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Spencer Haywood struggled with cocaine addiction while playing for the Los Angeles Lakers during the 1979-80 season and was waived during the 1980 NBA Finals for falling asleep at practice after drug use. Former University of Maryland star forward Len Bias was selected No. 2 overall in the 1986 NBA draft by the Boston Celtics but died two days later after suffering from cardiac arrhythmia caused by cocaine overdose. Former NBA center Chris Washburn was barred in 1989 for cocaine use and didn’t become sober until 2000. “Once you start doing it, the s— just takes over and you don’t think you have a problem,” Richardson said. “Anything that you do that you can’t stop means that you got a problem. Gambling, sex, alcohol, drugs, it’s all the same.”
The players roared when Durant's face popped up on the screen in their new auditorium at Jones-Hill House. "I just wanted to come and show y'all some love, tell, y'all good luck this season. I hope y'all ball out. I'm gonna be watching. I grew up 10 minutes from campus, so you always got deep love for the University of Maryland," he said, prompting off a chorus of hollering. But that didn't compare to what came next.
Aaron Wiggins will forgo his final year of eligibility with the University of Maryland, and will keep his name in the 2021 NBA Draft, according to this agent, Mike Whitaker.
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Mr. Smallwood grew up in Odenton, where he played high school soccer and baseball, and he was a 1987 graduate of the University of Maryland. He came to the Daily News in 1994 from the Rochester (N.Y.) Democrat and Chronicle, after having also worked at the Roanoke (Va.) Times. At the Daily News and then at the Inquirer after the staffs merged, he often wrote about college and NBA basketball, particularly during the Sixers’ Allen Iverson era. “Anytime he was interviewing you and asking questions, it was like a friend asking you,” former Sixers general manager Billy King said. “If you tried to B.S. him, he would give you that ‘Oh, come on, Billy, you know that’s not true.’ You couldn’t lie to him, because he had that look. He critiqued you with compassion.”
Chase Hughes: UMD's Jalen Smith on speaking with the Wizards: "I would say they were one of the most interesting interviews out of all of them. They were funny and they were pretty much just joking around with me the whole time." Sounds like they hit it off.
Durant's Thirty Five Ventures has the documentary, called "In the Water", listed as still in development on its website. With players like Durant, University of Maryland legend Len Bias, and Pacers all-star guard Victor Oladipo all coming from the same place, this will surely be a must-watch. Markelle Fultz, Jeff Green, Quinn Cook, and Ty Lawson are also some of the better known local products to make it in the NBA. The documentary will air on Showtime.
The University of Maryland on Friday released documents confirming that it has received multiple subpoenas in connection with the federal investigation of corruption in college basketball. The first subpoena specifically targets information regarding Maryland assistant coach Orlando Ranson and an unnamed player. It focuses on their relationship with agent runner Christian Dawkins, who previously has been charged in the probe. The second subpoena summoned Maryland officials to appear before a federal grand jury in New York on July 3.
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Jeff Goodman: Maryland’s Bruno Fernando will withdraw from the NBA Draft and return to College Park, source told ESPN. Now the big one for the Terps is whether Kevin Huerter does the same.
Ryan Ward: Next crop of players the #Lakers are bringing in for pre-draft workouts on Friday: Allerik Freeman – NC State Grayson Allen – Duke Kevin Huerter – Maryland Arnoldas Kulboka – Capo D’Orlando Matur Maker – Mississauga Prep Bryant McIntosh - Northwestern
How does Kevin Durant feel about Under Armour? He was almost wooed away from Nike to sign with the Baltimore-based brand in 2014, but doesn't have anything positive to say about it now. In a conversation with Bill Simmons on his The Ringer podcast, KD was blunt. "Nobody wants to play in Under Armours, I'm sorry," he says. "The top kids don't, 'cause they all play Nike." Durant was explaining why he thinks the University of Maryland, which is sponsored by Under Armour, is unable to better recruit top high school athletes.
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