Alabama transfer considering Tar Heels

North Carolina coach Roy Williams may have found immediate help in the low post after last week's announcement that forwards David and Travis Wear had surprised the coaching staff and were transferring.

Justin Knox, a rising senior who's transferring from Alabama but has a chance to be eligible immediately, may visit North Carolina as soon as this weekend. His uncle, Darien Knox, said Wednesday that Williams and assistant coach Steve Robinson talked to him Monday and said Justin might be the best recruit available because of his experience and skill set.

"By him being 6-9, 245 (pounds), post players are hard to find, especially this late in the game," said Darien Knox, who coaches the Team Alabama summer club team.

Knox averaged 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 19.8 minutes per game as a junior, but Darien Knox said he didn't fit well into coach Anthony Grant's system. The terms of Knox's release from his scholarship were limited. He can't transfer to:

- An SEC school.

- Another school in the Alabama system.

- A school on Alabama's schedule.

On Thursday morning, Darien Knox said, Justin will appeal those restrictions with Alabama. But he's already been cleared to talk to North Carolina, which isn't handcuffed by any of those restrictions.

By this weekend, Darien Knox hopes Justin will be able to visit North Carolina and Georgia Tech. He expects to be eligible immediately under an NCAA graduate student transfer waiver, which is available to players who get their bachelor's degree within three years and want to study in a graduate program not offered at their current school.

Knox, who was the SEC men's basketball scholar-athlete of the year as a sophomore, plans to graduate this summer with a degree in business management. Should he choose the Tar Heels, he would add badly needed depth in the post.

With the Wear twins departing and Ed Davis entering the NBA draft after his sophomore season, North Carolina has only two post players on scholarship - Tyler Zeller and John Henson - for 2010-11.

Ken Tysiac

Smith, Delaney preserve eligibility

As expected, N.C. State and Virginia Tech were among the most fortunate teams Tuesday afternoon when the NBA released the list of early entry candidates who have withdrawn from the draft in time to preserve their college eligibility.

N.C. State center Tracy Smith and Virginia Tech guard Malcolm Delaney, who will be seniors next season and who had earlier declared their intentions to return to school, were the only ACC players on the NBA's list of players who have withdrawn from the draft.

The biggest winner of all, though, was Purdue. Boilermakers guard E'twaun Moore and center JaJuan Johnson both have decided to return to school, and their experience will make Purdue one of the preseason favorites to reach the Final Four.

Butler, the 2010 NCAA runner-up, remains a likely top-10 team in the preseason but will face tempered expectations because its leading scorer, Gordon Hayward, stayed in the draft.

And former Concord High standout Dee Bost is staying in the draft after two seasons at Mississippi State.

The deadline to withdraw from the draft and remain eligible to play in college was Saturday. The draft will be held June 24.

Other notables who've withdrawn from the draft include Jimmer Fredette of Brigham Young, Alex Tyus of Florida, Demetri McCamey of Illinois and three Seton Hall players - Herb Pope, Jeremy Hazell and Jeff Robinson.

Ken Tysiac

Marketing meets hardwood at Duke

Proving that there's a market for just about everything that touches a championship team, a company called Victory Courts LLC began Monday selling portions of the Final Four court from Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, where Duke edged Butler 61-59 in the NCAA title game last month.

Twelve different sizes and design options will be available throughout the year, including limited edition segments autographed by coach Mike Krzyzewski and seniors Jon Scheyer, Lance Thomas and Brian Zoubek.

Victory Courts donated the center jump circle from the Lucas Oil Stadium floor to Duke, and will be making a financial contribution to the Emily K downtown Durham community center named built in honor of Krzyzewski's late mother.

The gym at the Emily K Center features the court from Minneapolis upon which Duke won the 2001 NCAA title.

Ken Tysiac

ACC: Projected hoops lineups for 2010-11

The ACC starting lineups/rotations to mull over now that we know which players will be around for the 2010-11 season.

By the way, you read somewhere in March which players would be leaving and which would be staying. You might want to listen to that guy when the Summer Hoops Preview comes out in June.

Here's the list, in no particular order (wink):

Duke
2009-10: 13-3, first
G Kyrie Irving, fr.
G Seth Curry soph. (20.2 ppg @ Liberty)
G Nolan Smith sr. (17.4 ppg)
F Kyle Singler sr. (17.7 ppg)
F Mason Plumlee soph. (3.7 ppg)
Bench: G Andre Dawkins, F Miles Plumlee, F Ryan Kelly, F Josh Hairston

Virginia Tech
2009-10: 10-6, fourth
G Malcolm Delaney sr. (20.2 ppg)
G Dorenzo Hudson sr. (12.0 ppg)
F Terrell Bell sr. (6.1 ppg)
F Victor Davila jr. (5.3 ppg)
F Jeff Allen sr. (15.2 ppg)
Bench: F J.T. Thompson, G Erick Green, F Jarell Eddie, F Allan Chaney, F Cadarian Raines, F Manny Atkins, G Ben Boggs

Florida State
2009-10: 10-6, third
G Derwin Kitchen sr. (8.1 ppg)
G Deividas Dulkys jr. (8.7 ppg)
G Michael Snaer soph. (8.8 ppg)
F Chris Singleton jr. (10.2 ppg)
F Xavier Gibson jr. (5.5 ppg)
Bench: G Luke Loucks, F Terrance Shannon, PG Ian Miller, F Okaro White

UNC
2009-10: 5-11, 10th
G Larry Drew II jr. (8.5 ppg)
G Reggie Bullock fr.
F Harrison Barnes fr.
F John Henson soph. (5.7 ppg)
F Tyler Zeller jr. (9.3 ppg)
Bench: F Will Graves, G Dexter Strickland, PG Kendall Marshall, G Leslie McDonald

N.C. State
2009-10: 5-11, 11th
G Javier Gonzalez sr. (9.5 ppg)
G Lorenzo Brown fr.
F C.J. Leslie fr.
F Richard Howell soph. (4.9 ppg)
F Tracy Smith sr. (16.5 ppg)
Bench: PG Ryan Harrow, G Scott Wood, G C.J. Williams, F DeShawn Painter, F Jordan Vandenberg

Maryland
2009-10: 13-3, second
G Adrian Bowie sr. (4.8 ppg)
G Sean Mosley jr. (10.1 ppg)
G Cliff Tucker sr. (5.7 ppg)
F Dino Gregory sr. (4.2 ppg)
F Jordan Williams soph. (9.6 ppg)
Bench: F James Padgett, G Terrell Stoglin, F Mychal Parker, PG Pe'Shon Howard

Miami
2009-10: 4-12, 12th
G Durand Scott soph. (10.3 ppg)
G Malcolm Grant jr. (9.6 ppg)
G DeQuan Jones jr. (5.7 ppg)
F Julian Gamble jr. (3.5 ppg)
F Reggie Johnson soph. (6.4 ppg)
Bench: G Rion Brown, G Garrius Adams, G Antoine Allen, F Donnavan Kirk

Clemson
2009-10: 9-7, sixth
G Demontez Stitt sr. (11.4 ppg)
G Tanner Smith jr. (8.7 ppg)
F Milton Jennings soph. (3.2 ppg)
F Devin Booker soph. (4.5 ppg)
F Jerai Grant sr. (7.2 ppg)
Bench: G Noel Johnson, G Andre Young, G Donte Hill, F Bryan Narcisse

Boston College
2009-10: 6-10, eighth
G Reggie Jackson jr. (12.9 ppg)
G Dallas Elmore jr. (3.9 ppg)
F Corey Raji sr. (11.4 ppg)
F Joe Trapani sr. (14.1 ppg)
F Evan Ravenel jr. (3.3 ppg)
Bench: PG Biko Paris, F Josh Southern, F Courtney Dunn

Georgia Tech
2009-10: 7-9, seventh
G Moe Miller sr. (3.9 ppg)
G Iman Shumpert jr. (10.0 ppg)
G Glen Rice Jr. soph. (5.4 ppg)
F Kammeon Holsey r-fr.
F Brad Sheehan sr. (1.2 ppg)
Bench: G Brian Oliver, PG Mfon Udofia, F Daniel Miller

Virginia
2009-10: 5-11, ninth
G Jontel Evans soph. (2.4 ppg)
G Sammy Zeglinski jr. (8.9 ppg)
G K.T. Harrell fr.
F Mike Scott sr. (12.0 ppg)
F James Johnson fr.
Bench: PG Billy Baron, F Will Regan, F Assane Sene, G Joe Harris, G Mustapha Farrakhan, F Will Sherrill

Wake Forest
2009-10: 9-7, fifth
G Tony Chennault fr.
G C.J. Harris soph. (9.9 ppg)
F Ari Stewart soph. (7.3 ppg)
F Tony Woods jr. (4.6 ppg)
F Carson Derosiers fr.
Bench: F Travis McKie, F Melvin Tabb, G J.T. Terrell, F Ty Walker, G Gary Clark

Preseason All-ACC teams

First team
G Malcolm Delaney, VT
G Durand Scott, Miami
G Nolan Smith, Duke
F Chris Singleton, FSU
F Kyle Singler, Duke

Second team
G Seth Curry, Duke
G Reggie Jackson, BC
F Harrison Barnes, UNC
F Jordan Williams, Maryland
F Tracy Smith, N.C. State

-- J.P. Giglio

Duke single game tickets go on sale for season ticket holders

Duke announced on Wednesday that football season ticket holders can now purchase single game tickets for the Blue Devils' seven home games scheduled for the 2010 season.

Ticket prices are: Elon on Sept 4 ($25), Alabama on Sept. 18 ($50), Army on Sept. 25 ($25), Miami on Oct. 16 ($35), Virginia on Nov. 6 ($35), Boston College on Nov. 13 ($35) and North Carolina on Nov. 27 ($50).

Single game tickets for the Devils' five road games are also available.

Single game tickets are only available for season ticket holders. They can be purchased online at GoDuke.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at 1-877-375-3853.

(Tickets for the Alabama game on Sept. 18 are limited to four additional tickets per season ticket account).

-- Edward G. Robinson

Wake Forest lands junior guard

New Wake Forest University basketball coach Jeff Bzdelik received his first commitment when junior Chase Fischer, described by his high school coach as the best kept secret in the country, chose the Deacons.


Fisher, a 6-foot-4 guard at Ripley, W. Va., led West Virginia in scoring with more than 33 points per game.

-- Tim Stevens

Stokan: Move Pack basketball to Reynolds

It's too early to tell whether Chick-fil-A Bowl president and CEO Gary Stokan, who's a former N.C. State basketball player, will be a target of the school's search to replace departing athletic director Lee Fowler.

But Stokan did lay out one intriguing and perhaps controversial idea Tuesday when asked whether he is interested in the job. Stokan said N.C. State needs to consider moving its home basketball games back on campus to Reynolds Coliseum.

Since the 1999-2000 season, N.C. State has played near the State Fairgrounds at the RBC Center, which it shares with the Carolina Hurricanes. Fans only fill the stands for home games against the most attractive opponents, and the atmosphere is hardly intimidating for opposing teams.

Reynolds was much louder, and Stokan would like N.C. State to raise the roof there to add suites and extra seating and restore the competitive advantage that the atmosphere there gave the Wolfpack. He acknowledged that more seats at the RBC Center lead to more revenue for athletics, but still would like N.C. State to play in its old home arena.

"I’d move the games back to Reynolds Coliseum" Stokan said. "I think that’s the history and tradition. That court, that facility, was worth five wins a year. To me, Reynolds, Carmichael [Auditorium at UNC] and Cameron [at Duke], there are the three best facilities in the country. I think we’ve lost something. Obviously we’ve gained something with RBC because financially it’s probably a really good situation. I don’t know all the information on it. But I think we’ve lost something with the history and tradition at N.C. State. And I think Duke has capitalized on that and maybe we’ve lost some of that by going to RBC."

Stokan wouldn't say whether he's interested in replacing Fowler. He praised Fowler's building of facilities and hiring of coaches Sidney Lowe in basketball and Tom O'Brien in football, and said he is willing to assist new chancellor Randy Woodson in any way necessary.

"It’s appropriate now for the new chancellor to really talk to a lot of people," Stokan said. "If he thinks I can help in that process, I would be more than willing to talk to him and help with some thoughts, because my passion and my belief is I want N.C. State to be successful, and I think it can be with the fans, the Wolfpackers, the facilities and the coaches they have there. And the academics. There are great academics to recruit to."

And there's an arena arrangement for basketball that Stokan would like to see changed.

Ken Tysiac

Curry helps with Davidson fund raiser

Davidson basketball players past and present helped raise more than $38,000 on Sunday for Nothing But Nets, an organization that provides anti-mosquito bed nets for African families to sleep under.

The Davidson event -- called BUZZKILL and organized by Wildcats guard Bryant Barr -- featured a 3-on-3 tournament for kids, with teams coached by former Davidson star Stephen Curry, as well as Brendan McKillop and senior Will Archambault.

The event also featured online and live auctions, with a trip to the Bay Area and tickets to see Curry's Golden State Warriors bringing $3,200.

Nothing But Nets will send more than 3,800 insecticide-covered bed nets to African villages. BUZZKILL raised more than $16,000 in 2009. -- David Scott

Leslie thinks N.C. State can crack Top 5

C.J. Leslie is thinking big.

The Raleigh Word of God basketball forward said Monday afternoon at a press conference at the school that he believes N.C. State can be among the top five college basketball teams in the nation next year.

The 6-foot-8 Leslie committed to State last Wednesday, but answered questions about his decision on the same court where he earned national attention.

First Leslie laid out his reasons for picking the hometown Pack over Kentucky and Connecticut, his two other finalists.

First, he said, State is a great school,. Second, Sidney Lowe is a great coach. And third, it is great to be able to play close to home where his mother and father can see him play.

Leslie is part of a three-man recruiting class. He and point guards Ryan Harrow of Marietta (Ga.) Walton and Lorenzo Brown of Chatham (Va.) Hargrave Military all are five-state recruits, the highest ranking given by most national recruiting services.

Leslie said he believed the recruiting class was among the top five recruiting classes in the country. Adding that group with the recruiting veterans should result in an outstanding season.

Asked how good the team could be, Leslie said he thought the Wolfpack should be ranked among the top five in the country in the preseason.

"We should really turn it around," Leslie said.

Asked if he was going to be a one-year player at State and then try to enter the NBA, Leslie said he was looking forward to his college career.

"No one can foretell the future except for God," he said. "I'm looking forward to my college career."

-- Tim Stevens, (Raleigh) News & Observer

Duke, Butler schedule rematch

Duke and Butler will play Dec. 4 in East Rutherford, N.J., in a rematch of the 2010 NCAA championship game.

ESPN announced Monday that it will televise the game. Duke edged Butler 61-59 in the NCAA title game on April 5, and both teams are expected to be among the five best teams in college basketball next season.

Duke returns two of its top three scorers, Kyle Singler and Nolan Smith, from the championship team and adds a top point guard recruit in Kyrie Irving. Butler has three starters returning; leading scorer Gordon Hayward has declared for the NBA draft, but there's still a chance he will return to school because he hasn't yet hired an agent.

Duke has a long history of success in East Rutherford with a record of 18-1, including five NCAA East Regional final victories. Butler has never played at the arena, which is now called the IZOD Center.

Ken Tysiac