Charles Jenkins of Hofstra won the 78th Haggerty Award as the 2010-11 All-Met Division I men’s college basketball player of the year.

Jenkins, a senior guard from Queens, N.Y., won for the third consecutive season, becoming only the third player in the history of the award to win it three times. The others were Jim McMillian of Columbia (1968-69-70) and Chris Mullin of St. John’s (1983-84-85). (more…)

While UConn star Kemba Walker has garnered national headlines for his scoring exploits this season, one player who has flown under the radar is Hofstra senior guard Charles Jenkins.

The 6-foot-3 Queens, N.Y. native averaged 25.0 points and 6.3 assists in three Hofstra wins last week, and shared the Colonial Athletic Association Player of the Week honor with Frank Hassell of Old Dominion.

“He’s a pro,” said George Mason assistant Chris Caputo, whose team watched Jenkins score 32 points on 9 of 13 shooting to go with eight assists in an 87-74 loss Wednesday. (more…)

Eugene McCrory, a 6-foot-8, 240-pound forward who was once committed to Seton Hall, has a number of scholarship offers and hopes to decide in the coming months.

“I’m going to decide in January or February,” he said by text.

McCrory, who has dropped more than 30 pounds since the summer, holds offers from Wagner, Texas Southern, Hofstra, St. Bonaventure and Northeastern, according to Ian Turnbull of CJEOTO, where McCrory is averaging 21.4 points, 11.6 rebounds and 1.3 blocks on a postgrad team that also includes Rutgers signee Kadeem Jack. (more…)

Hofstra announced Friday that new head coach Mo Cassara has a four-year contract.

“Mo Cassara was named our head men’s basketball coach on May 5 of this year,” Hofstra AD Jack Hayes said in a statement.  “When his hire was released we announced that Coach Cassara had signed a multi-year agreement with the University.  To clarify, Coach Cassara has a four-year contract and we are excited about the program that Mo is developing.  Hofstra University looks forward to a successful 2010-11 campaign and many more in the future with Mo Cassara as our head coach.”

Hofstra opens the season Saturday at home against Division 3 Farmingdale State.

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As first reported on my Twitter, Malik Nichols, a 6-foot-6 combo guard from Brooklyn Boys & Girls, has verbally committed to Hofstra coach Mo Cassara (pictured).

“I felt like Hofstra was the best school for me,” he said by text. “Great coaching staff. Not 2 far from home.”

St. Bonaventure,  Xavier, LIU and Quinnipiac were also interested in the Queens native who now lives in Brooklyn.

“Malik is a kid who’s going to be a problem for opponents,” Boys & Girls assistant Elmer Anderson said. “He’s going to bring a talented wing player who can handle the ball, shoot the ball and defend the ball. Hofstra getting him is a huge plus. Hofstra is getting a very good player who’s ready to  blossom.”

Nichols transferred from Hillcrest High School in Queens, where he averaged 22 points last season. He hopes to play for Boys & Girls in its season opener.

FREE THROWS

Jamal Jones, a 6-8 2011 wing from Arkansas has verbally committed to Mississippi, according to multiple reports….6-9, 210-pound Shaquille Duncan of The Robinson School has committed to Morgan State over Hofstra, UT Chattanooga, Rhode Island and Albany. per Vincent Robinson.

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One of the most exciting point guards in the New York area is Tavon Sledge of Half Hollow Hills West on Long Island.

Though he is undersized, Sledge is tremendously quick, fierce and athletic.

When Hills West downed JayVaughn Pinkston and Bishop Loughlin last January, Sledge dropped 21 points in a 75-72 victory.

The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Sledge currently holds offers from St. John’s, Rutgers, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Seton Hall, Fordham, Rhode Island, Hofstra, Iowa State, UTEP and Marshall. (more…)

Darrun Hilliard, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Liberty (Pa.) High, is headed to Villanova beginning in 2011.

Hilliard chose the Wildcats over Notre Dame, Seton Hall, Iowa, Michigan and Boston College.

“I loved how they treated each other,” Hilliard said by text. “It’s like a big family up there, a home away from home and I really loved that their tradition is also great. I will have a great career after graduation from Villanova either on or off the court.”

Hilliard averaged 18 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists last season while leading the Hurricanes to their first appearance in the Pennsylvania Class 4A semifinals. (more…)

Givon Crump, a 6-foot-7 wing from Washington, D.C., has  decided to transfer to Fresno State from Baylor.

Crump, who also considered Rutgers and Seton Hall, averaged 0.4 points and 0.3 rebounds in 16 games as a reserve forward at Baylor last season. He will have three years of eligibility remaining.

“I feel comfortable with the staff at Fresno State,” Crump said by text. “I trust that Coach Q and Coach [Steve] Cleveland have sincere interest in my success as a basketball player and a young man.”

JAMAICA WRIGHT ON THE MOVE (UPDATED)

Joel ‘Air Jamaica’ Wright, a 6-6 forward from Brooklyn Thomas Jefferson, will visit Rutgers Sunday, Robert Morris on Monday and Rice Thursday. (more…)

When 6-foot-8 rising senior forward Tyler Harris takes an unofficial visit Thursday to Rutgers, he will be the latest in a list of high-profile recruits to check out the campus in recent weeks.

Consider that in the last two weeks, Mike Rice’s staff has brought in Naadir Tharpe, Jordan Goodman, Jaron Sina, Tyrone Johnson, Myles Mack, Derrick Randall and Kadeem Jack on visits. Baylor transfer Givon Crump also came to Piscataway.

The 6-8 Goodman, considered one of the top players in the Class of 2012, ended up committing after his visit.

Still more recruits — including Mike Taylor, a sweet-shooting 2011 off guard from Brooklyn Boys & Girls — are due to visit in the coming days. (more…)