By Adam Zagoria on August 31, 2008, 3:28PM
For those keeping track of Dominic Cheek’s every movement, the St. Anthony senior spent last weekend on an unofficial visit to Villanova.
Cheek has listed Villanova among his favorites, along with Wake Forest, Kansas, Memphis, Tennessee, Rutgers, Seton Hall and, most recently, Indiana because of Tom Crean’s hiring of former St. Anthony star Roshown McLeod, the brother of St. Anthony guard Devon Mcleod.
Last month Cheek told me: “Villanova (is) recruiting me the hardest. (Villanova) showing me the most love. They stuck with me since Day One.”
By Adam Zagoria on August 31, 2008, 11:10AM
Sylven Landesberg, a Virginia freshman from Queens Holy Cross who spurned St. John’s last year, has lifted the Cavaliers to two exhibition victories during the team’s trip to Montreal.
Landesberg scored 18 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as five Cavaliers scored in double figures in a 107-60 rout of St. Lawrence College in the morning. Then, Landesberg had 16 points and 10 boards in Virginia’s 85-70 win over Concordia University in the afternoon.
“Overall, I think we did a little bit more what I wanted us to do, which is push the basketball and defend with some pressure,” Virginia coach Dave Leitao said of the first game. “Calvin (Baker) did a good job and obviously Sylven, with 18 points and 13 rebounds, showed his versatility and that told me he’s a basketball player. He’s got to continue to use this as an opportunity to get better.” (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on August 31, 2008, 11:00AM
Good read in today’s Daily News on Lincoln’s Lance Stephenson, including his comments about getting cut from the USA U18 National Team earlier this summer.
“When I got cut, I was just told I wasn’t what they were looking for, I wasn’t a good fit,” Stephenson says. “But to find out that they thought I’m a selfish player . . . I don’t think I’m a selfish player. I don’t think I have to score to win the game. I think I worked hard. I tried my best to make the team. I think I wasn’t (head coach Bob McKillop’s) fit. I take it as a learning experience and try to get better.”
Former ABCD Camp founder Sonny Vaccaro thought the selection of Stephenson wasn’t right in the first place. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on August 31, 2008, 10:51AM
If it seems that every day brings a Tobias Harris update, well, that’s because it does.
The 6-foot-8 Harris is at the Syracuse Elite Camp this weekend after seeing Maryland, Georgetown and Virginia last week.
“Tobias had a excellent meeting with the Coaching staff,” his father, Torrel, wrote in an email. “Tobias was impressed that the business program is ranked No. 20 in the country. He wants to major in Business. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on August 30, 2008, 4:04PM
PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Kordell Young almost never suited up for the Rutgers football team.As a junior at West Deptford (N.J.) High School, he initially committed to the University of Virginia because that school had made him an offer and Rutgers had not.
“I was committed to Virginia for like six months my junior year going into my senior year,” the 5-foot-9, 185-pound sophomore running back said. “After I took my official visit there, I didn’t feel a family-type environment. I felt like everybody there was all about themselves and all the players were out to get one another. They just weren’t a team to me. I heard stories from some of them that they thought they were cool, but it wasn’t for me.
Read the full story here.
By Adam Zagoria on August 29, 2008, 7:36PM
Herb Pope is returning to New Mexico State, ending his flirtation with transferring to Seton Hall, according to Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com. Parrish cites no quotes but says he spoke with NMSU head coach Marvin Menzies, who told him Pope was returning.
Seton Hall had hoped to land the 6-foot-8 Pope, a talented but troubled big man, to help a frontcourt badly in need of a capable big man.
Meantime, Rivals reports that John Wall, the No. 1 prospect in the nation, will visit Memphis Sept. 12, Kansas Sept. 19 and Oregon Oct. 3. NC State, Baylor and Oklahoma State are also in the mix. Wall is also slated for a Sept. 9 home visit with Memphis head coach John Calipari. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on August 29, 2008, 12:34PM
Givon Crump will visit Oregon State, Michigan and Rutgers, although no dates have yet been set.
Crump is a 6-foot-6, 210-pound small forward ranked No. 26 among small forwards in the Class of 2009.
“Currently there is no leader but Oregon State seems to be mentioned the most, probably because he’s intrigued by the Pac 10, (Barack) Obama’s brother-in-law, Coach (Craig) Robinson, and the curiosity of the school,” said Crump’s travel coach, Marcus Matthews. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on August 29, 2008, 9:42AM
St. Anthony coach Bob Hurley says Indiana is now in the picture with Dominic Cheek because of the hiring of former Friars star Roshown McLeod, the older brother of current St. Anthony guard Devon McLeod.
“Indiana might move into the group now because of Roshown McLeod working there at Indiana,” Hurley said. “He knows Dominic real well. They might potentially get a visit.”
He added that McLeod’s hiring at Indiana will help that school recruit at St. Anthony. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on August 29, 2008, 9:22AM
Several local players are headed to Syracuse this weekend for Jim Boeheim’s Elite Camp.
Tobias Harris, a 6-foot-8 combo forward from Long Island, will hit Syracuse after visiting Maryland, Georgetown and Virginia this week. After Syracuse, he goes to the Kentucky-Louisville football game on Sunday.
Torrel Harris, Tobias’ father, also said the family will announce by Tuesday whether Tobias will transfer to Long Island Lutheran from Half Hollow Hills West. (more…)
By Adam Zagoria on August 29, 2008, 9:05AM
Former Rutgers star Essence Carson of Paterson, N.J. scored a career-high 19 points Thursday but the Liberty lost to the Chicago Sky, 69-60.
I’m doing a story for next week on Carson and former RU teammate Matee Ajavon of the Houston Comets and I found it interesting that both players will be going overseas after the WNBA season ends. (more…)
