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The Roanoke Times

Fortunately for the Hokies, they have four senior starters, including Delaney, who has been named a preseason second-team All-American by The Sporting News and Athlon.

Delaney declared for the NBA Draft in late March but withdrew his name in May.

Delaney said he talked with officials from 17 NBA teams and only two teams advised him to return to school. He said all but one member of the NBA’s draft advisory committee said he would be picked if he kept his name in the draft.

So why did he return? A bruised ankle left him unsure how he would perform once NBA teams began auditioning prospects in June.

He also wanted to graduate — and be a part of what he expects will be a "special" season.

The other starters are Hudson, a third-team All-ACC pick last season; Jeff Allen, rated the No. 2 power forward in the nation by Lindy’s; small forward Terrell Bell; and center Victor Davila.

"We’ve got to establish more of a low-post [game], whether it’s Victor or Jeff," Greenberg said. "We’ve got to make sure we do a good job of getting Victor and Jeff the ball."

The men’s and women’s basketball teams will be introduced to the public at about 9 p.m. Friday at Cassell Coliseum. The men will practice before the event but might hold a brief scrimmage during the public session.

 

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Jacksonville Sun

enior forward Alex Tyus said he never felt like he was going to leave Florida.

But for a few weeks last spring, Tyus put his name in the NBA draft without an agent to find out where he stood.

Tyus chose to return to UF on the day of the draft deadline after taking a workout with the Portland Trail Blazers the day before.

In the process, Tyus became the first UF player in the Billy Donovan era to test the draft waters and come back to school. Marreese Speights and Nick Calathes left school as sophomores after putting their names in following the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Anthony Roberson and Matt Walsh left after their junior seasons in 2005.

"There was no reason (to leave)," Tyus said of his decision to return. "I really didn’t have a plan on leaving. I wanted to get workouts in, get experience and see where I would be going, I guess get the jitters out a year early as far as this is my last year and having to play professionally somewhere."

Tyus said the workouts at IMG Academy in Bradenton and for the Trail Blazers were valuable. The 6-foot-8 Tyus, who averaged 11.8 points and 6.9 rebounds last season, has identified areas to improve this season.

"I would say the most is ball-handling, and mainly I really just want to expand my (shooting) range," Tyus said. "Assist-to-turnover ratio, making decisions with the ball I think is key for me. I think people will see some improvement."

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The Daily Camera

Shortly after his introductory press conference at Colorado, Tad Boyle was on his way to Grandview, Mo.

Smart move. That`s where Alec Burks` mom lives.

The same living room where Boyle and Dina Burks got on the same page is where the reigning Big 12 Freshman of the Year`s NBA future will be decided.

"Probably after the season I`ll sit back and ask my mom," Burks said during an interview with the Camera when asked when he would make a decision on whether or not to leave school early for the NBA. "We`ll see how the season went and go from there. …

"She`s the most important person in my life. Without her I wouldn`t be here, so I`m going to ask her and see what happens."

Burks is coming off a remarkable debut season at CU. He became the first freshman in program history to score more than 500 points while averaging 17.1 points per game and a team-leading 5.0 rebounds per game.

The 6-6 guard is a preseason Wooden Award candidate, along with teammate Cory Higgins, and is projected as a possible lottery pick in the 2011  NBA Draft.

After Burks participated in the Adidas Nations camp over the summer — which included some of the nation`s top professional prospects, including Baylor`s Perry Jones and Kansas` Josh Selby — nbadraft.net evaluated CU`s standout as follows:

"Alec Burks could become this season`s Evan Turner. His style of play, smoothness and athleticism (and even major weakness — shooting) are all very similar to Turner`s. He won`t be playing on as strong a team but could have an All-American type of season next year."

For what it`s worth, the website has Burks being se- lected No. 8 overall by theLos Angeles Clippers in its latest mock draft. Not bad for an unheralded recruit Jeff Bzdelik quietly exported from the Kansas City area without Kansas or Missouri noticing.

"Everybody thinks about the NBA, but I was realistic with my goals," Burks said. "I thought I`d try to go to college and get a degree. After last year, that`s all I hear now everywhere I go. It`s a blessing."

If Burks continues to improve, and there is no reason to think his numbers won`t be even more impressive in Boyle`s more up-tempo offense and aggressive defense, there is no reason he shouldn`t be a first-round NBA draft pick after his sophomore season like Chauncey Billups back in the day.

One possible roadblock, however, is the fact that the NBA`s collective bargaining agreement expires next summer. There is a realistic chance of a lockout if David Stern and the players` union aren`t able to negotiate a new deal.

"I don`t really know too much about that. I`m hearing about it, but not really listening to it," Burks said of the potential NBA labor strife. "I`m just going to wait and see. I`m here now."

Higgins, projected as a possible second-round pick, is also hoping to make basketball a career after graduation next spring.

"That`s a huge goal, but that goal will not be even close to being reached if we don`t have a good season," Higgins said of making an NBA roster next year. "The first thing is we have to have a great season this year, and then I will worry about that."

Higgins` dad, Rod Higgins, is the general manager of the Charlotte Bobcats.

There is some optimism around the NBA that a new labor deal will be reached and all of the momentum surrounding LeBron James in Miami and the Los Angeles Lakers looking for a three-peat will not be squashed with a stoppage of play in 2011-12.

With the start of practices Friday, Burks said he will let everyone else worry about the NBA while he focuses on the 2010-11 season at CU.

"I really don`t pay too much attention to it even though everywhere I go everyone wants to talk about it," Burks said.

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