NEW YORK

And that seemed only fitting considering the basketball team has essentially transplanted to Morgantown from New York.

With 4.2 seconds left in a tie game, Da’Sean Butler, one of five West Virginia starters from the New York metropolitan area, drove the lane and hit a layup that ultimately gave the No. 3 Mountaineers a 60-58 victory over No. 8 Georgetown in the Big East championship.

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All five starters come from New York and New Jersey.

Asked how he lured so much metropolitan-area talent to Morgantown, West Va., Mountaineers coach Bob Huggins cracked, “My effervescent personality.”

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**And check out Brendon DesRochers’ Georgetown-Marquette story here.

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Patrick Ewing.

Dikembe Mutombo.

Alonzo Mourning.

Roy Hibbert.

Greg Monroe could well be the next in that line, but he’s not ready to say so just yet.

“I’m honored to follow people that were so good  here,” Monroe said after putting up 23 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks as Georgetown dismissed Marquette, 80-57, to advance to Saturday night’s Big East championship against the West Virginia/Notre Dame winner.

“I just come out and try to do things for my team….Me being here two years, I can’t put myself in the same category as those players.”

Georgetown has won a record seven Big East tournament titles in the 30-year history of the event, and if Monroe keeps up this level of play, they will add Title No. 8.

He displayed his complete game against Marquette. During one two-minute stretch he had a drive, a dunk, a 3-pointer, an assist and a a blocked shot.

“Greg Monroe is Greg Monroe,” Georgetown coach John Thompson III said. “I don’t think he went into this, has gone into this, thinking about how he relates or compares or contrasts to the people that played the position here at Georgetown before him.”

Still, just as USC is known for producing quarterbacks and ARizona for point guards, Georgetown will forever be associated with producing some of the best big men in the history of the game.

Ewing led the Hoyas to  back-to-back Big East tournament titles in 1984 and ‘85, winning MVP awards both years.

In 1992, Mourning led Georgetown to the title game where it fell to Syracuse. He was named MVP in a losing effort.

If Monroe has a big night Saturday, he could join that select group.

“When he first got here, we were amazed at what he could do,” said Georgetown guard Chris Wright, who had 15 points. “Especially the way he passes. I mean, it’s nothing new. We all know Greg is a phenomenal player.”

A first-team All-Big East selection, Monroe averaged 16 points and 9.6 rebounds. He was named the Big East Rookie of the Year a year ago.

“I’ve known Greg since he was in high school,” Marquette coach Buzz Williams said. “He’s a great kid. Comes from a great family. I think he’s an early-entry pro.”

Whether Monroe leaves after this season remains to be seen. DraftExpress.com has him slotted as the No. 13 pick in the June NBA Draft.

But for now, he’s focused on winning a title in New York.

“Yes, it’s Madison Square Garden and it’s the Big East tournament,” he said. “I know as a team we came here to win this tournament and I mean tomorrow [Saturday] night the lights are going to be on.”

RECRUITING NOTES

Georgetown is involved with both 6-9 senior center Moses Abraham of Temple Hills (Md.) Progressive Christian and 6-3 junior point guard Tyrone Johnson of Plainfield (N.J.). Both players watched the game on TV.

Abraham is set to decide this weekend between Georgetown, Maryland, UCLA, Florida, Tennessee Seton Hall and Indiana.

One report mistakenly had Johnson already verballing to the Hoyas, but his AAU coach, Derrick Bobbitt, says that’s not the case.

“That’s not the case at all,” Bobbitt said. “While Ty continues to have interest in Georgetown, he is still wide open and looking forward to finishing out this high school season and going through the recruiting process.”

(Photo courtesy DraftExpress.com)

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PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Fuquan Edwin

The 6-foot-5 Edwin led his team with 22 points and 6 rebounds, but only one other teammate (Kyle Anderson) managed double figures.

Another Paterson native, St. Anthony guard Elijah Carter, killed the Cougars with a game-high 28 points and 14 rebounds.

“He had a terrific game. He shot the ball well. He got into the lane. He dished off to his teammates. He just opened the floor for his teammates and that’s what killed us,” Edwin said of the St. Bonaventure-bound Carter.

Edwin was visibly upset after the loss, but the Cougars had a terrific season.

They became the first Paterson team to win the prestigious City of Palms tournament in Florida. They won their third straight Passaic County championship. And they were ranked No. 3 nationally in several polls after winning their first 28 games.

“With Paterson Catholic it was a terrific season as far as winning City of Palms,” Edwin said. “Going up to West Virginia and winning there. All these games, we were away. We were never home. It was a good season.”

The next time Edwin plays organized ball, he will be a freshman at Seton Hall in the 2010-11 season, where he will join former Paterson Catholic teammate Jordan Theodore.

“I’m looking to go in and be in the rotation right away,” Edwin said. “I’m going to go out there and transform my game. I’m going to get my outside shot down pat, get my handle and be good.”

Seton Hall coach Bobby Gonzalez told Edwin he wants an “energy guy who can get out in transition and shoot the ball and play defense.”

Edwin watched the Pirates in the first two rounds of the Big East tournament. After they put up 109 points in a win over Providence, Edwin’s eyes lit up.

“I can definitely see myself playing in there,” he said. “I can see myself fitting in there.”

Edwin said he received a 900 on his first SAT test, and will take it again on Monday.

“I’m looking to get my 100 more points and I should be set,” he said.

MOSES ABRAHAM CLOSE TO DECIDING

Edwin is part of a three-man recruiting class committed to Seton Hall that also includes 6-8 forwards Jamir Hanner of Newark (NJ) NIA Prep and Eugene McCrory of Kamit Institute for Magnificent Achievers in Washington, D.C.

Edwin has signed, but Hanner and McCrory still must sign in April.

The Pirates are also in the mix for 6-9 big man Moses Abraham of Temple Hills (Md.) Progressive Christian.

“We’re just waiting to watch all the teams play [in the] next couple of days and hear [the] last pitch from schools,” said his mentor, Joe Boncore.

Boncore added that Abraham would watch Georgetown, Maryland, UCLA, Florida and Tennessee this weekend.

Seton Hall and Indiana are out of their conference tournaments but are also in the mix.

(Photo courtesy MaxPreps)

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But Thursday on senior night, the 6-foot-11, 235-pound Senegal native will play his final home game when the Scarlet Knights face Seton Hall at the Rutgers Athletic Center.

“I really didn’t even realize it until last week when I really looked at the schedule and said, hold up, we’re playing Seton Hall on my senior day,” N’Diaye told reporters this week. “It’s nice. I love playing against them. No matter what happens, it’s always a very good game, intense, and we give it our best, and that’s what’s going to happen Thursday.”

Read the full story here.

**Some tough news out of Georgetown, where star guard Austin Freeman is suffering from diabetes. It remains unclear if Freeman will miss the Big East tournament beginning next week.

“It’s just something I’m going to have to deal with,” Freeman told the Washington Post. “It’s going to be a certain change in my diet and my life. But I know I can deal with it. I’ll be fine.”

**And here’s a good read on Pitt’s Jermaine Dixon by Dana O’Neil of ESPN.com.

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Alex Kline of BoxofMess.com continues to put in work interviewing many of the top high school prospects in the New York metropolitan area.

In this piece, Kline gets Burlington (N.J.) Life Center stars Dion Waiters and LaQuinton Ross talking about their future goals and plans.

The 6-foot-8 Ross has already been compared to Kevin Durant by Burlington coach Wilson Arroyo.

The junior transferred from Murrah (Miss.) High in order to play a national schedule against better competition.

Here he lists these schools among his possible choices: Villanova, Georgetown, Syracuse, UConn, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Florida and Texas.

Asked if he might join Waiters at Syracuse, Ross said: “It’s  a possibility.”

Asked about his visit schedule, he said: “I probably plan on taking some this summer…I’m going to narrow [my list] down to the top five next summer. Top five, Syracuse will be in there.”

As for the 6-3 Waiters, he has been following Syracuse’s progress this year and says, “I hope they win a national championship.”

Waiters joins a Top 3 recruiting class that includes 7-foot Fabricio de Melo of the Sagemont (Fla.) High School; C.J. Fair, a 6-8 forward from Baltimore who attends Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H.; and Baye Moussa Keita, a 6-9 forward at Oak Hill (Va.) Academy.

“They all bring something to the table,” he said.

HARRIS REACHES 2,000 POINTS

Congrats to Tennessee-bound forward Tobias Harris for scoring his 2,000th career point Tuesday night in an 80-63 win over Copiague in a Suffolk Class AA quarterfinal.

According to Newsday, the 6-8 Harris reached the milestone on a layup with two minutes left in the third quarter, and became the 11th Long Islander to accomplish the feat.

“It means a lot to me,” Harris, who has 2,008 points and added 17 rebounds, told Newsday. “It’s a great step in my career and it’ll be nice to look back on, but for now I’m just worried about us winning states.”

Half Hollow Hills West coach Bill Mitaritonna credited Harris’ work ethic for his success.

“He downplays everything because he’s only concerned about the team,” Mitaritonna, whose team improved to 20-0 and will face Bay Shore in the semifinals Sunday at Farmingdale State, told Newsday. “He works when nobody’s around. Before the season he was waking up at 5:30 a.m. to run, he does his lifting and speed drills after games and he’ll come back to school at night and take 1,000 shots. He’s a special player and that’s why he’s a McDonald’s All-American.”

IRVING’S CAREER WINDING DOWN

Kyrie Irving’s high school career is winding down.

Because St. Patrick was banned from the New Jersey state tournament, the Duke-bound Irving can play only two more games with the Celtics.

Top-seeded St. Patrick meets Union Wednesday night in one Union County semifinal at 7:30 at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth, while No. 2 Plainfield (20-2) takes on No. 3 Linden (16-5) in the other.

“It’s really starting to hit me..i have 2 games left in my season…73 more points to a 1000 with st patricks..I’m gonna miss these guys..h&h,” Irving wrote on his Twitter page.

The championship game is Saturday at 3 at Kean University, and will be shown Sunday at 9 on MSG.

FREE THROWS

Desmond Hubert, a 6-9, 200-pound junior center from New Egypt (N.J.) High, has offers from Villanova, Pittsburgh, Penn State, Maryland, Virginia Tech, Rutgers and Seton Hall, according to Mike Quick of MSG. Hubert already has more than 1,000 points.

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A 6-foot-9, 237-pound power forward with a 7-3 wingspan, Abraham plays for Temple Hills (Md.) Progressive Christian. His advisor, Joe Boncore, said Abraham is in the Class of 2011 but will go to school in the fall of 2010 after picking a school in two weeks.

“He’s going to make his decision the first week of March. He’s got about six schools that’s he’s narrowed his list down to,” Boncore said by phone.

Boncore listed Georgetown, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland and Seton Hall as the top seven.

Numerous other schools have offered, including Texas, UConn, UCLA, Rutgers and Kansas State.

Boncore said Abraham had just taken the SAT this past weekend and was awaiting his results.

Boncore said several coaches were expected to visit Progressive Christian in the next couple of days, including Bruce Pearl of Tennessee and Bobby Gonzalez of Seton Hall.

Abraham will be in Knoxville, Tenn. for Saturday’s Kentucky-Tennessee game (noon, CBS). He also visited Maryland and Georgetown, which are close to Progressive Christian.

He was to visit Indiana Thursday night for the Wisconsin game, but cannot make it because Progressive Christian has a game, Boncore said.

At this point, Boncore conceded that Georgetown may hold a slight advantage over the other schools.

“Georgetown has gone beyond what I would expect,” Boncore said.

Boncore said John Thompson Sr. often comes by on his own.

“Coach Thompson Sr. made it a point to come see a lot of Moses’ games. That’s made a big impression. He’s just a big basketball fan. He really likes Moses because the way Moses plays reminds him of Patrick [Ewing], defense, intimidation, clogging up the middle,” Boncore said.

Georgetown coach John Thompson III also visits with his brother, Ronny.

“They’ll play a game on CBS and all of a sudden the whole family’s here a couple hours later. Ronny Thompson. They bring the whole family. They really seem like they want to take care of him,” Boncore said.

As for Seton Hall, Boncore said he knows Abraham would get immediate playing time there.

“I know Seton Hall’s losing some guys,” Boncore said. “I’d like to send him somewhere that’s gonna help him out.”

Whoever lands Abraham could get a two-for-one situation because Boncore might send 6-9, 237-pound Gabriel Williams to follow Abraham next year. Williams, who is in the Class of 2011, is on his way from Nigeria.

“He’s on his way here. This kid is the same size as Moses and they grew up in the same town. I”d like to keep them together. They’d be quite an imposing front line,” Boncore said.

Boncore also coaches Jordan Goodman, a 6-9 sophomore shooting guard whom he called “the next Michael Beasley.”

Georgetown, Kentucky, Kansas State and UCLA are among the schools that are already on his radar.

Boncore has another player, 6-7 sophomore guard Daddy Echebo, who he says is “going to be better than all of them.”

“He’s going to Kentucky or Maryland,” Boncore said.

While Goodman’s decision is a ways off, Abraham’s is imminent.

“We’re going to sit down after next week and decide where we’re gonna go,” Boncore said.

FOR MORE RECRUITING NEWS ON SETON HALL & OTHERS:

**Read about 6-10 Maurice Walker of Brewster Academy.

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Maurice Walker

The 6-foot-10, 280-pound Toronto native is currently playing at Wolfeboro  (N.H.) Brewster Academy and plans to cut his list with his father later this week.

“We plan on sitting down this week to hash out our top five and see if we can schedule our visits for the spring and get that portion of things wrapped up,” Craig Walker said Monday by phone.

Walker is ranked No. 12 among centers in the Class of 2010 and No. 118 overall by Rivals.

Craig Walker said the current list for his son includes Seton Hall, Georgetown, Pittsburgh, Marquette and St. John’s. He added that South Florida, Oregon State and Memphis have also expressed interest.

“My thoughts are that Maurice  will probably stay in the East somewhere,” Craig said. “As parents, we’d rather he play in the East side of the country in the Big East. We know we can hop on a plane and be there in an hour.”

Craig said Seton Hall assistant coach Scott Adubato had come to Brewster three or four times.

“The guys from Seton Hall have shown a lot of interest,” he said. ”

“Seton Hall, the one thing that they’ve made very plain to us is that they are very interested.”

Pitt and Georgetown also appear to be high on the list.

“We’ve always been interested in Pitt. They’re playing really good basketball right now,” Craig said.

“Georgetown, we’ve been interested as well. They’ve show some interest. The coaches from Georgetown have gone up a couple times,” he added.

He added that Marquette and St. John’s “have shown interest” and that virtually every school in the Big East except for Louisville and Syracuse has made contact.

Craig also mentioned that Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson had reached out by phone.

“They recruited him a year ago. They have kind of thrown their hat back in the mix,” Craig said.

Maurice plays alongside five Division I commits, including C.J. Fair (Syracuse), Austin Carroll (Rutgers) and Will Barton (Memphis).

Craig said Barton had also talked to Maurice about having him join him at Memphis.

“Will is more than happy to pass him on to Memphis,” Craig said.

Brewster begins the NEPSAC playoffs March 3 and Craig said a few visits could be coming up soon.

“He’s got his school playoffs and national tournament coming up,” Craig said. “We’re gonna go through that and maybe in the next week or two see if we can visit some schools.”

(Photo courtesy Torontoobserver.ca)

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“The doctor said he would be out about a week,” a source with direct knowledge said.

The Pirates play at West Virginia Saturday before hosting Rutgers Tuesday.

Hazell reportedly received eight stitches Wednesday night and is scheduled to visit the doctor again on Friday.

“He’s going to see him tomorrow [Friday] morning. Then we will know more,” the source said.

The second-leading scorer in the Big East at 22.4 points per game, Hazell left at the 8:21 mark of the first half and did not return.

Senior guard Eugene Harvey also did not play in the game because of a bone bruise on his right wrist.

RECRUITING RUNDOWN

Having secured a verbal commitment from 6-8 power forward Eugene McCrory, the Pirates are in the market for one or two other power forwards and centers. Seton Hall is also involved with 6-9 senior Moses Abraham of Temple Hills (Md.) Progressive Christian; 6-8 senior Jonathan Graham of Baltimore Calvert Hall; 6-10 Maurice Walker of Brewster (N.H.) Academy, the No. 12 center in the Class of 2010; and 6-8 Jamir Hanner of Newark (N.J.) Nia Prep.

The Pirates are also involved with Manhattan Rice senior forward Kadeem Jack. Arizona assistant Book Richardson was in New York on Thursday to watch Jack at practice.

Jack said Georgetown, Kentucky and Louisville “are my new schools.”

Arizona is also pursuing Oak Hill senior guard Doron Lamb and Lake Baltimore (Md.) senior guard Josh Selby.

Lamb is down to Arizona, UConn, West Virginia, Kansas and Kentucky, while Selby is mulling Arizona, UConn, Kansas and Kentucky.

(Photo courtesy AP)

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BoxofMess.com

Special to ZAGSBLOG.COM

TRENTON, N.J. -- Here’s a complete rundown on Saturday and Sunday’’s action at the PrimeTime Shootout at the Sun National Bank Center…

In the last game Saturday night, Doron Lamb scored 49 points — three shy of LeBron James‘ 2003 tournament-record 52 — on 21 of 29 shooting but Oak Hill Academy fell to St. Peter’s Prep, 84-81.

Lamb’s college list now includes five schools: Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, UConn and West Virginia. West Virginia assistant Larry Harrison was in the house.

“Coach [Jim] Calhoun’s leave of absence got me a little worried, but now he is back so I am not concerned,” Lamb said of his decision to add UConn to his list.

In the win for St. Peter’s Prep, Myles Davis had 33 points, while St. John’s-bound forward Ron Roberts had 23.

Davis and Plainfield junior guard Tyrone Johnson attended the Georgetown-Rutgers game Sunday at the RAC, won by Rutgers,71-68. Georgetown just offered Johnson last week.

***Earlier Saturday, Life Center knocked off Our Savior New American for a second year in a row at the Primetime Shootout, 75-58, behind 34 points from Syracuse-bound guard Dion Waiters and 14 points from uncommitted junior LaQuinton Ross, who transferred from Murrah (Miss.) High.

LaQuinton on his transfer, “My people thought it was time for me to play in some better games against some better competition.”

LaQuinton’s list, “Villanova, Georgetown, UConn, the ‘Cuse, Mississippi State, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, the list goes on.”

On visits, “I plan to take some visits this summer.”

On a college decision, “Probably next year. I’m going to narrow it down to a top 5 by the end of the summer.”

Dion reflecting on the list of 5, “Next year they going top 5 and Syracuse is gonna be in there.”

Dion jokingly talking about not being selected to the McDonald’s game, “They jerked me, that’s motivation man, they jerked me, I know I deserved to be there.”

AND ON A DIFFERENT NOTE….. LaQuinton Ross does not know who Van Gogh is….

***Lincoln defeated Middle Township 61-47 behind Shaq Stokes who had 17 points and Kamari Murphy finished with 7.

Shaq Stokes on when he will commit, “Next year before the season starts”

Shaq Stokes’ list, “Florida, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Stanford, and some more.”

Kamari Murphy’s list, ”Seton Hall, Virginia Tech, Auburn, Rutgers, Providince, Virginia, Pittsburgh.”

Kamari Murphy on when he will commit, “This summer”

Kamari Murphy’s favorite, “Virginia”

Ethan Telfair on early favorites (despite not having much interest or offers), “Syracuse”

Tiny Morton when I asked if I could ask him any Lance Stephenson questions, “Oh please no, no, no. I get that to much.

Tiny on Kamari’s Recruiting, “Kamari will most likely reclassify. I see Shaq going D1.”

Tiny on the upcoming AAU Season for Juice All Stars, “I have something new I’m going to try. I am canceling all of April to do individual training with all the players to get them better for the summer. (Later in the interview) “You’re the first one to know that.”

***Coming off Friday night’s nationally televised loss to Oak Hill at Kean College, St. Patrick was led by Michael Gilchrist and Kyrie Irving, who combined for 39 points, as they knocked off Rice, 74-56.

Irving on one thing most people don’t know about him, “I was invited to play for both the Australian and U.S. National teams. I was born in Australia so I have dual citizenship. Both invites are a big honor to me.”

***In Sunday’s action, Half Hollow Hills West defeated Christ the King, 73-69, as Tyler Harris’ free throws sealed it at the end. Tobias Harris, despite fouling out, had 19 points, while Tavon Sledge led the way with 22. Omar Calhoun led CTK with 24 points.

Among the coaches on hand were UConn’s Jim Calhoun, Villanova’s Jay Wright, Pitt’s Jamie Dixon and Rhode Island’s Jim Baron.

Tyler Harris’ list, “It’s going a lot better this year. West Virginia, Virginia Tech, Syracuse, Indiana, a lot of Big East and ACC schools. I’m getting more offers like Seton Hall.”

Tobias Harris on Tyler Smith being kicked off Tennessee, “No, not at all. They’re just taking steps up after that.”
Tobias on being a McDonald’s All American, “It’s an honor, it feels great. I’m excited to have a lot of fun.”

Tobias on one thing most people don’t know about him, “Not to many people can beat me in ping pong.”

Omar Calhoun’s list, “Villanova, Rutgers, Louisville, UCLA, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, St. John’s, …. the list goes on.”

Calhoun’s visits, “I visited Pitt and St. John’s unofficially. St. John’s was fun and so was Pitt.”
Calhoun’s college decision, “By my junior year.”

Calhoun on possibly playing for John Calipari, “It would be great. I’m not going to think about that now. I’m just going to keep getting better so I can in that situation.”

Calhoun on location, “Location will not be a factor for me.”

Despite Jayvaughn Pinkston getting in foul trouble, Bishop Loughlin beat Cherokee 55-36. Kareem Canty led Loughlin with 13 points.

Pinkston on being a McDonald’s All American, “It’s a big honor. It’s a big basketball and it’s a great honor for me, you know.”

Pinkston on why he didn’t sign yet, “No, I’m signing in April. I was originally going to commit to Tennessee but some things happened along the way so I went with my 2nd option in Villanova. Tennessee was my first.”

Pinkston on one thing most people don’t know about him, “I’m a good kid.” (smiling)

Coach Calhoun on how he is doing, “I’m doing pretty good.”

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