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NBA Draft 2013: D.J. Stephens reportedly logs record 46-inch vertical jump

2013-05-23T03:16:24Z

D.J. Stephens might not be at the top of most teams' NBA Draft wish lists, but he opened some eyes when he recorded a 46-inch vertical while working out for the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. That's the highest mark ever measured by the NBA, according to ESPN's Chad Ford.

The Memphis swingman bested Kenny Gregory's 45.5-inch leap from 2001 and did so less than a week after Miami's Shane Larkin recorded a 44-inch vertical.

As Stephens, who is just 6'5, fights to make his case to NBA teams, his new record might help counteract his lack of size.

Stephens' production grew steadily throughout four years with the Tigers, though he did not average more than 11.2 minutes per game until his senior season. In a more prominent role this year, he averaged 7.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per contest, though he was probably known better for his jaw-dropping dunks.

DraftExpress does not currently project Stephens to be drafted — but even if that turns out to be the case, his freakish athleticism could inspire a team to take a chance on him at some point. If you want to see how that record-setting vertical translates into a live game, look no further than this video:

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Jahlil Okafor, Aaron Gordon highlight USA U19 team

2013-05-23T02:17:33Z

Aaron Gordon and Jahlil Okafor will headline this summer's USA U19 team along with Oklahoma State guard Marcus Smart. The roster, which also includes high school star Justise Winslow, was announced Wednesday afternoon.

The team is made up of 24 college and high school players who will compete in the 2013 U19 World Championship this summer in Prague.

Smart surprised many this spring when he announced he'd return to the Cowboys and postpone his trip to the NBA for another year. He'll have the chance to represent his country before returning to the Big 12, where he will be an early favorite for conference Player of the Year.

But he's far from the only threat on the team. Ryan Arcidiacono had a stellar freshman season for Villanova, gaining a reputation as a guard who can catch fire from three.

Forward Brandon Ashley is coming off a strong first year at Arizona, where he posted 7.5 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. He and Gordon will team up to give the Wildcats a realistic shot at a Final Four run next year.

The undecided 2014 recruit Okafor will anchor the middle. He will be a senior next year at Whitney Young in Chicago and is considering Arizona, Duke, Syracuse and others.

The complete U19 roster can be found below. The team will begin practicing June 14, with training camp getting underway June 20. Team USA's first game will be June 27 against Ivory Coast in the preliminary round.

USA U19 Team:

Ryan Arcidiacono, Villanova
Bryce Alford, UCLA
Brandon Ashley, Arizona
Robert Carter, Georgia Tech
Damyean Dotson, Oregon
Kris Dunn, Providence
Javan Felix, Texas
Michael Frazier, Florida
Marcus Georges-Hunt, Georgia Tech
Shaq Goodwin, Memphis
Aaron Gordon, Arizona
Jerami Grant, Syracuse
Montrezl Harrell, Louisville
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Arizona
Jahlil Okafor, undecided
Rodney Purvis, UConn
James Robinson, Pitt
Marcus Smart, Oklahoma State
Jarnell Stokes, Tennessee
Rasheed Sulaimon, Duke
Devin Thomas, Wake Forest
Mike Tobey, Virginia
Nigel Williams-Goss, Washington
Justise Winslow, undecided

Carmelo Anthony injury: Knicks star played with torn labrum in postseason

2013-05-23T01:29:50Z

An MRI revealed Knicks star Carmelo Anthony has a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, the Daily News reported on Wednesday.

More on Carmelo Anthony: Posting and Toasting

The forward played New York's 12 playoff games with the injury, which it appears will not require surgery, according to Marc Berman of the New York Post.

The Knicks have reportedly told Anthony to rest for the next 3-4 weeks with the hope that the tear will heal on its own. At that point, he will be re-evaluated.

Had surgery been necessary, Anthony would have sat out 3-5 months, jeopardizing his status for the start of training camp.

Anthony originally hurt his arm on April 14 in a game against the Pacers and had been feeling chronic pain ever since. He appeared to have re-aggravated the injury in Game 5 of the Knicks' first-round playoff series with the Celtics.

Still, he averaged 29.2 points per game for the Knicks throughout the playoffs, leading them to their first postseason series win in over a decade.

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NBA Draft 2013: Magic will pick between Trey Burke, Ben McLemore, according to report

2013-05-23T01:05:24Z

The Orlando Magic missed out on the No. 1 overall selection in the 2013 NBA Draft, but they already have an idea of what they will do with the second pick, according to a report.

Orlando will reportedly choose either shooting guard Ben McLemore from Kansas or Michigan point guard Trey Burke. Pre-draft workouts and interviews, as well as what Cleveland does with the No. 1 pick, may be what ultimately determines the Magic's choice.

More Magic draft coverage: Orlando Pinstriped Post

Both players will be able to help the Orlando backcourt immediately, as Pro Basketball Draft points out. ESPN's Chad Ford seems to think it will be Burke, pointing out his intangibles.

"Orlando needs a leader, someone with moxie, and Burke seems like the best fit," Ford wrote.

This could be key, since GM Rob Hennigan has already said that he wants players who "are about the right things" and can help sustain success in Orlando for years to come.

Burke brings much more than just leadership. He led the national runner-up Wolverines in points (18.6) and assists (6.7) per game last year with impressive shooting numbers across the board. He also showed consistency, scoring in double figures in every game during the 2012-13 regular season.

The Magic might also need depth at the point with Beno Udrih's future uncertain. Udrih is an unrestricted free agent and might not be back in Orlando next year. That would leave Jameer Nelson as the team's only true point guard, which would make Burke a logical pick. Nelson also has two years left on his current deal, though the second is a team option, so Burke can quickly become the team's leading floor general.

If Orlando decides against Burke, however, it would likely be because McLemore's talent is just too overwhelming to pass up. As Ford put it, McLemore might be "the player with the best upside in the draft."

With room still left for improvement, he has already drawn comparisons to veteran Ray Allen, especially with his knack for hitting threes consistently. McLemore was a 42 percent shooter from beyond the arc last season. He's also highly athletic, but plays within himself and doesn't force the issue.

McLemore would also figure to be an excellent complement to Arron Afflalo, the team's leading scorer. Afflalo might have been asked to do a little too much at times last season before a hamstring injury ended his year prematurely.

Afflalo also, however, could be the reason Orlando passes on McLemore. Would the Magic really need another shooting guard that can play starter minutes? Though the answer is probably no, Orlando might be looking to take someone who could be the centerpiece of a team 3-5 years down the road, not someone who slots into an empty hole right away. The Magic could also shift Afflalo to small forward and push Tobias Harris to power forward to make room.

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Dwyane Wade injury: Heat guard heads to locker room in Game 5

2013-05-16T01:17:34Z

The Miami Heat were already in trouble in Game 5 of their NBA Conference Semifinals series against the Chicago Bulls, and for a moment, it looked like things had taken a turn for the worse. Star guard Dwyane Wade, who had struggled all night, headed to the locker room in the third quarter, possibly with an injury. He has since returned to the game.

Wade's status for Game 5 was unclear until shortly before the game, when the guard confirmed he would play. He had been suffering from soreness in his right knee, receiving treatment for bone bruises for the last two months, and seemed to aggravated the injury in Miami's Game 4 win on Monday. Through three quarters on Wednesday, Wade had 12 points and six assists, but he did not seem like himself.

Miami and Chicago are currently in a close one midway through the fourth quarter.

Terrance Shannon transfers to VCU

2013-05-10T15:00:10Z

Florida State forward Terrance Shannon will transfer to VCU, a source told Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com.

Shannon played in 20 games as a junior and has battled injuries throughout his career as a Seminole. Last year, he averaged 7.9 points and 5.6 rebounds per contest.

Shannon will be eligible to play immediately because of his status as a graduate student. He will join Juvonte Reddic, Rob Brandenberg and Treveon Graham as the key players on Shaka Smart's VCU team looking to win its first Atlantic 10 title.

For Florida State, the transfer leaves the Seminoles with an open scholarship, and as SB Nation's Tomahawk Blog points out, a significant hole to fill. Though Shannon never lit up the scoreboard, he could be counted on to get a key rebound or make a hustle play when Florida State needed it. The Seminoles will now need other veterans to step in and fill the void.

The Georgia native also considered Xavier.

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2013 NBA Draft Combine: Prospects have one last chance to make an impression

2013-05-10T00:59:45Z

With the NBA Draft just weeks away, this year's prospects will have one last chance to show why they deserve a lucrative contract and a spot on a professional roster. The 2013 NBA Draft Combine runs from May 16-17 in Chicago and will feature many of the projected top picks.

Ben McLemore, the guard out of Kansas, headlines the group of 60 players at the combine. He's out to prove that he should be the No. 1 overall pick. McLemore and the rest will be put through workouts in front of NBA scouts and media members, and will have scheduled media availability to answer any lingering questions and to give their impressions on how it all went.

While most prospects are showcasing their skills, one prime candidate for the top overall selection will not work out at all. Kentucky forward Nerlens Noel missed the last nine games of the season after tearing his ACL in a game against Florida and is still not ready to play. His rehabilitation appears to be on schedule, but his status for the start of the 2013-14 season remains uncertain.

Still, Noel's spot on a roster is pretty secure, which is more than some at the Combine could say. Guys like Ryan Kelly (Duke), Pierre Jackson (Baylor) and Reggie Bullock (North Carolina) are fighting just to prove they deserve to be selected at all. They each project to be late second-round picks at best. A couple good days in Chicago, however, could ultimately make the difference.

The complete list of guests at the 2013 NBA Draft Combine can be found below:

Steven Adams

Lorenzo Brown

Reggie Bullock

Trey Burke

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Isaiah Canaan

Jackie Carmichael

Michael Carter-Williams

Rudy Gobert

Pierre Jackson

Ryan Kelly

C.J. McCollum

Ben McLemore

Nerlens Noel

Norvel Pelle

Dennis Schroeder

James Southerland

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Arizona basketball team capsule: Wildcats with a chance to bring the trophy back west

2013-05-02T15:30:08Z

No team west of the Central time zone has won a national championship since Arizona in 1997 and next year, the Wildcats will be the biggest threat to change that. Sure, they lose three of their top four scorers from a year ago, but Nick Johnson, Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski all return to give Sean MIller a still-loaded team and a likely Pac-12 favorite. Throw in a transfer and a couple big-name recruits, and Arizona can realistically set a goal to end the season in Dallas at the Final Four.

More on this story: Arizona Desert Swarm

Here's all you need to know about the 2013-14 Arizona Wildcats:

Arizona Wildcats:

2013 Record: 27-8, 12-6 Pac-12

2013 Postseason: Lost to Ohio State in the Sweet 16

Key Returnees: Nick Johnson, Jr., G, (11.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg), Brandon Ashley, So., F, (7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Kaleb Tarczewski, So., C, (6.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg)

Key Losses: Mark Lyons, (15.6 ppg, 2.8 apg), Solomon Hill (13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), Kevin Parrom (8.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg), Grant Jerrett (5.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg)

Key Additions: Aaron Gordon (F), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (F), T.J. McConnell (G, transfer from Duquesne)

Season Outlook:

Usually when a team loses three of its top four scorers, you could expect a rebuilding year. Or at least one where the team isn't expected to be just as competitive as the season prior.

Not the case next year in Tucson. Sean Miller returns several key pieces that turned it on late last year and welcomes two high-profile recruits and a transfer to round out an Arizona team that has a reasonable shot at a Final Four run, or at least a Pac-12 Championship.

The days of Mark Lyons and Solomon Hill terrorizing opponents are gone, but teams out west will still have to figure out Nick Johnson. He's the lone returner who averaged double figures last season and will need to rely on improvements from Brandon Ashley and Kaleb Tarczewski. Both played well as freshmen, though they struggled in the Wildcats' season-ending loss to Ohio State.

But if Johnson, Ashley and Tarczewski aren't enough to carry Arizona, the Wildcats also have one of the best freshmen in the country coming in. Aaron Gordon is a power forward out of San Jose who already possesses a strong interior game. He can dominate on both ends of the court and will likely make an immediate impact in college. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson joins Gordon in Miller's recruiting class. He is an athletic slasher who could finish at the rim.

Transfer T.J. McConnell from Duquesne will also be eligible for Arizona next year. He was a complete player for the Dukes, averaging 11.4 points, 5.5 assists and 4.4 rebounds in 2011-12. McConnell also shot 43 percent from three.

One of the keys next year might be how the rising junior Johnson adapts to his new leadership role, no longer being overshadowed by the stars of the team. Thankfully for the Wildcats, who will not have a senior playing serious minutes, they'll be able to sort out those issues in a still-weak Pac-12. UCLA figures to be the only team that will be able to challenge them, but the Bruins will also have to deal with losing Shabazz Muhammad and Larry Drew. An early-season showdown with Duke looms, however, for Arizona should the Wildcats and Blue Devils meet in the NIT Season Tip-Off in November.