its brand or legacy." He added the Blue Devils are likely to be a trendsetter since "this is a move that will soon be emulated by all of college basketball’s top programs."
Duke Commit Tyrese Proctor, 5-Star PG, Reclassifies to Class of 2022
Jun 3, 2022
PORTLAND, OREGON - APRIL 08: Tyrese Proctor #3 of World Team dribbles against Anthony Black #12 of USA Team in the third quarter during the Nike Hoop Summit at Moda Center on April 08, 2022 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Tyrese Proctor, a 5-star point guard heading to Duke, announced on Instagram and Twitter Thursday that he is reclassifying to the class of 2022.
He joins the No. 1 recruiting class in the nation, per 247Sports' composite rankings, giving Duke five incoming 5-star recruits in the class of 2022, including Dereck Lively II, Dariq Whitehead, Kyle Filipowski and Mark Mitchell.
Proctor was considered the No. 17 overall player in the class of 2023, the No. 4 point guard and the No. 1 player from Australia. It's unclear where he'll land in the class of 2022 rankings after his reclassification, but he should have an immediate impact for the Blue Devils.
The biggest concern I had for Duke next season was floor-spacing and perimeter shooting -- and Tyrese Proctor will really help in that area. Shot 43.8% from 3 in nine games with the NBA Global Academy in 2021, 37% in eight games with New South Wales U20 in 2022. https://t.co/NwILepA7Sm
Duke's 2023 class remains incredibly strong, with three 5-star recruits (power forwards Mackenzie Mgbako and Sean Stewart and point guard Caleb Foster) incoming. All three are top-20 prospects.
Proctor won't be able to report to Duke's campus immediately, however, with The Athletic's Brendan Marks reporting that the process to get him the proper paperwork and visas is "ongoing, sources say, and there is no defined date for when it will be resolved."
That means he won't "arrive on campus this month with the rest of the Blue Devils’ top-ranked freshman class, but he will be in Durham by summer’s end—and, most importantly, eligible to play the 2022-23 season."
New head coach Jon Scheyer said in a statement that he and Proctor's family have been having discussions for weeks, ostensibly about a reclassification.
"Tyrese has a special feel for the game with great scoring instincts who will add to the versatility, competitiveness, and high character of this team," he added. "He is such an advanced player with an international basketball resume that includes his NBA Global Academy experience who is more than ready to take on this opportunity right now."
Alongside a loaded class of 2022, the Blue Devils have added transfers Kale Catchings and Ryan Young, while Jeremy Roach, Jaylen Blakes and Joey Baker will return from last year's Final Four team.
The Blue Devils are shaping up to be a problem next season.
Terquavion Smith Forgoing 2022 NBA Draft, Returning to N.C. State
May 31, 2022
RALEIGH, NC - FEBRUARY 09: North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Terquavion Smith (0) celebrates a three-pointer during the college basketball game between NC State and Wake Forest on February 9, 2022, at PNC Arena in Raleigh, NC. (Photo by Nicholas Faulkner/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Despite the chance of going in the first round of the 2022 NBA draft, Terquavion Smith will return to North Carolina State for his sophomore season, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony.
"I've decided to play next season for NC State, the first team to offer me a scholarship," Smith told Givony. "I owe so much to Todd Ramasar, the agent who walked me through this process; Ross McMains, the incredible coach who prepared me so well for all I've just gone through, and the Life Sports Agency team. This past month has been eye opening on so many ways. Todd, Ross, and their team helped put me on the NBA map."
Smith had a strong freshman season for the Wolfpack, averaging 16.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 39.8 percent from the field and 36.9 percent from three.
NC State struggled, though, going just 11-21 on the year.
There were some questions about whether Smith might return to school for a second season, but a strong showing at the NBA combine seemed to tilt the scales toward the draft.
"I was definitely happy with the way I played," he told reporters. "I showed a lot more than I showed in college. The teams that did see me, I showed them a great performance."
Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman listed Smith as the No. 19 player in the class in his latest big board.
Smith will instead spend another year in college, looking to further improve his stock and potentially become a lottery pick next season.
The decision also provides a huge boost for the Wolfpack as they bring back one of the most talented players in the ACC for 2022-23.
Milt Wagner, Grandfather of No. 1 CBB Recruit D.J. Wagner, Hired By Louisville
May 24, 2022
SPRINGFIELD, MA - JANUARY 17: DJ Wagner of Camden (21) makes a move during the second half of the Spalding Hoophall Classic high school basketball game between Camden and Milton on January 17, 2022 at Blake Arena in Springfield, MA (Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Louisville Cardinals reportedly made a notable move in the race to land top recruit D.J. Wagner.
According to Jeff Borzello of ESPN, Louisville hired Milt Wagner, who played for the Cardinals and is the grandfather of D.J. Wagner. Wagner will be the program's director of player development and serve in an alumni relations role.
The younger Wagner is the No. 1 player in the 2023 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.
Milt Wagner is one of the most accomplished players in Louisville history.
He played for the Cardinals from 1981-86 and won a national championship while reaching three Final Fours. He was also an All-Metro Conference selection three times and was a second-round draft pick of the Dallas Mavericks after his collegiate career.
His NBA career included stops on the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat, and he won a championship with the Purple and Gold in 1988.
As for D.J. Wagner, Borzello noted he is "the subject of an intense recruiting battle between Louisville and Kentucky."
There is also some family history in place outside of his grandfather's connection to Louisville. Kentucky head coach John Calipari coached his father, Dajuan Wagner, at Memphis. Dajuan Wagner signed with the Tigers after Calipari hired Milt Wagner for the Memphis program at the time.
What's more, Louisville head coach Kenny Payne was teammates with Milt Wagner on Louisville's 1986 national championship team.
"Just the Kentucky-Louisville rivalry, I feel like that's crazy. I'm still open to every college right now, I'm just enjoying the process," D.J. Wagner said. "But I think that rivalry, just Kentucky and Louisville in general, the history behind it, it's a great rivalry."
Winning this battle on the recruiting trail will set the table for either Louisville or Kentucky to win the rivalry showdown on the court as well.
Mike Krzyzewski's Duke Contract Paid Career-High $12.5M in 2021 Season
May 17, 2022
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS - APRIL 20: Former Duke Men's Basketball Coach Mike Krzyzewski looks on before Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 20, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski didn't give Duke a hometown discount as his career began winding down.
Sportico's Daniel Libit reported Coach K collected $12.5 million across the 2020-21 season, describing it as "an amount that rivals the most ever paid by a university to a college head coach during a non-buyout year."
The total compensation for Krzyzewski would've made him the highest-paid coach in men's college basketball last season. Kansas' Bill Self would be second at $10.2 million.
That figure also exceeds the $9.8 million Nick Saban earned from Alabama last year and the $10 million Lincoln Riley will reportedly receive annually from USC.
Libit reported Krzyzewski was paid around $5.3 million in salary and incentives and that the majority of his paycheck ($7.2 million) came from deferred compensation.
It's unclear how much the 75-year-old received in 2021-22, his final season on the sideline. Per Libit, Duke will disclose his salary as part of its 2022 fiscal year tax returns, which won't be public until next summer.
Krzyzewski announced last June he was retiring after the 2021-22 season, setting up a farewell tour throughout the campaign. The Blue Devils nearly wrote him a storybook ending as they reached the Final Four, but they lost to their biggest rivals, North Carolina.
As part of Coach K's retirement announcement, Duke confirmed Jon Scheyer, a former Blue Devils player who joined the coaching staff after his playing career ended, would succeed him as head coach.
It stands to reason Scheyer won't be matching his predecessor's salary.
Miami's Isaiah Wong Plans to Transfer If NIL Compensation Demands Aren't Met
Apr 29, 2022
CHICAGO, IL - MARCH 25: Isaiah Wong #2 of the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes drives to the basket against the Iowa State Cyclones during the Sweet 16 round of the 2022 NCAA Mens Basketball Tournament held at United Center on March 25, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Isaiah Vazquez/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Isaiah Wong's future at the University of Miami is uncertain due to compensation from his name, image and likeness deal.
Speaking to ESPN's Jeff Borzello and Jonathan Givony, Wong's NIL agent, Adam Papas, said Wong will enter the transfer portal if his NIL compensation isn't increased.
"If Isaiah and his family don't feel that the NIL number meets their expectations they will be entering the transfer portal tomorrow, while maintaining his eligibility in the NBA draft and going through the draft process," Papas said.
Papas pointed to the deals incoming Miami players are getting as the basis of his argument.
"Isaiah would like to stay at Miami," Papas explained. "He had a great season leading his team to the Elite Eight. He has seen what incoming Miami Hurricane basketball players are getting in NIL and would like his NIL to reflect that he was a team leader of an Elite Eight team."
Givony and Borzello noted that Florida state law prohibits schools from being involved in NIL deals, with Papas telling them he's not talking directly to Miami's coaching staff.
Per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, billionaire John Ruiz "has become perhaps the most significant person in Miami Hurricanes athletics" because of his willingness to sign more than 100 active athletes for the school to marketing deals promoting two companies, Cigarette Racing and LifeWallet.
Ruiz tweeted after Nijel Pack announced he was transferring from Kansas State to Miami that he signed the 20-year-old guard to an NIL deal worth $800,000 over two years and included a car.
***BREAKING NEWS*** @LifeWallet is proud to announce @NijelPack24 has officially committed to UM as a basketball player. The biggest LifeWallet deal to date, two years $800,000.00 total at $400,000.00 per year plus a car. Congratulations!!! @johnnyruiz4@alex7ruiz@ddiazon7pic.twitter.com/SzKHag8qnG
— John H. Ruiz, CEO and Attorney at Law (@JohnHRuiz) April 23, 2022
David Cobb of CBS Sports ranked Pack as the No. 2 player in the transfer portal after he was named to the All-Big 12 first team and made 43.6 percent of his three-point attempts at Kansas State last season.
In response to Wong's desire for a new NIL deal, Ruiz told Givony that the third-year sophomore "is under contract" and he doesn't intend to renegotiate.
"Isaiah is under contract," billionaire John Ruiz told ESPN. "He has been treated by LifeWallet exceptionally well. If that is what he decides, I wish him well, however, I DO NOT renegotiate! Surprises me because there are so many players that would love to play for the U!" https://t.co/CFI1VeVUZj
It hasn't been announced what Wong's NIL deal with Ruiz is worth. The deadline for players to enter the transfer portal and remain eligible to play next season is May 1.
Wong finished second on the Hurricanes in scoring average with 15.3 points per game in 2021-22. He was named to the All-ACC third team in each of the past two seasons.
He has declared for the NBA draft while maintaining his eligibility. He wasn't listed in Jonathan Wasserman's top-50 big board for Bleacher Report in February.
Miami went 26-11 last season, the third-most wins in a single season in school history. It was a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight before losing to Kansas.
5-Star SF Mackenzie Mgbako Commits to Duke over Kentucky, Memphis, More
Apr 9, 2022
Any time a college program can land a player who has drawn comparisons to Jayson Tatum, it is a good day on the recruiting trail.
That is exactly what happened to the Duke Blue Devils on Friday when Mackenzie Mgbako joined their 2023 recruiting class. He is the second five-star recruit to commit to Duke over the last two days, joining Tyrese Proctor.
Mgbako, who checks in at 6'7" and 185 pounds, is a 5-star prospect, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He is also the No. 3 overall player, No. 1 small forward and No. 2 player from the state of New Jersey in his class.
The list of interested programs at one point included Duke, North Carolina, Kentucky, Memphis, Ohio State and Michigan.
His overall versatility immediately makes him stand out as someone who can defend multiple positions, battle for rebounds because of his length, shoot from the outside and get to the rim off the bounce. His combination of athleticism and size makes him a matchup nightmare for opponents.
Jason Jordan of Sports Illustrated noted Mgbako has been compared to Tatum because, like the Boston Celtics star, he can score from all over the floor at his size.
"I definitely want to play like Jayson Tatum, but I'm still trying to get there," Mgbako said. "I actually FaceTimed him before so that was pretty cool. For me, it's all about the fit, and that's something I feel like will come to me in time. I may take a couple unofficials, but I'm done with officials right now. I'm not in a big hurry. I may cut my list during the season, and I could see myself deciding next summer. Right now, I'm just enjoying the process."
That process resulted in a significant victory on the recruiting trail for Duke, as Mgbako figures to be a key part of its offensive attack and overall team defense during his freshman season. He could be off to the NBA after just one year if he lives up to his potential, but he is talented enough to guide the Blue Devils to the Final Four while in college.
This is also a notable recruiting development for Jon Scheyer, who is tasked with following in the footsteps of a legend in head coach Mike Krzyzewski. The only way he will be able to maintain Duke's status as an annual national title contender is by landing players like Mgbako, and he did just that on Friday.
Mgbako could be off to the NBA after just one year if he lives up to his potential, but he is talented enough to guide the Blue Devils to the Final Four while in college.
5-Star PG Tyrese Proctor Commits to Duke over Arizona, Oklahoma, More
Apr 7, 2022
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - APRIL 02: The Duke Blue Devils' mascot runs on the court as they take on the North Carolina Tar Heels during the first half in the semifinal game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Final Four at Caesars Superdome on April 02, 2022 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Mike Krzyzewski's retirement doesn't seem to be affecting Duke's recruiting.
Tyrese Proctor, a 5-star prospect in the class of 2023, told Joe Tipton of On3.com that he was committing to the Blue Devils.
"Ever since I first stepped on campus at Duke, it just felt like home," he said. "Me and my family talked while I was back in Sydney, and they're happy, and I'm happy. It just felt like home."
Proctor is considered the No. 4 combo guard and the No. 17 prospect overall in the class of 2023, per 247Sports' Composite Rankings. 247 also rates him as the top prospect out of his home country of Australia.
Duke has been crushing the recruiting game, even with the school transitioning from Krzyzewski to Jon Scheyer at head coach. The incoming class of 2022 is the top in the nation, with four 5-star recruits—Dereck Lively II, Kyle Filipowski, Dariq Whitehead and Mark Mitchell—highlighting the bunch.
But the Blue Devils also have the top class of 2023 currently, with three 5-star commits in Proctor, Caleb Foster and Jared McCain.
Scheyer could be done with the Class 2023 if Mackenzie Mgbako (3) — as expected - chooses Duke tomorrow night.
Duke has Caleb Foster (12), Jared McCain (24), Tyrese Proctor (26) and Sean Stewart (29).
Proctor, who reportedly chose Duke over Arizona or the NBA's G League Ignite, said his goal was to fill any role the Blue Devils needed.
"Just come in and help the team win," he told Tipton. "I can do my part by scoring the ball, finding my teammates when they need to be found, and just overall getting the job done."
There is going to be plenty of talent in Durham for Proctor to play with once he hits campus. From a recruiting standpoint, the Scheyer era hasn't missed a beat.
No. 10 Miami Upsets Jabari Smith, No. 2 Auburn; Will Face Iowa State in Sweet 16
Mar 21, 2022
GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - MARCH 20: Isaiah Wong #2 of the Miami (Fl) Hurricanes shoots past Dylan Cardwell #44 of the Auburn Tigers in the first half during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on March 20, 2022 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
The Miami Hurricanes are on their way to the Sweet 16 for the first time in six years after their 79-61win over the Auburn Tigers in the 2022 NCAA men's basketball tournament on Sunday.
Miami made the tournament as the No. 10 seed in the Midwest Region, as head coach Jim Larranaga's team had its best regular season since 2015-16 (23-10). It had to hold off a furious second-half rally from USC in the first round to advance this weekend.
Meanwhile, Auburn looked like a potential national-title contender coming into the tournament. The Tigers earned their highest seed (No. 2) since the 1998-99 campaign after going 27-5 during the regular season. They had no problems against Jacksonville State with an 80-61 win in the first round Friday.
After a close first half, Miami outscored Auburn 46-29in the second half to cruise to an easy win.
Isaiah Wong, Jordan Miller, Charlie Moore and Kameron McGusty combined to score 68of the Hurricanes' points in the win.
Auburn's offense vanished with just 61 points, its fewest in a game since Jan. 25. The Tigers' inability to put the ball in the basket offset their 17-6offensive-rebound advantage.
The formula for Miami to succeed this season has been outscoring opponents. Larranaga's team finished the regular season ranked 35th in offensive rating (110.1).
Miami's offense didn't put its best foot forward against USC in the first round. It scored 68 points on 42.9 percent shooting (1-of-14 from three-point range).
On Sunday, even though the three-point shooting still wasn't there for Miami (3-of-15), everything else for the offense was on point.
Four of their five starters scored in double figures. Wong has been fantastic so far in the tournament, scoring 22 points against USC. The sophomore guard followed that up with 21 points against Auburn.
Wong also had arguably the best highlight of the tournament thus far when he put Jabari Smith on a poster in the first half.
McGusty had a solid bounceback game after a 5-of-18 performance against the Trojans. He had 20 points on 10-of-18 shooting vs. Auburn.
The duo of Wong and McGusty scored Miami's first eight points to start the second half when the team opened up a 41-32 lead.
In addition to their efficiency on two-point attempts, the Hurricanes were great at protecting the ball and creating additional opportunities. They had 19 assists to 4 turnovers in the win.
Consistency hasn't been there for Miami throughout the season. It went from beating Duke on Jan. 8 to losing to Florida State in its next game. It needed overtime to beat a 13-20 Boston College team in the ACC tournament quarterfinals.
If Larranaga and his staff can harness this performance going forward, though, the Hurricanes will continue to be a major factor in the tournament with their offensive upside.
Shooting Lets Tigers Down in Loss
A matchup with Miami seemed like it was designed to highlight a lot of the things that Auburn does well.
The Tigers ranked in the top 50 in offensive (108.9) and defensive efficiency (92.4), per Basketball Reference. Miami's defense was 227th in points allowed (70.9) and 281st in efficiency (104.6).
Instead, everything that could go wrong for Auburn pretty much did across the board. The team's 30.4 field-goal percentage matched its performance in a 67-62 loss against Texas A&M in the SEC tournament quarterfinals.
Miami nearly pitched a shutout on fast-break points in the game:
Walker Kessler, who was fourth on the Tigers with 11.7 points per game during the regular season, scored two points and didn't make a field goal Sunday.
Jabari Smith did have a double-double of 10 points and 15 rebounds, but he only made three of his 16 shot attempts. Smith and K.D. Johnson were the only Auburn starters to score in double figures.
Auburn been so awful. I know Jabari and Kessler both massive struggles, but going away from them and jackin contested 35 footers aint the way.
Jaylin Williams was the only Auburn player who can legitimately claim to have played a good game. The junior forward scored 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting off the bench, as he tried to provide a spark.
But nothing was working for head coach Bruce Pearl's team. He didn't have any way to stop the slide once it started, leading to a blowout loss and a frustrating end to what was one of the best seasons in program history.
Auburn's 28 wins are the third-most in school history. It reached No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time ever Jan. 24 and remained there for three weeks.
Pearl has done a fantastic job of making the Tigers into an annual title contender. He will almost certainly be able to reload for next season, but this loss will likely linger for some time because of how high the expectations were coming into the tournament.
What's Next?
Miami will play Iowa Statein the Sweet 16 on Friday.
