Bowman made the right decision

Congratulations to Ky Bowman. Although the BC guard wasn't drafted, he did sign a deal with the Golden State Warriors. Given the Warriors' depleted roster and their need for cheap talent in the hopes of retaining Thompson and Durant, Bowman should get a legitimate shot at making the team. The difference between being a first round pick and a second is bigger than being a second round pick and an undrafted free agent. Second round picks are discarded by NBA teams all the time. The other blessing for Bowman is the renewed commitment to the G-League. Teams actually use it for true development now. It is not lucrative nor glamorous, but if the Warriors send him down, he will have a chance to comeback.

I don't know if Bowman will bother completing his BC degree. I would hope he does. Even in professional basketball, he would probably need it in most post-playing jobs (coaching, front office, etc). I know BC does help these guys the best they can with completing course work in the offseason or through distance opportunities. 

Despite a happy ending, I wish BC would be at the forefront of a rule change to allow players to return if they are not drafted in the NBA or NFL (call it the Hamp Cheevers rule). If BC is going to take a stand on paying players, why not make this stand too? Give players the chance to earn in the real world, but return if they change their mind or are given bad advice. If this is truly about developing them or giving them an education, changing that rule would seem like the something BC should believe in and support. 

I hope Bowman has a great career. He was fun the watch the past few years and I thank him for what he did for BC.

Robinson will be in the Green Room

The best sign of Jerome Robinson's future might be that he was invited in the the NBA Draft Green Room. Multiple news outlets have confirmed he accepted the invite and will be in attendance. The list is basically sure things. The NBA is not looking to embarrass anyone. If they have him backstage, he will get drafted in the first round. The only question going into the Draft now is where and how high.

Good news, bad news on Robinson and Bowman

A record 236 players have entered the NBA Draft. Two of them -- Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman -- hold BC's season in their hands. The good news remains that neither hired an agent and the super crowded field means it will be that much harder for the two to standout at the NBA Draft Combine. If neither feel confident about their stock, they can both return to BC towards the end of May.

The bad news is that most still see Robinson as a first rounder and Bowman as a likely second. If those ratings hold coming out of the Combine, I believe Robinson will hire an agent and Bowman will return.

Jazz draft Hanlan

It probably wasn't as high as he dreamed of going, but Olivier Hanlan's decision to declare for the NBA Draft paid off as the Utah Jazz selected him with the 41st pick overall. As a second round pick, Hanlan won't get a guaranteed contract, but he should get a fair shot. The Jazz have done a good job over the years of developing their own picks and giving them playing time.

Throughout the night the experts talked up Hanlan's ability and Jay Bilas even felt Olivier should have gone higher. This wasn't a storybook ending, but he is now a professional. Congrats and good luck.

More Second Round talk for Hanlan

With the NBA Draft approaching, it appears Olivier Hanlan will be a second round pick. Even the Phoenix Suns -- who love combo guards and have a GM who has known Hanlan for years -- seem to view him as a second round talent. 

Hanlan fits into Washington's needs, but they look like they will wait until the second round to move on him.

Chad Ford also slots Hanlan in the second round.

Hanlan's Draft Deadlines approaching

All NCAA underclassmen who want to test their NBA draft status have until April 10, 2015 to declare and subsequently withdraw from the Draft. If a player declares after the 10th, he cannot rescind the decision. All players who wish to be drafted must file paperwork with the NBA by April 29, 2015. As with many of these deadlines, all of this favors the college coaches and NBA. As for Olivier Hanlan, I think BC fans can read a few things into it.

It doesn't appear that Hanlan is going to "test the waters." BC's season ended weeks ago. If he wanted to find out what NBA teams thought of him, he would have entered his name by now, so that he still had the freedom "take his name out" this week. I expect the April 10 deadline to pass without issue.

The April 11-29 window still remains an opportunity for Hanlan, Christian and BC fans. If Olivier wants to go regardless of what scouts think, he still has three more weeks. I have no inside information, but the lack of rumors and scouting reports still listing him as a late second rounder lead me to believe Hanlan is coming back. At this point, it makes the most sense for him. Hanlan will be an old draftee if he waits one more year, but he can keep improving his game and reputation. He also has a decent shot at ACC Player of the Year. That one award wouldn't assure him of being drafted, but it would maximize his profile.

Regardless of his final year in college, Hanlan's professional path seems destined for overseas basketball. Let's hope the upside of a final college season and the outside chance of the NBA keeps him around the Heights one more year.

How is Hanlan's hot streak impacting his draft prospects?

Olivier Hanlan tested the waters for the NBA Draft last year and wisely decided to return to BC. With his midseason slump it seemed like he would also spend his Senior season at the Heights. Now that he's on fire, many -- including me -- are speculating that he'll enter the Draft this spring. But it is far from a sure thing.

According to Draft Express, Hanlan is still not among the Top 100 Prospects for this Draft. Draft Express also slots him as just the 21st best Junior. (Draft Express updates their rankings daily.)

NBADraft.net ranks Hanlan as the 89th best prospect.

Now neither site is a guarantee nor do they address the needs that various NBA teams may have for a scoring combo guard. It is also likely that their rankings are lagging behind the growing consensus regarding Hanlan.

There is still plenty of basketball to play and Hanlan's final weeks will impact how NBA teams feel about him. For selfish reasons I don't want him to leave, but also think it is probably in his best interest. How high is he going shoot up the boards? Maybe he'll become a borderline 1st round prospect. If that is his status, he might as well return, get his degree and try to become a first-round lock.

Hoops thoughts: Jones to BU and Reggie to OKC

I thought our focus would be on Reggie's future. Instead the bigger news happened down Comm Ave...

When the BU job opened, I said they should hire someone with BC ties. My hope was that they would give an opportunity to someone like Pat Duquette or give a second chance to someone like Al Skinner. Instead they hired Donahue's top assistant Joe Jones. While I am happy for Jores, this is a setback for BC. Jones has been our lead recruiter and was critical for us landing much of our 2011 talent. He was also experienced at this level and someome Donahue trusted. It will be very hard to find an Ace recruiter who understands Donahue and "gets" what it means to recruit at BC on short notice. As for how Jones will do at BU...I am not sure. His run as Head Coach at Columbia wasn't inspiring, but BU will allow him to cast a wider net on the recruiting trail and he inherits a program on the rise. Good luck to him.

Reggie Jackson to Oklahoma City was also a surprise. With all the speculation of preDraft side deals, OKC rarely came up as a landing spot. In retrospect it makes sense. The Thunder are one of those teams that puts a premium on statistical metrics and Reggie was a very efficient coilege player. The selection has some pluses and minuses. The good news is that Reggie was selected and will get a guaranteed contract. This justifies coming out early. It is also good news that he joins one of the rising powers in the NBA and is surrounded with young talent. The downside is OKC already has a lot of minutes and money tied into guards and wing players. Where will Reggie fit in? My guess is they view him as a combo who can give them solid minutes at the 1 or the 2. Can Reggie thrive like that? I don't know. I would have preferred he landed at a veteran team like Boston or Miami that need his fresh legs and instant offense. Now he will have to work hard to prove he can compliment Westbrook and not just be a Westbrook clone. But in the end Reggie made the right call and I wish him nothing but the best.

Jackson looking like late 1st rounder

With the season over and the NBA Draft approaching, things are starting to come into focus for Reggie Jackson. Early speculation about him going undrafted or concern about his injury seem overblown. Here's what others are saying.

SI.com restates what we've all heard: the Celtics will take Reggie if he is available. Danny Ainge attended many BC games over the last three years. He probably has a better feel for Reggie than any other NBA GM. I believe the speculation. Plus Reggie could fit in with the C's as a backup for Rondo and Allen. The only question is whether Reggie could fit in defensively with Boston.

In Slamonline's Mock Draft, their Rockets GM selected Reggie at 23. That actually maes sense. Houston's big on metrics and versatility and Reggie would be an efficient scorer who can play multiple positions.

This roundup of the Heat's needs mentions Jackson as an option. Despite their success, I actually think Miami would be a bad fit for Jackson. He'd battle for minutes and they already are wing heavy and without a clear offensive philosophy.

Time for the media to pick apart Reggie and other links

Although Reggie Jackson decided to keep his name in the NBA Draft, opinion is still mixed. This ESPN report weighs Jackson's lack of resume compared to other players in the draft and recent NBA success stories. Charlotte has two first round selections and their beat reporter calls Jackson "intriguing".

The women's lacrosse team was knocked out in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

The baseball team beat Le Moyne 4-0 on Sunday.

Interest in BC target Brandon Arcidiacono is growing. He's added some offers from our usual competition.

BC has not offered a scholarship to Pennsylvania QB Matt Johns. He seems like a decent plan B for the position.

Reggie's gone (officially now)

Although it looked like he might come back to BC, Reggie Jackson decided to keep his name in the NBA Draft.

We won't know if this was a good or bad move until the actual Draft. Word is there are enough teams interested that he should be selected in the first round. Regardless, I think Reggie will be a good pro. He's very versatile offensively and has a great frame for perimeter defense in the NBA. The only things he is missing has been consistent defensive effort and the ability to be a true point guard.

This is obviously a setback for Steve Donahue, but the coach must have known for weeks. The only brightside is that expectations will be very low. If Donahue can keep his new squad competitive it will be a good sign for future seasons.

Reggie to return? Buzz favoring BC

Even though the latest reports list him as a potential late first-round draft pick, things are looking better for Reggie's potential return to BC. The feedback on Reggie has been mixed. Some scouts say that there is a reasonable chance he will not be drafted at all.

I don't know how Reggie is feeling and if he thinks it is worth the risk. I also have no idea if he wants to come back to a very young BC team. He has until May 8 to remove his name.

I will obviously post more news and opinion as I get it. I still think he is one of the more talented 2 guards in the Draft...but then again I am a little biased.

Reggie Jackson has one foot out the door

As expected, Reggie Jackson declared for the NBA Draft (kudos to the Heights for their good interview). As long as he doesn't hire an agent, the rules give Reggie a window to return to BC prior to the actual Draft. This is a thin Draft so I expect Reggie to keep his name in the Draft and go within the Top 20 picks.

I wish he would return but don't begrudge him at all. His stock is still relatively high and I think his game and his build translate well to the NBA.

If he stays in the Draft, it is certainly a setback for Donahue Year 2, but I don't think it is as severe as some are stating. Even with all the new pieces, I don't expect our offense to fall of a cliff. Defense will be a different issue. My very early prediction is that BC will near .500 and win 5 to 7 ACC games.

Rice, Rice and more Rice

The ACC named Rice all first team. He was the second leading vote getter after Tyler Hansbrough. Tyrelle Blair made the all defensive team. Blair was a very good shot blocker, but I think his overall defensive ability was overrated.

Jeff Goodman -- whose weekly ACC column in the Herald is a must read -- really captured Rice's frustration with the season. Interesting that Rice points to the first VT game as a turning point. It felt like one at the time. We let that game slip away and then faced down the best teams in the ACC. We never pulled out of the funk.

Given how downbeat Rice seems, some would speculate that he will bolt after the season. Yet nbadraft.net, which includes underclassmen in their mock drafts, doesn't even have him in the second round. If his prospects are that borderline, staying in school would make more sense.

NBA Draft Scouting Report

If you could combine Jared Dudley’s toughness, smarts and confidence with Sean Williams’ body and athleticism, you’d have the best prospect in the history of the NBA. But these guys are not perfect and both enter the draft as potential first rounders with real questions. I hope both do well, but will be rooting especially hard for Dudley. If I were an NBA GM I would put my money on Dudley. I think he’ll carve out a nice NBA career and still be in the league 10 years from now. Sean Williams…I have no idea. Here are my breakdowns on each guy’s prospects.


Jared Dudley
Age: 21 (he’ll be 22 in July)
Height: 6’7
Weight: 225
Natural Position: Small Forward
Potential Positions: Power Forward and Shooting Guard
Strengths: Great understanding of basketball. Natural leader. Good passer for a big man. Understands spacing and where everyone should be. Great low post touch. Good outside shooter. Can handle the ball in traffic. Opportunistic defender. Good rebounder. Very productive college career.
Weaknesses: Inconsistent defense. Trouble with stronger players. Has to give smaller, faster players plenty of space on the perimeter. Streaky from the line.
Where he would fit best: San Antonio, Phoenix, Cleveland, Dallas, Utah, New Jersey, and Minnesota.
Bad fits: Detroit, LA Lakers, Atlanta, Miami, and Houston.
I think Jared needs to be on a team with a sound offensive philosophy and players who are looking to find the best shot, not hog the ball. I also don’t want to see him go to a team that is already heavy on offensive wing players.
Where I think he’ll end up: Philadelphia. Partly because of the Sixers’ numerous picks and partially because they’ve consistently expressed interest in him.
Five years from now: Jared will be a borderline All Star in the NBA. I fear that he might be like a Chauncey Billups or Matt Harpring and bounce around a few teams before he finds a system and team where he can excel. But I will never count Jared out and expect him to keep fighting until he gets his chance to play.


Sean Williams
Age: 20
Height: 6’11
Weight: 235
Natural Position: Power Forward
Potential Position: Center
Strengths: World class shot blocker. Good one on one defender. Good finisher. Solid from the FT line. Still raw with potential to round out his game.
Weaknesses: Immature and prone to pot suspensions. Seemingly lacks concentration and motivation. Limited offensive game. Limited rebounder.
Where he would fit best: Cleveland, Miami, New Jersey, Phoenix, LA Lakers and Philadelphia.
Bad fits: San Antonio, Dallas, Utah, and Chicago.
Sean needs to go to a team where he can come in and be a shot blocker. He won’t contribute much offensively at first so any team with too much structure would probably not use him well. I also think he’ll struggle on a young, deep team like the Bulls (since every guy on the team is already fighting for playing time).
Where I think he’ll end up: New York. Say what you will about Isiah Thomas, but the guy has a good eye for draft picks. He’ll take a chance on Sean because Williams has the potential to change games and has the upside Thomas covets.
Five years from now: I think Sean will be out of the league. I hope I am wrong, but I just don’t see the drive he’ll need to succeed. Every guy in the NBA is very good. To hang around you need to be either uniquely skilled and/or extremely driven. I just don’t see it in Sean Williams.