December 2013 | Page 3 of 22

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By JACK LeGWIN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — If you were to walk by Ben Simmons, you would think he is a normal high school kid. A really tall, normal high school kid.

But in many ways, this is not the case.

A 6-foot-9, 240-pound, junior forward from Montverde (FL) Academy who has verbally committed to LSU, Simmons has made the move from Melbourne, Australia, and wants to follow in the wake of two other high-level players from Australia in current Golden State Warrior Andrew Bogut, and likely lottery pick Dante Exum.

Articles, NBA Draft

NBA Scout Looking Forward to Frontcourt Matchup in Louisville-Kentucky Game

December 27, 2013

author: Adam Zagoria

I talked to one veteran NBA scout tonight who said he and many of his colleagues will be focusing on the frontcourt matchup in Saturday’s Louisville-Kentucky game.

“I think that most people are going to go in seeing [Julius] Randle and Montrezl Harrell and Willie Cauley-Stein, seeing how all that plays itself out,” one of the 26 NBA personnel who will attend the game told SNY.tv.

“I think it will be more about the frontline than it will be about the backcourt.”

Articles, Recruiting

PJ Dozier Feels Better After Surgery

December 27, 2013

author: Adam Zagoria

By JACK LeGWIN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

COLUMBIA, S.C.- P.J. Dozier is upbeat after surgery.

In fact, he feels better than he did before he had ACL-repair surgery that is keeping him out for the whole year.

“Rehab is going really good right now,” Dozier told SNY.tv. “My goals are to come back bigger and stronger than I did before. I really want to enhance my game so you can see the difference.”

Michigan, NBA Draft

McGary Out With Back Surgery as Draft Stock Takes a Hit (UPDATED)

December 27, 2013

author: Adam Zagoria

Mitch McGary’s NBA Draft stock was sky-high during and after Michigan’s run to the NCAA championship game last April.

His stock was already falling this season and that was before the school announced Friday that he would undergo lower back surgery that would keep him out indefinitely. McGary will likely have the surgery on Tuesday, ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman reported.

“My back problems have been a daily challenge ever since late August,” said McGary. “We have worked hard rehabbing the injury and I thought that everything was proceeding in the right direction until the last two weeks. I have consulted with my family, my coaches and our doctors and decided the best option now is to have surgery. This was a difficult decision to make because I want to be out there with my teammates. At the same time, I need to be healthy to give everything I can on the court and help my team.”

Articles, Kentucky, Louisville

26 NBA Personnel Expected at Louisville-Kentucky; Backcourt Matchup Will Be Key for Scouts

December 27, 2013

author: Adam Zagoria

Twenty-six NBA personnel are expected at Saturday’s Louisville-Kentucky game, a school spokesman told SNY.tv.

The two teams feature five players projected by DraftExpress.com as 2014 first round picks — No. 2 Julius Randle (Kentucky), No. 9 Willie Cauley-Stein (Kentucky), No. 12 Montrezl Harrell (Louisville), No. 15 James Young and No. 30 Alex Poythress (Kentucky). Louisville’s Russ Smith is also projected as a second-round pick at No. 36.

As previously reported here, Kentucky freshmen guards Andrew and Aaron Harrison were recently moved to the 2015 Mock Draft by Draft Express, as was Kentucky big man Dakari Johnson. Louisville’s Wayne Blackshear is a projected second-round pick in 2015.