NEW YORK — It was the first week of January 2006 and Jeremy Lin was “dead set on going to Stanford” out of Palo Alto High School.

This, according to Peter Diepenbrock, Lin’s high school coach.

The problem was that then-Stanford coach Trent Johnson “[messed] this thing up bad, really bad,” Diepenbrock told SNY.tv Friday by phone hours before Lin went off for a career-high 38 points to go with seven assists in the Knicks’ 92-85 victory over Kobe Bryant and the Lakers at Madison Square Garden. (more…)

This will be a huge weekend for the future of the Syracuse basketball team — and not just because the No. 2 Orange are hosting defending national champion UConn.

The Orange will play host to a couple of recruits who could well influence the future of their program.

Nerlens Noel, a 6-foot-10 shot-blocking center from the Tilton (N.H.) School who is in the midst of reclassifying to 2012, and Tyler Ennis of St. Benedict’s Prep, arguably the top point guard in the Class of 2013, will both be on campus.

“It’s a great thing for Syracuse, that’s for sure,” St. Benedict’s coach Mark Taylor told SNY.tv. “Those two [potentially] playing together, it’s a great fit.” (more…)

GREENBURGH, N.Y. — If you believe everything you read these days, Jeremy Lin is single-handedly responsible for the Knicks’ modest three-game winning streak.

And Steve Novak will be the first to give Linsanity its just due.

“Everyone’s been able to see how valuable [he is], the way he gets in the paint on offense and finds guys, how valuable that is,” Novak, whose team meets Kobe Bryant and the Lakers tonight at Madison Square Garden, said earlier this week at the Knicks training facility.

Novak, perhaps more than any other Knick, has benefitted from Lin’s passing. (more…)

The news that West Virginia has reached a $20 million settlement to leave the Big East Conference this year means that the school’s basketball team has only six more regular season games left in the conference.

Bob Huggins and the Mountaineers will play Louisville Saturday in the first of their final half dozen games before the school joins the Big 12 July 1.

“This is our third straight year that we have come to West Virginia,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said last week. “I always request it every year. Generally you would see in the Big East that somebody would come back to you the following year, but [Big East Commissioner] John Marinatto’s a dear friend and I always tell him, ‘Look, don’t let West Virginia come to Louisville. I’d like to visit one more time.’

“And now it adds extra meaning because they’re going into the Big 12 so it will be the last time we play against each other.” (more…)

The 2012 McDonald’s All-American Teams were announced Thursday on ESPNU. The game is slated for March 28 at the United Center in Chicago and will be shown live on ESPN (9:30).

EAST

Perry Ellis, PF, Kansas

Shaq Goodwin, PF, Memphis

Amile Jefferson, F, Undecided

Tony Parker, C, Undecided (more…)

Memphis has landed its first verbal commitment since officially joining the Big East Conference.

Geron Johnson, a 6-foot-3 combo guard from Dayton (Ohio) Garden City College averaging 19 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists, pledged to the Tigers Thursday.

“I think he really was excited about playing for Coach [Josh] Pastner,” Garden City coach Kris Baumann told SNY.tv.  “I think he was excited about them going to the Big East his senior year.” (more…)

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – It’s been quite a week for Herb Pope.

In the span of of nine days, the Seton Hall forward bruised his ribs, sat out a game against UConn, appeared to head butt Eli Carter down the stretch of a hotly contested rivalry game and then hit a huge 3-pointer in the Pirates’ 59-54 victory at the Rutgers Athletic Center that came in front of Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz.

“They’re a great team, it’s just that we needed that win,” Pope said after going for 12 points and 12 rebounds to help snap a six-game losing streak for Seton Hall (16-8, 5-7 Big East).

With 3:26 left in the game and Seton Hall ahead 48-44, the video replay showed Pope appearing to head butt Carter and Carter then pushing back.

“He definitely did, but it’s no hard feelings,” Carter (13 points) said when asked if Pope head-butted him. (more…)

Amar’e Stoudemire will return to the Knicks Monday, head coach Mike D’Antoni announced Wednesday.

Stoudemire remains in Florida grieving the loss of his older brother, Hazell, who was killed this past Monday in a car crash.

Stoudemire will miss Friday’s home game against the Lakers and Saturday’s game in Minnesota, but would be available for Tuesday’s tilt at Toronto.

Carmelo Anthony remains out 1-2 weeks with a right groin strain. (more…)

Rafer Alston may be the only high school basketball coach competing in the NBA D-League.

Alston, 35, is taking a break from coaching Humble (Texas) Christian Life Center in order to get his own playing career back on track.

“I’m just trying to open eyes again and let people know I still got a lot in the tank and just compete,” Alston, now with the LA Defenders, told SNY.tv in his first interview since returning to the pros. (more…)

Memphis and Houston playing for the Big East basketball championship?

It sounds strange, but it could happen.

With established powers Syracuse, Pittsburgh and West Virginia on their way out and former Conference-USA schools Memphis, Houston, SMU and UCF on their way in, the Big East will look dramatically different in a year or so.

All those schools are set to join in 2013, meaning by the time of the 2014 Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden, it’s at least possible Memphis and Houston – or for that matter, SMU and UCF — could play for the title. (more…)