“There is never a good time for something like this, but it is a decision that had to be made moving forward,” Crean said in a statement.

Crean sent McLeod recruiting on Saturday so the assistant was not with the team when it beat Northwestern 88-80 in OT at Assembly Hall.

A Jersey City, N.J. native and former standout at Duke and St. Anthony High School, McLeod was an Indiana assistant for two seasons.

He was instrumental in the recruitment of St. Patrick star Kyrie Irving, who ultimately chose Duke over several other schools.

ALLEN TO GET PENN JOB

Penn interim head coach Jerome Allen will officially be named the program’s full-time coach before the Final Four, sources close to the program said.

“Not only alum have gone to AD Steve Bilsky, but boosters, donors, parents and players have pledged their unconditional support,” a source said. “They might not even interview outside candidates.”

A former Penn standout, Allen was hired as an assistant coach in August and became interim coach when head coach Glen Miller was fired Dec. 14 after an 0-7 start.

Penn is now 6-21.

“Jerome Allen is the right person for the job,” Zack Rosen, the Quakers’ sophomore point guard and former St. Benedict’s Prep standout, told the Philadelphia Inquirer last month. “They should hire him as soon as they possibly can. They should be begging him to stay.”

(Photo courtesy CSTV)

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NEW YORK –

“Yo, work hard to get open. You’re not working to get open,” Isler told him.

Before Taylor could utter a single word of protest, Isler added: “We need you to get open.”

A 6-foot-6 junior guard, Taylor took Isler’s words to heart. He scored 11 of his game-high 25 points in the fourth quarter, including a critical game-tying 3-pointer and two go-ahead foul shots, to lift Boys & Girls to a 55-50 victory over Cardozo before 3,658.

Read the full story here.

(photo courtesy Ravi Rozier)

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Cleveland Melvin

“He wants to be a wing at the next level,” Hurd wrote by text. “They see him as a four. [It's a] mutual decision. No hard feelings either way.”

Hurd listed Seton Hall, South Florida, Miami, TCU, Marquette and Oklahoma state as possible landing spots.

“He wants to take his time. He’s not in any huge hurry,” Hurd said.

The story was first reported by Scout.com.

ABRAHAM SKIPS VISITS

Moses Abraham, a 6-9 forward from Temple Hills (Md.) Progressive Christian, has a case of the flu and had to skip Thursday’s visit to Seton Hall and Rutgers. He may also miss Saturday’s trip to Indiana.

Abraham attended last Saturday’s Kentucky-Tennessee game but then got sick after Wednesday’s Duke-Maryland tilt.

“He has to get better, then we will see,” his mentor, Joe Boncore, wrote by text.

Boncore said Abraham will decide announce March 14 and is considering Georgetown, Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Florida, Maryland and Seton Hall as the top seven.

HINDS HASN’T COMMITTED

Despite a published report, Mount Vernon (N.Y.) junior point guard Jabarie Hinds has not committed to Louisville. Hinds may visit Louisville at some point in the future, but won’t be there for Saturday’s Syracuse game, Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino said.

“Maybe he will visit in the summer or early fall,” Cimmino said.

(Photo courtesy Baltimore Sun)

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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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Josh Selby’s

Indiana and Syracuse have been eliminated and the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Selby is only considering Arizona, UConn, Kansas and Kentucky, according to a report by Scout.com.

A source close to the situation says Selby will end up at one of these two schools: “Kansas and Arizona.”

A newly-minted McDonald’s All-American, Selby visited Arizona Jan. 9 and went to Kansas Feb. 13 for the Iowa State game. His mother, Maeshon Witherspoon, told Scout Kansas wants either Selby or Brandon Knight to replace the graduating Sherron Collins.

He plans to visit UConn for the Louisville game (Feb. 28) and Kentucky (March 7-8). The Wildcats host Florida March 7.

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**Cory Joseph — Despite published reports that the Findlay Prep guard is down to UConn and Villanova, Joseph insists he’s still also considering Minnesota, Texas and UNLV.

“No, I still have all five schools,” Joseph wrote in a text.

Asked if he had a timetable on deciding, he said: “No timetable, just whenever I feel 100 percent about it.”

Joseph posted 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists against St. Patrick Monday in a 71-70 victory to earn Most Outstanding Player honors at the Hoophall Classic.

**Josh Selby — Kansas and Arizona lead for the talented 6-3 guard from Baltimore (Md.) Lake Clifton, sources close to the situation said.

Selby recently visited Arizona. Next up are trips to Kansas (Feb. 13-14), UConn (Feb. 28) and Kentucky (March 7-8).

Syracuse and Indiana are also in the mix.

**Brandon Knight — Kentucky coach John Calipari was on hand Monday when Knight dropped 39 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists as Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest downed Cincinnati Jefferson, 68-61, in Dayton.

Michigan State-bound Adreian Payne had 16 points and 13 boards for Jefferson.

Knight lists Kentucky, Kansas, Florida, Miami and UConn and will sign in the spring.

“Those schools are still in the mix,” Knight told Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal. “They’re still pretty even.”

He has one visit left and is expected to visit Miami.

“He does have one visit left. I do believe he will take a visit to Miami,” Beckerman said.

Pine Crest coach Dave Beckerman said Knight was in no hurry to decide and that it was a bad idea to consider Knight a “replacement” for John Wall at Kentucky.

USA JUNIOR NATIONAL TEAM CHOSEN

Serving as head coach for the USA will be Bob Cimmino, who has been the head coach at Mount Vernon High School (N.Y.) since 1994, compiling a 324-57 overall record.

(Photo courtesy Courier Journal)

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The 6-foot-2, 183-pound point guard out of Lake Baltimore (Md.) Clifton postponed a planned visit Saturday to Kentucky for the Louisville-Kentucky game, according to a report by Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal.

“We won’t be able to make the visit right now,” Maeshon Witherspoon, Selby’s mother, told Demling.

The Kentucky visit has been postponed until March 7.

Selby will visit Arizona Jan. 9-11, following a visit to the desert by Oak Hill (Va.) Academy guard Doron Lamb. Lamb, recently named the MVP of the Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon, comes to Arizona Jan. 7-9.

Selby has already visited Kansas for “Late Night in the Phog,” and Witherspoon also told Demling her son may visit Kansas again over Valentine’s Day weekend. The Jayhawks host Iowa State Feb. 13.

Selby has also visited Indiana and is considering Syracuse as well.

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Northland handed Findlay Prep, the reigning high school national champ, its lone loss of the season.

Oak Hill (16-0) and once-beaten Findlay (Nev. ) Prep (16-1) are 3-4, respectively.

Damon Wright’s Paterson Catholic club moved from No. 23 to No. 8 after winning the City of Palms Classic behind 17 points from Seton Hall-bound forward Fuquan Edwin.

Dan Hurley’s St. Benedict’s team (5-1), which came in 3rd at City of Palms, is No. 15, meaning three of the top 15 teams are from within a 15-mile radius in New Jersey.

Speaking of the Hurleys, check out Bob and Dan coaching their respective teams Jan. 24  in the Izod High School Showcase at Caldwell College. 

Noon: St. John Vianney vs. Immaculata

2 p.m.: Long Branch vs. St. Benedict’s

4 p.m.: Blair Academy vs. NIA Prep

6 p.m.: Christian Brothers Academy vs. St. Anthony

**For the complete and updated ZAGSBLOG high school hoops calendar, click here.

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John Calipari on Friday responded to Bob Knight’s comments.

Sweating after a strenuous practice, Calipari told reporters in Kentucky:

“What I can tell you is, I’m a big fan, respect him as a basketball coach, always have,” Calipari said. “Matter of fact, I took my [Memphis] staff down to Texas Tech, spent a day, watched him practice. [He] helped me with the dribble-drive — made it even better. [I] don’t agree with what he said, but it doesn’t change how I feel about him.”

Knight became the highest-profile person in the college basketball world to call out Calipari when he made these comments Thursday at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame.

“We’ve gotten into this situation where integrity is really lacking and that’s why I’m glad I’m not coaching,” Knight said. “You see we’ve got a coach at Kentucky who put two schools on probation and he’s still coaching. I really don’t understand that.”

Calipari is the only coach in history to have two Final Fours vacated, yet he himself has escaped punishment. His 1996 Final Four appearance with UMass was vacated because center Marcus Camby was found to have taken money from an agent. His 2008 Final Four with Memphis was taken away after it was learned that someone else took the SAT for point guard Derrick Rose.

Of course, Knight’s comments beg the question: Is he really the right person to deliver this message?

Isn’t this the same guy who threw a folding chair across the court and was accused of slapping one of his players in the face?

Knight’s comments have triggered numerous responses, including this thoughtful piece from our friends at Rush the Court.

FREE THROWS

Great column on Lance Stephenson by Rick Bozich worth reading here.…Long Island announced the signing of 5-10 guard Jason Brickman out of San Antonio, Texas…Harold Spears scored his 1,000th career point for Pennington (NJ) Dec. 14.

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NEW YORK — Syracuse, Villanova and West Virginia all won high-profile tournaments around Thanksgiving to stake early claims as the beasts of the Big East.

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