DETROIT – The Syracuse men’s basketball could lose Jonny Flynn, Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf to the NBA or other pro leagues, according to a source within the program.
Those three were the top three scorers for a Syracuse team that lost to Oklahoma in the Sweet 16. Flynn averaged 17.4 points, Devendorf 15.7 and Harris 12.
Harris, who has two sons, and Devendorf will put their names in for the NBA Draft and will leave for either the NBA or another pro league.
“A lot of guys will put their names in and take their names out. In the case of those two guys, if they put their names in they won’t pull them out,” the source said.
However, Curt Devendorf, Eric’s father, told The Syracuse Post-Standard that his son would return for his senior year.
“Eric loves Syracuse,” he said. “We’ve talked, but he doesn’t plan on leaving. As of right now, he plans on coming back next year.”
Flynn, a member of the All-Big East team, initially said he would return to Syracuse but will now test the waters.
“I think he’s gonna put his name in and if he goes and does the [NBA] workouts, I think he’s a Top 10 pick,” the source said.
“He’d have to be top-10,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told Andy Katz of ESPN. “He came in and wants to stay, and I do think he’ll come back unless he’s fairly high.”
CHAMBERS TO BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Villanova associate head coach Patrick Chambers will become the next head coach at Boston University, according to multiple sources with knowledge.
Chambers is slated to meet with BU officials Tuesday and could be introduced this week. He will replace Dennis Wolff, who was fired after posting a 247-197 record in 15 years.
“I am very excited to be involved,” Chambers said at the Final Four.
Chambers has been an integral recruiter for Jay Wright and helped build the team which lost to North Carolina in the national semifinals Saturday night at Ford Field.
“I feel that he feels and I’m sure Jay feels that he’s ready to assume the responsibilities of being a head coach,” said Dan Dougherty, the head coach at Episcopal (Pa.) Academy, where Chambers was his top assistant. “He started out as the low man on the totem poll and he’s progressively moved up. Jay is not doing that as a favor. He’s doing it because of Pat’s capability and the responsibility that he has put on Pat and Pat has responded with the culmination, which is where they are right now.”
Wright will now have to replace Chambers and is considering Fordham assistant Jared Grasso as one option. Grasso has strong ties to New York City, as well as New Jersey powerhouses St. Anthony and Paterson Catholic. He recruited Fordham freshman guard Jio Fontan, as well as incoming recruits Chris Gaston of St. Anthony/New Hampton Prep; Lance Brown of Paterson Catholic; and Joel “Air Jamaica” Wright of Brooklyn Thomas Jefferson.
MILLER REJECTS ARIZONA
Gary Parrish reports that Xavier coach Sean Miller opted to reject the Arizona job, and that the ‘Cats will now target Utah coach Jim Boylen.
Arizona has now struck out publicly on Miller and USC coach Tim Floyd, as well as a number of behind-the-scenes attempts at at high-profile coaches ranging from John Calipari (Kentucky) to Jamie Dixon (Pitt) to Mark Few (Gonzaga).
