Villanova guard Scottie Reynolds has withdrawn his name from consideration for the NBA draft and will remain for his senior season with the Wildcats, the school announced today.

“The best decision for me is to return to Villanova for my senior year,” Reynolds said in a statement. “I’d like to thank everyone who put their time into helping me get better during these NBA workouts. I especially want to thank my teammates and coaches here for all of their support. I felt like I learned a great deal from this process. I’m blessed to be in the situation I am in. I’m happy to be back at Villanova.”

Reynolds averaged 15.2 points per game in helping lead Villanova to a school-record 30 victories last season and a trip to the Final Four. Reynolds has scored 1,620 points in three seasons at Villanova (15.3 ppg), which places him 15th on the school’s all-time list.

“Scottie took a very mature and intelligent approach to this process,” coach Jay Wright said in a statement. “He prepared himself thoroughly for each workout and absorbed everything he could from them. This was a tremendous learning experience for him and now he is focused on becoming a great senior leader in our program. He has great respect for the tradition here and I know he’ll embrace this role.”

Look for more on Reynolds' decision in tomorrow's Daily News.

Sixers president/general manager Ed Stefanski has reached out to Villanova coach Jay Wright to gauge his interest in the vacant Sixers head-coaching position.

A source close to Wright said the coach was flattered that Stefanski wanted to talk about it, but that he was not interested in being considered. It is known among those close to Wright that the coach might have some interest in coaching in the NBA at some point. That point has obviously not come.

Stefanski has already interviewed former Washington and Sacramento head coach Eddie Jordan, former Minnesota coach Dwane Casey, Los Angeles Lakers assistant Kurt Rambis and Boston Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau.

And here is a statement from the Sixers and Stefanski released this morning:

"In the past week, I have completed interviews with six candidates, all of whom are exceptionally qualified, have an impressive knowledge of the game and are very well-respected within the basketball community.

"I truly appreciate that they took time out of their schedules to meet with me regarding this position. Along with my staff, we will continue our due diligence – including further interviews, extensive research and in-depth background checks – before a final selection is made.

"As I have said before, the qualities I am looking for in our next head coach include excellent communication and leadership skills, will stress the importance of accountability while also developing our players and will be a strong tactician.

"As such, due to the number of candidates still involved in the process, there is no timetable set for when this very important decision regarding the future direction of the franchise will be made."

Four of the candidates were already known. Now, we know Jay Wright's name. According to a source, the sixth name is Chris Ford, a former Sixers coach and currently a pro personnel scout for the team.

Here is a very recent release from Villanova's media relations department:

In response to reports linking his name to the Philadelphia 76ers vacant head coaching position, Villanova’s Jay Wright said today that although he met with the team’s president and general manager Ed Stefanski last week, he requested that his name be removed from consideration for the position. 

“Last week, Ed reached out to me to see if I would be willing to speak to him about the Sixers’ coaching position,” stated Wright. “He is a longtime friend of mine whom I have great respect for and is someone I talk to often. We had a lively conversation about the vision Ed has for the Sixers organization. As a lifelong Sixers fan, I was honored to be part of the process.

“Following our meeting, I called Ed to thank him and requested that he remove me from consideration. I love Villanova and it is where I want to be. I am grateful to the Sixers for including me in the process. There is a lot to look forward to for Sixer fans like me with the young talent they have put together and the leadership of Ed Stefanski.”

The Sixers are not through with the interview process. A source close to the situation told the Daily News' Phil Jasner that the Sixers plan to contact fomer Dallas coach Avery Johnson and possibly current TNT analyst Doug Collins.

The source said there had initially been internal discussions about contacting San Antonio assistant Mike Budenholzer, who was a finalist for the Phoenix job that went to Terry Porter. It remains unclear whether the team will follow through. There is no apparent frontrunner at this point.

No current members of the coaching staff are under consideration, the source said. The new coach will have flexibility to hire assistants.

Poll: Would Jay Wright do a good job in the NBA? (923 votes)

LaSalle has received a commitment from Rutgers transfer Earl Pettis, a source told the Daily News.

Pettis, a 6-5 guard, started 20 games for the Scarlet Knights and averaged 4.6 points and 2.5 rebounds. He averaged 3.2 points and 2.0 rebounds, mostly off the bench, as a freshman.

Pettis, from Neumann-Goretti, was looking to return home and chose LaSalle over Temple and Rider.

Look for more in tomorrow's Daily News.

Temple guard Dionte Christmas has begun a 7,130-mile journey to visit eight NBA teams in preparation for next month’s draft.

Christmas, the only player to lead the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring three times, began his travels on Tuesday with a visit to the Toronto Raptors. Today, he worked out for the Washington Wizards. Tomorrow, he will participate in Temple’s commencement exercises at the Liacouras Center.

On Friday, he will work out for the Houston Rockets. If it’s Saturday, it must be the Oklahoma City Thunder. On Tuesday, he will visit the Detroit Pistons, followed by visits to San Antonio, Milwaukee and Chicago.

Saint Joseph's will face Boston College in the opening round of the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam tournament on Nov. 20 in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas.

The other first-round games that day feature Northern Iowa vs. DePaul, Tennessee vs. East Carolina and South Dakota State vs. Purdue.

The four-day tournament features four games each day with the first-round losers playing Nov. 21 and the first-round winners in action Nov. 22. The final day features games to determine the order of finish, capped by the title game.

Connecticut beat Wisconsin for last year's title.

There is a cabinet full of letters sitting in the dining room of Markus Kennedy’s Yeadon home. The letters come from every corner of the college basketball world, all trying to woo the 6-9, 250-pound power forward from Living Faith Christian Academy, of Pennsauken, N.J.

But it seems as if a simple acknowledgment last summer has gone a long way in landing Kennedy, a prized power forward, who will stay home and play for Villanova in 2010, sources told the Daily News. The Wildcats were the first to notice Kennedy and the first to offer him a scholarship.

Kennedy will have a news conference Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., at Living Faith, where he is expected to choose the Wildcats over West Virginia and Temple, sources said.

It was former Villanova assistant coach Pat Chambers who noticed Kennedy at a basketball tournament last summer. Kennedy, who has not played competitive basketball very long, though has quick hands and good feet for someone his size from years of swimming, was impressed by the Villanova program.

“What I think sold Markus, who is a great kid, is coach [Jay] Wright,” a source close to Kennedy said. “The family are good people, they’re local and they want to see Markus play as much as possible. With what Villanova runs, and the way Markus moves on the court, he’s a perfect fit for what they do. He’s a great addition.”

Kennedy averaged 22 points and 12 rebounds as a junior for Living Faith.

Wright already has a major class coming for 2009, including Roman Catholic’s Maalik Wayns, Dominic Cheek, of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) and 6-9 Mouphtaou Yarou, of Montrose Christian School, of Rockville, Md.
 

Daily News staff

North Carolina junior guard Wayne Ellington, of Episcopal Academy, will enter the NBA draft.

Ellington, the most outstanding player of the Final Four, announced his plans at a news conference this afternoon in Chapel Hill, along with junior point guard Ty Lawson. UNC won the national championship earlier this month in Detroit by beating Villanova in the national semifinals and Michigan State in the title game.

Last season, Ellington and Lawson declared for the draft before returning to school. Ellington averaged 16 points per game last season for the Tar Heels. Lawson averaged 17 points.

I’m not smart enough to know whether Scottie Reynolds is good enough to play in the NBA. Right now, or ever. I know what I see, and what I hear. And in my opinion, he’s not ready yet. And may never be. And that’s OK. Because in my book, he’s one of the favorite people I’ve ever had the privilege to cover. So I’m pulling for him, even though I’ll miss him dearly when he’s gone. Whether that’s now or after his senior season at Villanova.

What makes Scottie great is the way he handles himself. At least around us, the media. He’s always there. It doesn’t matter if he shot 9-for-10, or went 4-for-15. He’s always thoughtful, insightful, honest. We can’t ask for any more.

And as far as being a teammate, I don’t think Jay Wright could ask for anything more. Kelvin Sampson’s screw-up at Oklahoma was the best thing that could have ever happened to the Main Line. As a college player, you won’t find many better. No, he’s not first-team all-Big East. So what? The conference has some pretty good talent, last time I looked. He could play for my squad any time. I’m sure Jay Wright wouldn’t trade him for too many others. If he does come back, he’s going to score over 2,000 points. Easily. That’s not too shabby. Yet there are always going to be those who criticize him for what he supposedly isn’t. And that’s a shame.

I’m just not sure how well Scottie’s game translates to the next level. But I’ve been wrong before. And I hope I’m wrong again. Because that’s his dream, as it should be. You always want to see the good people succeed. So maybe he’ll make it there. Or maybe he’ll play overseas for the next decade or so, which isn’t a horrible option. I just wish him the best, because he deserves it.

From a selfish standpoint, I wouldn’t mind seeing him hang around for one more year. Because he’s fun to watch, and a pleasure to be around. And makes all our jobs easier. But it’s not about us. It’s about a young man who’s well grounded, and his future. He’s doing the right thing. He has nothing to lose by testing the waters. Maybe he’ll find out that the interest just isn’t there. Or he’ll be told what he needs to do to make it a year from now. Or maybe he’ll have the kind of workouts and interviews that will make one team, or even more than one, want him immediately. Because all it takes is one. And knowing Scottie, I wouldn’t put it past him to surprise us all.

If the worst thing that happens is he plays here as a senior, then it is indeed a win-win for him. And who would ever question the motivation. He’d be a fool not to take advantage of this opportunity. It could make him a lot of money. I simply hope he doesn’t wind up leaving his name in the pool, and then either doesn’t get drafted or ends up going to a franchise where the prospects just aren’t in his favor.

Whatever happens, now or 12 months down the road, I’ll always carry the picture of him taking a pass from Dante Cunningham near midcourt against Pitt in the East Regional final, dribbing four times and making that short jumper in traffic to send Villanova to the final weekend for the first time in a quarter-century.

I’m hardly alone.

So how exactly do you say thanks?
 

La Salle will be among eight teams in the Charleston Classic, Nov. 19-22 in Charleston, S.C.

The event, hosted by the Southern Conference, features eight teams competing in 12 games over three days.

Joining La Salle are Miami (Fla.), UNC Wilmington, Penn State, South Carolina, South Florida, Tulane and a team to be announced.

The eighth team, tournament parings and television coverage will be announced at a later date.