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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Saturday / November 23.
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Big East, NBA Draft, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Villanova, West Virginia

NEW YORK –– Born and raised in Dakar, Senegal, Hamady N’Diaye didn’t begin playing basketball until he was 16.

Seven years later, N’Diaye was reduced to tears when he was selected in the NBA Draft.

The Minnesota Timberwolves chose N’Diaye No. 56 in the second round and dealt him to the Washington Wizards, where he could be a teammate of Kentucky guard John Wall, the No. 1 overall pick.

“To be honest, I still am crying,” N’Diaye said in a phone interview. “It’s a whole lot emotional. I don’t know what to say, to be honest.”

Lance Stephenson, NBA Draft, Old Knicks

NEW YORK — If Lance Stephenson is ‘Born Ready’ for the NBA, he’ll have to prove it in Indiana, not New York.

The Knicks opted not to select the 6-foot-5, 220-pound Stephenson with the No. 38 and 39 picks in the second round of the NBA Draft, and the Pacers then grabbed him at No. 40.

New York selected Syracuse shooting guard Andy Rautins and Stanford forward Landry Fields with their two picks, opting to skip the Brooklyn native known as “Born Ready.” Stephenson held a draft party at the Paramount Hotel in Manhattan did not attend the draft.

“This is a night I’ve dreamed of since I was a little boy and I got my family here to support me,” Stephenson told ESPNNewYork.com. “I am just happy. This day came fast. There is a lot of relief. I’ve wanted to be in the NBA since I was a little boy. I’m very motivated. Can’t even explain how motivated I am.”

NBA Draft, New Jersey Nets

NEW YORK — Derrick Favors had no idea whether the Nets would select him until NBA Commissioner David Stern called his name with the No. 3 pick in the NBA Draft.

The Nets considered Favors and Syracuse small forward Wesley Johnson until draft day, and then finally pulled the trigger on the 6-foot-10, 245-pound Favors out of Georgia Tech.

“I didn’t know I was going to the Nets,” Favors said. “I pretty much knew John [Wall] was going to go 1 and Evan [Turner] was going 2, but I had no idea I was going to the Nets, and when they called me I was just excited.”

The 6-7 Johnson was picked No. 4 by the Minnesota Timberwolves and the 6-11 center DeMarcus Cousins was chosen No. 5 by the Sacramento Kings.

NBA Draft, New Jersey Nets

NEW YORK  — With only hours remaining before the NBA Draft, the Nets are still mulling what to do with the No. 3 pick and are actively considering trading to open up more cap space, an NBA source with knowledge said.

“It’s fair to say its [Derrick] Favors or [Wesley] Johnson,” the source said.

The 6-10 Favors had long been the favorite because he plays power forward and the Nets need one, but the 6-7 Johnson, a small forward out of Syracuse, performed well in his workout.

“Favors is still hanging in there. That’s a discussion,” the source said.

John Wall, Kentucky, NBA Draft

NEW YORK — John Wall’s life will change forever Thursday night.

Not only is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft by the Washington Wizards, but Wall’s sneaker commercial will make its television debut during the draft.

“To have your own commercial is a dream come true,” Wall said Wednesday during a meeting with the media.

Yahoo! Sports reported that Wall inked a five-year, $25-million deal with Reebok.

The “ZigTech Slash” is part of the company’s ZigTech collection.

NBA Draft, New Jersey Nets, Syracuse

NEW YORK –– The Nets are likely to take Syracuse small forward Wesley Johnson with the No. 3 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, a source with knowledge said.

“Yes,” the source said.

Asked if it was definite, the source said, “Nothing is certain.”

The Nets are also considering Georgia Tech power forward Derrick Favors and Kentucky center DeMarcus Cousins, both of whom worked out Monday.

But sources said Favors’ was not overly impressive in his workout. Cousins is viewed as a center and the Nets already have Brook Lopez.

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