Eli Boettger | @boettger_eli | 06/05/20
Welcome back to Three Things!
The intention of Three Things is simple: Keeping you informed. The offseason can be a busy time and college basketball isn’t always on everyone’s radars from April to October.
Here’s how it will work: Every morning, Monday through Friday, we will provide you with three things that you need to know from the previous day. Pretty simple, right? You’ll be amazed by your new college basketball wisdom!
Here are the three things you need to know for June 5.
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Withdrawal date set
With the remainder of the 2020 NBA season now in place, the NCAA laid out key dates for the draft process on Thursday. The new NBA Draft withdrawal deadline will be the earliest date between either August 3 or 10 days after the NBA combine.
There is no news yet on the combine schedule or if it will even happen this summer. The NBA Draft Lottery is set for August 25 and the draft is now scheduled for October 15. Several players have yet to announce their intentions of staying in the draft or returning to school.
Danny Kaspar accused of racist remarks
Texas State head coach Danny Kaspar has been accused of using racist remarks and creating an insensitive environment, according to former players Jaylen Shead and Alex Peacock. Kaspar has allegedly told his players to “run like the cops are behind them,” told a black player with a 2.2 GPA that he would be “working at Popeye’s,” and also threatened a European player that he would be deported.
Shead posted a lengthy statement on his Twitter account on Thursday about the incidents, saying that he “could not turn away from the many racially insensitive things that were said to (him) and other teammates.” According to NBC Sports, a lawsuit was filed by a former player in 2013 against Kaspar and his use of racially insensitive remarks.
A.J. Walker stays put
Air Force guard A.J. Walker appeared to be headed towards a power-conference program all spring, but now he’s staying put. Stadium’s Jeff Goodman reported that the 6-2 guard will remain with the Falcons for ’20-21.
Walker is coming off a productive season with Air Force, averaging 11.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game while hitting 40.3 percent of his 3-point attempts. The Texas native had gained significant interest from various power-conference teams, including a final four that featured Texas Tech, TCU, Tulsa and Air Force. The Falcons parted ways with head coach Dave Pilipovich earlier this spring and have since hired Joe Scott, who led the program from 2001 to 2004.
Eli Boettger is a college basketball writer and founder of HeatCheckCBB.com. He has previously worked for Sporting News, DAZN and USA TODAY SMG.
Boettger’s content has been featured by Bleacher Report, NBC Sports, FiveThirtyEight, Yahoo Sports, Athletic Director University, Washington Post, Illinois Law Review and Notre Dame Law Review, among other publications. Boettger is also a current USBWA member and Rockin’ 25 voter.