12:30 - Knicks practice in Greenburgh,  N.Y. Knicks are coming off just their second win of the season last night in Indiana and the Allen Iverson buzz grows stronger every minute.

12:30 – Press conference for Newark Invitational in Newark. Bob and Dan Hurley and players from St. Anthony and St. Ben’s will be on hand to promote this stacked event Jan. 30, which includes a showdown between Duke-bound point guard Kyrie Irving of St. Patrick and Memphis-bound point guard Joe Jackson of Memphis (Tenn.) White Station.

6 p.m. - Iverson due to clear waivers and become a free agent. Is he a Knick by later today or tomorrow?

6 p.m. – Tobias Harris will announce his college choice at the ESPN Zone in midtown. The 6-foot-8 Harris out of Dix Hills Half Hollow Hills West High has already decided and will announce for either Tennessee, Syracuse, West Virginia, Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland and Georgia Tech. I’m thinking I may hit this and then hoof it quickly down to the Garden for…

7 p.m. – Syracuse vs. Cal in the Coaches vs. Cancer event at MSG. Will Jim Boeheim be celebrating Harris’ commitment to the Orange or lamenting his commitment to Tennessee or West Virginia?

9:30 p.m. – North Carolina vs. Ohio State at MSG. Second semifinal features former St. Patrick star Dexter Strickland and new-look defending NCAA champs against Evan Turner and the Buckeyes.

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**First off, how about this loaded schedule that North Carolina has in the next couple of weeks? The defending NCAA champion Heels could play five ranked teams in an eight-game span.

They face No. 15 Ohio State Thursday in the Coaches vs. Cancer semis at MSG and could then face either unranked Syracuse or No. 13 Cal in Friday’s title game.

After two tilts against Gardner-Webb and Nevada at home, the Heels host No.2  Michigan State Dec. 1 and visit No. 4 Kentucky Dec. 5. After a home game with Presbyterian, the Heels play at No. 3 Texas Dec. 19.

“Perhaps I took one more game this year than I probably should have for this team,” Carolina coach Roy Williams said.

“You look at the poll and you have Michigan State, Texas, Kentucky 2, 3 or 4 and we’re playing all three of those and only one of them in the Smith Center. It is something that is difficult but the Texas game is the last one I took, but the idea of playing the first college basketball game in the Cowboys Stadium was intriguing to me. And looking back on it and looking at it as we get closer and closer, I said maybe I shouldn’t have done that but we’ll see how it works out.”

The Heels host Marshall, Rutgers and Albany before playing at the College of Charleston to close out the non-confernce. They begin ACC play Jan. 10 against Virginia Tech at home. 

Carolina hosts No. 9 Duke Feb. 10 and plays at Cameron Indoor to end the regular season March 6.

“We have played really good schedules but I think it’s important to be tested before you get into conference play because when you get into conference play I think you have to raise your play another level even over those big-time national games,” Williams said.

**Speaking of Duke and Carolina, I asked Strickland his thoughts on the recent commitments of former teammate Kyrie Irving (Duke) and Irving’s close friend Harrison Barnes (Carolina).

Strickland and Irving teamed up to lead Elizabeth (NJ) St. Patrick to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions crown in 2009, the program’s third in four years. This year the Celtics are ranked No. 1 in USA Today’s preseason poll and, with Irving, Michael Gilchrist, Derrick Gordon and Kevin Boyle Jr., are favored to win a fourth in five years.

Strickland on Irving’s decision: “I wasn’t surprised really because we’re close friends so we talked about it. I just told him before he picked to make the right decision and if you’re comfortable with it that’s a good school for you.”

He added: “I think it’s a good pick for him I just hope that that system doesn’t change who he is as a player. He’s a good scorer looking to score and I know Coach K is going to want to run the program and make him fit into the system. I told him to just to stay on top of your game and just focus and have a good time at Duke.”

 Strickland on Barnes’ decision to announce for North Carolina via Skype on ESPNU: “Honestly, everybody was surprised. Coach Williams was surprised himself. [Barnes] did a good job of keeping on a straight face and not letting anybody think he was going here or think he was going to another school.

“I was surpsried. When he called us on the Skype I was really surprised and I’m happy also.”

(Strickland Photo courtesy UNC Athletics)

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In a press conference at Ames (Iowa) High School, the 6-foot-6 Barnes sat at a table showcasing the insignias of each of his final six schools. He then praised each program before calling his final choice via Skype.

After the connection appeared to briefly drop out, Barnes looked at the computer and said “Coach Roy Williams.”

A picture of Williams and his North Carolina players popped up on an oversized screen in the auditorium.

At that point the crowd at Ames let out a roar of applause. Duke fans probably dropped to the floor wherever they were.

“We’ve got the whole team here,” said Williams, coach of the defending NCAA champion Tar Heels.

“I can see that,” Barnes replied.

“I need to get going signing my Letter of Intent here but I just wanted to let you know I’ll be joining you guys next year on the squad and I can’t wait to play with all you guys,” Barnes added.

“All right,” Williams exclaimed.

Barnes joins a powerhouse class that includes Reggie Bullock and Kendall Marshall.

“You’re talking about getting to a national championship game next year for the North Carolina Tar Heels,” ESPN’s Paul Biancardi said.

Barnes, No. 2  in the Class of 2010 according to Rivals, chose Carolina over Duke, UCLA, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa State.

“Not only is Coach Williams so good at instructing the game but I felt that I had developed a great relationship with the players and I’m just so anxious to play with them,” Barnes told ESPNU.

In choosing Carolina over Duke, Barnes opted not to join his good friend Kyrie Irving, the point guard from Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick who referred to Barnes as an “big brother” when he announced.

What will it feel like when Barnes makes that first trip to Cameron Indoor with the Heels in 2010?

“I think it will be one of the greateset feelings to be able play in front of the Cameron Crazies because I’ve been and I’ve seen the North Carolina rivalry and I think it will be absolutely great and I think it will be a great game,” he said.

How does Barnes fit in with Carolina’s program and what will his role be?

“They play a very up and down tempo and that’s something I like to do,” he said. ”I hope that I can just come in there and add my contributions to hopefully help us win a national championship.”

Barnes’ mom works at Iowa State and his father played  there, but Barnes said, “It was so  close to home and I would’ve done so much there. But at the same time I will take Iowa wherever I decide to go.”

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We don’t know which program because Barnes is keeping his cards very close to the vest.

Barnes, ranked No. 2 in the Class of 2010 by Rivals and out of Ames (Iowa) High, will announce from among Duke, North Carolina, Kansas, Oklahoma, UCLA and hometown Iowa State.

The smart money says it’s either Duke or North Carolina.

“I would say I’ve just scratched the surface of how deep that lies,” Barnes told the Des Moines Register in reference to the hatred between those two Tobacco Road programs. “I kind of expected it would be that way, because they’re two of the top programs in the country and they’re only miles apart.”

The 6-foot-6 Barnes has connections to both schools, He and Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick guard Kyrie Irving are very tight, with Irving referring to Barnes as his “big brother” when he recently announced for Duke.

“I’ll let the Duke coaching staff handle that,” Irving told ESPNU. “Harrison’s like a big brother to me. We talk all the time, but mainly it’s not about Duke. He’s his own man and he’s going to make his own decision and whatever decision he makes I’m going to be happy for him.”

Barnes also has a friendship with North Carolina commit Kendall Marshall and visited the Carolina campus the weekend they had their alumni game featuring none other than Michael Jordan.

Fun,” the 6-foot-6 Barnes wrote in a text after that visit. “The atmosphere. The past and present were all together and it was fun to think of being part of a tradition like that.”

Brian McLawhorn, publisher of Devils Illustrated.com, told the Des Moines Register there might be an epic meltdown if Barnes picks North Carolina over Duke.

“That would be an end-of-the-world scenario,” McLawhorn said.

The potential end-of-the-world is only a few hours away now… 

BIG VISITS ON TAP

Several of the highest profile players in the Class of 2010 will take visits this weekend as a prelude to likely signing n the spring:

**Lake Baltimore (Md.) Clifton guard Josh Selby visits Indiana. He is also looking at Kentucky, Kansas, Miami and Syracuse.

“We’re going to sign late, because it’s only fair to give every school that he’s interested in an opportunity,” Selby’s mother, Maeshon Witherspooon, told USA Today. “We’re going to visit Indiana this week, and we’re working on setting a date to visit Kentucky and Syracuse.”

**Oak Hill (Va.) shooting guard Doron Lamb will visit UConn this weekend (Saturday-Monday) and will likely sign late. He has visited Kansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma and may still visit Arizona.

**Brandon Knight, the nation’s No. 1 prospect out of Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest, will visit Florida this  weekend. He has been to Kentucky, Kansas and UConn and appears to be signing late.

**Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollow Hills West forward Tobias Harris heads to Maryland today and Georgia Tech next week. He has already seen Syracuse, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisville and West Virginia. His father says he will sign Nov. 18 and announce Nov. 19.

BEYOND THE X’S AND O’S CLINIC

The Yogi Berra Museum in Montclair, N.J. will host a clinic called “Beyond the X’s and O’s” on Nov. 20 from 8:30-noon. The speakers include former Nets coach Butch Beard, Rutgers men’s coach Fred Hill, Montclair State coach Ted Fiore and Seton Hall women’s coach Phyllis Mangina. All coaches will receive four hours of professional in-service credit. For more info contact David Kaplan at david.yogi@montclair.edu

(Photo courtesy AP)

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Harrison Barnes,

The 6-foot-6 Barnes has reportedly not ruled out any of the six schools he is considering — UCLA, Duke, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa State.

“I have enjoyed all of the officials, but it’s going to be good to make a decision next week,” Barnes told highschoolhoop.com in his diary.

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“He probably won’t sign until the spring. I can’t say for 100 percent sure,” Lisa Leslie, C.J.’s mom, said Saturday in a phone interview.

The 6-foot-8, 205-pound Leslie out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Academy is the No. 4 power forward in the nation, according to Rivals.

He took his first official visit to Kentucky Oct. 28 for the Blue/White Scrimmage and was supposed to visit Florida this weekend (Nov. 7-8), but will have to reschedule because his high school team has a scrimmage today (Saturday).

“We thought it would be better if we just totally rescheduled it,” Lisa said of the Florida visit.

Leslie had in-home visits with Kentucky, Maryland, Seton Hall, Arizona State, Georgetown, N.C. State, Georgia Tech, Florida International and Oregon.

He plans to take four more officials — including one to Florida — but all four likely won’t happen this fall. Lisa said the family wasn’t sure which schools would get the three remaining visits.

“As of right now, we don’t know which other three schools he’s going to visit,” she said. “We’ve been so busy with the recruiting and everything that we haven’t had enough time to sit down and complete the schedule.”

Lisa said North Carolina was supposed to come for an in-home visit, but cancelled because they decided instead to focus on Harrison Barnes, the nation’s No. 2 recruit.

“Roy [Williams] must feel pretty comfortable with Barnes because Coach [Steve] Robinson called us and they were saying they didn’t want to hinder C.J.’’s recruiting by putting us on hold to see whether Harrison Barnes was going to take the scholarship,” she said.

“Coach Williams told C.J. he really wanted him, he just wishes he has one more scholarship. That was the turnaround with North Carolina.”

The 6-6 Barnes is due to announce this week and is considering North Carolina, Duke, UCLA, Oklahoma, Kansas and Iowa State.

As for Leslie, Lisa said he enjoyed his official to Kentucky but hasn’t proclaimed the ‘Cats his leader.

“He said when he went down there for the visit he really enjoyed it,” Lisa said of Kentucky. “He never said that that was his favorite school.

“He’s still saying that he’s open. I wouldn’t say that that was his favorite school.”

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“We’re still working out the details,” Judge Johnston, the Ames (Iowa) High School activities director, said Thursday morning by phone. “There’s a lot of stuff going on out there in the Internet world.”

Barnes is considering defending NCAA champion North Carolina, Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Oklahoma and Iowa State.

Various reports have had the 6-foot-6 Barnes announcing Nov. 12 or 13, and Johnston said Nov. 13 was the target date.

“We’re shooting for that date [Nov. 13] but still that’s not even confirmed,” Johnston said.

“He’s going to take his last unofficial visit to Iowa State [this weekend] and then we’re going to finalize the details after that,” he added. “There’s still some moving parts working into the decision of the exact announcement and timing and ESPN all that.”

ESPNU has hosted announcements for various high school stars.

Johnston said he hopes to know when the announcement will take place by Monday.

“I’m hoping the first thing Monday morning we’ve got a final decision,” he said.

(Photo courtesy Justin Hayworth/Des Moines Register)

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“C.J. is still wide open with his recruitment. He doesn’t have a strong leader,” Raleigh (NC) Word of God coach Erasto Hatchett said Friday. “He’s still entertaining about 10 schools as of right now. He’s completed some home visits. He just had his last visit [Thursday] night with Georgetown. Seton Hall was there the night before.”

Hatchett said the 6-foot-8, 205-pound Leslie is considering Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Georgetown, Seton Hall, Arizona State, Georgia Tech, Oregon, Florida and Florida International.

No official visits have yet been set and the list has not been cut, but Hatchett did say that a few schools have been involved for a long period of time.

“I think everyone is doing a good job,” he said. “There are some that have come in kind of late.  Florida, Kentucky, N.C. State, Arizona State, they’re being very consistent in the recruitment. Those guys have been around for a while and have been very consistent.”

He added:  “We’re going to take it one day at a time. It’s not really a heavy topic between C.J. and I. We’re focusing on getting better and trying to put ourselves in position to win a state championship.

“At some point in time that list of 10 will be cut to five, and then from five down to three and then he’ll make his decision.”

CLINIC TO END ALL CLINICS ON SATURDAY

Manhattan College will again play host to ‘The Clinic to End All Clinics’, an annual basketball coaches’ workshop orchestrated by Howard Garfinkel, the founder of Five Star basketball camp. This year’s clinic is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, 2009 in Draddy Gymnasium from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The event will feature sessions instructed by college basketball’s winningest coach Bob Knight (ESPN), as well as 2009 NCAA National Champion coach Roy Williams (University of North Carolina), and Leonard Hamilton (Florida State University), along with former NBA coaches Don Casey and Mike Fratello.

Schedule of Speakers

9 a.m. to 10 a.m. – Roy Williams

10:10 a.m. to 11:10 a.m. – Leonard Hamilton

11:20 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. – Bob Knight

1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Don Casey

3:10 p.m. to 4:10 p.m. –  Mike Fratello

4:20 p.m. to 5:20 p.m. – Don Casey

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The 6-foot-8, 205-pound Leslie had an in-home visit Wednesday night with Seton Hall head coach Bobby Gonzalez and assistant Dermon Player.

“It was good. It was real good,” Leslie said.

Asked if he was planning an official visit to South Orange, N.J., Leslie said: “I don’t know yet. I haven’t scheduled any visits yet.”

Leslie said he’s also considering Kentucky, Florida, Maryland and North Carolina.

Georgetown also comes in tonight for Leslie’s final home visit.

Seton Hall also has a home visit Monday with Bishop Loughlin forward JayVaughn Pinkston, who lists Seton Hall, St. John’s, Villanova, Marquette and Tennessee. Gonzalez and his staff met with St. Anthony forward Devon Collier this past Monday and Collier is considering Seton Hall, St. John’s, Providence, Maryland and Oregon State. He plans to set his visit schedule after Oregon State coach Craig Robinson attends an open gym Friday.

JOSEPH CUTS LIST

Findlay (Nev.) Prep point guard Cory Joseph has cut his list to seven, according to a text message from his mother, Connie.

The 6-3, 180-pound Joseph is considering Villanova, Minnesota, UConn, Texas, UNLV, Florida and Mississippi State.

He has already visited Texas, will hit UConn Oct. 16 for First Night festivities and Villanova Oct. 23 for Hoops Mania.

Joseph, whose older brother, Devoe, plays for Minnesota, will visit the Gophers either Oct. 9 or Oct. 30,.

His visit to UNLV will likely be unofficial.

Joseph is the No. 7 recruit in the nation according to Rivals.

TOBIAS HARRIS UPDATE

Torrel Harris, father of Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollow Hills West forward Tobias Harris, says the family is currently trying to set up its next visit to Tennessee.

Torrel did not want to make the visit dates public, but after Tennessee Tobias will tentatively visit Kentucky (Oct. 16 for Big Blue Madness), Louisville, West Virginia, Georgia Tech and Maryland in that order.

“We’re going to do a final visit for all seven schools,” Torrel said.

He took his first official visit to Syracuse this past weekend.

“He had a good visit,” Torrel said. “He definitely liked Syracuse.”

George “The Iceman” Gervin, a family friend, worked out with both Tobias and Tyler Harris on Wednesday at Half Hollow Hills.

Torrel and Tobias will be at the is8 league this weekend in Queens with their Unique All-Stars AAU team. That team will also feature Dion Waiters, Will Regan, Walt Harris, C.J. Fair, Tavon Sledge, Tony Mitchell and Jordan McRae. Syracuse commit Fab Melo is also supposed to play with the Unique All-Stars for the playoffs.

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