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Forbes
an hour ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Indiana Pacers Reshape Backcourt With Two Picks In 2025 NBA Draft
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 14: Kam Jones #1 of the Marquette Golden Eagles dribbles in the first ... More half of a semifinal game against the St. John's Red Storm during the Big East Men's Basketball Tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 14, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by) INDIANAPOLIS – Before the 2025 NBA Draft began, it was clear the Indiana Pacers were eager to add a contributor. Just before the first round tipped off, Indiana struck a deal with the San Antonio Spurs, acquiring the 38th pick. With the Pacers financial picture in mind, adding a rookie on a lower-salary deal made strategic sense. That pick gave Indiana a shot at doing just that. And after a day of waiting, the Pacers made their selection early in the second round by bringing in Marquette product Kameron Jones, a 23-year old from Tennessee. He spent four seasons with the Golden Eagles and evolved tremendously year over year. As a freshman, Jones came off the bench and learned the ropes. His scoring more than doubled as a sophomore, and his efficiency jumped in year three. When Tyler Kolek left Marquette for the NBA, Jones assumed more playmaking responsibilities. His assists per game number then rose from 2.4 per game to 5.9 as a senior, and that passing tied together his ball handling skills. Each year, Jones added a new layer to his game. The Pacers current front office likes when players who work on their craft and continuously develop – Jones fits that mold. 'I like it!' Pacers President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard tweeted after the pick. As a senior, Jones averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 48.3% from the field. He was a consensus second team All-American honoree and was a finalist for the Bob Cousy Award. Importantly for Indiana, he did a lot of things that suggest he will fit well in the Pacers system. What do Pacers draft picks need to do? Indiana's identity is built on pace, ball movement, possessions, and efficiency. Those principles have propelled them to consecutive Eastern Conference Finals and a recent trip to the NBA Finals. Clearly, their identity is successful, and it requires specific strengths from players at certain positions. Guards in Indiana's scheme must be smart decision makers, capable shooters, and comfortable in the pick-and-roll. They need to play fast without sacrificing control. Pacers initiators are versatile. Jones' college metrics suggest he can fit into that style as he grows in the NBA. While having a usage rate approaching 30%, Jones held a turnover rate below 10% – he rarely made poor decisions despite being heavily involved. According to Synergy Sports, he ran 302 pick-and-roll possessions last season, ranking in the 99th percentile for frequency and 85th percentile in efficiency. He made a tidy 36.6% of his three-point shots across 861 attempts at Marquette. His defense features more speed than strength. Jones catch-and-shoot numbers are better than his off the dribble J, and he doesn't get to the foul line as often as other guard prospects. But his strengths are obvious, and they are a snug fit with what the Pacers hope to get out of ball handlers. At pick 38, he's a logical fit. 'I'm just ready to get to Naptown and get to work,' Jones said on ESPN after being drafted. Given when Jones was drafted, it is likely he receives a standard NBA contract with the blue and gold – just like previous Pacers high second-round picks Andrew Nembhard and Johnny Furphy. With Indiana's star point guard Tyrese Haliburton out for a while due to a torn Achilles, Jones could add meaningful depth to the blue and gold. Another area that guides the Pacers success, and particularly their efficiency, is shot making. That sounds obvious as the objective of the sport, but Indiana's player development program works hard at improving the jump shooting ability of every player on the roster. That's why the Pacers ranked fourth in effective field goal percentage last season – they move the ball well and have a team filled with shot makers. That priority also explains the Pacers 54th overall pick in Thursday's second round. They took Liberty guard Taelon Peter, a five-year college player born in Arkansas. LYNCHBURG, VA - FEBRUARY 27: Taelon Peter #2 of the Liberty Flames takes a jump shot during a ... More college basketball game against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Liberty Arena on February 27, 2025 in Lynchburg, Virginia. (Photo by) Peter, 23, was a masterful play finisher for the Flames last season. He led Conference USA with a 75.6% field goal percentage on two-point shots, a remarkable feat for a guard, while also canning a ridiculous 45.3% of his outside shots. He attempted 170 three pointers, too. This isn't a case of low volume clouding the percentages. That efficiency is unheard of. Peter's true shooting percentage in his final collegiate season was 72.8%, among the NCAA's best. Of the 13 players who logged at least 500 minutes and eclipsed 70% true shooting, only three – including Peter – weren't post players, and most didn't attempt even 20 threes. It's difficult to take a bunch of jumpers yet maintain a high efficiency. Peter did it. He averaged 13.7 points per game for Liberty this past season and played in 35 games. He primarily came off the bench. 'My role is obviously a little different than it was last year, so learning which ways I can be the best teammate is definitely something that I'm trying to learn and grow,' Peter told the Liberty Champion of his development. Prospects who can make shots have a clear path to success in the NBA. Peter still has areas to improve, but his elite shooting and athleticism give him a solid foundation. He can get up threes quickly, rarely takes analytically-unkind shots, and has impressive bounce to go with it. Peter ranked in the 99th percentile on spot up shot efficiency in the NCAA ranks last season, per Synergy Sports. His transition efficiency was in the 96th percentile. On a Pacers team that thrives in the open floor and emphasizes shot making, he's a promising developmental piece. The Liberty product should fit right in. Since the two-way contract was introduced in 2017, every 54th pick has signed one in their first season. That should be the expectation for Peter, who was drafted late by an Indiana team that could have openings with their two-way contracts pending the futures of Enrique Freeman and Quenton Jackson. The NBA Draft can be an unknown. Much of it is hard to project. The Pacers are trying to make their reality more known by picking players who fit their system well, and they did exactly that.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Legendary college basketball coach dies at 63... just three months after retiring
Just a few months after announcing her retirement from being head women's basketball coach at the University of Southern Mississippi, Joye Lee-McNelis has died at the age of 63. Lee-McNelis succumbed to a long battle with lung cancer. She had spent the past 21 years leading the Golden Eagles' women's basketball team and called it a career at the end of the 2024-25 season. MORE TO FOLLOW.
The National
12-06-2025
- General
- The National
The rarest and most stunning wild animals to see in Scotland
From the Highlands and Islands to the Scottish Borders, there are plenty of animals out there that will blow you away. If you are interested in learning more about Scotland's wildlife or simply want to know how rare some of our most iconic animals are, look no further. See some of Scotland's rarest and most endangered wild animals The red squirrel is under threat from the invasive grey squirrel (Getty) (Image: Getty) The Red Squirrel According to the wildlife charity Scottish Squirrel, this species, which is native to Scotland and the British Isles, is severely threatened by the invasive grey squirrel. Grey squirrels were introduced from North America in the 19th century and are said to be larger and more robust, allowing them to outcompete the smaller red squirrel for food and resources. Sadly, there are as few as 120,000 red squirrels remaining in Scotland, with many of these animals residing in the conifer forests of Dumfries and Galloway and the Caledonian pine forests of the Highlands. Beavers The Eurasian beaver was reintroduced to Scotland in 2009 (Getty) (Image: Getty) Beavers, which have legal protection in Scotland under the Habitats Regulations Act, were reintroduced to the country in 2009 after being hunted to extinction in the 16th century. The Scottish Wildlife Trust says that the Eurasian beavers are "adept natural engineers, with an incredible ability to create new wetlands, restore native woodland and improve conditions for a wide range of species, including dragonflies, otters and fish." Nature Scotland adds that there are around 424 beaver territories and 1500 beavers across Scotland. Bottlenose Dolphins There are thought to be 224 bottlenose dolphins in Scotland (Getty) (Image: Getty) Spotted on both the east and west coasts of Scotland, the bottlenose dolphin has a relatively small population of around 224 based on estimates from between 2015 and 2019. There are a number of pressures facing these cetaceans, such as the threat from human organic pollutants, recreational activities and collision with sea vessels. Golden Eagles The golden eagle population is once again growing in Scotland (Getty) (Image: Getty) Forestry and Land Scotland says that for a long time, golden eagles have represented a "classic symbol of the wild" in Scotland. Known for the "glorious light golden brown plumage on their head, neck and shoulders," these birds were driven to extinction in England and Wales. While their numbers did suffer in Scotland, their population is once again growing, with these birds being more common in the Highlands. Recommended Reading: Pine Martens Pine Martens primarily live in woodlands (Getty) (Image: Getty) These cat-sized mustelids are part of the weasel family and are recognisable for their dark brown fur and long bodies (which are around 65 to 70cm in length). Existing primarily in woodlands, the population of these animals remains low, with only an estimated 3700 adult pine martens being left in Scotland. This was because of a sustained persecution by gamekeepers in the 19th century, a practice which lasted until relatively recently.
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Wisconsin women's basketball to renew in-state rivalry this fall
Wisconsin women's basketball to renew in-state rivalry this fall The Wisconsin women's basketball program will renew its I-94 rivalry with Marquette as part of a home-and-home series beginning on Nov. 8, 2025. UW will travel east to Milwaukee for the first leg of the series, then welcome the Golden Eagles to the Kohl Center in 2026. The two squads last squared off in 2017. The Golden Eagles own a 6-5 mark against the Badgers since the 2001-02 season. Wisconsin's Nov. 8 contest against the in-state rival also marks the first game the Badgers' program has announced under new head coach Robin Pingeton, who took over following former head coach Marisa Moseley's resignation earlier this year. The Badgers, who went 13-17 during the 2024-25 slate, will open the 2025-26 campaign with an entirely new roster. Former Wisconsin star Serah Williams and starting center Carter McCray transferred following the season's end, prompting Pingeton to look for talent in the portal. The former Missouri coach responded with seven transfer commitments. Those include Croatian center Dorja Zaja, Illinois forward Shay Bollin, Stony Brook guard Breauna Ware, Howard guard Destiny Howell, NC State guard Laci Steele, Southern Illinois forward Gift Uchenna and Missouri State guard Kyrah Daniels. The Badgers also signed class of 2025 standout Nikki Kerstein in April, bolstering the program's backcourt depth. While both Williams and McCray departed, starting guard Ronnie Porter returns for her fourth season in Madison as the Badgers' leading veteran presence. She, alongside new acquisitions Uchenna and Howell, projects to spearhead Wisconsin's offensive attack this coming season. Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes and opinion
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Aberdeen Central caps off strong season with ‘AA' state title
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — The Aberdeen Central girls golf team came up short of a state title last year. That fueled the Golden Eagles this season as they rolled into the state tournament with their eyes on the prize. Aberdeen Central finished in third place at last year's class 'AA' state golf tournament, while standout Olivia Braun finished runner-up in the individual competition by one stroke. 'Both team and individual last year, we were kind of disappointed in how it turned out. Overall, I think we all came back stronger,' Braun said. The Golden Eagles played in nine tournaments this year, finishing first five times. They carried that momentum into the state tournament, where Braun led the charge. Olivia shot one-under par in the first round and followed that up with a 69, three-under in round two. She even birdied two of her last three holes, leaving no doubt that she would be this year's state champ. 'The last two years she been very close and it's come down to maybe the last few holes. It's tough to accept, but I feel like you have to lose some before you win. You have to take the good with the bad,' head coach Kim Zimmerman said. 'I put in a lot of work, especially after last year. I had that bitter taste in my mouth, but I just went out on the course, started practicing and it really showed off these last two days,' Braun said. Aberdeen Central also came away with the team title. Along with Braun, two other Golden Eagles finished in the top five, including Emma Dohrer and Kyley Wirebaugh. 'I knew they were capable of it, but you don't win anything on just your capabilities. You have to go out and practice and show everybody what you're capable of and they really did step up this year,' Zimmerman said. It was a full team effort that helped bring the first state girls golf title to the Hub City. 'I have a lot of emotions going through me right now and I'm sure they do as well,' Zimmerman said. 'I'm just very proud of our school and the golf team and how we represent the school.' Aberdeen Central has finished runner-up four times for the team title. Olivia joins 2018 champ Sydney Wirebaugh as the two individuals to claim a state crown. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
