THREE-HEADED SU MONSTER WEIGHING PRO DRAFT STOCK

By Zach Smart

The Syracuse basketball nation took a strong blow recently, as news that Jonny Flynn, Paul Harris, and Eric "Tivo Devo" Devendorf would declare for the upcoming NBA draft spread like wildfire.

The three-headed monster "must submit their intentions in writing to the NBA office, which must receive their notices by 11:59 p.m. on April 26. NBA personnel will comb through the entries and announce within a few days a list that contains the names of the legitimate players who have submitted applications," according to Tim Frank, the NBA's vice president of basketball communications.

Flynn watched his NBA draft stock soar while he steered the big Orange ship into the Big East championship title game. He also helped the Orange to a berth in the NCAA tournament. The Orange suffered a knockout at the hands of projected No.1 pick Blake Griffin and Oklahoma during the sweet 16.

Flynn was an integral part of Syracuse's unpredictable run to the Big East championship game. His ability to scrape opponents off the dribble, lose defenders in traffic and take the ball to the tin at a relentless pace his vaulted him into a different zip code.

He was playing like there's no tomorrow, emerging into the little engine that could and leaving jaws littered all over the Madison Square Garden floor.

Read More...Click 'Read More' Below!!!


Flynn dropped a robust 34 points, handed out 12 assists and never stopped curling to the cup during the Orange's thrilling, 6 OT signature victory over a Final Four club in UConn.

Flynn penetrated the teeth of the UConn defense, absorbing fouls, and enough hard contact to make the pint-size point guard look like a human pinball.

In the end of the dramatic, historic, epic 3-hour and 42+ minute game, the neophyte from Niagara Falls, N.Y. was the last man standing.

Harris, who came to Syracuse as a manchild recruit out of Notre Dame Prep (via Niagara Falls), averaged 12 points and eight boards. Harris, who has two sons, was feast or famine this season. He lit up UConn for 29 points in the aforementioned 6 OT thriller at Madison Square Garden, but got his masters degree in blowing layups that night--a la Charles Smith in the 1994 Knicks/Bulls series.

Devendorf gave an efficient account of himself this season, springing back from injury as a better player. The kid mired in legal troubles early on was more of a problem on the basketball court, scorching the nets during the Big East tournament (with impressive range and accuracy) and getting free for fast break lay-ins.

Despite rumors that "Devo" was staying put (Eric's father, Curt, recently told the Syracuse Post-Standard that his son "loves Syracuse and would return for his senior season), the well-tatted guard who averaged 15.7 points and three dimes will weigh his professional stock.

The loss of Flynn would be a major gap in the backcourt. Brandon Triche, a Syracuse-bound guard who starred for Jamesville-DeWitt high school this season, is hoping Flynn changes his mind.

Triche, who averaged 22.3 points, 6.7 assists, and 6.2 boards his senior year, played against Flynn (then a senior at Niagara Falls HS) his sophomore year.

In the eyeball-to-eyeball duel, Flynn got the better of his younger counterpart. He outscored him 33-31 and defeated J-D, 81-75.

"He's one of the best point guards in the country and I want to be a point guard so I think he can really help me out," Triche told the Daily Orange of the encounter.

"Just practicing with him every day and watching him play every day would really help me out."