Recruiting Notes: Lance, Dexter, Tristan; Nike Hoop Summit Roster Announced | Zagsblog
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Friday / March 29.
  • Recruiting Notes: Lance, Dexter, Tristan; Nike Hoop Summit Roster Announced

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    Lance Stephenson told Jerry Meyer of Rivals that he would like to visit UCLA and Wake Forest before making a final decision, but no visit dates have been set.

    The 6-foot-5 Stephenson is practicing this week with the Lincoln Railsplitters and will head to Kansas this weekend for an official visit that will include watching Saturday’s game against Nebraska.

    Stephenson, who on Sunday night became New York State’s all-time leading scorer when Lincoln won its fifth straight Brooklyn Borough championship, is also considering Maryland, St. John’s and USC, and recently took an official to Maryland.

    Stephenson recently told me he had no immediate plans to visit any other schools.

    “As of right now, no,” he said. “The list that I gave everybody, I’ll make sure I go to all of them. But right now I’m just worrying about Kansas and my season.”

    [Speaking of Maryland, Terps signees James Padgett and and Jordan Williams will participate in the Charm City Challenge at the Towson Center in Baltimore April 5. Lincoln coach Dwayne “Tiny” Morton will coach the U.S. team.]

    Stephenson said he might declare his college choice after the PSAL championship at Madison Square Garden March 21. Obviously, if he were to visit Wake and/or UCLA after the season, he could not announce on that date.

    ***In other Stephenson news, the  organizers of the Senior Showcase April 18 in Orlando have reached out to Lance to see if would like to play in the event.

    St. Patrick senior guard Dexter Strickland, who is headed to North Carolina, verbally committed to play in it.

    Organizers are also seeking to get Villanova-bound guard Maalik Wayans.

    MCDONALD’S ANNOUNCEMENTS

    Both Stephenson and Strickland were shut out of the Jordan Brand Classic April 18 at Madison Square Garden, yet both were invited to play in the McDonald’s All-American Game April 1 in Orlando. The official Mickey D’s  rosters will be announced Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ESPNU.

    Here’s one McDonald’s list floating around:

    Dexter Strickland

    Lance Stephenson

    Abdul Gaddy

    Avery Bradley
    Alex Oriakhi
    Maalik Wayns
    Dominic Cheek
    Tommy Mason-Griffin
    Kenny Boynton
    Ryan Kelly
    Xavier Henry
    Keith “Tiny” Gallon
    Donte Taylor
    Wally Judge
    Demarcus Cousins

    ***Former St. Benedict’s forward Tristan Thompson is enrolled at Findlay (Nev.) Prep and could play Friday against Duncanville (Texas) in Dallas.

    “They’re playing as a team and I like their style, kind of like when Mike D’Antoni coached the Phoenix Suns,” the 6-8 Texas-bound Thompson told the Las Vegas Sun. “The coaches are great and it’s like a family. I’m happy to be here.

    “I’m real excited. I’ll just be another tool in the tool box.”

    Said Findlay assistant coach Todd Simon: “He’ll be in uniform this weekend in Dallas. Whether or not he plays remains to be seen.”

    Thompson was booted from the St. Benedict’s team last week and ended up at Findlay because his Grassroots Canada teammate Cory Joseph, a 6-3 junior point guard and Thompson’s friend, plays there.

    “Louisville, Ohio State, Memphis, Texas A&M and Florida are recruiting him,” Simon said of Joseph. “He’s got a whole list of suitors. Louisville, Texas A&M and Ohio State are three of the more aggressive on this end.”

    Findlay Prep, No. 1 in the RivalsHigh 100, and St. Benedict’s could end up facing off in the ESPN/Nike National Invitational set for April 3-5 in Washington, D.C.

    Those two programs will join Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, Montrose (Md.) Christian and four others to determine a national champion.

    “By then Tristan may see more minutes,” Simon said, adding that the team has a core of eight guys who have jelled throughout the season. “But these are the guys who have been in the trenches since Day One.”

    NIKE HOOP SUMMIT ROSTER  (April 11, Portland, Ore.)

    Avery Bradley G 6’2” 165 11/26/90 Findlay Prep / Henderson,NV *Texas
    DeMarcus Cousins F 6’9” 250 08/13/90 LeFlore HS / Mobile,AL Undecided
    Derrick Favors F 6’9” 220 07/15/91 S. Alabama HS / Atlanta,GA #Georgia Tech
    Abdul Gaddy G 6’3” 175 01/26/92 Bellarmine Prep / Tacoma,WA *Washington
    Xavier Henry F 6’5” 190 03/15/91 Putnam City HS / Ok.City,OK *Memphis
    John Henson F 6’9” 200 12/28/90 Sickles HS / Tampa,FL *No.Carolina
    Leslie McDonald G 6’4” 193 02/04/91 Briarcrest HS / Memphis,TN *No.Carolina
    Mike Moser F 6’7” 180 11/08/90 Grant HS / Portland,OR *UCLA
    Mason Plumlee F 6’10” 210 03/05/90 Christ School / Arden,NC *Duke
    John Wall G 6’1” 184 09/06/90 Word of God / Raleigh,NC Undecided
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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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