After the smoke cleared, Saric, who was just 18 at the time, struggled to find his stride with Cibona. While he started, he didn’t see a lot of touches, nor was he allowed to do what he does so well — handle the ball. His numbers for the season (7.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.1 APG) no longer screamed “lottery pick.” And his lack of a consistent outside jumper and defensive issues linked to average lateral quickness only exacerbated the problem. Nevertheless, for the most part, NBA GMs and scouts seem undeterred by Saric’s recent struggles. “I think he is one of the three or four top talents in this draft,” said a GM. ESPN.com

“My desire is to be close to the philosophy of basketball of [the] greatest Laker Magic Johnson,” Saric said in an e-mail interview with ESPN.com. “Of course, it is nice for every player to score, including me, but my biggest challenge is how [to make better] other players of my team on the court. This is what I like to do, and this is what I want to learn and doing better day by day.” ESPN.com

Jerry Zgoda: Trevor Mbakwe, Mike Muscala, Nate Wolters and Colton Iverson among those w/ local connections invited to Chicago draft combine next week Twitter @JerryZgoda

Jeff Goodman: Trey Burke’s father will represent him as NBA agent, but I was told Rich Paul went hard after him — with LeBron reaching out to Burke. Twitter

Giannis and Thanasis Adetokunbo (video) were born and raised in Greece, went to school in Greece, speak Greek, but because their parents were Nigerian immigrants they didn’t automatically get the Greek citizenship. That changed on Thursday. Both brothers are now officially Greeks, as they wanted to, despite the state’s recent change of citizenship laws. It was not only a matter of bureaucracy, but also a political subject, since Adetokunbos are probably the first children of non Greek immigrants who got the citizenship. However, their talent was their battling ram and with the help of the Greek basketball federation, they finally got what they wanted. EuroHoops.net

I’m not sure there will be a Disney World parade down the streets of Orlando if the Magic win the No. 1 pick. According to sources, Orlando had its heart set on Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart until he broke its heart when he decided to stay in college. While the Magic need just about everything, point guard might be their biggest area of need. ESPN.com

Damian Lillard – Chip on shoulder: “I came into the Draft process with a huge chip on my shoulder just because of the situation I come from. I’m from Oakland, I didn’t get recruited heavily out of high school, I went to a mid-major at Weber State, I didn’t get a lot of attention until my last year in school. I felt like I had a lot to prove. Once I did that, I started to get some respect. I got drafted sixth overall, and I knew it was up to me to make something of it. I had a huge chip because of the situation I came from.” Blazers Edge

Porter is the perfect fit for Cleveland, and according to sources he is the No. 2-ranked player on the Cavs’ board right now. With two dynamic scorers in their backcourt and good size up front, they need a wing like Porter who can excel without having the offense run through him. ESPN.com

Burke certainly will get a look as the potential No. 1 pick if the Magic draft there. The other team that seems to fit Burke are the Pelicans. Yes, Greivis Vasquez is coming off a breakout season, but Burke is a totally different player and could complement Vazquez coming off the bench early on. The Pelicans’ other big need is at small forward. Shabazz Muhammad could get a look here. So could Croatia’s Dario Saric. Sources say that the Pelicans are one of the two or three strongest suitors for Saric at the moment. ESPN.com

Your name is in the draft early entry list. How did you make the decision to submit your name? Walter Tavares: I want to make myself known because they don’t know me much yet. It’s basically in order to be on the radar, not to go over there now as I’m still growing as a player. I think I have a lot to learn yet. Next year I’ll be way more ready than this year. So you don’t think you’re going to stay in the draft this year. Walter Tavares: No, I don’t think so. HoopsHype

Indiana officials would like to work out guard Evan Fournier of France one more time so Pacers president of basketball operations Larry Bird can evaluate him. Bird missed Fournier’s first workout because of a personal matter. The Pacers have the 26th overall pick Racine Journal-Times

Joe Maloof: Over the past few weeks, we’ve had the opportunity to bring in some terrific prospects for our draft pick. Twitter

The only thing preventing the Hornets from declaring publicly their Vow to the Brow is the NBA’s unwritten edict to teams that they keep secret their draft intentions until draft night. Consequently, Hornets General Manager Dell Demps continued to play coy when asked directly about Davis being the top pick. He praised Davis for being “the ultimate team player” and called him “a talent,” but otherwise kept his cards close to the vest. New Orleans Times-Picayune

Hornets General Manager Dell Demps said Tuesday he hasn’t received any offers warranting serious consideration for the team’s second draft pick, the 10th overall, and he’s moving forward with plans to keep the selection. “With this draft class, I really like the 10th position,’’ Demps said. “We’re going to look at the best available player, and I think we can get any position. I think we’re going to get a good player in here.’’ New Orleans Times-Picayune

The Hornets will resume predraft workouts Saturday that will involve North Carolina point guard Kendall Marshall, and European players Evan Fournier and Nihad Djedovic, at the Alario Center. New Orleans Times-Picayune

There is insider talk that the Suns gave a “soft promise” to Syracuse’s Dion Waiters, who left the NBA draft combine early and has not worked out for teams since then. A rumored full promise is doubtful, considering the unknown of who could fall to No. 13, but the 6-4, 221- pounder is a match for the Suns because of his potential to be the shot creator they need. He was Syracuse’s sixth man but also a go-to player in the crunch with toughness and athleticism. Arizona Republic

Ohio State power forward Jared Sullinger is working out for the Cavaliers on Friday at Cleveland Clinic Courts.Morning Journal

Also working out Tuesday were 7-foot senior center Garrett Stutz of Wichita State; 6-10 senior forward Augustus Gilchrist of South Florida; 6-5 senior guard Matt Gatens of Iowa; 6-6 senior guard Zane Johnson of Hawaii; and 6-6 senior forward Rob Jones of Saint Mary’s. Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

(Draymond) Green won’t be playing much point guard in the NBA, but his diverse skills should help the transition from college. “I think he’s going to be a terrific NBA player,” Atlanta Hawks coach Larry Drew said Tuesday after the team put several prospects through pre-draft workouts. “I don’t think there’s enough players like him that bring a little bit of everything to the game. But he certainly is that type of player, that caliber of player.” FOXSportsSouth.com

Drew seemed to be describing Green when discussing the Hawks’ draft strategy. “[The] bottom line is we look for the NBA skill — if they can do the things necessary to compete and play at this level. Obviously, you hope to get a guy who can make shots, a guy who can defend. There are a lot of tangibles that a player has to have to play on this level. We bring these guys in here and take a very, very close look at them.” If Green is still available after 22 other players are selected, the Hawks should be glad they did. FOXSportsSouth.com

Charles F. Gardner: Henson on fit with Bucks: “They are looking for a center and I’m not ready to play center full-time yet. But the game is getting smaller.” Twitter

David Mayo: Syracuse’s Kris Joseph scheduled to work out next Tuesday for #Pistons, 2 days before #NBADraft.Twitter

Chad Ford: Withdrew from draft (cont’d) Joffrey Lauvergne, Abdoulaye Loum, Nika Metreveli, Nemanja Nedovic, Jakub Parzenski, Sertac Sanli Twitter

Scott Howard-Cooper: One GM, asked if Sidney is that much of a train wreck: “Yes.” Even worse than public/press knows about? “I think so.” Twitter

After flying into New Orleans on Monday, Davis was scheduled to spend the day with his only pre-draft visit to a franchise. Davis had dinner with Hornets coach Monty Williams in Chicago at the team’s pre-draft camp, and will meet with an array of Hornets owners, executives and coaches on Tuesday at the team’s facility outside of New Orleans. The Hornets hold the No. 1 pick and there hasn’t been a moment of debate about where Davis will go.Yahoo! Sports

Chris Vernon: At Grizz draft workouts… kid from France (Evan Fournier), Darius Miller from Kentucky, William Buford from Ohio St here today Twitter

Despite an important amount of second round interest, Lithuanian player Mindaugas Kupsas decided to withdraw his name from the next NBA draft Sportando

The Bulls are disappointed Deng is planning to wait until after the London Olympics to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist. Really, though, missing the first month or two of next season is irrelevant in the long run. The Bulls have plenty of love for Deng. The issue here is being backed up against the luxury tax and trying to create flexibility for the future. Arlington Heights Daily Herald

NBA prospect Anthony Davis is the extremely likely number one overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft. The NCAA National Champion center/forward from the University of Kentucky had been going through a lengthy vetting process of agents, with the assistance of his father Anthony Davis, Sr., until late last week when he finally announced that he signed with Wasserman Media Group for representation.Sports Agent Blog

“I’m leaning toward staying in (the draft), but I don’t want to rush anything,” said Satoransky, who also has worked out for Washington and Cleveland. ”Some team will have to have a lot of interest in me and want to work with me to improve.” San Francisco Chronicle

The Warriors have four picks (Nos. 7, 30, 35 and 52) and have been open about not wanting to add four rookies to a roster that will include at least three second-year players. Satoransky could prove to be a perfect draft-and-stash option for the Warriors, who could use one of their second-round picks on him and continue his development overseas for a year or two. San Francisco Chronicle

Alex Kennedy: The Los Angeles Lakers only have one pick in the 2012 NBA Draft (#60), but it sounds like they want to acquire another second-round pick. Twitter

Alex Kennedy: The Los Angeles Lakers worked out several draft prospects last week including guards Tu Holloway, Marcus Denmon and Charlie Westbrook. Twitter

Here are the Safe Bets: Harrison Barnes, North Carolina, sophomore small forward (6-foot-8, 215 pounds): No one is predicting the next coming of Kevin Durant, but Barnes is seen by most as a high-level scorer whose skills should translate at the next level. He averaged 17.1 points last season, but left Tar Heels fans wanting more at the end as he shot just 32.8 percent in four NCAA tournament games. Still, executives are confident he’ll be a productive pro even though he’s not a great athlete and his dribble-drive game needs work. “Is he going to be an All-Star? I don’t know, but it’s not like he’s going to be a bust either,” a front-office source said. SI.com Damian Lillard, Weber State, junior point guard (6-2, 185): With all due respect to Eastern Washington product and current Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey, the Big Sky Conference isn’t exactly known for pumping out NBA talent. Lillard is the latest exception, having proved to be one of the nation’s best scorers (24.5 points on 46.7 percent shooting). More important for him, he’s atop the short list of quality point guards in this draft and could find his way into the top 10 as a result. Lillard is a score-first point guard who can shoot and penetrate, his athleticism is underrated and he’s shown good playmaking skills. SI.com

Tyler Zeller, North Carolina, senior center (7-foot, 250): As Tar Heels legend Larry Brown would put it, Zeller plays the right way. The ACC Player of the Year is far closer to solid than he is spectacular, but the well-rounded offensive game, smarts and consistency could make him a lottery pick. Zeller improved every year, averaging 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocks as a senior. “He’s not going to be an All-Star by any stretch,” a front-office source said, “but you’ll be satisfied.” SI.com

Jared Sullinger, Ohio State, sophomore power forward/center (6-9, 280): No one questions Sullinger’s savvy and skill, but his lack of size and athleticism dog him more now than they did when he passed on the draft a year ago. He was considered a top five pick then, but the shine might have come off his game despite the fact that he had a very similar season statistically (17.5 points to 17.3 as a freshman, 10.2 rebounds to 9.2). His conditioning has been a problem at times, even with Sullinger’s improving his physique last offseason. Most of all, though, the discussion about Sullinger concerns position. “He’s another undersized ‘five’ [center],” a front-office source said. “And I don’t think he’s going to be able to be a ‘four’ [power forward]. He plays below the rim, has great skills, but is he Oliver Miller? He’s supposedly in great shape, and he still can’t run [very well].” SI.com

GMs identified Baylor’s Perry Jones, Kentucky’s Terrence Jones, Washington’s Terrence Ross, Baylor’s Quincy Miller and St. Bonaventure’s Andrew Nicholson as players who could help their stock the most with great workouts. All of them have one thing in common: skill. And many of them combine that with terrific athleticism to boot. “These workouts can’t really measure basketball IQ or your feel for the game. We have a whole season of scouting and film for that,” one GM said. “But they can allow us to gauge the skill level of players in ways that sometimes their college systems might hide. It’s also a terrific gauge of a player’s athletic abilities, which are often pushed to the maximum in workouts.” ESPN.com

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It’s pretty easy to see why GMs expect these players to do well. Perry Jones is both an elite athlete and has a great face-up game that wasn’t always used well at Baylor. “If he comes in and really starts hitting shots, he could go very, very high,” one GM said. “As a power forward, I think he’s going to be a disappointment in the league. But if he could be a Paul George-type player? He could be special. George was accused of being laid-back in college, too. It’s why he slipped to No. 10. Now you see the way the Pacers use him and you think the sky is the limit for him.” ESPN.com

Terrence Jones primarily played down low for the Wildcats, but he’s got a lot more to his game too. “He’s not going to wow you in the athletic drills, but I think he’s got such a well-rounded game,” another GM said. “I see some Lamar Odom in him. He’s another guy who, at 6-foot-9, should really excel in drills and two-on-two play. I think he was surrounded by so much talent at Kentucky that people just don’t get how special a player he can be.” ESPN.com

Remember how people thought David Falk (former agent of MIchael Jordan & the stars) had become irrelevant? Check out the client list he’s quietly put together: Former Duke star Austin Rivers and Ohio State’s Jared Sullinger in this year’s draft, and he already had two of game’s best young centers in Indiana’s Roy Hibbert and Detroit’s Greg Monroe, as well as young Philly wingman Evan Turner. Yeah, he’s doing just fine.

Robert Sacre: “I’m excited to just be in the league and being able to have the challenge to play anybody. I’m hungry to be the best post player in the world and compare myself to the best players in the world”. HoopsHype

What NBA player are you looking forward to playing against? Robert Sacre: All of them. I’m excited to just be in the league and being able to have the challenge to play anybody. I’m hungry to be the best post player in the world and compare myself to the best players in the world. HoopsHype

The line starts behind Anthony Davis. There may be questions about the talent level at point guard in the 2012 NBA Draft. There may be concerns about the paucity of small forwards in the Draft. There will be, as ever, lamenting about the lack of true center prospects in the Draft. But there is no question who the first pick of the Draft will be — Davis, the freshman sensation from Kentucky who led the Wildcats to the NCAA national championship and whose defensive skills have every lottery team from 1 to 14 dreaming about the possibilities of putting Davis in the home white next season. He jump-starts every team’s rebuilding process and accelerates most to the point where making the playoffs becomes the expected outcome going forward. NBA.comAt worst, he is compared favorably with Marcus Camby and Tyson Chandler. At best, the name Tim Duncan rolls off some scouts’ tongues. The only question NBA scouts have about him is whether he’ll run into trouble early in his pro career with the league’s bigger, stronger power forwards. “The games that he struggled in in college — at Indiana, where he struggled with Cody Zeller, he was in foul trouble the whole game — and he really struggled against North Carolina,” a Central Division college evaluator said. “He had the great block (to preserve a 73-72 victory in early December), but he really struggled. He struggled in games where it got physical in the post. He got in foul trouble. But, believe me, his pros outweigh his cons by about 10 to 1.” NBA.com

Said a Pacific Division executive: “I would offer you that I think it’s going to be a minute. This is not LeBron James or Dwight Howard or a guy like that. He’s clearly the best player but I don’t think it’s like an immediate, meteoric turnaround right away. I think it’s going to take a little time … He’s still growing into his body, I believe.” At 220 pounds, Davis will find it hard to hold his position until he gets in the weight room. “The only thing that we would really be talking to the kid about is to focus on his body from the time we drafted him until October 1,” the Central Division evaluator said. “He’s got to be able to come in as the No. 1 pick and guard starting fours, not backups. You’re guarding starting fours, one night it’s Dirk Nowitzki, the next night it’s David Lee, the next night it’s [Pau] Gasol.” NBA.com

It won’t take long for the next power forward to join Davis shaking Commissioner David Stern’s hand. Kansas’ Robinson got a slight nod among personnel types over Ohio State’s Sullinger, but the difference is tiny. Either could go in the top five, depending on who’s doing the picking and what they need. “Robinson’s next,” said a veteran Western Conference scout whose team won’t be picking high enough to take him. “He’s probably a more aggressive player. Although Sullinger can step out and shoot the jump shot, whereas Thomas really can’t. But if you’re looking at the playoffs, you’re looking at guys like (Memphis’) Dante Cunningham, and (the Clippers’) Reggie Evans, those forwards who change the game because they play so hard and they’re aggressive and they can rebound. Robinson can do that.” NBA.com

Pro scouts are a little divided on what Sullinger’s optimal weight should be. “It doesn’t bother me Jared being 290, because I don’t think he can be any good playing at 260,” a Central Division executive said. “If he can’t get people off of him to shoot his jump hook, he’s no good.” Said the Pacific executive: “He was a better looking player as a freshman than he was this year. But you can’t carry that weight for 10 or 12 years, either, without it rearing its ugly head somewhere. Anybody who tries to slim him down more, you’re going to run into the problem where he’s not going to have enough heft to get his shot off.” NBA.com

“This is a one-player draft,’’ agent David Falk told the Observer Monday, referring to Kentucky freshman big man Anthony Davis. “Picks two through eight, there’s not a lot of separation. There’s just not a lot of difference between (Michael Kidd-)Gilchrist, (Andre) Drummond or (Harrison) Barnes. A lot of teams will be looking to trade down because the difference from two through eight is miniscule”. Charlotte Observer

Liz Mullen: ASM Sports and NBA Agent Andy Miller have also signed Kentucky PG Marquis Teague for representation in the #NBA Draft. Twitter

DraftExpress Tweets that Doron Lamb is signing with Arn Tellem. Sports Agent Blog

Among the post players angling for position in next month’s NBA Draft, there are plenty more talented than Gonzaga’s Robert Sacre. But whether there are any who are more personable, interesting, entertaining … that is highly doubtful. What does personable, interesting and entertaining have to do with playing center in the NBA, you might ask? Perhaps nothing. But then again, perhaps everything, because Sacre, through the sheer force of his personality, is going to get a chance to prove he can play at the highest level. Gonzaga basketball coach Mark Few, a man not given to overstatement, got some attention as his team was gearing up for postseason play in March when he offered this comment about Sacre: NBA.comSacre is intent on removing those warts on his game. He’d love to get drafted by New Orleans, so he could return to his beloved home state. What an ambassador he’d be for that city. And, perhaps, what a player for the Hornets. Sacre has lofty, yet attainable goals for a potential NBA career. “I’d love to play like Kendrick Perkins and Carlos Boozer,” Sacre said. “Perkins is a guy who helps you win championships. And I think I can model my game after Boozer. To play like those two guys, that’s my ideal. I think I can get there.” NBA.com

The 6-foot-7, 235-pound Green already has a workout scheduled with Boston, one of about a dozen teams that have expressed an interest in the versatile player. “I hear I could go anywhere from 20 to 30,” he said. “But you never know, so I’m going to control what I can control and that’s to be ready for any and every opportunity I get to show what I can do.” Detroit Free Press

Stefan Bondy: Georgetown product Hollis Thompson signs with agency OCR, joining MarShon Brooks on the client list, @SethACohen_OCR announces Twitter

Maryland guard Terrell Stoglin, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s leading scorer, won’t return to the Terps next season after all, and is likely to enter the NBA draft, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Baltimore Sun

Ref: Hoops Hype

Rival Sports Group, an emerging firm in the sports industry, signs Thomas Robinson, former Kansas University star power forward. Robinson, a unanimous first team All American, is expected to be a top three pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. “Coach Self and the entire coaching staff along with Kansas University have done an excellent job in making Thomas the most NBA ready player in the draft and we are excited to be a big part of this process,” says Jason Martin, Rival Co-Founder. Sys-Con

Another Galatasaray’s player will enter 2012 NBA Draft. It is 20-year-old big guy Sertac Sanli (212-F/C-91, agency: Beo Basket). Yesterday, it was announced also that Furkan Aldemir (207-F-91, agency: Beo Basket) declared for the Draft. Sanli played four Euroleague games with Galatasaray this season and he also appeared four times in TBL. Eurobasket.comFurkan Aldemir, as his agent Misko Raznatovic informed, made himself eligible for the 2012 NBA draft. The Turkish big man born in 1991 is playing with Galatasaray averaging 8ppg and 6.8rpg in TBL. In Euroleague Aldemir scored 6.5ppg with 4.9rpg in the 18 games played. Sportando

Nemanja Nedovic (192-PG-91, agency: Beo Basket) submitted his name to this year’s NBA Draft. The Serbian hot prospect was named Eurobasket.com All-Serbian League Most Improved Player of the Year -11. Eurobasket.com

Baylor freshman forward Quincy Miller told @YahooSports he will enter the NBA Draft and hire an agent. The Co-Big 12 Conference Player of the Year averaged 10.6 points and 4.9 rebounds in 37 games. Miller actually said on April 10 that he would return to Baylor, but after further deliberation he changed his mind. One NBA scout believes he can be drafted as high as 15. Story to come on @YahooSports. Miller is expected to hire Dwon Clifton as his agent. Sulia

Quincy Miller tells @Yahoo Sports about changing mind to leave Baylor: “I apologize if I excited too many people, but I feel like this is the best move for me. I love Baylor so much. I love the campus. I love the university. I love everything about Baylor. But I think for myself right now this was best for me.” Sulia

Emiliano Carchia: Evan Fournier in an interview to La Nouvelle Republique said that he made himself eligible for the 2012 NBA draft Twitter

Former Arizona guard Kyle Fogg announced late Monday night on his Facebook page that he has signed with CAA Sports to represent him in potential contract negotiations with professional teams in the NBA or overseas. “Officially just signed!” wrote Fogg, who included a picture of the papers he signed with CAA Sports. “Just wanna thank everyone who has supported me. It’s a new chapter in my life. My pro career has begun.” Tucson Citizen

It is speculated that Parker will follow the path taken by other celebrated players who spent only one year in college before declaring for the NBA draft; Carmelo Anthony, Greg Oden, Derrick Rose, Kevin Durant, John Wall, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis and Austin Rivers. Of that illustrious group, only Anthony and Davis won NCAA titles. “But remember, Harrison Barnes came back for a second year. So did Jared Sullinger,” Smith said. “Jabari fits their mold as well as Derrick Rose and Anthony Davis. I never would be able to say that’s what he is going to do. We’ll have to sit back and watch.” CSN Chicago

As reported by Jonathan Givony, Josep Franch will make himself eligible for the 2012 NBA Draft. The Spanish player born in 1991 is with UCAM Murcia with whom he averages 8.1ppg and 2.4apg in ACB. Sportando

Not too long ago, it appeared that Alabama Junior forward Tony Mitchell was not sure whether he was going to attempt to transfer to another school and play out his upcoming Senior season or declare for the 2012 NBA Draft. One thing was certain – after his multiple suspensions, he was not going to be staying with the Alabama Crimson Tide. The questions were put aside when he declared for the NBA Draft and then hired Todd Ramasar of BDA Sports. Mitchell put up good numbers in his Junior season (while he was permitted to step foot onto the court). He averaged roughly 13 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. If the 6’6 small forward can stay focused on improving his game, he could be given a shot in the NBA. Final note – make sure you do not confuse Alabama’s Tony Mitchell with the Tony Mitchell at North Texas. Sports Agent Blog

Last week, I reported that University of Connecticut’s Andre Drummond signed with Rob Pelinka of Landmark Sports Agency. The agent of players like Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and Carlos Boozer has another potential rookie NBA player signed to his agency. That player is former Syracuse guard Dion Waiters. businessinsider.com

When did you know you were leaving? Marquis Teague: “We all kind of talked about it a few days after the (NCAA title) game, talked about what we wanted to do. We kind of knew two or three days after the game.” Did you seriously consider coming back for another season at UK? Marquis Teague: “We all thought about it, even Ant(hony Davis). We just love this school, love playing together, love playing for coach (John) Cal(ipari). We’re just going to miss it. We thought strongly about coming back.” Indianapolis Star

Drummond had an up and down season and is mentioned by some as a possible bust. He stands a great chance to get a GM fired whether it be for selecting him too high, or not taking him. An absolute physical specimen with incredible mobility and athleticism for a player his size. At 6-foot-10 and 270 pounds, Drummond is said to be the fastest player on the UConn team. Unfortunately his motor runs hot and cold leaving many wondering whether he will live up to his vast potential. HoopsHype

Fournier has already declared his intentions to enter the draft and is likely to stay in barring unforeseen circumstances. He missed out on some of the exposure a strong showing at the Nike Hoop Summit would have provided him, but will likely participate in the adidas EuroCamp this June in one form or another, something that could give his draft stock another boost. DraftExpress.com

Coach John Calipari said the five underclassmen leaving early for the NBA will all finish out the semester, which ends May 4. “They understand why they’re in school,” Calipari said. “They’re here to get an education. They’re all doing very well academically.” CBSSports.com

Pack Pride has learned that forward C.J. Leslie will be returning to NC State for his junior season. NC State forward C.J. Leslie has informed Pack Pride that he will be returning to State for his junior season. “I’m staying at State, that’s the decision I’ve made,” said Leslie. “I just felt like this was the best decision for me. The program is moving in the right direction, and I will finish it out and I’m excited about where we are heading at NC State. Scout.com Liz Mullen: Powerful NBA player agent Rob Pelinka confirmed that he has signed UConn PF/C Andre Drummond for representation in this year’s #NBA Draft Twitter

Chad Ford (1:07 PM) I’m assuming you mean Kentucky. And yes, I think all five are likely first round picks. Anthony Davis is No. 1 on our Big Board. MKG is No. 2. Terrence Jones is No. 8, Marquis Teague is No. 25 and Doron Lamb is No. 29 … Lamb will be on the bubble, but I think his shooting ability will get him in. Darius Miller is No. 42 by the way and it’s not out of the question that he sneaks in too. ESPN.com

There are going to be a lot of people who will say are you kidding me? There is no way Anthony Davis had trouble making the decision to leave UK. He is going to be the first player picked in the NBA draft and no one will be surprised if he makes 10 million next year. “Tough,” says the former UK star. “Yeah, it was tough. Actually decided last night. My mom and dad were arguing. I was just sitting back and laughing like this is crazy. I never thought I’d get to this point. My mom wanted me to stay in school my dad was like let’s stop, let’s be serious for a second, did you not see what he did in college?” LEX18.com

F Anthony Davis , F Terrence Jones , F Michael Kidd-Gilchrist , G Doron Lamb and G Marquis Teague all announced they would enter the NBA draft. The five underclassmen comprised the starting lineup of Kentucky’s 38-2 national championship team. Their NBA draft projections range from first overall (Davis) to late-first or early-second round (Lamb).CBSSports.com

G Marquis Teague said the five underclassmen started talking about their NBA decisions “a few days” after the Wildcats won the national championship on April 2. Teague said they considered returning for another season. “We love this school, we love playing together, we love playing for Coach Cal. We’re going to miss it.”CBSSports.com

Chris Mannix: Lamb was consistent but is entering a draft loaded with wing players. One scout wondered if he could reinvent himself as a point guard.Twitter

Chris Mannix: With Teague, execs feel he was too erratic in the regular season. Stock would improve significantly with another year in college. Twitter

Chris Mannix: Two NBA personnel execs agree, UK’s Davis, Kidd-Gilchrist, Jones making smart move, Teague, Lamb should have gone back. Twitter

Analysis: Kidd-Gilchrist, like the other Kentucky players, still hasn’t officially declared for the draft, but he will. The Wizards desperately need MKG’s leadership, toughness and work ethic. But I hear they also may be tempted by Brad Beal’s shooting and the upside of Andre Drummond. I think the Beal vs. Kidd-Gilchrist scenario is a toss-up. But after the Kwame Brown and JaVale McGee experiences, I would be surprised if Washington chased Drummond. ESPN.com

Would Anthony Davis want to avoid the woeful Charlotte Bobcats so much that he would stay at Kentucky another year to do so? In a word, no. “Whoever drafts me, I’ll love playing for them,” Davis said Saturday night in a brief interview with myself and one other reporter — although Davis emphasized strongly that he has not made a decision as to whether to leave college early for the NBA. “I’m not sure yet,” Davis said of both his impending decision and when he will make it. Charlotte Observer A neurologist eventually diagnosed Watt with Guillan-Barre Syndrome, a condition that occurs when the body’s immune system attacks part of the nervous system. He was faced with the possibility of never playing again. Watt was lucky in that he eventually responded to drug treatment. But he had to relearn how to walk, then run. By late October, Watt was dunking. He someone got through his sophomore season despite constant battles with fatigue, but he didn’t want his fight with the disease made public. NBA.com

Midway through his junior season, Watt was back to his old self. In the middle of a senior year in which he would average career highs in points, rebounds and blocked shots, Watt finally told the media about his sophomore year struggles. One can safely assume that after facing the possibility of not walking, his three days at Portsmouth weren’t so daunting. Battle thinks Watt will also be ready to handle himself during individual workouts with NBA teams. “His ceiling is very high,” Battle said. “I think he’s just scratching the surface. I’ve been working him out the last three weeks, and he surprises me every day with the things he can do. “He can do some things athletically that some guys can’t. I really believe if he gets in the right situation, he can play in the NBA.” NBA.com

Andre Drummond will declare for the NBA draft, making the highly touted freshman the program’s first one-and-done player. The school made an official announcement Friday. Drummond, the highest-rated recruit in team history, is seen as a potential No. 5 pick in June’s draft, according to ESPN Insider Chad Ford’s mock draft. UConn’s postseason ban in 2013 was a factor in Drummond’s decision, a source told the Connecticut Post. ESPN.com

Alabama’s JaMychal Green’s best game this season was arguably his effort against the Florida Gators in early March when he went for 22 points and 10 rebounds. Well, the 6-foot-8 senior who averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds this season picked a heck of a time to play an even more dominant game as he shot 14-for-18 from the field in front of a packed gym of NBA scouts last night at Day 2 of the Portsmouth Invitational. Green showed tremendous gallop in transition and had an array of mid-range makes that led to his game-high 29 points. What may be more impressive was that he only made one free throw and took zero 3-pointers. It was just a matter of getting the ball in the right spots and finishing. Green can thank Seton Hall’s Jordan Theodore who, despite taking 15 shots (making 6) found Green early and often. SheridanHoopsReal Madrid officials are already thinking about offering Llull a contract extension this summer. TuBasket.com

Cheek announced Thursday that he has made himself eligible for the NBA Draft. There is no turning back. He has hired an agent, Happy Walters, the same man who represents former Wildcat Corey Stokes. Even if he had not hired an agent, Cheek’s college career would be over. The deadline for underclassmen to withdraw their name from consideration was Tuesday. Cheek did not come to his decision easily. He mulled it over for nearly two weeks before he decided to give up his senior year to pursue his dream of playing professionally. “It was a tough decision,” Cheek said. “That’s why I took my time with it. I wanted to make sure.” Delaware County Daily Times

Florida freshman Bradley Beal is leaving Gainesville after just one season. According to sources, the 6-foot-3 Beal — whose return would have made the Gators a Top five preseason team next season — will announce his departure on Friday at a news conference at 10:30 a.m. CBSSports.com

With only a handful of days removed from the NCAA tournament, Thomas Robinson and Tyshawn Taylor have their eyes on the NBA. While signing autographs for fans, the two discussed what their plans for the upcoming NBA Draft that’ll take place in June. After an up and down four years at the University, Taylor is projected to be a late-first or early-second round pick, which varies among different mock drafts. Chad Ford, of ESPN Insider, has Taylor ranked as the 33rd overall prospect in this year’s draft. When asked about Ford’s projected outcome for him, Taylor laughed and said, “Thirty-three? Really?” In order to improve on that draft grade, Taylor acknowledges he there areparts of his game that he needs to elevate. “I’m just have to keep working hard, work on my jump shot and work on things they say I can’t do well,” Taylor said. “Can’t worry about what the mock drafts say and just continue to get better.” Kansan.com

Both players have different things to offer whichever teams decide to take the Jayhawks’ star players. Taylor and Robinson said they are both willing to do whatever they have to for their respective teams to succeed. Each has an ideal team in mind, when considering the draft. Taylor simply said, “The Lakers, let’s go Lakers.” Robinson, when asked the same question, laughed and smiled, and then said “New Jersey. I want to go to Jersey.” Kansan.com