New Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard could be without the Big East’s leading rebounder when he begins his first season next fall.
Herb Pope, a sophomore who led the Big East in rebounding at 10.7 and scored 11.7 points per game, announced that he will enter his name into the June NBA Draft.
“After careful consideration of my options, and considering the needs of my family in Pittsburgh and a desire to compete at the next level, I have decided to enter the 2010 NBA draft,” Pope wrote in a statement to family adviser Tony Pullen that was obtained by ESPN.com. “While I will continue to attend class at Seton Hall, allowing me the option of ‘testing the waters,’ I am 110 percent committed at this time to staying in this draft.
“I have room to improve, but I am confident that I will perform well in on-site workouts.”
If Pope does not hire an agent, he can return to campus next season but he must decide by May 8.
“He’s the best rebounder in the country,” one NBA general manager GM told ESPN.com. “He’s the DeJuan Blair of this year’s draft.”
In Seton Hall’s last game of the season, a first-round loss in the NIT, Pope sucker punched Texas Tech forward Darko Cohadarevic in the groin as as the player ran upcourt. Pope was ejected from the game and then apologized to his teammates in the locker room afterward.
“Man, I never got someone even knee me that hard in a practice by accident. He just took a swing,” Cohadarevic told SNY.tv.
Willard is meeting with several Seton Hall players prior to being introduced Wednesday alongside new women’s coach Anne Donovan.
Willard met Monday with guard Keon Lawrence, who was suspended on Nov. 9 following his involvement in a wrong-way car crash on the Garden State Parkway and then reinstated in December.
He also met with Paterson Catholic senior wing Fuquan Edwin, the lone player to sign with Seton Hall for next season.
(Photo courtesy NJ.com)
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bball purist / March 29, 2010
3rd round pick – wait a minute, there is no 3rd round – Keep hittin’ the books, Herb. you’ll be a second rounder, late first if you’re lucky next year.
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UofA BJ / March 29, 2010
Lol bball purist.
I was thinking 4th rounder.
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HallBall / March 29, 2010
I doubt you being from Arizona even being able to watch Herb play fourth rounder, you sound like the biggest jack*** alive whether you were being sarcastic or not how bout you worry about winning more than 16 games next year in the talent rich Pac-10 Lol. However I do agree that Herb should return back to school, being the leading rebounder In the Big East last Is one thing but after the Texas Tech game his maturity or lack there of Is going to throw red flags up to the majority of the GMs in the leauge. Good Luck Herb…
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UofA BJ / March 30, 2010
HellBall you are a douchbag and know nothing about nothing.
If this idiot pope enters draft he will not be picked this year plain and simple. Being a good rebounder only can take you so far and 11 points a game in college is not impressive. Plus this guy cant hit the broad side of a barn from the stripe and he is a sucker punching bitch.
Like I said before hallball find a new team because yours is irrelivent.
BTW nice coaching hire to further bury tour team in the gutter.
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UofA BJ / March 30, 2010
FYI worry about your own shitty program HallBall because no ARIZONA fan is worried about next year, we are excited. Which is something no seton hall fan can ever say.
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mayersro / March 30, 2010
hater
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jcoz123 / March 30, 2010
As a big SHU fan an alumni I know Pope will NOT be drafted this year. He could be a late first rounder in 2011 but he was basically a no show as far as rebounding the ball goes in any big game for the Pirates this year. He needs consistancy because he isn’t even as good a Blair who some crazy ass GM compared him too.
Zags, whats the deal with Jeff Robinson? Did you report that he is leaving for the draft too!? He must be joking, no?
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Michael / March 30, 2010
BJ, just be glad HallBall is willing to discuss Seton Hall basketball. Despite his name, he is usually on here gravy training on the other Big East and hardly ever mentions his team.
Hallball, first of all it was bball purist who first knocked Hope. Why no harsh email at him (not that he deserves one either)? Secondly, Pope played a year at New Mexico State so its likely someone from AZ has seen him play (you are right though, Seton Hall is never on tv). Third, what do you know about the NBA draft as a Seton Hall fan? Who is your last draft pick? Dehere? John Morton?
Jcoz123, sorry to knock your team. You sound rational and knowledgeable; its just some of HallBalls “posts” demand a response they are so irrational
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jcoz123 / March 30, 2010
Thanks Michael for the respect. I am a realist here and I understand the bashing to hallball ha.
Just an FYI as SHU last pick… Eddie Griffin 7th overall to NJ (he WAS a bust, RIP) and Sam Dalembert.
I have high hopes for SHU on paper if Robinson and Pope stay. Without them, SHU is back in the basement of the Big East.
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Michael / March 30, 2010
Eddie Griffin my bad. And I didn’t know Dalembert went there. My bad again.
Hey I have nothing against S Hall at all. Hall Ball and I go at it sometimes but it’s all in fun. I also realize that some of the Arizona fans aren’t making friends either. All in fun and we just have a lot of passion for our team, as we all do. Good luck next year
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