Arizona State catches a break, gets Rihard Kuksiks back

Herb Sendek caught a huge break on Thursday as Rihards Kuksiks decided to return to Tempe for his senior season.

Kuksiks was the Sun Devils leading scorer last season, but there were concerns that the 6'6" Latvian sharpshooter would opt to play professionally in Europe instead of returning to school. He spent much of August in Europe competing for Latvia in the 2011 European Championships, which increased the speculation that he wasn't coming back.

Rihard Kuksiks has decided to return to Arizona State.
(photo credit: AZStarnet)

If Kuksiks had departed, it wouldn't have been a shock. Leaving college to, essentially, play in basketball's minor leagues abroad is slowly becoming a fad. Last summer, Nick Calathes, Terrence Oglesby, and David Huertas all left school for an overseas contract. This year, Manhattan's Rico Pickett and UC-Riverside's Kyle Austin have both headed abroad, while reports have Michael Dunigan going to Israel. Greedy Peterson is headed to Greece, but he was kicked out of school.

But Kuksiks is coming back, which means that Arizona State will have their best shooter. Kuksiks will help to keep the floor spread for slashers like Ty Abbott and Trent Lockett.

Arizona State has a really good group of player on their perimeter. There is scoring, there are shooters, there are athletes. When this club gets hot, they are going to be tough to beat.

When I wrote my Pac-10 preview a week ago, I did it under the impression that Kuksiks was gone. I picked Arizona State sixth. Now, that looks like it is too low.

Continue reading...

Greedy Peterson out at Providence

Yesterday, SLAMOnline reported that Jamine Peterson, a 6'6" forward from Providence College that averaged just under 20 points and 10 boards for the Friars last season, was leaving school with the intention of pursuing a career in Europe.

"I sat down with my family and my coach and we thought it was best thing to do," said the New York City native. "I spoke with some of Brandon Jennings's people. I consulted with them and they told me it's not going to be easy. I like the way it worked out for Jennings. I feel like I can go out there and contribute in rebounding and attacking the rim."

What Peterson didn't mention is that he didn't have a choice.

Regardless of whose decision it was, Greedy Peterson won't be in a Providence uniform next season.
(photo credit: Daylife)

Late yesterday afternoon, Providence announced that Peterson was kicked off the team for the dreaded 'violation of team rules'.

"Jamine Peterson has been dismissed from the men's basketball team for a violation of team rules," head coach Keno Davis said in a statement released by the school. "Jamine had a productive season in 2009-10. However, regardless of his athletic accomplishments, it is essential to the integrity of the program that every student-athlete meets the high standards and expectations we have at Providence College."

Providence was not very good last season, losing their last 11 games before finishing the year 12-19 and just 4-14 in the Big East. With second scorer Sharaud Curry graduating and Peterson out of the picture, it doesn't appear that the Friars will be all that improved next year.

Peterson came to PC in 2008, coming off the bench as a freshman. Keno Davis decided it would be in Peterson's best interest to red shirt the 2008-2009 season, and he was right. Already a physical specimen -- at 6'6", Peterson checks in at a muscular 230 lbs and was one of the best athletes in the Big East last year -- he added range on his jump shot and a much improved perimeter game.

That improved perimeter game is what made Peterson so dangerous this past season. He was big enough to defend a power forward, but there aren't many four men that are capable of defending a player like Peterson on the perimeter.

Peterson will be forced to play at least one season in Europe -- where some believe he can be successful -- before automatically becoming eligible for the 2011 NBA Draft.

Continue reading...