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College basketball notebook: Several more declare for NBA draft

[April 05, 2018] After fueling Kansas' trip to the Final Four, guard Malik Newman is turning pro.

Newman declared for the NBA draft on Wednesday and said he plans on signing with an agent, meaning he will not be eligible to return to play for the Jayhawks.

A redshirt sophomore, Newman transferred to Kansas after playing the 2015-16 season at Mississippi State. He averaged 14.2 points per game this season but erupted in the postseason. He was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Big 12 tournament after averaging 24.0 points to lead Kansas to the title.

In the NCAA Tournament, Newman averaged 21.6 points as was named MOP of the Midwest region. He scored a career-high 32 points in the Elite Eight as Kansas ousted Duke to reach its 15th Final Four before losing to Villanova.

--Duke freshman guard Trevon Duval declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, the school announced.

No indication was given as to whether Duval intends to sign with an agent -- which would prevent him from pulling out of the draft and returning to Duke -- but it appears his Blue Devils tenure is over.

The 19-year-old averaged 10.3 points, 5.6 assists and 2.0 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per game across 37 games (34 starts).

--Boston College guards Jerome Robinson and Ky Bowman declared for the NBA draft, the school announced.

Robinson led the Atlantic Coast Conference in scoring at 20.7 points per game, while Bowman averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Both players said they do not plan to hire an agent, which would keep open the option of a return to school.

--Texas Tech freshman guard Zhaire Smith announced that he is declaring for the NBA draft.

Smith indicated he would not retain an agent, which leaves open the possibility that he could return to school.

The 6-foot-5 Smith averaged 11.3 points while helping Texas Tech reach the Elite Eight for the first time in school history. He led the team in rebounding (5.0), blocked shots (42) and steals (41) while shooting 55.6 percent from the field.

--Auburn sophomore guard Mustapha Heron announced that he is declaring for the NBA draft.

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Heron indicated he will hire an agent, a move that would end his college career.

Heron averaged 16.4 points last season and is one of just five players in school history to score more than 1,000 points in their first two seasons.

--Rhode Island has decided to promote David Cox to head coach as the replacement for the departed Dan Hurley, according to multiple reports.

Cox spent the past four seasons under Hurley, the last two with the title of associate head coach.

It will be Cox's first gig as a college head coach. He had stints as an assistant at Georgetown (2007-10) and Rutgers (2010-14).

--Arizona coach Sean Miller could face a $1 million penalty if he is charged with a crime or found in violation of NCAA rules, according to an amended contract the Arizona Board of Regents will vote on this week.

There is already language in Miller's contract that calls for the coach to return $300,000 if he's found guilty of major or repetitive NCAA violations.

The $1 million would come out of a stock bonus set up by a booster for Miller that is currently worth $4.1 million. He's due to be paid the bonus in 2020.

--Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway has landed his first two commitments since returning to coach his alma mater, the University of Memphis. Hardaway has deep ties to both players.

Jayden Hardaway, a 6-foot-5 guard, announced Tuesday night that he had committed to his dad's program in an Instagram post. On Wednesday morning, former Wichita State recruit Alex Lomax made his commitment to Memphis official.

Jayden played for his dad at East Memphis High School for one season and on the AAU circuit but spent last year at IMG Academy in Florida. Lomax, a 5-foot-10 point guard, played for Hardaway from fifth grade through high school and won three straight titles at East Memphis.

--Field Level Media

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