SF Evan Turner (official thread)

[buckeyemania11]

Originally Posted by Buckskin86

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Men's basketball: Turner returning to OSU, mom says

[LitlBuck]

Insurance policy very interesting

BuckeyeXtra - The Columbus Dispatch : Men's basketball: Turner returning to OSU, mom says

Saturday, April 25, 2009 3:11 AM
By Bob Baptist

True to his word, Ohio State sophomore Evan Turner has no plans to file paperwork for early entry to the NBA draft before the deadline passes at midnight Sunday, his mother said yesterday.

"I'm definitely not filing anything," Iris James of Chicago said. "Nothing has changed to date. He's going to be back there."
He
Turner, a 6-foot-7 guard-forward, was an honorable mention All-American and led Ohio State in scoring, rebounds, assists and steals last season. Mock drafts have projected him as a mid-first-round pick in the draft if he entered.

But Turner said repeatedly late in the season that he would return for his junior year.

That commitment was underscored within the past two weeks, his mother said, when she purchased, through the NCAA, a disability insurance policy for Turner protecting him in case of a career-ending injury before he turns pro.

"We wanted to make sure he's definitely taken care of should he get hurt," James said.

She declined to divulge the amount of the policy, which is set by the NCAA based on Turner's projected standing in the draft. Policy values range from $500,000 to $5 million for first-round draft picks. Premiums are not due until the player signs a pro contract, exhausts his college eligibility or is ruled medically unable to play again.

[OSUBasketballJunkie]

This is typical of a player like Turner..........I believe Oden had something similiar..............

[Buckskin86]

Matta was asked about a few returning players, notably Evan Turner, who opted to return for his junior year rather than enter the NBA draft, in which he was projected as a mid-first-round pick.

"He?s a kid who loves Ohio State; he loves college," Matta said. "He and I were driving through campus the other day and he had a smile on his face and he said, 'Man, I love it here.'

"By the same token, I believe Evan is a very cerebral kid and knows there are things he still wants to do while he?s here. I think there?s things he wants to accomplish personally as well as his team.

"And he knows there are some things he has to work on. The great thing about Evan is he?s one of those guys who doesn?t just talk about it, he goes out in the off-season and gives it 100 percent to correct whatever he?s trying to get better at. I think that?s a tremendous thing for him.

"The big thing for Evan is what people talk about when you go to the NBA and that?s the quality of life. Evan?s not a guy who just wants to go to the NBA and say that he?s there. I think he wants to have a great quality of life if that opportunity presents itself."

-- Asked whether coaches are working with Turner this spring on the skills he would need to play point guard, Matta acknowledged that "that?s something we?re definitely going to look at in the off-season, continuing to get his handle together and (his) ability to make quicker decisions."

For the time being, though, they're working on "a lot of things" with Turner, he said, including "really trying to home in on his three-point shot, getting that better. I think he showed this year that he?s got a great mid-range game. His ability to shoot the basketball from deep consistently, and having the confidence to make the shot, I think?s going to help put everything in place for him."

Matta and Boals leftovers (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)

[y0yoyoin]

http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2009/05/_you_stick_around_in.html


Ohio State basketball: Evan Turner invited to Team USA camp

by Doug Lesmerises Wednesday May 20, 2009, 2:23 PM



You stick around in college, you get to do some cool things. Ohio State's Evan Turner, who passed up a spot in the first round of the NBA draft to return for his junior year with the Buckeyes, is one of 15 players invited to the 2009 USA Basketball Men's World University Games team training camp in Colorado Springs from June 16 to 24. Only players in college are eligible.
From that group, 12 players will be picked to form the team that will represent the United States in Serbia starting on June 25. They'll be part of the 24-team World University Games in Belgrade from July 2 to 12.


Wisconsin's Bo Ryan will coach the team, which will have a Big Ten flavor. The conference will have five players at the camp, more than any other conference. And this group is those who accepted invitations - I have to imagine that Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas of Michigan State, fresh off leading his team to the NCAA title game, turned down a chance to go.
This is a jumping off point. Eighteen players who played for the United States in the World University games later played in the Olympics, including Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Ray Allen and Michael Redd.
And from a first quick glance at the roster, I'd say that Turner looks not only like a starter, but a potential leader for the team. And remember, Wisconsin recruited Turner hard and Ryan knows him well. That should only aid Turner's cause, not that he needs any help.
Players invited to the camp
Big Ten
Evan Turner, Ohio State
Taylor Battle, Penn State
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
Robbie Hummel, Purdue
Mike Davis, Illinois

Big 12
Sherron Collins, Kansas
Craig Brackins, Iowa State
James Anderson, Oklahoma State

Big East
Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia
Corey Fisher, Villanova
Lazar Hayward, Marquette
ACC
Deon Thompson, North Carolina
Trevor Booker, Clemson
Pac-10
Quincy Poindexter, Washington

SEC
Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by y0yoyoin

http://www.cleveland.com/buckeyeblog/index.ssf/2009/05/_you_stick_around_in.html


Ohio State basketball: Evan Turner invited to Team USA camp

by Doug Lesmerises Wednesday May 20, 2009, 2:23 PM



You stick around in college, you get to do some cool things. Ohio State's Evan Turner, who passed up a spot in the first round of the NBA draft to return for his junior year with the Buckeyes, is one of 15 players invited to the 2009 USA Basketball Men's World University Games team training camp in Colorado Springs from June 16 to 24. Only players in college are eligible.
From that group, 12 players will be picked to form the team that will represent the United States in Serbia starting on June 25. They'll be part of the 24-team World University Games in Belgrade from July 2 to 12.


Wisconsin's Bo Ryan will coach the team, which will have a Big Ten flavor. The conference will have five players at the camp, more than any other conference. And this group is those who accepted invitations - I have to imagine that Big Ten Player of the Year Kalin Lucas of Michigan State, fresh off leading his team to the NCAA title game, turned down a chance to go.
This is a jumping off point. Eighteen players who played for the United States in the World University games later played in the Olympics, including Tim Duncan, Allen Iverson, Larry Bird, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Ray Allen and Michael Redd.
And from a first quick glance at the roster, I'd say that Turner looks not only like a starter, but a potential leader for the team. And remember, Wisconsin recruited Turner hard and Ryan knows him well. That should only aid Turner's cause, not that he needs any help.
Players invited to the camp
Big Ten
Evan Turner, Ohio State
Taylor Battle, Penn State
JaJuan Johnson, Purdue
Robbie Hummel, Purdue
Mike Davis, Illinois

Big 12
Sherron Collins, Kansas
Craig Brackins, Iowa State
James Anderson, Oklahoma State

Big East
Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia
Corey Fisher, Villanova
Lazar Hayward, Marquette
ACC
Deon Thompson, North Carolina
Trevor Booker, Clemson
Pac-10
Quincy Poindexter, Washington

SEC
Jarvis Varnado, Mississippi State

very cool...congrats and good luck Evan!

[Buckskin86]

Ohio State basketball: Evan Turner on his Team USA invite and dribbling too much
by Doug Lesmerises
Thursday May 21, 2009


OSU
Evan Turner

Evan Turner was packing up late Wednesday night, getting ready to move to his new apartment. The packing for Colorado and Serbia comes later.

"How often do you get to represent your country and try to win a gold medal?" Ohio State's leading scorer and an All-Big Ten selection said by phone, the excitement about his invite to join the United States team for the World University Games in Belgrade, Serbia, in July obvious in his voice.

With the invites limited to college players, the OSU junior knew this was something he would have missed if he had declared for the NBA Draft.

"I just think life is short and you've got to take all the memories you can," Turner said, "and this will be a great memory along with college and enjoying time with my teammates. This is a bonus memory to add to the collection."

A visit to campus last fall by former Buckeye Michael Redd, who won an Olympic gold medal in 2008, stuck with Turner and helped form his view on his first chance at international play.

"He came to talk to us and he brought his gold medal and he said nothing means more than winning a gold medal for your country," Turner said. "You just want to be part of that, and he talked about how proud he was."

This isn't the Olympics. But it's about the highest level a college player can hope for when it comes to representing his country. Turner first heard about other players earning invites for various summer opportunities and had to ask an OSU staff member at a charity event about his options, like a kid wondering if he'd been left out of a birthday party.

"I was thinking, cool, maybe I can get invited to something," Turner said. "They said I was, and I had no clue. I just thought it was cool to travel to a different country. I can tell my kids I represented the USA overseas, you know.

"It's a pretty long commitment for the summer, but it's worth it. I would have been taking summer school and waking up at 6 a.m. and lifting weights and working on my game and playing pickup ball with my teammates and probably doing nothing else."

Ohio State basketball: Evan Turner on his Team USA invite and dribbling too much - Ohio State Buckeyes Football & Basketball Blog (OSU) - cleveland.com

[BB73]

Evan heads to Colorado Springs next week, trying to make the 12-man team that will play in the World University Games held in Belgrade during the first 2 weeks of July. A video interview in included after the article.

BN.free

[keeganbrick]

Go get it Turner. Him and Collins on the wing would be something to see.

[LitlBuck]

Scout(free)

Turner talks about trying out for the World University Games and his relationship with the head coach of the US team who is none other than Bo Ryan. Talks about his interest in UW pre-Ohio State along with how he is preparing for the tryouts.

[Padraig]

According to Coach Boals twitter page, Evan made the USA Roster.

Congrats Mr. Turner!

http://twitter.com/JeffBoals

[Buckskin86]

Turner is on the team
Evan Turner made the 12-man roster that will represent the United States in the World University Games July 2-12 in Serbia.

The roster was announced today after three days of trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. Not making the cut were JaJuan Johnson of Purdue, Dominique Jones of South Florida and two late additions to the trials, Mike Tisdale of Illinois and Nic Wise of Arizona.

I interviewed Turner before he left for Colorado. We're planning the story for before the tournament begins July 2. Meanwhile, here are quotes from Turner that USA Basketball posted on its Web site:

How does it feel to be named to this team?
It's amazing. I'm just really, really honored and appreciative. To be a part of this team with great players, and having the committee think of me as good enough to make this team and represent this country, is really exciting. I'm just really excited to put on a USA jersey officially. To have the opportunity to represent my country, my town and my school is just amazing.

What do you think you did this week to impress the committee?
I'm just going to try and bring hustle, hard-minded defense and toughness. Pass the ball, rebound, play defense and score and just help the team win. I want to try and be a great teammate as well and add to the team chemistry.

What does the team need to focus on to ready itself for the competition?
Obviously just being one, having that chemistry and being mentally tough. Overseas it's going to be tough with a different type of game and a different atmosphere. It's kind of us against the world a little bit. The USA is a pretty big deal, so when people go up against us, they definitely want to beat us.

What will it mean to you to go overseas and compete internationally for your country?
I can't even explain it. I don't even know. Right now it's just crazy. It's just going to feel really great.

Turner is on the team (Hoops & Scoops: an OSU basketball blog)

Roster


USA Basketball

[LitlBuck]

Props to Turner now don't let Bo run you into the ground and take care of yourself.

[brodybuck21]

Originally Posted by LitlBuck

Props to Turner now don't let Bo run you into the ground and take care of yourself.

and dont let him get any info out of you!!

[Buckskin86]

Posted: Friday June 19, 2009
Seth Davis > HOOP THOUGHTS

OSU's Turner, Purdue's Hummel shine at national team trials Story Highlights
With the size and skills of an NBA forward, Evan Turner was an NBA scout favorite
While Robbie Hummel played well, his lower back injury still lingers
With an ability to create his shot, Seth Curry looks a lot like ... Steph Curry

Ohio State's Evan Turner turned heads as the most NBA-ready player at the World University Games team tryouts.
Greg Nelson/SI

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- What do you get when you take three dozen of the best college basketball players in America, 12 of the top college coaches and bring them into one gymnasium for a good old-fashioned tryout?

You get hoop heaven, my friends.

That was the scene this week at the U.S. Olympic training complex, where two teams were selected to compete for Team USA in international competitions next month. The younger team, coached by Pittsburgh's Jamie Dixon, will compete in New Zealand at the FIBA Under-19 World Championships. The older squad, led by Wisconsin's Bo Ryan, will head to Serbia for the World University Games.

USA Basketball conducted four sessions before the selection committee, chaired by Syracuse's Jim Boeheim, decided which 24 players (12 for each team) would make the trips. From my standpoint, this exercise was valuable for two reasons (three if you count the chance to escape the soggy northeast and feel the Colorado sunshine). First, I got to watch a bunch of elite college players from a variety of programs get thrown together in one mix. That gave me a jump on figuring out who's ready to shine next season. And second, I caught up with college coaches who volunteered to either coach these teams or help out during the trials, and I took the pulse of their programs.

Today, I'm passing along what I learned about the players. On Monday, I'll post a column with a compilation of what I got from the coaches. I know it's only June, but is there ever a bad time to learn more about the always-sunny world of college hoops?

Herewith, part one:

-- Some three dozen NBA executives and scouts were also on hand, and I polled a few of them on the question of who was the best pro prospect in the gym. The general consensus, including my own, was that the answer was Evan Turner, Ohio State's 6-foot-7 forward.

Turner was a little underwhelming during the first two sessions, mostly because, like everyone else, he was feeling things out and trying to fit in. After the morning workout concluded on Wednesday, Turner received a call from Buckeyes coach Thad Matta, who told Turner he had heard the player was being too passive. "He's always telling me during the season that I can't have off nights," Turner said. "I've always thought I was good, but it has taken me a while to think like I'm the best player."

It's obvious why the scouts like Turner. He has the size and skills of a natural NBA small forward. The only thing he lacks at the moment is consistent long-range shooting. (He was 2 for 5 at the trials.) Turner pointed out that he did shoot 44 percent from behind the arc as a sophomore, but he only made 23 threes the entire season. "I really can shoot from out there, but I'm just so comfortable with my midrange game, those are the shots I tend to take," he said.

Still, Turner recognizes that if he added this dimension to his game, he would be a truly devastating offensive player -- and probably an NBA lottery pick next spring. To that end, he has been shooting 200 threes a day this offseason. He also said he has been working on his left-handed passing by dribbling outside and firing passes at random targets. "If I see a street sign, I'll try to hit that, or sometimes I'll try to hit a squirrel," he said with a smile. "Sometimes I just get bored, so I'll walk outside and dribble. It's the most fun thing to do."

Evan Turner, Robbie Hummel shine at national team trials - Seth Davis - SI.com