ACC Basketball

With the NBA draft's withdrawal deadline now passed and the virtual draft lottery a little more than a week away, we know who is going to be available in the draft but not yet where each team will be picking. 

Over the past few months, each team's scouting department has spent an extensive amount of time scouring game tape because of the inability to hold in-person workouts caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, the NBA sent emails to a "select number of players" that they would be invited to the NBA Draft Combine, if one takes place. 

But because of the uncertainty around the pre-draft process, and even what the 2020-21 season might look like, a number of prospects who typically would have stayed in the draft pool opted to return to college for another season.

Among them are Baylor's Jared Butler and MaCio Teague, Arkansas' Isaiah Joe and Iowa's Luka Garza. All were projected as mid-to-late first-round picks, and their decisions have boosted a handful of players up draft boards who otherwise would have been available in the second round.

                

2020 NBA Mock Draft

1. Golden State Warriors: Anthony Edwards, SG, Georgia

2. Atlanta Hawks: James Wiseman, C, Memphis

3. Minnesota Timberwolves: LaMelo Ball, PG/SG, Illawarra Hawks

4. Cleveland Cavaliers: Devin Vassell, SF, Florida State

5. Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes, PG, Ratiopharm Ulm

6. New York Knicks: Onyeka Okongwu, PF/C, USC

7. Chicago Bulls: Obi Toppin, PF/C, Dayton

8. Charlotte Hornets: Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Iowa State

9. Washington Wizards: Isaac Okoro, SF/PF, Auburn

10. Phoenix Suns: Deni Avdija, SF/PF, Maccabi Tel Aviv

11. San Antonio Spurs: Cole Anthony, PG, North Carolina

12. Sacramento Kings: Aaron Nesmith, SF, Vanderbilt

13. New Orleans Pelicans: Saddiq Bey, SF/PF, Villanova

14. Portland Trail Blazers: Precious Achiuwa, PF/C, Memphis

15. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Brooklyn Nets): Patrick Williams, PF, Florida State

16. Boston Celtics (via Memphis Grizzlies): RJ Hampton, SG, New Zealand Breakers

17. Orlando Magic: Kira Lewis Jr., PG, Alabama

18. Dallas Mavericks: Josh Green, SG, Arizona

19. Brooklyn Nets (via Philadelphia 76ers):  Tyrese Maxey, SG, Kentucky

20. Milwaukee Bucks (via Indiana Pacers): Leandro Bolmaro, SG/SF, Barcelona

21. Philadelphia 76ers (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Tyrell Terry, PG, Stanford

22. Utah Jazz: Theo Maledon, PG, ASVEL

23. Miami Heat: Jaden McDaniels, SF/PF, Washington

24. Denver Nuggets (via Houston Rockets): Grant Riller, PG/SG, Charleston

25. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Denver Nuggets): Robert Woodard II, SF, Mississippi State

26. Boston Celtics: Aleksej Pokusevski, PF, Olympiacos B

27. New York Knicks (via Los Angeles Clippers): Jahmi'us Ramsey, SG, Texas Tech

28. Toronto Raptors: Xavier Tillman, PF/C, Michigan State

29. Los Angeles Lakers: Nico Mannion, PG, Arizona

30. Boston Celtics (via Milwaukee Bucks): Jalen Smith, PF/C, Maryland

             

Vassell Moving Up Draft Boards

Eighteen months ago, Devin Vassell was a seldom-used reserve at Florida State. A year later, he's proved himself to be one of the most versatile 3-and-D prospects in this year's draft class.

The 6'6" wing shot better than 40 percent from behind the arc for the Seminoles, who won the ACC regular-season title and were poised to be a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. 

Most mock drafts have him hovering right around the end of the lottery, but it's possible he could move into the top seven or eight if he's able to work out at the combine.

According to Cleveland.com's Chris Fedor, Vassell is in the Cavaliers' second tier of players behind LaMelo Ball, James Wiseman and Anthony Edwards but one member of their front office doesn't see much of a gap between the 19-year-old and Deni Avdija, who is considered a likely top-10 pick.

         

Can Riller Vault Into The First Round? 

At 23 and coming from the Big South Conference, Grant Riller is by no means a prototypical first-round pick. But his production has steal written all over it.

At College of Charleston last season, the 6'3" guard averaged 21.9 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field. Those numbers are impressively similar to what Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum put up in their final years at small-conference schools. 

And while Riller might not have the shot-creation abilities that translate to him being a slasher at the next level, he shot 50 percent on spot-up three-point attempts last season.

For teams picking late in the first round that are looking for more of a complementary piece than a franchise cornerstone, the 23-year-old makes an intriguing case, especially when you consider the lack of true knockdown shooters available in this year's group. 

       

Follow Keegan on Twitter @ByKeeganPope. 

Highly touted combo guard Jalen Warley committed to Florida State on Sunday. 

Warley announced his decision on Instagram.

https://twitter.com/jjwarley/status/1292509391376220160

The Norristown, Pennsylvania, native is the No. 3 combo guard and No. 23 overall player in the 2021 recruiting class, per 247Sports' composite rankings. He set a high bar for his aims with the Seminoles.

Florida State commit Jalen Warley has something he'd like to say to Noles Nation...

"Be prepared for a national championship."@FSUHoops | @Noles247 | @247recruiting pic.twitter.com/kCMqZ3HQt2

— CBS Sports HQ (@CBSSportsHQ) August 9, 2020

247Sports compared Warley to Denver Nuggets guard PJ Dozier:

"At right around 6-foot-4, Warley has the size to play off the ball and also the ability to be a primary ball handler who makes others better. He doesn’t possess elite athleticism, but his size, basketball intelligence and feel for the game show on both ends of the court. On defensive he is capable of switching and guarding multiple positions, while on offense he can run a team or be a primary scorer if that is asked of him."

Florida State head coach Leonard Hamilton has already assembled a strong class for 2021. The Seminoles sit first in 247Sports' composite team rankings. Warley joins shooting guard Matthew Cleveland, shooting guard Bryce McGowens, center John Butler and center Naheem McLeod.

Five star 2021 hoops prospect Jalen Warley has just committed to Florida State. Third Top 40 prospect the Seminoles have landed this summer. I said it all season and I'll say it now: Leonard Hamilton remains the most CRIMINALLY underrated coach in all of college hoops

— Aaron Torres (@Aaron_Torres) August 9, 2020

Hamilton's emphasis on the backcourt underscores how much that will be a need when Warley arrives on campus.

Leading scorer Devin Vassell opted to test the NBA waters following his sophomore season, while second-leading scorer Trent Forrest is graduating. M.J. Walker has one more season of eligibility after averaging 10.6 points for Florida State in 2019-20. 

Florida State reached the Elite Eight in 2018 and Sweet 16 in 2019. Another deep run might have beckoned for the 26-5 Seminoles this spring if the NCAA hadn't canceled the men's basketball tournament.

Warley's proclamation that FSU fans should prepare for a national title is certainly bold, but it might be an attainable goal for him and his teammates in Tallahassee.

One of the top 2021 recruits is off the board after Matthew Cleveland committed to Florida State on Tuesday. 

Cleveland told Sports Illustrated's Jason Jordan that he picked the Seminoles from a group of schools that included Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina State and Stanford. 

#committed 🍢🍢 pic.twitter.com/bfsKLxruo8

— Matthew Cleveland (@MCleveland35) July 21, 2020

BREAKING: @MCleveland35 is officially off the board to @FSUHoops; I sat down with the elite 2021 SG to discuss how @FSUCoachHam and his staff lured him to Tallahassee.
See full video interview here ➡️https://t.co/zKbhOax9OC @AllSeminolesSI pic.twitter.com/A7Bb82KHG7

— Jason Jordan (@JasonNCJordan) July 21, 2020

Jordan noted last week that Kentucky and North Carolina tried to make a late push to get into Cleveland's top five, but the Georgia native already decided which programs made his final list. 

"I know that those are two of the schools that most players wait to hear from," Cleveland told Jordan. "They're great programs, but I had put so much time into coming up with my list. I had built a connection with those coaches, and it was tough to get it to five. I was set on those schools." 

A 6'6" shooting guard from Pace Academy, Cleveland has earned high marks from scouts for his shooting ability. 

Jerry Meyer of 247Sports offered this assessment of Cleveland's skill set:

"Good length for a wing scorer. An explosive athlete with top notch body control. Slasher who specializes in making tough shots. Can keep defense honest with long range shooting but needs to improve in that area. Handles well especially in half court. Not necessarily a playmaker for others. Great potential as a versatile defender. Top notch rebounder for his position."

According to 247Sports' composite rankings, Cleveland is a 4-star prospect who is the No. 3 shooting guard and No. 24 overall prospect in the 2021 class. 

Given the ability Cleveland already possesses as a scorer, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Seminoles head coach Leonard Hamilton help him develop into one of the best players in college basketball as a freshman. 

If Cleveland can develop his playmaking skills in order to get his teammates more involved without sacrificing his shooting, there's no telling how high his ceiling can be. 

Hamilton continues to push all the right buttons with this program. His coaching and recruiting staff have had tremendous success in recent years developing players with athleticism and size, like Mfiondu Kabengele, Devin Vassell and Jonathan Isaac. 

One reason that Hamilton has had so much success in his 19 years at Florida State is recruiting players who fit his system. The Seminoles haven't suddenly become a recruiting powerhouse—their 2019 class was ranked 19th overall by 247Sports' composite rankings, the first time they finished in the top 20 in four years.

Cleveland's all-around skill set will help him quickly acclimate himself into Florida State's system as soon as he arrives in Tallahassee. He could crack the starting five as a true freshman next year and will likely play a key role in the team's quest for ACC dominance. 

Duke University's federal tax return shows that men's basketball head coach Mike Krzyzewski earned over $7 million in total compensation for the 2018 calendar year, per Steve Berkowitz of USA Today.

That figure includes $1.2 million in deferred pay from previous Duke tax returns, meaning Krzyzewski earned $5.8 million in net pay for 2018.  

His base pay approached $3.1 million, per Berkowitz, with $2.985 million in bonus pay. Krzyzewski earned that same bonus in 2017.

USA Today obtained Duke's tax returns upon request. The school is a private institution and therefore under no obligation to make its employment contracts public.

Berkowitz speculated that Kryzyzewki's pay would have placed him second in college hoops, behind only Kentucky's John Calipari, who earned $7.45 million in 2018.

Clemson football head coach Dabo Swinney is the highest-paid coach in collegiate athletics. He earned $9.255 million from the Tigers in 2019, per USA Today. Swinney is amid a 10-year, $93 million deal, per Weston Blasi of Market Watch.

The Blue Devils reached the Elite Eight of the men's NCAA tournament during the 2017-18 season but fell in overtime to Kansas, who lost to eventual national champion Villanova in the Final Four.

Krzyzewski has a lifetime 1,157-350 record with Army and Duke. He's led the Blue Devils to 12 Final Fours and five national titles. The 73-year-old is also a three-time Naismith College Basketball Coach of the Year.

Michael Jordan was one of several former University of North Carolina basketball stars who spoke out against systemic racism in a video released by the program Monday.

Jordan was the last to speak in the video, which was accompanied by a "Black Lives Matter" caption:

Say it with us ➡ Black Lives Matter. pic.twitter.com/JrEdvqjncx

— Carolina Basketball (@UNC_Basketball) July 6, 2020

According to ESPN's Myron Medcalf, Jordan said:

"Systematic racism has to stop now. We must take the time to listen and educate our family, our friends, our children on social injustice and racial inequality. Black Lives Matter more now than ever before. We have to get this right, so please take time to educate yourself and improve the lives of many people, many Black people. Thank you."

Other former UNC players featured in the video were Wes Miller, Wayne Ellington, Tom Kearns, George Lynch, Theo Pinson, James Worthy, Tyler Hansbrough, Luke Maye, Justin Jackson, Sean May, Jimmy Black, Marvin Williams, Eric Montross, Donald Williams, Danny Green, Sam Perkins, Jawad Williams, Ty Lawson, Kennedy Meeks, Lennie Rosenbluth and Raymond Felton.

Current Tar Heels head men's basketball coach Roy Williams also offered his thoughts at the start of the video:

"Some of the greatest to play our game have been Black players, but here we are more than 50 years later and our country is still fighting systemic racism and police brutality against Black men and women. The North Carolina basketball program, our family, our current and former players believe Black lives matter, and it's critically important that we don't just believe it. We must stand together and loudly and clearly demand that we as a country and the world embrace the fundamental human right that Black lives matter."

Williams also discussed legendary UNC basketball coach Dean Smith making Charlie Scott the first Black scholarship athlete in school history in 1967.

Protests against racial inequality, social injustice and police brutality have taken place worldwide in recent weeks following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody May 25.

Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, was killed when now-former officer Derek Chauvin kept his knee pressed against the back of his neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd was facedown on the ground and handcuffed. Floyd said on numerous occasions that he could not breathe, but Chauvin kept the pressure applied.

Chauvin was fired, arrested and charged with second- and third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The other three officers on the scene—Thomas Lane, J.A. Keung and Tou Thao—were also fired and charged with aiding and abetting.

Last month, Jordan and his Jordan Brand pledged to donate $100 million over 10 years to organizations "dedicated to ensuring racial equality, social justice and greater access to education."

Joanne P. McCallie announced Thursday that she is stepping down after 13 seasons as the head women's basketball coach at Duke.

McCallie made it official by reading a prepared statement that was tweeted out by the official Twitter account for Duke women's basketball:

"Hello from Coach P. I hope you all are safe and healthy during these very challenging times.

I just had a very difficult conversation with a group of women that I love and adore and admire..." pic.twitter.com/5pN2Swdfau

— Duke Women’s Basketball (@DukeWBB) July 2, 2020

The 54-year-old McCallie, who had been set to enter the final year of her contract in 2020-21, stressed the importance of clarity in her statement: "As a coach in the final year of my contract, uncertainty is natural and it takes away from confidence and fun. I'm pretty sure there's a level of uncertainty amongst the Duke family. I want to bring clarity with great pride for all."

During her 13 years at Duke, McCallie went 330-107 and took the Blue Devils to the NCAA tournament 10 times.

From 2009-10 through 2012-13, Duke won four consecutive regular-season ACC titles under McCallie and also won three ACC tournament titles during that time. The Blue Devils went to the Elite Eight in the NCAA tournament each of those years as well.

Duke was never able to advance past the Elite Eight under McCallie, and it didn't go further than the Sweet 16 in her final seven seasons as head coach.

The Blue Devils won at least 20 games in each of McCallie's first 11 seasons, but they went just 15-15 in 2018-19 and missed the tourney. Duke also went just 18-12 last season, although the NCAA tournament didn't occur because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In 2016, Duke launched an investigation into the women's basketball program after three players left the team. Duke said at the time that the investigation was done "for Duke women's basketball to get even better."

At the conclusion of the investigation, Duke expressed support for McCallie and kept her on as head coach.

Prior to joining the Blue Devils in 2007, McCallie was the head coach at Maine for eight seasons and Michigan State for seven seasons. She took Maine to the NCAA tournament six times and MSU five times. In 2005, the Spartans lost to Baylor in the National Championship Game.

Overall, McCallie owns a 646-255 record as a college head coach, which means she should have little issue finding another job if she decides to continue coaching.

Duke head men's basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski has spoken out in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. 

"Black Lives Matter. Say it. Can't you say it? Black Lives Matter. We should be saying it every day," Krzyzewski said in a video posted on Blue Devils social media Friday:

Black Lives Matter pic.twitter.com/p14w8PFdhY

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) June 26, 2020

He added: "It's not political. This is not a political statement. It's a human rights statement. It's a fairness statement."

Protests against systemic racism and police brutality against people of color were sparked by the killing of George Floyd on May 25 and have been taking place across the United States for weeks.

Video showed former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly nine minutes as Floyd said he could not breathe. Chauvin has been charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Duke forward Wendell Moore Jr. and his girlfriend, Marissa Moyer, organized a protest in Concord, North Carolina, earlier this month.

Moore told Scott Fowler of the Charlotte Observer he talked to Krzyzewski shortly before the protest began: "He's very supportive of what I was doing here. He said he was very proud of me, that it takes courage to come out and do this."

Krzyzewski previously issued a statement about racial injustice.

"No matter how much I love my current and former players and their families, I cannot feel the depth of what they are feeling right now. I have never experienced what it is like to be a Black man in America," he said in part, adding: "And to understand, we must listen. Listen and not judge. We need to stand up for what is right, and we must no longer tolerate racism and social injustice in our country."     

Longtime ACC commissioner John Swofford is planning to retire in June 2021, nearly 25 years after first taking the position in 1997.

Luke DeCock and Steve Wiseman of the News & Observer reported Thursday that multiple sources said Swofford informed ACC staff members and athletic directors of his decision during conference calls Thursday.

Swofford and the ACC later confirmed Swofford's plan to retire. The 71-year-old Swofford is the fourth and by far the longest-tenured commissioner in ACC history.

Swofford released the following statement regarding his upcoming retirement:

"It has been a privilege to be a part of the ACC for over five decades and my respect and appreciation for those associated with the league throughout its history is immeasurable. Having been an ACC student-athlete, athletics director and commissioner has been an absolute honor. There are immediate challenges that face not only college athletics, but our entire country, and I will continue to do my very best to help guide the conference in these unprecedented times through the remainder of my tenure.

"Nora and I have been planning for this to be my last year for some time and I look forward to enjoying the remarkable friendships and memories I've been blessed with long after I leave this chair."

Swofford has made a massive impact during his nearly quarter-century in charge of the ACC. He expanded the conference from nine teams to 15 and also helped facilitate the creation of the ACC Network, which launched last year.

Swofford played football at the University of North Carolina and later served as UNC's athletic director from 1980 to 1997. His tenure at North Carolina ended when he was named ACC commissioner.

During Swofford's time at the helm, the ACC has been home to four national champions in football and eight national champions in college basketball (seven men's, one women's).

The final year of Swofford's time as ACC commissioner could prove to be the biggest challenge of his career, given the coronavirus pandemic and how it may impact sports not only this fall but into 2021 and beyond.

Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Krzyzewski released a statement Monday in the wake of the killing of unarmed civilian George Floyd, who died after since-fired Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nine minutes while Floyd was being arrested.

Krzyzewski said he was emotional, angry, frustrated and that he was "disgusted and...scared." He also wondered, "When will we insist on justice and equality for everyone?"

pic.twitter.com/6SNOqMN0YV

— Duke Men’s Basketball (@DukeMBB) June 1, 2020

Chauvin was charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The three other officers at the scene—Tou Thao, J. Alexander Kueng and Thomas K. Lane—were also fired but are not currently facing criminal charges, though they are still under investigation.

A number of college basketball coaches around the nation have also released statements regarding Floyd and the ongoing protests:

pic.twitter.com/rUAFOZ9dyi

— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) June 1, 2020

pic.twitter.com/e9YuyBQOqO

— Juwan Howard (@JuwanHoward) June 1, 2020

“An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” Martin Luther King Jr. pic.twitter.com/xu0lPBVM1t

— Chris Holtmann (@ChrisHoltmann) May 29, 2020

pic.twitter.com/wNzlKxvISI

— Johnny Dawkins (@Coach_Dawkins) June 1, 2020

#icantbreathe pic.twitter.com/ogyHvjQzaP

— Jamion Christian 🇺🇸 (@JamionChristian) May 30, 2020

South Carolina women's head coach Dawn Staley penned an essay for The Players' Tribune, writing that "black people are tired" of the disproportionate brutality and killings they face from police: 

"I'm watching people who are protesting and the riots that are going on. I mean, a part of me feels like I really understand why they're rioting. Then the other part thinks, 'That's our neighborhoods that are being burned down.' But I know the place it's coming from. I know the frustration. I know the deep-rooted anger that it's coming from.

"People are mad because NOTHING HAS CHANGED."

Incoming Ohio State transfer Seth Towns was detained in Columbus on Friday night while protesting, per Stephen Means of Cleveland.com, though he was not arrested and is not facing criminal charges. 

Footage of Seth Towns in police custody earlier Friday at the scene of a protest in Columbus. Towns, an incoming Ohio State basketball transfer, graduated from Harvard Thursday.

Towns is no longer in police custody and is safe at home, according to a source. pic.twitter.com/kFptHH63BN

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) May 30, 2020

"We have to be true to who we are and our voices," Towns said during an appearance on ESPN's SportsCenter (h/t Adam Jardy of the Columbus Dispatch). "We have to use those voices to impact people, and there is a huge dilemma in this country right now that needs to be addressed and I won't shut up. I won't stop. I will continue to use my voice to speak out for the people who are unheard, and that's what I did."

University of Louisville director of men's basketball operations Kahil Fennell was one of more than 30 people arrested Saturday night in Louisville amid protests over the death of Breonna Taylor, according to Lucas Aulbach of the Courier-Journal.

Fennell's arrest report stated he violated the city's curfew order and was officially booked at 8:58 p.m. local time. Per Danielle Lerner of The Athletic, the time of the arrest occurred at 8 p.m. The mayor's executive order created a curfew for all citizens that begins at 9 p.m.

Louisville men's basketball coach Chris Mack said in a statement he was aware of the arrest.

"I stand by Kahil," Mack said.

Others surrounding the program have offered support for the staffer:

A few things to know about @KahilFennell : Great husband, dad, and friend. Always putting others first, striving for what is best for our players, listens well, and one of the best coworkers I’ll ever have. Appreciate and love you brother. https://t.co/LJ4qaqBjVv

— Taylor Barnette (@TaylorBarnette) June 1, 2020

Kahil Fennell is a good man and I’m happy to call him a friend. Not surprised at all to hear Chris Mack fully stands with Kahil. pic.twitter.com/jdp11AjHWJ

— Nick Coffey (@TheCardConnect) May 31, 2020

Coach Kahil Fennell better receive one of the biggest ovations the yum has ever heard.

💪💪❤️❤️

Salute to UofL Men’s basketball.

Salute to Coach Mack.

— Russ Smith 🔮 The Specter 🕯️ (@TheRussdiculous) June 1, 2020

Fennell is going into his third season on the Cardinals staff after working his way up from junior varsity high school coach in 2014-15. He was an assistant at Portland State before coming to Louisville.

His arrest came during protests that have occurred in cities throughout the country over the past week. Many are in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed African American who died while in police custody in Minneapolis. Taylor was shot and killed in March by three police officers in Louisville, spurring more protests within the city.

Mack released a statement Sunday morning on the recent issues.

"Who could watch George Floyd die on the street and not think 'What in the hell is wrong with people?' I just can't comprehend that kind of treatment to anyone," the head coach wrote. "It feels like our country is going backwards."