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Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Chicago Tribune
NBA mock draft: Guards — including Illinois' Kasparas Jakučionis — could be big in Round 1
While Duke's Cooper Flagg is the headliner, this month's NBA draft could be just as much about the high-end guard prospects available. Flagg has long been the heavy favorite to be the No. 1 overall pick. But beyond the versatile forward is a bevy of guards prominently positioned in the top tiers of the talent pool, which could make for a very good night for the position when the first round begins June 25. It starts with multiple freshmen in Rutgers' Dylan Harper, Baylor's VJ Edgecombe, Texas' Tre Johnson and Oklahoma's Jeremiah Fears. Throw in Illinois' Kasparas Jakučionis, and guards make up five of the top nine picks — and ultimately, roughly half of the first-round selections — in the second edition of The Associated Press' NBA mock draft. Fresh off trading away Luka Dončić, the Mavericks luck into a versatile 6-foot-8, 221-pound forward who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four while becoming only the fourth freshman named AP men's college basketball national player of the year. He can thrive as a scorer (Atlantic Coast Conference freshman-record 42 points against Notre Dame) or playmaker (team-best 4.2 assists). His length and competitive edge can impact games defensively (team highs of 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks). And he has an all-around game more advanced than his age with room to develop as he turns 19 in December. The son of former NBA guard Ron Harper offers size at the point (6-5, 213 pounds) and averaged 19.4 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists as a freshman. He could join NBA rookie of the year Stephon Castle in the backcourt for star Victor Wembanyama. Still, there's an awkward question of how a team with Harper and fellow one-and-done prospect Ace Bailey went just 15-17. The only benefit to injury-riddled seasons for stars Joel Embiid and Paul George was landing a high pick for a team that still has designs on contending in the Eastern Conference. The 6-4, 193-pound Edgecombe, who turns 20 in July, could help with two-way potential, rim-attacking athleticism and 3-point shooting. The 6-8 forward is a versatile athlete capable of stretching defenses (five January games with at least four made 3s) and tools to develop defensively. He averaged 17.6 points and 7.2 rebounds, though for a losing team despite featuring Bailey and Harper as the NBA-bound headliners. The Hornets already have 2023 No. 2 overall pick Brandon Miller as a wing forward, so this would bet on talent over position need. It's a simple selling point for the league's worst team: the 6-5, 190-pound freshman can score. He averaged 19.9 points to lead the Southeastern Conference and all freshmen nationally while shooting 39.7% on 3s. He broke Durant's freshman Longhorns record when he scored 39 points against Arkansas in February. The Wizards need help in multiple areas after winning 18 games. They can start with the 6-3, 180-pound combo guard who averaged 17.1 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in his lone college season. Highlights included a four-point play to beat a ranked Michigan team, along with scoring 57 points in two SEC Tournament games. He also got to the line 6.3 times per game while ranking tied for 11th in Division I by making 183 free throws. But he made just 28.4% of his 3s and must add bulk. The 6-7, 217-pound Knueppel is an efficient scorer who was named ACC Tournament MVP while Flagg was sidelined by injury. Knueppel shot 40.6% on 3-pointers and ranked sixth in Division I by shooting 91.4% at the foul line. The freshman also had 10 games with at least four assists to show potential as a secondary playmaker for a Final Four team. With four first-round picks, the Nets could start with a long-term bet on the 7-1, 253-pound South Sudanese big man to hit his potential as a rim-protecting lob threat. Maluach had the combine's biggest wingspan (7-6 3/4) and showed stretches of capably defending guards on switches in his lone college season. He shot 71.2% largely on dunks and putbacks, so he'll need time to refine a raw offensive game. The 6-5 freshman has shown an all-around floor game. He averaged 15 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists as a freshman, including one run of six straight 20-point games that featured matchups against three ranked teams — including then-No. 1 Tennessee. He also had four double-digit rebounding games and eight games with at least seven assists. Kasparas Jakučionis feels ready for the NBA draft — and excited for Illinois' new wave of 'Balkan Ballers'The 6-9, 248-pounder earned a spot in March Madness lore by banking in a buzzer-beating runner to beat Colorado State and reach the NCAA Sweet 16. The nimble move illustrated the still-developing upside for a skilled freshman who nearly averaged a double-double (16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds). The sophomore has a strong frame (6-7, 240) that could allow him to work some on the wing and bang inside with a nearly 7-1 wingspan. He contributed as a capable scorer (16.8), rebounder (8.3) and defender (1.3 blocks, 1.5 steals). The 6-7, 215-pound freshman reserve shot 37.1% on 3s and showed defensive potential by averaging a block per game despite playing just 19 minutes a night. He had one of the top max vertical leaps at the combine (39.5 inches). What we heard on Day 2 of the NBA draft combine: Players who might be on the Chicago Bulls' radarThe 6-9, 224-pound freshman who helped the Bulldogs return to the NCAAs for the first time in a decade offers an upside that could allow him to contribute as a small-ball big man or alongside another big man as a power forward. He could be a home-state frontcourt boost for the Hawks, though the 19-year-old must get stronger and improve his shooting (29.2% on 3s). The lanky 6-9, 194-pound forward from France has been honing versatile skills in Germany and turns 19 in December. He has the ability to run the court and attack off the dribble, averaging 12.4 points and 5.3 rebounds in Germany this season. The 6-9, 263-pound freshman offers a sturdy interior presence with a 7-6 wingspan, proving capable of operating in the post or in traffic while also flashing face-up skills. Sorber, 19, also averaged 2.0 blocks to offer defensive potential. It would help for him to improve his 3-point shot (6 of 37, 16.2%) but he would be a luxury boost up front for a team that won a league-best 68 games and reached the NBA Finals. The son of former NBA guard Jason Richardson is small (6-1, 178) for a combo guard, and he mentioned after a recent workout with Portland that he's working to prove he can play the point. Shooting 41.2% on 3s is enticing regardless. The 6-8, 232-pound Fleming increased his output in three college seasons and brings a sturdy frame to the NBA. He averaged 14.7 points, 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks, and has improved his 3-point shooting from 31.3% through his first two college seasons to 39% last year. He also had one of the combine's biggest wingspans at better than 7-5. A top international prospect from Russia, the 19-year-old Demin spent a season at BYU as a playmaker with size (6-9, 199). That could allow teams to run offense through him as a strong passer who had 15 assists against two turnovers in 54 minutes of work during his last two NCAA Tournament games for a Sweet 16 team. After grabbing Maluach at eight, the Nets could bolster their perimeter with the 6-6, 201-pound lefty from Israel. Saraf has proven adept as a scoring playmaker, averaging 12.8 points and 4.6 assists this season in Germany. The 6-7, 215-pound McNeeley jumped right in as a freshman starter for the two-time reigning NCAA champion Huskies and projects as a floor-stretching wing, including with 22 points in the NCAAs against eventual champion Florida and a 38-point showing against then-No. 24 Creighton. The 6-11, 252-pound junior thrived in moving from the Ivy League (Yale) to the Big Ten as a low-post presence, averaging 13.2 points and 9.7 rebounds while ranking among Division I leaders with 15 double-doubles. He also showed the ability to step outside (38 made 3s in 37 games). The 6-5, 175-pound guard from France is a scoring playmaker and has been regarded as a possible lottery prospect. The 19-year-old had previously drawn recruiting interest from programs like Duke, Alabama and Gonzaga before opting to remain in his home country last year. The 6-5, 213-pound Coward has taken an interesting path. He started his career at Division III Willamette and spent two seasons at Eastern Washington, then played six games at Washington State due to injury and planned to transfer to Duke. But he stayed in the draft after testing well at the combine, including the best wingspan (7-2+) and standing reach (8-10) among guards, a 38.5-inch max vertical leap, and solid shooting-drill showings. The 6-5, 202-pound Clifford took his time developing as a five-year player, though the 23-year-old is coming off a huge year (18.9 points, 9.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists). He also improved his outside shot, going from making 33.8% over three seasons at Colorado to 37.7% on higher volume in two years with the Rams. The 6-2, 199-pound combo guard was an AP first-team All-American and Final Four's most outstanding player in the Gators' national title run. That included monster tournament performances — notably the frantic comeback against Texas Tech in the Elite Eight and a career-best scoring effort against Auburn in the Final Four — that bode well for a gamer who repeatedly rose to the challenge. The freshman from Canada worked as a top reserve averaging 12.6 points. Riley, 19, has potential as a scorer and passer with size (6-8) as he refines his game and develops physically (186 pounds). The 6-6, 195-pound freshman offers athleticism, outside shooting (37.9% on 3s) and defensive potential. Powell led all combine players in standing vertical leap (37.5 inches, 4+ inches more than anyone else) and max vertical (43.0) to go with a 7-foot wingspan. The fourth-year senior from France is a skilled 7-footer who can step outside and space the floor. He joined Flagg as the only unanimous AP all-ACC first-team picks after averaging 20.2 points and 10.6 rebounds while making 67 3s in 35 games. Beringer, who turns 19 in November, projects as a mobile threat who can work in the pick-and-roll and as a lob threat. The French big man needs time to strengthen a lean 6-11, 230-pound frame. The 19-year-old with a 6-6, 205-pound frame has flashed shooting range and the ability to attack off the dribble. He earned MVP honors after helping the Under-18 Real Madrid team win last year's Euroleague Basketball Adidas Next Generation Tournament (ANGT) in Berlin. Also considered (in alphabetical order): Kam Jones, guard, Marquette; Ryan Kalkbrenner, center, Creighton; Noah Penda, forward, Le Mans Sarthe Basket (France); Hansen Yang, center, Qingdao (China).
USA Today
29-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Sixers star Paul George heaps more praise upon Rutgers' Ace Bailey
Sixers star Paul George heaps more praise upon Rutgers' Ace Bailey The Philadelphia 76ers will have plenty of options to choose from with the No. 3 pick in the 2025 NBA draft on June 25, but it appears that there is one player that continues to pop up in the minds of most: Rutgers star Ace Bailey. It appears that the consensus of this draft will be Duke phenom Cooper Flagg will go No. 1 to the Dallas Mavericks while Rutgers star Dylan Harper will go No. 2 to the San Antonio Spurs. The next logical choice would by Bailey going to Philadelphia with the No. 3 pick. If the Sixers were to select Bailey, it appears he already has a fan on the team in the form of Paul George. The 9-time All-Star continues to praise him as he stated on "Podcast P with Paul George": What I love about him is that I think he has big-time potential. He has big-time talent. He can score from any spot on the floor. He has an isolation game, which you don't see that often in kids that size, that early. He can make plays. He can shoot over top of defenses. He can take advantage of mismatches. He can handle the ball in pick-and-rolls. He can catch-and-shoot. He can defend. I've seen him play elite defense. There is a lot that Bailey can do on the floor. He has a lot of length and athleticism which makes him a valuable player on defense. There are question marks about his ability on the offensive end, but he has the ability to put the ball in the basket at a high level. He just needs to improve his shot selection. That is something that will hold him back in the beginning, but should improve over time.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rutgers picks Louisiana State University leader as new president
Rutgers University leaders unanimously approved William F. Tate IV, who previously led Louisiana State University, to replace Jonathan Holloway as Rutgers University's next president. He's expected to start working on July 1. (Photo by Nick Romanenko, courtesy of Rutgers University) A social scientist and mathematician who has helmed Louisiana State University since 2021 will be the next president of Rutgers University. William F. Tate IV will replace Jonathan Holloway, whose rocky five-year tenure was marred by a deadly global pandemic, a faculty strike, student protests over Gaza, and most recently, growing hostility and cuts from the Trump administration. Rutgers' board of governors, with the consent of its trustees, unanimously approved Tate Monday morning to lead New Jersey's 67,000-student flagship university and applauded his 'leadership abilities, academic credentials, intelligence, and administrative skills.' 'Dr. Tate is (an) extraordinary leader, a scholar, an innovator, and a transformative force whose vision will unite academic excellence with public impact,' trustees chair Amy Mansue said at a joint meeting in New Brunswick. He will start July 1, with an annual base salary of $1.1 million and opportunities to pad his pay considerably with performance incentives. Gov. Phil Murphy was on hand Monday to welcome him to New Jersey. 'I was instantly and incredibly impressed,' Murphy said of Tate's credentials. 'As they say in the movies, 'He had me at hello.'' Tate was the first Black president of Louisiana State University, that state's flagship school with more than 55,000 students. He had a turbulent tenure there, stirring controversy for a recent hiring freeze and for his decisions to drop diversity, equity, and inclusion language and to disband a committee tasked with renaming campus buildings with problematic names. One such building is named after John M. Parker, a former Louisiana governor who participated in the 1891 lynching of 11 Italian immigrants in New Orleans, the largest mass lynching in U.S. history. Tate leaves Louisiana as officials there debate whether to split his position into two jobs. Besides serving as the university's chief executive and academic officer, he also holds faculty appointments in sociology, psychiatry and behavioral medicine, epidemiology, and population and public health. Before Louisiana, he served for 18 years as dean of the graduate school at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by about a year as provost at the University of South Carolina. He's a Chicago native and married father of two with degrees from Northern Illinois University, University of Texas, University of Maryland, and the Washington University School of Medicine. He was selected by a 20-member committee tasked with replacing Holloway, who announced in September he would step down. Officials said the committee considered 'hundreds' of candidates. Dory Devlin, a Rutgers spokeswoman, declined to identify other finalists. Tate said he's 'ready' for Rutgers and New Jersey, citing his upbringing in Chicago's Bronzeville, a historically Black neighborhood. 'There is a lot in common between the grit, resilience, and toughness required to negotiate Bronzeville and here in the great state of New Jersey. So I'm ready,' Tate said. Tate saluted Holloway for his work in positioning Rutgers 'at the edge of excellence,' noting the increasingly tough times for higher education administrators. 'If you took a presidency in 2020 and you ended in 2025 I would submit you those were the five hardest years to ever be a university president,' Tate said. Tate will be the 22nd president of Rutgers, which at 258 years old is one of the oldest universities in the U.S. Holloway, a U.S. historian, was Rutgers' first Black president, earning over $1 million a year. He will remain Rutgers' president until June 30 and then take a sabbatical during the 2025-26 academic year for research projects before returning to Rutgers as a full-time faculty member. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
NBC News
12-05-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's arrest could shake up New Jersey's Democratic primary for governor
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka's arrest last week at a federal immigration detention facility could shake up the New Jersey governor's race, as Baraka looks to appeal to progressive Democratic voters to win the crowded primary. Baraka is one of six Democrats on the June 10 primary ballot, and he has been campaigning for months as an unapologetic progressive but has been vastly outspent spreading that message on the airwaves. His arrest Friday at the facility, known as Delaney Hall, could boost his profile just as Democratic voters look for a candidate willing to fight President Donald Trump. 'We're fighting to uphold the Constitution the United States,' Baraka told supporters on a call with a coalition of progressive groups Monday evening. 'We're fighting to uphold democracy that every single person deserves due process.' LaVar Young, who chairs the pro-Baraka super PAC One New Jersey United, said Baraka's arrest shows 'there's only been one candidate that's really been putting action behind his words.' 'I think Friday was just really a demonstration of what he's been doing over the last 30, 40 years of his career," Young later added, noting the super PAC expects to launch a digital ad highlighting Baraka's arrest later this week. 'And I hope voters are able to see there's a difference between rhetoric and action.' New Jersey is one of two states, along with Virginia, that are holding governor's races this year, which could provide indications about how voters are reacting to Trump's second term. The New Jersey Democratic primary is also one of the party's first significant internal contests following its 2024 loss to Trump — and amid its fractious deliberations about the party's path forward. The crowded race features Baraka, Reps. Mikie Sherrill and Josh Gottheimer, Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, and former state Senate President Steve Sweeney. All but Spiller are facing off Monday night in a debate. While some New Jersey political strategists view Sherrill as a leading candidate, the race is hotly contested. The most recent survey, from Rutgers' Eagleton Institute of Politics, showed all six Democratic primary contenders clustered from 7% to 17% support — and the gap between first place and last place within the poll's margin of path to victory involves consolidating his party's liberal base and leveraging his support in Newark, the state's largest city, where he was first elected mayor in 2014. And his arrest could help him do just that. 'If he can move a few thousand voters with a moment like this, it's meaningful,' said one New Jersey Democratic operative granted anonymity to speak candidly about the race. The operative noted that the primary winner will not need a large percentage of the vote given how the crowded field will divide support. The person said Baraka's arrest could be a 'big blow' to Fulop as the two mayors have been battling for progressive voters. 'This kind of a genuine, values-driven moment is huge for the type of voters that they're going for,' the operative said. Each of Baraka's primary opponents condemned the arrest on Friday, calling it outrageous and demanding that he be released. The top two GOP candidates for governor, former Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli and radio host Bill Spadea, slammed the arrest as a political stunt on the part of Baraka. 'I wish it was, then I wouldn't have to go to court on May 15,' Baraka told Zeteo's Mehdi Hassan on Monday afternoon. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-N.J., who sought to enter the detention center along with Reps. LaMonica McIver and Rob Menendez on Friday, pushed back on the criticism that Baraka's arrest was a stunt. 'The mayor doesn't do things just for performance. He does the things that he needs to do to protect the people,' said Watson Coleman, who has endorsed Baraka in the primary. Baraka's campaign has been emphasizing his opposition to Delaney Hall, launching ads, including one over the weekend, that featured footage of the mayor at a protest there earlier this year. 'There's only one progressive who Democrats trust: Ras Baraka,' a narrator says in the 15-second spot. 'Ras is the Democrat we trust to fight for working families, to make the wealthy pay their fair share, to stand up to Musk and Trump.' The ad comes as other candidates have dominated the airwaves, also making the case that they will take on Trump. Gottheimer and his aligned super PACs have spent a combined $18.9 million on ads so far in the race this year, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Fulop and his aligned super PAC have spent a combined $14.3 million, while the pro-Spiller super PAC tied to the New Jersey teacher's union has spent $7.8 million. Baraka, Sweeney and Sherrill, and their aligned outside groups, have each spent around $2 million. While the candidates have pledged to take on Trump, they have also been making the case that they are best positioned to win in November, with the race expected to be competitive. Trump lost New Jersey by 6 points last year, but that was 10 points better than his 2020 margin by 10 points, making it the state with second-largest swing toward Trump in the country. The Democratic operative noted that some in the party are concerned that Baraka may be too liberal for New Jersey's more moderate voters, who have supported Republicans for governor in the past. 'There is certainly a feeling among Democrats that if we do not nominate the right candidate we are in for a very, very difficult general election,' the operative said, noting that the concern is heightened given that Ciattarelli could once again be the GOP nominee. Ciattarelli lost a surprisingly close race to current Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy by 3 percentage points in 2021. Murphy was barred from running again in 2025 due to term limits. Ciattarelli also weighed in on Baraka's address, calling it 'cheap publicity stunt' in a post on X, and accusing Baraka of 'shilling for illegal immigrants' amid ongoing chaos at Newark airport and scores of flight delays. The comment offered a preview of Republicans' potential case against Baraka, as well as how the party plans to focus on immigration in the governor's race. Immigration has been one of the few dividing lines in the Democratic primary, and it's a thorny issue for Democrats in a state where nearly one in four residents are immigrants. Republicans have leveraged the immigration issue, along with affordability, to make gains in the Garden State. 'I think for other Dems it's more complicated,' a second New Jersey Democratic operative, who has worked for one of Baraka's primary opponents, wrote in a text message. 'Being against 'a facility to hold criminals' is not a winning message. But the admin arresting elected officials is a better message for us to push, and separate it from immigration issue.' Watson Coleman dismissed concerns that Baraka is too liberal to win a general election, noting he is fighting for 'humane, foundational' issues like access to affordable health care, housing and food. She said she decided to back Baraka over the other candidates, including two of her House colleagues, because of his governing experience. Democratic voters, Watson Coleman said, 'are looking for representation. They are looking for someone that they think will look after their interests and their needs. They're looking for a person that will stand up for them.'
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Yahoo
Vandal who smashed up Rutgers Islamic center gets 6 months in prison
The New Jersey man who vandalized the Rutgers Islamic center last year was sentenced on Wednesday to six months in prison. Jacob Beacher, 25, was also fined $19,345 and will be placed under supervised release for one year after he gets released, reported the Central New Jersey Home News Tribune. Beacher, a North Plainfield resident, had been out on bail despite pleading guilty in October 2024 to the federal hate crime of destroying religious property. On April 10, 2024, the first day of the Muslim holiday of Eid-al-Fitr, Beacher broke into the Center for Islamic Life on Rutgers' New Brunswick campus. No one was inside the building when Beacher entered around 3 a.m., but he damaged about $40,000 worth of property inside, according to authorities. Beacher targeted several religious artifacts and items that contained holy language from the Quran, cops said. Additionally, he stole a Palestinian flag and a charity box belonging to the center. 'Jacob Beacher admitted he intentionally broke into the Center for Islamic Life during the holy Eid-al-Fitr holiday and damaged and destroyed religious artifacts because of the Islamic faith of those associated with the facility,' then-New Jersey U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger said when Beacher pleaded guilty. With News Wire Services
