kemba walker

Former John Carrol star Immanuel Quickley lost his starting job seven games into his freshman year at Kentucky, but he's playing much better as he and the Wildcats enter the NCAA tournament Thursday in Jacksonville, Fla.

Targeting rising stars, Under Armour hopes its basketball footwear business can take flight in the United States and overseas. The company is sponsoring a national series of youth clinics this week with the NBA.

Gary Neal was traded by the Charlotte Hornets to the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday for veteran point guard Mo Williams.

Sam Cassell Jr., a former Maryland Terps commitment and West Baltimore native, announced his pledge to the Connecticut Huskies.

And it all started with a passing idea. Late last month, Mike Parker, brand director for Under Armour basketball, talked to Jennings about uniting the six NBA players signed with Under Armour for a three-day photo shoot in Baltimore.

Brandon Jennings (Milwaukee Bucks), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats), former Terps star Greivis Vasquez (New Orleans Hornets), DeAndre Jordan (Los Angeles Clippers) and Derrick Williams (Minnesota Timberwolves) will lead the UA pros team against a B'more Finest squad.

NBA players sponsored by Baltimore-based Under Armour will be sporting their professional jerseys in upcoming ad campaigns for Under Armour footwear, under a partnership between the company and the National Basketball Association.

The Sweet 16: Baltimore's best college basketball players

Under Armour, which has built itself from a basement startup to a billion-dollar enterprise, wasn't always able to afford the big endorsement deals of its more established competitors. So, the company instead turns to up and coming athletes to push its brand.

NBA Rookie and former University of Connecticut player Kemba Walker signs endorsement deal with Under Armour

The 2011 NCAA tournament officially tips off tonight with a pair of play-in games -- I'm still scratching my head at UAB and Clemson playing for a No. 12 seed -- but the bracket bonanza for most pools begins Thursday afternoon with the Round of 64. That means we have approximately 48 hours to sort through statistics, break down matchups and finalize our brackets.