Memphis’ Wiseman says he has withdrawn from school
MEMPHIS, TENN. >> James Wiseman’s college career has come to an end after just three games with the Memphis center and likely NBA lottery pick saying on social media he has withdrawn from school to begin focusing on his pro career rather than sitting out the rest of a 12-game NCAA suspension.
The 7-foot-1 freshman announced his decision Thursday in an Instagram post, saying he was leaving school to start “preparing for the next chapter of my life.”
“Ever since I was a little kid, it’s been a dream of mine to play in the NBA,” Wiseman wrote.
Wiseman was the top 2019 high school prospect and is considered the potential No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft.
This decision ends Wiseman’s tumultuous college career and his battles with the NCAA. Wiseman was the biggest prize in a Memphis recruiting class that was ranked as the nation’s best, but he had been serving an NCAA suspension for most of the season.
“We wish nothing but the best for James in his future endeavors as he follows his dreams,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “He will truly be missed.”
The NCAA suspended Wiseman 12 games because his family received $11,500 to assist in a move from Nashville to Memphis in the summer of 2017. Although Hardaway wasn’t Memphis’ coach at the time, the NCAA ruled the payment wasn’t allowed counting him as a booster for giving $1 million in
2008 to his alma mater for the university’s sports hall of fame.
The NCAA had ruled Wiseman needed to donate $11,500 to a charity of his choice to regain his eligibility — though that now seems like a moot point.
SETON HALL 52 (7) MARYLAND 48 >> Quincy McKnight scored a seasonhigh 17 points and undermanned Seton Hall (7-4) used a swarming, shot-blocking defense to stun Maryland (10-2).
The Pirates held the Terrapins to
27% shooting, blocked 15 shots and forced 17 turnovers in ending a twogame losing streak and handing Maryland its second straight loss.
Seton Hall won without Big East Conference preseason player of the year Myles Powell (concussion) and power forward Sando Mamukelashvili (broken wrist).
(4) DUKE 86, WOFFORD 57 >> Joey Baker had career highs of 22 points and five 3-pointers to help Duke (10-1) beat Wofford.
The 6-foot-7 sophomore hit all of his 3s after halftime while the hotshooting Blue Devils stretched their lead. Freshman Vernon Carey Jr. added 20 points and 10 rebounds for Duke (10-1), which shot 54% in its return from a nearly two-week pause in the schedule.
The Blue Devils played without starting point guard Tre Jones due to what the school described as a “mild sprain” in his left foot from a recent practice. In a release, coach Mike Krzyzewski said the decision to hold Jones out was “out of an abundance of caution” and that the team believes it is a “minor” issue.
Women
(5) SOUTH CAROLINA 89, DUKE 46 >> Zia Cooke and LeLe Grissett had 12 points each and South Carolina (111) took control in the second quarter in a victory over Duke (7-4).
Cooke and Grissett topped six players in double figures to help the Gamecocks run their winning streak to five. Tyasha Harris added
11 points, and Mikiah Herbert Harrigan, Aliyah Boston and Brea Beal had 10 points apiece.
For Duke, it was the most lopsided loss in coach Joanne P. McCallie’s 12 seasons and its largest margin of defeat since Virginia, led by current Gamecocks coach Dawn Staley, beat the Blue Devils 93-48 in 1992.
(9) N.C. STATE 74, CHATTANOOGA 38 >> Elissa Cunane scored 17 points and North Carolina State (11-0) had a 23-0 second-quarter.
Grace Hunter added 14 points for the Wolfpack in their final nonconference game of the regular season. N.C. State broke open a tie game with the 23-0 run, holding the Mocs (1-12) scoreless for more than eight minutes.
(10) UCLA 59, GEORGIA 50 >> Michaela Onyenwere had 19 points and nine rebounds to help UCLA improve to 10-0.
Lauryn Miller added 12 points and 14 rebounds for the Bruins in the game that started at 11 a.m.
Gabby Connally led Georgia (74) with 16 points.