captain notched two goals and an assist in each contest, helping P

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Kansas freshman Joel Embiid is entering the NBA draft after a breakthrough season that ended with a stress fracture in his back that kept the 7-footer out of the NCAA tournament. Embiid had been mulling whether to return for his sophomore season for weeks. He said during a news conference Wednesday at Allen Fieldhouse that he reached his decision Sunday. "I just want to thank the coaching staff, my teammates, the fans, my mentor, everybody that has helped me through my journey," said Embiid, who was accompanied by coach Bill Self. Embiid, who some believe could go first overall, said he discussed his decision with Self, his family and the Timberwolves Luc Mbah a Moute, a fellow Cameroonian who discovered Embiid at one of his camps and helped bring him to the U.S. when he was in high school. "Hakeem Olajuwon called me and I talked to him a little bit. I talked to Luc, my mentor. I talked to Nicolas Batum from the Portland Trail Blazers," Embiid said. "They didnt tell me what to do, they just gave me the advantages and disadvantages." Embiid, who grew up playing soccer and volleyball, only decided to pursue basketball a few years ago. He started to blossom as a senior at The Rock School and ultimately chose to attend Kansas, where he arrived with less fanfare than fellow freshmen Andrew Wiggins and Wayne Selden. In many ways, Embiid out-performed both of them, averaging 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds while blocking 72 shots and earning Big 12 defensive player of the year honours. "I dont think anybody could say Jo was making a poor decision by entering the draft," Self said. "Under almost all circumstances this would be the obvious choice to make. The thing with Jo, what he was weighing was hes still so young in the sport." Still young, period. And that youthful exuberance endeared him to Kansas fans. "I really love this place. The fans are crazy, just watching them before every game," he said. "For me, it means a lot that they showed me nothing but love. Ill miss this place." Embiid hurt his back while landing awkwardly during a game late in the season, and missed the Jayhawks final two regular-season games and the Big 12 tournament. He also missed a victory over Eastern Kentucky and a season-ending loss to Stanford in the NCAA tournament, after which he said that he would have been able to play had Kansas advanced to the second weekend. "My back is fine," Embiid said Wednesday. "Im close to being 100 per cent." Even though he is still raw, many projects have Embiid joining Wiggins in going among the first three picks in the June draft. Embiids natural athleticism, court savvy and an ability to hit mid-range jumpers have made scouts salivate all season. "I think its going to be hard. I think Jos in for a fight. But I think its going to be a fun fight," Self said. "The jump from college to the NBA is not quite as easy as what a lot of people portray it to be. Just because youre drafted high doesnt mean youre necessarily ready to play. Jos goal obviously is not only to be drafted high but be a big-time player." Self has already signed two five-star prospects for next season in Kelly Oubre, a talented swingman who should help fill Wiggins shoes, and Cliff Alexander, a 6-foot-8 forward from Chicago and the Naismith high school player of the year. The question now is whether another five-star prospect, Myles Turner, will join them in Lawrence. The 6-11 centre from Euless, Texas, is expected to pick among Kansas, Duke and several other schools, but has said he was waiting on Embiids decision before choosing his school. Alexander tweeted at Turner to sign with Kansas shortly after Embiids announcement. Either way, the newcomers will join a team that returns three starters who helped Kansas win its 10th straight Big 12 title and earned a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. "Andrew was easy, because we knew before Andrew got here what the situation more than likely was going to be. Jo, it wasnt quite that," Self said. "What makes it tough is preparing when you dont know that youre going to lose. Weve got good enough players in our program, weve said that all along. Our expectation, our goals wont vary at all." Cheap Basketball College Jerseys . Belfort was originally schedule to fight Chris Weidman at UFC 173 on May 24, but a Nevada State Athletic Commission ban on testosterone replacement therapy forced the former light heavyweight champ to withdraw. Cheap NCAA Jerseys Authentic . Directly ahead was open field, the end zone and the Seattle Seahawks place in the NFC championship game. https://www.chinajerseysncaa.us/ . Damyean Dotson, 19, Dominic Artis, 19 and Brandon Austin, 18, were suspended after the school received a police report concerning allegations made by a student who said she was assaulted by the players in early March. Cheap Football NCAA Jerseys . Dallas also Monday recalled defenceman Aaron Rome from his conditioning assignment with the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League and assigned goaltender Jack Campbell to the AHL squad. NCAA Jerseys Outlet . Wawrinka, who is seeded fourth, is in the top half of the draw with Serbian Novak Djokovic. The Swiss star outlasted Djokovic in a five-set quarterfinal thriller last year and stunned Spaniard Rafael Nadal in the final to capture his first-ever Grand Slam title.(SportsNetwork.com) - The Toronto Maple Leafs continue their tour of the Metropolitan Division on Saturday as they host a Philadelphia Flyers team rolling in the right direction at Air Canada Centre. Tyler Bozak was the hero versus the Rangers, scoring on a penalty shot in the second period before netting the game-winner with 3:09 left in overtime. He took a blind backhand feed from Phil Kessel behind the net and elevated the disc over Henrik Lundqvist from the doorstep to send the Leafs to their first victory since the Olympic break. Toronto had lost three in a row coming in, two of those in overtime. Nazem Kadri netted Torontos other goal, while Jonathan Bernier registered 35 saves for the Leafs. "It doesnt feel so good right now, because youre frustrated with how it went, but tomorrow in the standings it will show two points and then we move on," Toronto head coach Randy Carlyle said of his team giving up a two-goal lead only to win in overtime. Bernier could face the Flyers tonight and has split two previous encounters while posting a 4.51 GAA. The Maple Leafs have won three of their past four versus the Flyers, including a 3-1 victory in Philadelphia on Oct. 2 in the first of three meetings this season. However, the Flyers have won six of their last seven trips to Toronto. Philadelphia has potted 15 goals over its past three games and has won seven of its last eight. That has the Flyers even with the New York Rangers for second place in the Metropolitan Division. Philadelphia has one game in hand over the Blueshirts and will use it on Saturday when the Rangers are idle.dddddddddddd Giroux has led the charge, posting 10 goals and 20 points over his last 13 games. That includes back-to-back three-point efforts in a home-and-home sweep of the Washington Capitals. The Flyers captain notched two goals and an assist in each contest, helping Philadelphia rally for a 5-4 overtime victory in Washington last Sunday before holding on for a 6-4 win at home on Wednesday. "Theyre attacking. Theyre skating with speed and making plays; theyre working hard, working down low hard, cycling the puck, competing, power play. Theyre doing a good job," said Flyers coach Craig Berube of Girouxs line that includes Jakub Voracek and Scott Hartnell. Voracek also scored twice on Wednesdays win that saw the Flyers jump out to a 4-0 lead before they allowed the Capitals to twice get within a goal. Philadelphia yielded three power-play goals. Michael Raffl and Steve Downie also scored for the Flyers and Steve Mason came up with 21 saves. "We got the win, but at the end of the day weve got to make sure that when weve got a lead like that, weve got to be able to keep it," said Giroux. Mason is 2-3-0 with a 3.99 goals against average in five previous meetings with the Maple Leafs, who sit third in the Atlantic Division with 74 points. They moved one point ahead of Tampa Bay with Wednesdays 3-2 overtime victory against the New York Rangers, and trail second-place Montreal by three points. ' ' '