Chandler Jones Drafted 21st By New England Patriots

   Chandler Jones has made 'Cuse nation proud yet again. The former Orange standout was drafted in the first round last night by the New England Patriots. The Patriots traded up to the number 21 pick and selected Jones. The Patriots were rumored by several media outlets to be interested in Jones after the Super Bowl.  Jones was limited to just 7 games last year, but still was able to record 4.5 sacks. Mel Kiper Jr. said that he would've likely been a top ten pick if he'd been healthy the entire year.
   Jones was extremely excited to get selected in the first round saying, "To hear Roger Goodell say my name, that's just a dream come true, I'm excited to be a Patriot." Jones may play both linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, as well as rush as a down lineman. For Bill Belichick and the Patriots to trade up for a player is quite significant. The Patriots are usually the team to move down in the draft in recent years.
    Chandler Jones did give credit to another Syracuse alum and former Orange star, his brother Arthur Jones. He said, "He was basically telling me the way I carry myself off the field, I'm not just representing myself, I'm representing the organization. I feel like having a brother in the NFL is a great advantage." Arthur   Jones currently plays for the Baltimore Ravens.
    Continue to follow Syracuse Pros for continuing coverage on Chandler Jones and the rest of the Syracuse players in the 2012 NFL draft.

Carmelo Records 2nd Career Triple Double In Win

The New York Knicks kept their Atlantic Division title chances alive with a 118-110 victory over the Boston Celtics. The Knicks were red hot from beyond the arc as they hit an NBA record 14 three-pointers made in the first half. They ended the game 19 of 32 from three-point distance. Steve Novak and J.R. Smith were the recipients of some great assists by Carmelo Anthony who ended the game with 10 assists and opened the way for several three's by Smith and Novak.

Carmelo Anthony, a former Syracuse player and national champion, had his second career triple-double in what former NBA player and ESPN analyst Tim Legler called, "the best game of his career". Anthony ended the game with 35 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for the playoff-bound Knicks. He was 13 of 24 shooting and played 40 minutes in the victory. The most impressive part of his game had to be the ability to find the open man after drawing multiple double teams. He left open shots for his teammates all night.

The victory was pivotal for the Knicks as they moved within 3 games of the division lead. A Celtics victory on Tuesday night would have clinched the division. The Knicks and Carmelo Anthony will take on the New Jersey Nets tonight at 7:30pm.

Fab Melo Enters NBA Draft

  Syracuse center Fab Melo has declared he will enter the NBA Draft. This past season, Melo earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year honors while being suspended twice.
  "Being able to play professional basketball has been my dream since I first starting playing this game and now I have the opportunity to accomplish that dream," Melo said in a statement released by the school.
  He averaged 7.8 points and 5.8 rebounds for Syracuse this past season and led the Big East in blocks per game.