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Duke’s Paolo Banchero is leaping to the NBA after one season as a candidate to be the No. 1 overall draft pick.

Banchero announced his decision in a social media video Wednesday, with the school saying the freshman planned to hire an agent.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play at Duke, and it has always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA,” Banchero said. “Duke has prepared me for that on and off the court. … It has been a great journey and I’m blessed to be a part of The Brotherhood for life.”

Banchero had been viewed as a likely one-and-done player even before he stepped foot on the Durham, North Carolina, campus from Seattle. Blessed with a strong frame, size and perimeter skills, Banchero went on to become a third-team All-America pick by the The Associated Press, and ranks No. 2 in ESPN’s latest list of draft prospects.

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Banchero recently was projected as the No. 3 overall pick in the latest mock draft by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

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The headliner on a talented recruiting class, Banchero averaged 17.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, cracking the 20-point mark 15 times while failing to reach double figures only twice in 39 games. He helped Duke reach now-retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski’s record 13th Final Four while also winning the program’s first outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title since 2006.

In a statement from the school, Krzyzewski said Banchero is “absolutely ready to attack the next phase” of his career.

“He is so dynamic, explosive and versatile – a model player in today’s NBA game. He did whatever we asked at a very high level,” Krzyzewski said. “I loved having him and his family in our program and wish him all the best as his professional career begins.”

Banchero also took advantage of opportunities for college athletes to cash in on their fame with endorsements, which began last summer with the NCAA permitted athletes to profit from use of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

In Banchero’s case, he worked with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for marketing deals and got deals that included becoming the first player featured in the latest NBA 2K video game as well as a basketball trading card from Panini as part of a multi-year deal.

Now he’s off to make even more money in the NBA.

Banchero is the second Duke player to announce an early jump to the NBA, following 7-foot-1 sophomore Mark Williams two days earlier.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Duke’s Paolo Banchero is leaping to the NBA after one season as a candidate to be the No. 1 overall draft pick.

Banchero announced his decision in a social media video Wednesday, with the school saying the freshman planned to hire an agent.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play at Duke, and it has always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA,” Banchero said. “Duke has prepared me for that on and off the court. … It has been a great journey and I’m blessed to be a part of The Brotherhood for life.”

Banchero had been viewed as a likely one-and-done player even before he stepped foot on the Durham, North Carolina, campus from Seattle. Blessed with a strong frame, size and perimeter skills, Banchero went on to become a third-team All-America pick by the The Associated Press, and ranks No. 2 in ESPN’s latest list of draft prospects.

The 6-foot-10, 250-pound Banchero recently was projected as the No. 3 overall pick in the latest mock draft by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony.

1 Related

The headliner on a talented recruiting class, Banchero averaged 17.2 points and 7.8 rebounds, cracking the 20-point mark 15 times while failing to reach double figures only twice in 39 games. He helped Duke reach now-retired Hall of Famer Mike Krzyzewski’s record 13th Final Four while also winning the program’s first outright Atlantic Coast Conference regular-season title since 2006.

In a statement from the school, Krzyzewski said Banchero is “absolutely ready to attack the next phase” of his career.

“He is so dynamic, explosive and versatile – a model player in today’s NBA game. He did whatever we asked at a very high level,” Krzyzewski said. “I loved having him and his family in our program and wish him all the best as his professional career begins.”

Banchero also took advantage of opportunities for college athletes to cash in on their fame with endorsements, which began last summer with the NCAA permitted athletes to profit from use of their name, image and likeness (NIL).

In Banchero’s case, he worked with Creative Artists Agency (CAA) for marketing deals and got deals that included becoming the first player featured in the latest NBA 2K video game as well as a basketball trading card from Panini as part of a multi-year deal.

Now he’s off to make even more money in the NBA.

Banchero is the second Duke player to announce an early jump to the NBA, following 7-foot-1 sophomore Mark Williams two days earlier.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Sunday night, the Chicago Bulls looked like they were going to get trounced by the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their first round playoff matchup.

With the Bucks storming out to a 16-point lead early on and Giannis Antetokounmpo stacking his box score in a hurry, things looked bleak. However, the Bulls’ defense stepped up and allowed them to get back in the game.

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Don’t worry. We are fully aware that the 2022 MLB season started less than two weeks ago. But here in Chicago, the excitement for the return of baseball is always doubled with our two hometown teams. These teams are exactly who we’re here to talk about, and more specifically, which players from the Cubs and Sox roster we think might have a shot at a 2022 MLB All-Star selection. The 2022 MLB All-Star game won’t take place until July 19th, which is about three months away. A lot can happen between now and then. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t speculate who will be selected this season, even though we’re barely 10 games through it.

So, without wasting anymore time, let’s dive right into our Cubs and White Sox MLB All-Star predictions for 2022!

Liam Hendriks

Up first is two-time MLB All-Star and relief pitcher for the White Sox, Liam Hendriks. Hendriks stats on paper this early in the season might not look the best. Opposing batters are hitting .423 off of him and through five appearances he’s posted a 5.40 ERA. However, despite the struggles, he’s still at 4 saves out of the 5 games played.

The slow start to the season is nothing new for Hendriks, and he and the White Sox pitching coaches think that he’s really close to turning things around. In our minds, the sooner they’re right about that, the better. Once Hendriks is back to his true self, we have no question that the two-time defending Relief Pitcher of the Year will find himself back in the MLB All-Star Game.

Seiya Suzuki

This next name is a newcomer to the MLB, but he’s certainly not playing like one to start the season. Our next 2022 MLB All-Star prediction is 27-year old outfielder, Seiya Suzuki of the Chicago Cubs. Up until this past offseason, Suzuki competed in professional baseball internationally as a player for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan. His signing stirred up plenty of excitement, as Suzuki inked the fifth largest contract in Cubs history with a five-year deal. And now that he’s seeing some regular season action, we’re starting to think it was worth it. Through 11 Cubs games, Suzuki has a whopping .414 batting average, and he even went on a 9 game hitting streak that ended last night against the Rays. If he can keep up half that pace by the time June and July roll around, we’ll be shocked if his name isn’t on the NL All-Star roster list.

Dylan Cease

The third of our 2022 MLB All-Star predictions is another one of our favorite Southside pitchers: Dylan Cease!

In his now four year career, Cease has yet to make an MLB All-Star game appearance. But, he’s shown plenty of promise, and this season might just be the year he breaks through. Through 2 starts, Cease has pitched 10.2 innings, with a video game-esque stat line of 16 strikeouts and a 1.69 ERA through both games. He’s been on fire every second he’s on the mound in 2022. Plus, the White Sox coaching staff plans to keep him firing on all cylinders as they keep a close eye on his pitch count this early in the year. As Cease works his arm into, each successful outing will only boost his confidence going forward. And with his performance so far, there’s no reason he won’t find himself making his first MLB All-Star appearance.

Tim Anderson

Last, but certainly not least, is everyone’s favorite shortstop, Mr. TA7. We have every bit of confidence that this MLB All-Star prediction comes through in 2022. Anderson found himself sneaking into last year’s All-Star game due to Carlos Correa opting not to play. But this year, we think he has a shot at making it without the gimmicks. With the way Tim Anderson is playing through the first nine games of the White Sox season, he certainly has a shot. Anderson actually sat out the first two games of this year due to a lingering suspension from last season that was the result of making contact with an umpire.

If he can keep his base-running clean, his fielding sharp, and his offensive output solid, then TA7 might just find himself in back-to-back MLB All-Star Games. Only time will tell if our MLB All-Star predictions come true, and we’ll be talking about all the Chicago Cubs and White Sox action as it unfolds in 2022!

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Has life been stressing you out lately? Maybe someone spilled your beer at a Cubs game last week or you got stuck traffic on the Kennedy Expressway (the woooorst). Instead of pulling your hair out, consider sipping a CBD infused bevvie! CBD doesn’t contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient found in weed that gets you high. So you can chug it anytime, anywhere to take the edge off. Here are a few places around Chicago where you can grab CBD drinks! Also, don’t forget to grab your munchies!

2497 N Milwaukee Ave A. Chicago, IL 60647

This Logan Square business was founded on a desire to help improve lives with botanic alternatives to pills, alcohol, and other substances. Some of their beloved beverages include Living Delta 8 Mango Lemonade and Arnie Palmer – each with a whopping 100 MG of CBD.

Multiple locations

Pop into this aesthetically pleasing store for 12 oz cans of Recess Mood. You can’t go wrong with their Strawberry Rose or Black Cherry flavors (yum!). Recess nails it by infusing their refreshing bubbly water with strong compounds that can help your mind and body unwind.

3041 Hartzell St. Evanston, IL 60201

Feeling anxious or lacking energy? Offset the crappy parts of your day with calm, clean energy from Cruise Beverage. From Melon Mango to Peaceful Pear, their line of nitro-infused craft drinks will get you to cloud nine without the side effects of alcohol or sugar. Bonus: they’re vegan and keto friendly.

1301 W Washington Blvd. Chicago, IL 60607

A West Loop business ran by two Black women who have fought for their place in the legal cannabis industry? We’re here for it. At Canna Cafe, all drinks are mixed to perfection with a healthy dose of Delta (100 MG). Favorites include OG Cali Kush Juice, Blue Magic Smoothie, and the Hazy Purp Juice Drink.

7112 S Yates Blvd #71st. Chicago, IL 60649

This South Shore location was born out of a need for something different. Enter: CBD. As the first Black Owned dispensary-cafe in Chicago, Mary Jane provides a platform to boost the local economy. Try one of their popular Elixir of Life drinks – flavors include Turmeric Twist, Hibiscus Heaven, and Cinnamon-aide. 

2015 W Roscoe St. Chicago, IL 60618

CBD for people and pets? Yes, please! Located in the heart of Roscoe Village, Cubbinton’s is a quaint store with quality products. Check out their Infused Organic Black Tea or Green Tea for a little drink of relaxation. Each teabag contains 10mg CBD, enough to calm the nerves and go full chill mode.

Featured Image Credit: Foxtrot

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Doesn’t spring just make you want to do good and set a positive tone for the rest of the year? Well, it has that effect on us. And we know the world is going through a rough period right now. We’ve talked about businesses raising funds for Ukraine a while back, but now, we want to bring you to businesses fighting to make our local communities better. Check out these spring fundraisers ran by our favorite spots the next time you’re in the mood to dine out. Food tastes better when you do good.

1955 W. Addison St. Chicago, IL 60613

658 N. Ashland Ave. Chicago, IL 60622

WHEN: Month of April

In addition to Bartoli’s anniversary celebration this month, Bartoli’s will also donate a portion of proceeds from all deep dish pizzas sold for the month of April to West Town Feeds. West Town Feeds is a community-based program with a daily goal of providing 50 to 100 hot meals to neighbors experiencing homelessness.

540 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

WHEN: Friday, April 22

The cocktail bar located within the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile, will host a Candlelight Happy Hour in honor of Earth Day on Friday, April 22 from 3 to 7 p.m. In addition to happy hour specials, guests may enjoy live music, Reviver’s Beyond Burger, and its seasonal Spring Equinox cocktail. 10% of all sales from the happy hour will be directly donated to FamilyFarmed, a non-profit organization committed to expanding the production, marketing, and distribution of locally grown and responsibly produced food, in order to enhance the social, economic, and environmental health of our communities.

WHEN: Thursday, April 21

The Illinois Restaurant Association will host the 43rd annual Chef’s Table gala presented by Sysco and 8 Hospitality on Thursday, April 21, 2022 from 6 – 10 pm at Theater on the Lake (2401 N Lake Shore Dr.).  The annual celebration honors the foodservice industry while raising funds that benefit the IRA Educational Foundation for scholarships and learning opportunities for deserving students.  Themed “All Around Chicago,” this year’s gala will honor the vibrant dining scene of Chicago’s neighborhoods with tasting stations from over 25 restaurants, beverages, dancing, and a silent auction.

954 W Fulton Market St, Chicago, IL 60607

WHEN: Month of May

Marvin’s collaborative Sandwich Series has so far been an overwhelming hit, with Chef Mitch Cavanah bringing the visions of some of his most revered local counterparts to life on his menu each month. This May, Chef Mitch is partnering with Top Chef winner Joe Flamm of Rose Mary, a Fulton Market destination restaurant drawing inspiration from Croatia and the Adriatic. Proceeds from the $16 Rose Mary sandwich this May will go to Lakeview Pantry, a Chicago food pantry since 1970.

Featured Image Credit: Reviver

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Jump ahead: Game of the night | Picks and props | Analytics edge

All odds are provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

What you need to know for Wednesday’s playoff games

Rousing Rivalry: Can Kevin Durant surpass his point prop of 29.5 against a stingy Celtics defense? After all, he has topped this number just once in three meetings with Boston during the regular season. Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Smart could be a smart bet for two turnovers created after producing at least two stocks in four of five meetings with Brooklyn this season. The Celtics are 24-14 against the spread when playing a team with a winning record this season, including Sunday’s thrilling last-second win. The Nets, meanwhile, are 14-6 ATS when seeking to avenge a loss to an opponent on the road.

Slick Nic: While Game 1 of the Nets-Celtics series was an instant classic with star players making play after play, Nic Claxton was also a solid contributor. Nothing he does is flashy, but on his 23rd birthday, he converted 6 of 8 shots and pulled down a team-best eight rebounds in 31 minutes. Claxton’s minutes count is encouraging against a Celtics defense without Robert Williams III. Efficiency is something we can count on for Claxton as he has made 51 of 65 shots (78.5%) over the past month. It’s not exciting, but Claxton is a live DFS play and worth a look in the various prop markets in this spot.

Bank On Boucher: With Scottie Barnes currently questionable, Chris Boucher should see an increase in usage. He put up 17 points and 8 rebounds (with a pair of blocks) in 30 minutes Monday, and a similar stat line is expected Wednesday night. He played 30 minutes 14 times during the regular season and averaged 17.2 PPG with 10.6 RPG over that span. His double-double prop is worth a look once Barnes’ status is official. Boucher’s expanded role also looks good for those playing the three-game DFS slate as well.

Collaborative Creation: With Lonzo Ball out for the season, the Bulls still don’t have a traditional creator in their rotation. Distribution duties tend to shift between several key Chicago contributors. In Game 1 against the Bucks, the Bulls saw four players post at least 10 potential assists. DeMar DeRozan led the pack with 14 potential assists in Sunday’s loss to Milwaukee. DeRozan’s assist prop currently sits at 5.5, evidence there is untapped upside in his betting prop market.

— Jim McCormick and Kyle Soppe

Game of the night

Brooklyn Nets at Boston Celtics
7 p.m. ET, Barclays Center, Brooklyn

Line: Celtics (-3.5)
Money line: Celtics (-160), Nets (+140)
Total: 226 points
BPI Projected Total: 219.4 points
BPI Win%: Celtics (87.4%)

Key players ruled out: Ben Simmons

Best bet: Nets ML (+140). Kevin Durant is better than how he played Sunday, and the Nets still scored 114 points on the best defense in the league, despite his struggles. However, Brooklyn’s supporting cast must step up after Seth Curry, Patty Mills and Bruce Brown were relatively ineffective in Game 1. Kyrie Irving feeds off the Boston crowd and without Robert Williams III on the court, he will continue to stay hot. The Nets’ defense has improved over the past month, holding the C’s to just 19 points in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. It is not comparable to the Celtics? Absolutely not, but I still like Brooklyn to win Game 2 outright. — Erin Dolan

play0:28

Best bet: Durant over 29.5 points. Durant had one of his worst scoring games of the season in Game 1, requiring 24 field goal attempts to score 23 points and losing six turnovers. While the Celtics have an excellent defense, Durant was visibly out of rhythm, missing a lot of shots that he normally makes. He shot 50% or better from the floor in his two games against the Celtics during the regular season, and dropped 37 points on 21 shots in his last regular-season outing. I fully expect a huge bounce-back game from Durant, who knows the Nets need this game to have a chance to win the series. — Andre Snellings

Best bet: Durant over 29.5 points. Durant has averaged nearly 39 points in his first game following a loss. The only exception was an 11-point performance in 2019 when he ruptured an Achilles. All of the pressure is on Durant tonight. He knows that he must play better in Game 2 if the Nets want to win the series. — Eric Moody

Breaking down the rest of the slate

Chicago Bulls at Milwaukee Bucks
9:30 p.m. ET, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee

Line: Bucks (-10)
Money line: Bucks (-550), Bulls (+400)
Total: 225 points
BPI Projected Total: 221.2 points
BPI Win%: Bucks (88.5%)

Key players ruled out: none

Best bet: Bucks (-10). The Bucks are 5-0 against the Bulls this season and won their last two regular-season matchups by a combined 49 points, and dominated the early part of Game 1 before the Bulls were able to fight their way back in the second half. The Bucks scored 34 points in the first quarter of Game 1, then managed only 59 points over the next three quarters, which is extremely out of character for a Bucks team that was third in the NBA with 115.5 points scored per game. Look for them to revert to their norm and put a big number on the board Wednesday. — Snellings

Best bet: Bulls (+10). The Bulls’ shooting woes were well documented in Game 1. It’s easy to assume Chicago had problems with Milwaukee’s defense, but it’s also worth noting that the Bucks’ defensive philosophy is to take away the inside and force opponents to shoot jumpers. The Bulls should shoot better and cover the spread in Game 2. — Moody

Best bet: DeMar DeRozan over 27.5 points. DeRozan made only six out of 25 shots from the field Sunday due to the Bucks’ wings harassing him. Milwaukee prefers opponents to shoot jumpers, and after the game DeRozan vowed he would never have a shooting night like that again. I believe him. During the regular season, DeRozan averaged 28 PPG and shot 50.2% from the field, so it’s safe to expect a bounce-back performance.

Philadelphia 76ers at Toronto Raptors
8 p.m. ET, Scotiabank Arena, Toronto

Line: 76ers (-1.5)
Money line: 76ers (-125), Raptors (+105)
Total: 216.5 points
BPI Projected Total: 218.9 points
BPI Win%: Raptors (60.2%)

Key players ruled out: Matisse Thybulle

Questionable: Gary Trent Jr., Scottie Barnes

Best bet: 76ers -1.5. The Raptors have shown they have no way of stopping Joel Embiid. This trend should continue for the 76ers on the road as well. The 76ers were a stronger team on the road than at home all season, finishing with a 27-14 road record and 24-17 home record. The spread for this game is too small, especially with Philadelphia on a roll. — Moody

Analytics edge

BPI highest projected totals

1. Milwaukee Bucks (117.7 points)
2. Boston Celtics (116.0 points)
3. Toronto Raptors (111.2 points)

BPI lowest projected totals

1. Brooklyn Nets (103.3 points)
2. Chicago Bulls (104.3 points)
3. Philadelphia 76ers (108.0 points)

BPI top probability to win (straight up)

1. Milwaukee Bucks (88.2%)
2. Boston Celtics (87.4%)
3. Toronto Raptors (61.2%)

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Illinois junior Kofi Cockburn will enter the 2022 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility.

“I’m closing one of the most amazing chapters of my life,” Cockburn told ESPN on Wednesday. “I’m proud of what we accomplished in college, but I am not sure it can get much better than that. It’s a scary challenge now and I’m excited to rise to the occasion and try and prove people wrong.

“Thinking back to where I was three years ago when I entered college — people would be amazed to see the progress I made in becoming a two-time All-American. I’m planning on doing the same exact thing in my professional career: pushing my game to new heights.”

Cockburn already entered the NBA draft twice in 2020 and 2021 and cannot withdraw his name from consideration for a third time, according to league rules, making him ineligible to return to college basketball.

“I’m 100% in now,” Cockburn said. “I’m not going back to college. I’m signing with agent Todd Ramasar. I’ve tested the waters enough, I’m 100% dedicated to going all the way.”

Cockburn, a consensus first-team All-American, was the only player in college basketball to average over 20 points and 10 rebounds per game this past season. He led Illinois to a 23-10 record and a Big Ten championship, which the Fighting Illini shared with Wisconsin. It was the first time Illinois won a regular-season title since 2005.

“If you watched us play, we had a lot of ups and downs,” Cockburn said. “A lot of injuries, COVID, players coming in and out — it was tough. We had to adjust. People are going to be wondering years from now what it was like to play college basketball during a pandemic.

“It was hard to be an All-American two years in a row. We proved to be winners regardless. We had the most wins in the last three years in the Big Ten of any team. People will remember that forever. NBA teams know I’m a winner now. I love to have fun, but I’m a competitor. It wasn’t about my individual goals. Winning was always the priority. That speaks for itself.”

A 7-foot-1 big man born in Kingston, Jamaica, Cockburn was named first-team All-Big Ten for the second straight season. He was a finalist for several player of the year awards, including the Wooden and Naismith as well as the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Award, presented to the nation’s best center.

“My dream is to be one of the best players in the NBA, especially from Jamaica,” Cockburn said. “I’m playing for something bigger than myself. This is for my country, my people.”

Cockburn, the No. 89 prospect in the ESPN 100, established himself as one of the most physically imposing players in the college game the past three years, with his 7-foot-4 wingspan, 9-foot-3 standing reach and 285-pound frame. His 341 points scored with his back to the basket ranked second in college basketball, according to Synergy Sports Technology.

“I know I’ll have to be a different play in the NBA than I was in college,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunity. It won’t be about being a low-post scorer against double teams. I’m actually excited about not seeing double teams anymore. From now on it’s about my dedication to being the most fit athlete possible. I look around the league and I’m inspired by the level of physicality and conditioning. That’s where I need to get. There’s no fat on my body, but I can lean out and get faster, quicker, more athletic.

“The NBA values players like Steven Adams and Jonas Valanciunas — guys who set great screens, who know the pick and roll game, how to slip and seal, how to be a physical defender and rebounder who blocks shots. My size can be a major advantage in the NBA. I don’t need the ball to be happy.”

With Cockburn off to the pro ranks, Illinois will need to replace possibly five of its top seven scorers, with Alfonso Plummer, Trent Frazier and Da’Monte Williams all out of eligibility after five years in college. Sophomore Andre Curbelo elected to transfer to St. John’s, while senior Jacob Grandison is currently undecided about returning for his fifth season of eligibility.

Illinois is bringing in a strong recruiting class with three top-100 prospects in Skyy Clark, Ty Rodgers and Jayden Epps, and is expected to be aggressive pursuing veterans in the transfer portal, especially in the frontcourt. Sophomore power forward Coleman Hawkins looks poised for a breakout season, and freshman small forward RJ Melendez was highly regarded coming into college.

The NBA draft combine will be May 16-22 in Chicago, and the draft will be June 23 in Brooklyn, New York.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service utilized by NBA, NCAA and International teams.

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