The Evening News: Wiggins chooses Kansas; Pierce thinks his days in Boston are over; Shumpert questionable for Game 4

Hello and welcome to the Evening News.

As the playoffs continue, we’ll keep you updated every evening. What’s happening today?

Here’s the latest news from around the league:

Andrew Wiggins chooses Kansas

On Tuesday, Andrew Wiggins, the nation’s top recruit, announced that he will be playing for the Kansas Jayhawks next season.

Wiggins is widely considered to be the best high school recruit since LeBron James and was also considering Kentucky, North Carolina, and Florida State. 

Wiggins, the Naismith High School player of the year, is the best Canadian recruit ever and averaged 23.6 points per game, 11.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists for Huntington Prep in West Virginia this past season.

For months, Florida State had appeared to be the favorites for Wiggins as both of his parents were star athletes in Tallahassee in the 1980s. His mother became an olympic track star for Canada and his father was a first round selection by the Indiana Pacers in 1983.

Wiggins is a native of Toronto and has earned the nickname of “Maple Jordan” for his electrifying highlight reel.

With Wiggins, Bill Self and the Jayhawks now have a legitimate title-contending roster despite losing Ben McLemore and Jeff Whithey from last year’s team.

Self said he was pleasantly surprised by Wiggins’ announcement because “we never had an idea which way he was leading.

“Andrew did this the exact way he said he was going to,” Self said in a news release. “He played his cards very close to his vest as did his mother and father. I knew we were one of four. The competition was very stiff and we were fortunate that we were able to ink him today. He’s a tremendous talent and a terrific kid.”

Pierce doubtful of future in Boston

According to Celtics sideline reporter Greg Dickerson of CSNNE.com, Paul Pierce thinks his days in Boston are over: 

“And I know that the company that Paul Pierce hangs around in, they do not believe – and I don’t think Paul Pierce believes – that he is going to be brought back next year at $15 million. I know for a fact that people around Paul Pierce have pretty much resigned themselves to the fact that he’s played his final game in a Boston Celtics uniform. Again, Paul wants to stay – obviously for $15 million, but he wants to finish his career in a Celtics uniform.”

If Pierce does not return, Kevin Garnett has said that he won’t want to return either.

“If Paul’s gone, I think without a doubt Kevin Garnett is gone – either by retirement or he finally decides to waive his no-trade clause, and the Celtics maybe work something out with a (Los Angeles Clippers) team,” said Dickerson. “But the list is real short; the teams that Kevin Garnett would go to, there might be two of them on it, and they both might be the Clippers and (Los Angeles) Lakers.”

Shumpert still questionable for Game 4

According to Al Iannazzone of Newsday, the Knicks are still unsure of Iman Shumpert’s status in tonight’s critical Game 4 against the Pacers.

The Knicks are flying in their orthopedic surgeon from New York to examine Shumpert’s knee in Indianapolis. He sustained the injury in Game 3 after falling twice.

“There’s always concern,” Mike Woodson said. “He took a bad spill and he hasn’t been able to do nothing the last two days, so sure there’s concern.”