Nerlens Noel will enter the NBA draft as the projected No. 1 overall pick. (Lexington Herald-Leader/Getty Images)

University of Kentucky freshman All-American Nerlens Noel will enter the NBA draft. It’s an unsurprising move, as Noel was a top recruit and led Kentucky through most of the season before injuring his knee. Even with his knee injury and no NCAA Tournament experience, Noel is projected as the number one overall pick.

Kentucky’s announcement included a statement from Noel:

“I have loved my time at Kentucky, but I feel that I’m ready to take the next step to the NBA,” Noel said. “I’ve learned so much here at UK and am thankful for Coach (John) Calipari, the staff and my teammates for all of their support. I especially appreciate the Big Blue Nation and all of the support, prayers and well-wishes I’ve received from them during my rehab and decision-making process. I’ll always be a Wildcat!”

Before his season-ending injury, Noel averaged 10.5 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He led the Southeastern Conference in rebounds and blocked shots. Even with an early exit from the season, Noel finished second in UK single-season history with 106 blocks.

MANNIX: Noel still in mix for top pick despite injury

Head coach John Calipari expressed his support of Noel’s decision. From the UK announcement:

“I support Nerlens’ decision to enter his name in the draft and am excited for him and his future,” Calipari said. “The hard work and will to win he showed on the floor this year and the dedication and attitude he has shown in his rehab will only be a reward for him and whatever team drafts him in June.”

Noel tore his ACL in February and had knee surgery in mid-March. His timetable for recovery was projected to be between six and eight months.

Complete list of NBA draft early entrants

Aaron and Andrew Harrison announced their commitment to Kentucky this afternoon.

Andrew and Aaron Harrison decide to go to Kentucky. #sorryterps—
David Aldridge (@daldridgetnt) October 04, 2012

The highly recruited twin brothers out of Texas had narrowed their list to Kentucky and Maryland.

Many had speculated that UnderArmour founder Kevin Plank’s ties to Maryland would help land the coveted duo for the 17-15 Terps.

The twins’ father, Aaron Harrison Sr., has been outspoken as to the type of coach he was not going to let his sons play for:

“For college coaches to come in and tell me, ‘I’m holier than thou,’ it doesn’t work like that,” Harrison Sr. said in a recent interview. “You are in that business because that business makes a lot of money. That means you are pushed by money..”

Kentucky’s John Calipari is comfortable Nerlens Noel will play in ’12-13.(AFP/Getty Images)

The USA TODAY reports Kentucky coach John Calipari feels “comfortable” that freshman center Nerlens Noel will be able to play for the Wildcats this season.

Noel’s academic and amateur standing have been the subjects of speculation this summer. After the NCAA cleared Noel’s reclassified standing, SI.com’s Pete Thamel reported that the NCAA was expanding its inquiry into his amateur status.

While Noel, a 6-11 center from Everett, Mass and USA TODAY’s high school player of the year, has remained silent since enrolling in August, Calipari spoke on his top recruit’s near future.

“We feel comfortable. “It’s a review that those kinds of players go through. When you reclassify, you’re going to have reviews. When you reclassify and some people are mad you reclassified, there are going to be some reviews. That’s how it is. We’re comfortable that he’s done everything he was supposed to do.”

Kentucky is hoping Noel, who picked the Wildcats over Georgetown and Syracuse, can provide a  dominating inside defensive presence similar to Anthony Davis, who became the No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

John Calipari, the coach of the Dominican Republic national team, cut Detroit Pistons forward Charlie Villanueva from the country’s roster because of weight issues.

“Charlie was not in good form when we saw him,” Calipari told Deportes en la Z, according to a report by The Detroit News‘ Vincent Goodwill. “He was overweight, and unfortunately, we could not slow down the entire team, and it was a decision taken collectively. Last year, Charlie behaved really well with us and his only problem was his weight.”

Villanueva appeared to defend himself from questions about his weight on Twitter. He tweeted a picture of what is apparently him on a scale that reads 243.5 pounds. That would be about 11 pounds more than his listed playing weight on the Detroit Pistons’ website

Last comment, How can you get cut from something, when you NEVER tried out? is that possible? i guess so, lol

—
Charlie Villanueva (@CV31) June 13, 2012

Villanueva played in only 13 games for the Pistons this season while dealing with an ankle injury.

The Dominican national team will play in an Olympic qualifier in July, Goodwill reports.

Knicks coach Mike Woodson is close to a new deal with the team. (Getty Images)

The New York Knicks will soon end weeks of speculation by signing interim coach Mike Woodson to a long-term deal, according to a report by Newsday’s Al Iannazzone.

The two sides are hoping to sign a new contract by the Memorial Day weekend, sources told the New York Post’s Marc Berman. The deal is expected to be for three seasons.

The Knicks went 18-6 to close the regular season after Woodson replaced Mike D’Antoni on March 14. The team bowed out to the Heat in the first round of the playoffs.

There had been speculation the team would try to lure Phil Jackson out of retirement or John Calipari away from Kentucky. Instead, the team will stick with Woodson, who coached the Atlanta Hawks for six seasons and has a career record of 224-292.

The University of Kentucky men’s basketball team has been invited to visit the White House this Friday, according to a tweet from head coach John Calipari.

We have been invited to meet President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday.

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 1, 2012

The amazing thing is the first thing that was said when the horn sounded in New Orleans was, “We’re going to the White House!”

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) May 1, 2012

The Wildcats defeated the Kansas Jayhawks 67-59 in the National Championship game in early April to earn their eighth overall NCAA title, and their first since 1998. The club finished with a 38-2 overall record, helping Calipari improve his record with Kentucky to 102-14.

Following the team’s victory, the entire starting lineup announced that they will be leaving school to enter the NBA draft.

University of Kentucky coach John Calipari said he is not going to coach in the NBA anytime soon, according to ESPN.

“Kentucky is the best job in basketball coaching,” Calipari said.  “Why would I leave? We just won the national title.  We’re chasing UCLA.”

Kentucky, capturing its eighth national men’s basketball title in the win over Kansas on Monday, is three titles short of UCLA’s all-time record of 11.

After taking UMass to final four in 1996, Calipari coached the New Jersey Nets for three seasons.  He then worked as an assistant with the Philadelphia 76ers for one season.

Even though the New York Knicks may have a potential opening with interim coach Mike Woodson stepping in for Mike D’Antoni, Calipari has said no NBA team has contacted him.

University of Kentucky basketball players Stacey Poole and Terrence Jones were involved in a late night car accident last night, according to a blog post by Kentucky head coach John Calipari.

“At approximately 2:30 a.m., Stacey Poole and Terrence Jones were involved in a car accident at the corner of Euclid Avenue and High Street, Calipari wrote. “They were struck by a vehicle driving on the wrong side of the road. The driver of the oncoming vehicle has been charged by police with driving under the influence.”

Neither of the players were injured in the accident.

Jones, a star sophomore for the team, left the scene of the incident shortly after the crash. According to Calipari, he did so out of fear of an altercation with the driver of the oncoming vehicle. He was later questioned by police about the accident.

Poole and the driver of their vehicle remained on the scene and answered questions to the reporting officers at the time.

Calipari says that as a result of the incident, the team will have a curfew for the remainder of the season.