Latest news with #Elite8
USA Today
22-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Jase Richardson NBA Mock Draft round-up with three weeks until the withdrawal deadline
Jase Richardson NBA Mock Draft round-up with three weeks until the withdrawal deadline Jase Richardson is firmly projected as first round pick based on our mock draft round-up. Since the season ended with an Elite 8 loss to Auburn, Michigan State basketball fans have been anxiously awaiting the final decision from Jase Richardson on whether or not he will keep his name in for NBA Draft consideration. While Richardson has spent the last week or so engaging in team meetings and the draft combine, Tom Izzo said back in April that he doesn't think the door is fully closed on Jase coming back for another season with the Spartans. If that's the case, Jase will have until June 15 to withdraw his name from the draft, and it probably behooves him to use as much of that time as possible to workout for teams and get feedback, as things can change rapidly in the draft process, and we've seen Richardson swing up-and-down in mock drafts since he burst onto the scene as a legitimate NBA prospect early in 2025. Below, we did a round-up of different mock drafts from various outlets to give a snapshot of where Jase is standing right now with about three weeks left until the withdrawal deadline: The Athletic No. 10: Miami Heat What they said: Richardson is one of the true breakout risers of this draft class, a player who rarely played on-ball in high school who has flourished this season getting more of those reps for Michigan State. Few players navigate tight spaces quite like Richardson, as he has a Jalen Brunson-like ability to find creases in the defense with his pristine footwork. He averaged 12 points per game this year while shooting 51 percent from the field, 41 percent from 3 and 84 percent from the line. However, it's his play in the last stretch of the season that has made believers out of most evaluators across the NBA. In his last 11 games, Richardson is averaging 17.3 points and shooting 50 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3 and 82 percent from the line while getting there five times per game. He's also getting five rebounds and dishing out 1.7 assists while posting a two-to-one assist-to-turnover ratio. He's made a believer out of even Tom Izzo, who typically avoids playing freshmen. So what are the concerns? Richardson is smaller, with scouts wondering if he cracks 6-2 without shoes. He's also not wildly explosive, which is a funny statement to say about the son of dunk contest legend Jason Richardson. Defensively, he's tough and competes in college, but will he be fast enough to hold up in the NBA? All eyes will be on Jase Richardson in the NCAA Tournament. If he leads Michigan State on a deep run, his stock has a chance to skyrocket. The Ringer No. 14: San Antonio Spurs What they said: Jase didn't inherit his father Jason's dunk-contest-winning explosiveness, but a childhood spent in and around NBA circles has definite advantages. Richardson has a high-level understanding of the game and his place in it—an aptitude that has all but forced longtime Michigan State coach Tom Izzo to play his star freshman in big minutes during the final stretch of the NCAA season even though he's famously youngblood averse. Should he declare, Jase would be only the fifth one-and-done Spartan since 1952. Richardson's season is a case study in how teams can approach his floor and ceiling. In a lower-usage role to start the year, Jase made the most of his time by working diligently off the ball. He's crisp and decisive in his movement and relocation, with the legitimate deep range and accuracy to apply pressure on the defense in subtle ways. While on the smaller side as a combo guard, his instincts, hand-eye coordination, and motor make him an effective off-ball defender. At the very least, Richardson projects as a no-nonsense two-way role player next to a bigger initiator. However, as his role expanded in East Lansing, flashes of high-level self-creation became more and more common. Jase has a compact frame that seems destined to add on muscle in the coming years, but he relies on delicate footwork to create leverage against the defense. He also has the lower-body range of motion, as well as the excellent stop-start ability, to create seamless stepbacks and complex dribbling chains. While he doesn't exactly have top-tier vision or creativity as a facilitator, he does show poise and timing running the pick-and-roll. All it takes is one team to see the vision of him as a lead guard—there have been plenty of franchises that have tried to craft point guards from players with lesser shooting and handling talent. Richardson's lack of size for his position is a clear concern, but the league has gotten better at understanding intrinsic value and is less beholden to familiar shapes and molds. There is a versatility and scalability in Richardson's skill set that presents a high enough floor to bet on. USA TODAY No. 12: Chicago Bulls What they said: Richardson improved as the season progressed and turned into the Spartans' steady hand with the basketball as a shooter (inside and out) and facilitator. He is an active defender with surprising bouts of athleticism. He also has a knack for collecting rebounds, big plays and poise under pressure. He had an up-and-down NCAA tournament in four games – 5-for-11 shooting and 15 points against Bryant, 1-for-10 shooting against New Mexico, 20 points on 6-for-8 shooting against Ole Miss, and 4-for-13 shooting against Auburn. USA TODAY (AI Mock Draft) No. 10: Houston Rockets Link ESPN No. 16: Orlando Magic What they said: After back-to-back playoff appearances, Orlando's front office seems intent on helping the team win its first playoff series since 2010, saying it plans to "look through a more win-now lens." That might signal a willingness to part with one or both of the team's first-rounders (the Magic also hold the No. 25 pick) if "proven offensive help" becomes available, a search that will likely continue through the offseason. Should the Magic keep this pick, drafting a player such as Richardson, who possesses an excellent feel for the game and strong defensive intensity (and hit 41% of his 3-pointers this season), makes sense. His ability to play off the ball alongside two prolific shot-creators in Franz Wagner and Paolo Banchero would also be a plus, as Richardson showed with his willingness to play a role at Michigan State, where he demonstrated character and winning qualities. -- Givony Yahoo! Sports No. 16: Orlando Magic What they said: It would be a gift from the basketball gods if Richardson lands in Orlando's lap at this pick. The Magic ranked 25th in 3-point attempts and last in percentage. It'd be a shocker if the Magic didn't draft someone who can shoot at this spot. And Richardson is one of the best shooters in the class after making 45.7% of his catch-and-shoot 3s at Michigan State. Beyond that, he is a skilled combo guard with a lethal midrange game and a poised pick-and-roll feel, looking like he downloaded the experience of his NBA veteran father, Jason Richardson. Jase didn't inherit his father's height or dunk contest athleticism, though, so his smaller stature could cap his upside. Bleacher Report No. 16: Orlando Magic Scouts admired Jase Richardson's scoring efficiency and decision-making. He managed to produce consistently on low usage, making open threes, picking the right spots to attack and finishing plays with advanced adjustments and instincts at the rim. But it also became clear that he offers more creativity than the numbers suggest. Richardson was one of the nation's most efficient ball-screen scorers whose self-creation shined more and more as his role increased. Scouts admired Jase Richardson's scoring efficiency and decision-making. He managed to produce consistently on low usage, making open threes, picking the right spots to attack and finishing plays with advanced adjustments and instincts at the rim. But it also became clear that he offers more creativity than the numbers suggest. Richardson was one of the nation's most efficient ball-screen scorers whose self-creation shined more and more as his role increased. Tankathon Pick No. 15: Oklahoma City Thunder Link CBS Sports No. 20: Miami Heat What they said: Richardson would be a fun fit with the Heat. Richardson saw his stock rise throughout the 2024-25 college basketball season. He started in a reserve role at Michigan State and blossomed into the best player on Tom Izzo's squad. Richardson is a great mid-range shooter and was fantastic at finishing around the rim during his lone season in East Lansing. Game Theory Podcast No. 28: Boston Celtics Link Summary It seems like the consensus is that, as of right now, Jase Richardson is projected to be drafted somewhere in the 10 to 20 range, with one outlier placing him at No. 28 to the Celtics. In addition to the Celtics, the Heat are the next lowest landing spot at 20. While it might seem like falling to the 20s may be an indicator that Jase could return to MSU, I think those two teams, specifically, would be interesting fits for Jase. As a great off-ball scorer who can defend and play on-ball when needed, Jase is a very adaptable player that could fit into a lot of different NBA situations. I think he might even be able to find some rotation minutes on a good team with his scoring acumen, and I do think an opportunity to play minutes is what he is looking for at the next level if he decides to stick in the draft. At this time, even with Jase not being projected as a top ten pick, I would expect him to stay in the draft. Sorry to the Spartan fans who are hoping for another outcome. It's not impossible, but I think we should expect him to stay in the draft and be a first round pick. Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan state news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Andrew Brewster on Twitter @IAmBrewster.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: How Kon Knueppel has been adding to his game since Duke's Final Four loss — 'I would love to play like Klay'
Every pickup game has that one guy. Always moves without the ball. Hits open shots. Dives on the concrete. Never complains. You're halfway through the game and you're annoyed by how he keeps setting screens, but simultaneously impressed by how he hasn't missed a single shot or made a single mistake. Now imagine that guy is 6-foot-5 and grew up in a basketball-obsessed family in Wisconsin, won a state title with his brother and cousin, and then ended up at Duke, where he immediately became a freshman his coach could trust. That's Kon Knueppel, the projected 2025 NBA Draft lottery pick who averaged 14.4 points, had twice as many assists (107) as turnovers (53), and shot 43.3% on catch-and-shoot 3s as a Duke freshman. He doesn't hunt stepbacks or viral dunks. Instead, he's the type who does the hard stuff without demanding the spotlight. 'I love how Klay [Thompson] played. I would love to play like Klay,' Knueppel said on my podcast at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. 'He's so efficient with his movement. He's shooting the ball the same. Even if his feet aren't facing the right way, his shoulders are.' That's the blueprint. He's not a Klay Thompson clone, but you can see what he's chasing: clean mechanics, disciplined movement, and two-way effort. 'The shooting is probably mentioned first,' Knueppel said about his game. 'But I try to do a bit of everything. I'm really just gonna fly around the court and give it my all out there, try to get to every loose ball and try to hold my own on defense.' That mindset showed up in March. He dropped 20 in the Sweet 16, then 21 in the Elite 8. But in the Final Four, despite scoring 16, he was on the floor when Duke coughed up a 14-point, second-half lead and blew its shot at a national title. The loss hurt. Not because it ruined his draft stock, but because it meant something. He could've gone home, taken down a double ButterBurger with cheese from Culver's, and blasted Morgan Wallen on a loop like any self-respecting Midwestern 19-year-old. Instead, he got back to work. 'There's lows in life. It's just a basketball game at the end of the day, but really it's something you put a lot of time into for a whole year with a bunch of good people,' Knueppel said. 'So, how do you respond to that? That's what I've been doing this offseason. Just getting better, using that as fuel because it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.' After the season ended, he was back in the gym and the film room, finding ways to get better. 'I'm working on my conditioning, getting the best shape I can be,' Knueppel said. 'And then just off-the-bounce shooting creation. Being able to create a little more separation, I think that's something I need to get better at. And then creativity around the rim.' This is the stuff that makes scouts lean in. Everyone knows he can shoot. But he's a potential top-10 or even top-five pick because of the idea of what he could be if he adds even more layers to his scoring. Knueppel took only 21 dribble-jumper 3s at Duke and made just three of them. It's a small sample, of course. And he knows it's an area for improvement. 'I wasn't really comfortable shooting those, to be completely honest. I didn't shoot a ton of them in high school. So I've just got to get reps, get better at it, and get more comfortable,' Knueppel said. 'The midrange too. We didn't shoot a lot of midrange at Duke. I want that to be more of a staple in my game because I think that's a great shot for me.' Even around the rim, he's tinkering. Knueppel shot 62% in the half court at the basket, which is an elite number for a player at his position. He was primarily a two-foot finisher, but with more length and athleticism in the NBA, he's building a more dynamic finishing package. 'Two-feet finishing is really effective in college basketball, utilizing your shot fake, your pivots. But I think it's more valuable in college than it is in the pros,' Knueppel said. 'So that's why I've been working more on one-foot finishing creativity here this offseason. And more of those floater-type shots, midrange shots.' The safe bet is that Knueppel's floor is high as a knockdown shooter who makes quick decisions and busts his butt on defense. The upside play is if he keeps evolving off the bounce, because if that comes around you've got something scarier. We saw flashes of that player for the Blue Devils this season when projected top pick Cooper Flagg suffered an injury in the opening round of the ACC tournament against Georgia Tech. Without Flagg to generate offense, Knueppel ran a season-high 14 pick-and-rolls, dissecting the defense with fluid drives to the basket and lobs to another fellow projected lottery pick, center Khaman Maluach. 'I didn't run ball screens very much in high school, even as the point guard my senior year. So I wasn't super familiar with all that,' Knueppel said. 'But once we started doing it at Duke, Khaman's a big target so it kind of came natural with him. If you're on defense and like there's a guard trying to play the low man, you're there but you're not really in position to stop Khaman from catching it.' Knueppel and Duke assistant coach Emanuel Dildy would watch film almost every day before and after practice, focusing on how to run the pick-and-roll. 'We were on the court working on that stuff every day,' Knueppel said. 'If it wasn't ball screen stuff, it was individual stuff: midrange, shooting, footwork.' The reps are part of it. But so is his mindset. What really sets Knueppel apart is how comfortable he is not being the guy who always needs the ball. When asked which four all-time players he'd want on the court with him in need of a bucket, down two points with seven seconds left, he picked Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kevin Durant and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. 'I'm gonna sit in the corner,' he laughed. 'Maybe a little Jordan drives and a little Steve Kerr.' That's not a throwaway line. That's a self-scout. Knueppel doesn't walk into a room and think he's the alpha. He walks in thinking about how to enhance his teammates and do what's required to win games. The truth is none of this should be surprising. He was raised in a basketball lab. Knueppel's earliest basketball memory came at home, playing full-court mini hoop games in the family playroom. 'Both my parents played, so they loved hoops,' he said. Knueppel's father, also named Kon, led Wisconsin Lutheran College to three-straight conference titles and was the program's all-time leading scorer. And to this day, his mother, Chari, is UW-Green Bay's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Kon is the oldest of five brothers — Kager, Kinston, Kash and Kidman — basically making his childhood the Midwest version of the Ball family, minus the reality show and the shoe line. 'Even my extended family is a bunch of hoopers as well,' Kon said. 'It's pretty sweet. Those holidays, pickup games get competitive.' As long as he can remember, basketball has been a central part of his life. 'I was raised in a Christian family,' Knueppel said. 'I feel like it was my gift to play hoops. So just let my light shine and do the best I can do, because it's the gift I've been given.' For my full interview with Kon Knueppel, check out his appearance on my podcast, "The Kevin O'Connor Show." You can watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
2025 NBA Draft: How Kon Knueppel has been adding to his game since Duke's Final Four loss — 'I would love to play like Klay'
Every pickup game has that one guy. Always moves without the ball. Hits open shots. Dives on the concrete. Never complains. You're halfway through the game and you're annoyed by how he keeps setting screens, but simultaneously impressed by how he hasn't missed a single shot or made a single mistake. Now imagine that guy is 6-foot-5 and grew up in a basketball-obsessed family in Wisconsin, won a state title with his brother and cousin, and then ended up at Duke, where he immediately became a freshman his coach could trust. Advertisement That's Kon Knueppel, the projected 2025 NBA Draft lottery pick who averaged 14.4 points, had twice as many assists (107) as turnovers (53), and shot 43.3% on catch-and-shoot 3s as a Duke freshman. He doesn't hunt stepbacks or viral dunks. Instead, he's the type who does the hard stuff without demanding the spotlight. 'I love how Klay played. I would love to play like Klay,' Knueppel said on my podcast at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. 'He's so efficient with his movement. He's shooting the ball the same. Even if his feet aren't facing the right way, his shoulders are.' That's the blueprint. He's not a Klay Thompson clone, but you can see what he's chasing: clean mechanics, disciplined movement, and two-way effort. 'The shooting is probably mentioned first,' Knueppel said about his game. 'But I try to do a bit of everything. I'm really just gonna fly around the court and give it my all out there, try to get to every loose ball and try to hold my own on defense.' Advertisement That mindset showed up in March. He dropped 20 in the Sweet 16, then 21 in the Elite 8. But in the Final Four, despite scoring 16, he was on the floor when Duke coughed up a 14-point, second-half lead and blew its shot at a national title. The loss hurt. Not because it ruined his draft stock, but because it meant something. He could've gone home, taken down a double ButterBurger with cheese from Culver's, and blasted Morgan Wallen on a loop like any self-respecting Midwestern 19-year-old. Instead, he got back to work. 'There's lows in life. It's just a basketball game at the end of the day, but really it's something you put a lot of time into for a whole year with a bunch of good people,' Knueppel said. 'So, how do you respond to that? That's what I've been doing this offseason. Just getting better, using that as fuel because it leaves a bad taste in your mouth.' After the season ended, he was back in the gym and the film room, finding ways to get better. 'I'm working on my conditioning, getting the best shape I can be,' Knueppel said. 'And then just off-the-bounce shooting creation. Being able to create a little more separation, I think that's something I need to get better at. And then creativity around the rim.' Advertisement This is the stuff that makes scouts lean in. Everyone knows he can shoot. But he's a potential top-10 or even top-five pick because of the idea of what he could be if he adds even more layers to his scoring. Knueppel took only 21 dribble-jumper 3s at Duke and made just three of them. It's a small sample, of course. And he knows it's an area for improvement. 'I wasn't really comfortable shooting those, to be completely honest. I didn't shoot a ton of them in high school. So I've just got to get reps, get better at it, and get more comfortable,' Knueppel said. 'The midrange too. We didn't shoot a lot of midrange at Duke. I want that to be more of a staple in my game because I think that's a great shot for me.' Advertisement Even around the rim, he's tinkering. Knueppel shot 62% in the half court at the basket, which is an elite number for a player at his position. He was primarily a two-foot finisher, but with more length and athleticism in the NBA, he's building a more dynamic finishing package. 'Two-feet finishing is really effective in college basketball, utilizing your shot fake, your pivots. But I think it's more valuable in college than it is in the pros,' Knueppel said. 'So that's why I've been working more on one-foot finishing creativity here this offseason. And more of those floater-type shots, midrange shots.' The safe bet is that Knueppel's floor is high as a knockdown shooter who makes quick decisions and busts his butt on defense. The upside play is if he keeps evolving off the bounce, because if that comes around you've got something scarier. We saw flashes of that player for the Blue Devils this season when projected top pick Cooper Flagg suffered an injury in the opening round of the ACC tournament against Georgia Tech. Without Flagg to generate offense, Knueppel ran a season-high 14 pick-and-rolls, dissecting the defense with fluid drives to the basket and lobs to another fellow projected lottery pick, center Khaman Maluach. Advertisement 'I didn't run ball screens very much in high school, even as the point guard my senior year. So I wasn't super familiar with all that,' Knueppel said. 'But once we started doing it at Duke, Khaman's a big target so it kind of came natural with him. If you're on defense and like there's a guard trying to play the low man, you're there but you're not really in position to stop Khaman from catching it.' Knueppel and Duke assistant coach Emanuel Dildy would watch film almost every day before and after practice, focusing on how to run the pick-and-roll. 'We were on the court working on that stuff every day,' Knueppel said. 'If it wasn't ball screen stuff, it was individual stuff: midrange, shooting, footwork.' The reps are part of it. But so is his mindset. What really sets Knueppel apart is how comfortable he is not being the guy who always needs the ball. When asked which four all-time players he'd want on the court with him in need of a bucket, down two points with seven seconds left, he picked Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kevin Durant, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Advertisement 'I'm gonna sit in the corner,' he laughed. 'Maybe a little Jordan drives and a little Steve Kerr.' That's not a throwaway line. That's a self-scout. Knueppel doesn't walk into a room and think he's the alpha. He walks in thinking about how to enhance his teammates and do what's required to win games. The truth is none of this should be surprising. He was raised in a basketball lab. Knueppel's earliest basketball memory came at home, playing full-court mini hoop games in the family playroom. 'Both my parents played, so they loved hoops,' he said. Knueppel's father, also named Kon, led Wisconsin Lutheran College to three-straight conference titles and was the program's all-time leading scorer. And to this day, his mother, Chari, is UW-Green Bay's all-time leading scorer and rebounder. Advertisement Kon is the oldest of five brothers — Kager, Kinston, Kash, and Kidman — basically making his childhood the Midwest version of the Ball family, minus the reality show and the shoe line. 'Even my extended family is a bunch of hoopers as well,' Kon said. 'It's pretty sweet. Those holidays, pickup games get competitive.' As long as he can remember, basketball has been a central part of his life. 'I was raised in a Christian family,' Knueppel said. 'I feel like it was my gift to play hoops. So just let my light shine and do the best I can do, because it's the gift I've been given.' For my full interview with Kon Knueppel, check out his appearance on my podcast, The Kevin O'Connor Show. You can watch on YouTube or listen wherever you get your podcasts.
USA Today
05-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 NBA mock draft: Sixers take Khaman Maluach with No. 5 overall pick
2025 NBA mock draft: Sixers take Khaman Maluach with No. 5 overall pick The Philadelphia 76ers won't know if they will have a first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft until lottery night on May 12. The pick is only top 6 protected, but after a tough 24-58 season, they have the fifth-worst record in the league and are hoping for some luck on lottery night. With that being said, should the Sixers keep their pick, there are some options for them in this draft. This is a deep draft rich with a lot of young talent eager to show what they all can do at the NBA level. Even if the Sixers land either the No. 5 or No. 6 pick, they can get a good young player. A mock draft performed by CBS Sports has the Sixers thinking big. With the No. 5 pick, they have Philadelphia taking Duke 7-foot-2 center Khaman Maluach: The final impression of Maluach at Duke was not a promising one: he played 21 minutes in a Final Four loss to Houston and grabbed zero rebounds despite his 7-foot-2 frame. But his length, movement and shot-blocking anticipation has NBA teams intrigued with his talent, and it wouldn't be surprising to see him go this high. He'd be a joy to add next to the young core in Philly that includes Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain and Quentin Grimes. On the season, Maluach averaged 8.6 points and 6.6 rebounds along with 1.3 blocks per game. As mentioned above by CBS, he had a miserable end to the 2024-25 season. Along with zero rebounds, he committed four fouls and only had a block in the loss to the Cougars. However, he did have 14 points, nine rebounds, and two blocks in the Elite 8 win over Alabama so the potential is there. The Sixers could always use some size off the bench and Maluach certainly fits that bill.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kansas' Bill Self Suffers Major Coaching Staff Blow on Monday
The Kansas Jayhawks, led by 22-year head coach Bill Self, are coming off a 21-13 season in which they finished 6th in the Big 12 with a conference record of 11-9 and bowed out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They were considered the consensus No. 1 overall team in the nation heading into the season. Advertisement Now, Self faces another significant offseason challenge after longtime assistant Norm Roberts announced his retirement on Monday morning, ending a 37‑year coaching career that included 14 seasons on the Kansas bench. The news was reported by NBC Sports' John Fanta on Monday via X. Over the past decade and a half, Kansas has been the model of consistency in college basketball. Since Roberts joined the staff in 2012, the Jayhawks have captured eight Big 12 regular‑season titles and three conference tournament crowns, punctuated by a 2022 national championship. In that span, KU made five Sweet 16 trips, four Elite 8 berths, and two Final Four appearances, a testament to both Self's leadership and the support staff that propels the program year after year. Advertisement Roberts, a Queens, New York native and member of the A STEP UP Assistant Coaches Hall of Fame, departs after almost a decade and a half alongside Self. Kansas Jayhawks head coach Bill Biggerstaff-Imagn Images With the Jayhawks poised to contend again in 2025‑26, finding a coach with proven rapport and experience will be paramount. Kansas faces a pivotal offseason decision. Can Self assemble a staff capable of sustaining the Jayhawks' elite standard without Roberts's steady hand? The answer will shape KU's pursuit of another national run. Related: Duke's Jon Scheyer Gets Major Recruiting News on Four-Star Recruit Related: Kentucky Makes Decision on Coaching Staff After Mark Pope's First Season
