I had several long and friendly chats with each of them and will have stories and blogs on them next week after I recover from tonight’s AC/DC show at Giants Stadium. In the meantime, here are a few quick notes:

**Tennessee’s Pearl and assistant Steve Forbes flew up on a private jet just to watch 6-6 senior forward JayVaughn Pinkston of Brooklyn Bishop Loughlin. Marquette, Arizona, Villanova, St. John’s and Miami are also in the mix for Pinkston, who dropped 19 on Grassroots Canada in Vegas. Pinkston said he won’t decide until the fall.

“Kimani [Young of New Heights] tells me [about the schools], but I realy don’t pay attention,” Pinkston said. “I just go out there and play. IF you think about it too much then you’re not going to do so well.”

**In its search to replace the decommitted Josh Selby, the Vols are looking at Joe Jackson of Memphis and Trevor Releford, the younger brother of Kansas’ Travis Releford.

**Pitt commit Isaiah Epps says he will attend Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy this year before enrolling at Pitt. He turns 19 this year and is too old to play at Plainfield (N.J.) High.

“I decided with my mother and my uncle and we all decided to go to Hargrave,” said Epps, who leaves in late August.

Epps said he’s “very excited” about going to Pitt next year.

“I talk to [Ashton Gibbs] and [Travon Woodall] a lot,” he said. “Basically they told me I’m not going to come in there and start right away. They’re just going to work me hard so I can get ready for the next level.”

**One Division 1 head coach says Seton Hall has Top 20 talent.

“Herb Pope (pictured) will make everyone around  him a better player. That’s the type of skill-set that he has. Keon Lawrence is proven that he can score double-digits and shoot a decent percentage in a high-major league, so you would think he would be able to produce. You’re surrounding him with Nunu [Eugene Harvey] and [Jeremy] Hazell, that’s a Top 20 talent-wise lineup.”

**That same coach is also high on Rutgers point guard James Beatty of Miami DAde College.

“”James Beatty is a high level point guard that will be able to win games just by his physicality and his urgency. His sole purpose is to make winnng plays and to win.”

**Jayon James, the former Paterson Catholic guard, is listed on the roster as being from The Lawrence (Mass.) Academy, but his father said they will visit St. Thomas More and Lawrence next week. They will also go with Harold McBride, the former St. Ray’s guard who is reclassifying to 2011 and said he will pick one of those two prep schools as well.

**Derrick Williams, the 6-7 forward from St. Anthony, said he’s picked up offers from Boston College, St. Bonaventure and VCU. He previously held offers from Fordham, Virginia, Richmond and Oklahoma State.

“I don’t have any favorites. Everything is still equal,” he said.

**6-8 former Western Kentucky commit David Laury of the NIA School is here playing with Team Lucky NYC and is apparently back on the market.

**The U17 semis feature New Heights Blue-Playaz and Rise Panthers-Team Phlly.

**Happy Birthday to Howard Garfinkel who turns 80 on Saturday.

Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.

(Photo courtesy GoAZCats.com)

The Nike folks don’t release the LeBron roster until Monday, but here are some of the players who will be at the other events.

Reebok All-American Camp - CLICK HERE FOR FULL ROSTER
2010 Class

Patric Young- Jacksonville, FL- PF,
Joe Jackson,- Memphis TN – PG
Lenzelle Smith- Zion, IL- PG
Tony Chennault,- Philadelphia, PA- PG
Marquez Luke Cathron,- Hunstivile, AL PF
Devonta Abron, – Dallas, TX – SF

Ashton Pankey- Brooklyn, NY- SF

Devon Collier- Bronx, NY- PF

Fuquan Edwin – Paterson, NJ – SF

2011 Class:

LaQuinton Ross, – Jackson, MS- SG
LeBryan Nash, – Dallas, TX -SF
Rodney Hood- Meridian, MS- SG

Myles Mack- Paterson, NJ- PG
Derrick Randall – Paterson NJ – PF

Sterling Gibbs- NY- PG

2012 Class:

Kyle Anderson – Paterson, NJ- PG

Hoop Group Elite Camp

2010 Class

Franz Massenat- Trenton Catholic
Jayon James – Paterson Catholic
Melsahn Basabe- St. Mark’s
Marcus Romain- Thomas Jefferson

Devante Cutler- Boys & Girls
Antonio Barton- Notre Dame Prep
Josh Daniel – St. Patrick

Chase Plummer- St. Patrick

2011 Class:

Aaron Brown- Penn Wood
Derrick Gordon- St. Patrick
Devante Cutler- Boys & Girls

Khalid Lewis El – Trenton Catholic

PILGRIM TO OKLAHOMA STATE

Matt Pilgrim, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound forward, who left Kentucky after John Calipari became head coach, is transferring to Oklahoma State.

He chose the Cowboys over Maryland, Cincinnati and Memphis.

“I just feel like I jelled with the team and [Travis Ford] seems like a real focused coach,” Pilgrim told the Stillwater News Press. “I really like the style of basketball he plays and I’m just the kind of player he wants. I’m a guy that’s going to give 100 percent and play hard no matter what position I play.”

RENCHER TO TEXAS STATE

Texas State head basketball coach Doug Davalos has named former Texas standout guard Terrence Rencher an assistant coach for the 2009-10 season.

“Terrence is a great addition to our new staff,” Davalos said. “He is a very driven person who has come highly recommended by people I know and respect in this business.”

Rencher comes to Texas State after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Saint Louis under Rick Majerus in 2008-09. He also was the head coach and basketball program director for the boy’s varsity team at Regents School of Austin in 2007-08. In addition to his coaching duties, Rencher served as an academic mentor for the University of Texas men’s basketball team from 2006-08.

GRADY TO MOREHEAD STATE

The 5-foot-11 Jones got his release from USC after Tim Floyd stepped down and will likely land at Arizona or Florida. Memphis is also interested but sources say he likely won’t land there.

Jones’ Godfather is on the Arizona staff.

GORDON TEARS TENDON

Drew Gordon of UCLA partially tore the patellar tendon in his right knee during tryouts for the U.S. team that will play in the Under-19 world basketball championships, the AP reported.

There were no immediate details about his prognosis, the school said.

“It is an unfortunate event, but Drew is a resilient kid and he’ll get through it,” UCLA coach Ben Howland said in a statement.

USA BASKETBALL ROSTERS NAMED

USA Basketball named the 12-man roster for the 2009 World University Games to be held July 2-11 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Named to the 2009 USA Men’s World University Games Team were: James Anderson (Oklahoma State / Junction City, Ark.); Talor Battle (Penn State / Albany, N.Y.); Trevor Booker (Clemson / Whitmire, S.C.); Craig Brackins (Iowa State / Palmdale, Calif.); Da’Sean Butler (West Virginia / Newark, N.J.); Corey Fisher (Villanova / Bronx, N.Y.); Lazar Hayward (Marquette / Buffalo, N.Y.); Robbie Hummel (Purdue / Valparaiso, Ind.); Quincy Pondexter (Washington / Fresno, Calif.); Deon Thompson (North Carolina / Torrance, Calif.); Evan Turner (Ohio State / Chicago, Ill.); and Jarvis Varnado (Mississippi State / Brownsville, Tenn.).

“It was one of the most difficult decisions we as a committee have had because the team is so balanced,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “It’s probably one of the better groups of wing players we have had and all the guys are great players. It looks to be one of our most competitive teams for the World University Games. We have good shooters and athletic wing guys, which gives this team a good chance to compete.”

University of Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan was selected head coach of the 2009 USA Men’s World University Games Team, with Frank Haith of the Miami and Rob Jeter of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee serving as assistant coaches.

U19 TEAM NAMED

In other USA Basketball news, 12 players were selected for the U19 team that will compete in the 2009 FIBA U19 World Championship July 2-12 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Selected to represent the United States at the FIBA U19 World Championship were: DeAngelo Casto (Washington State / Spokane, Wash.), Seth Curry (Duke / Charlotte, N.C.), Ashton Gibbs (Pittsburgh / Scotch Plains, N.J.) , Gordon Hayward (Butler / Brownsburg, Ind.), Shelvin Mack (Butler / Lexington, Ky.), Darius Miller (Kentucky / Maysville, Ky.), Arnett Moultrie (UTEP / Memphis, Tenn.), John Shurna (Northwestern / Glen Ellyn, Ill.), Tyshawn Taylor (Kansas / Jersey City, N.J.), Howard Thompkins (Georgia / Lithonia, Ga.), Klay Thompson (Washington State / Ladera Ranch, Calif.) and Terrico White (Mississippi / Memphis, Tenn.).

“I think this is a well-balanced team. They’ll have to get the job done as a team. They may not have a star-caliber player, but they have a lot of very good players. At this stage the U19 team looks like they will work very well together. All of the U19 trials participants played very hard throughout the trials. There has been no lack of effort, and that’s a good sign,” Jim Boeheim said.

“We’re a pretty good shooting team from the perimeter and we have some big guys who can shoot the ball, so I think that’s going to be a strength,” said USA U19 National Team and University of Pittsburgh head coach Jamie Dixon. “I’m concerned that we don’t really have experienced point guards, but I think we’ve got some wings that can make some plays.

FREE THROWS

**Stan Heath completed his coaching staff at South Florida by hiring former Kentucky assistant Jeremy Cox and former Towson assistant Eric Skeeters.

**Steve Nash and Claudio Reyna will hold their annual 8-on-8 soccer game in New York June 24 to benefit the Steve Nash Foundation. Tony Parker, Jason Kidd, Chris Bosh, Grant Hill and Raja Bell are slated to be in attendance.

**RecruitingRumors.com reports that Oklahoma State commit Karron Johnson hasn’t qualified and will enroll at Moberly Community College in Missouri this season. James’ advisor, James Black, said Johnson was enrolled in summer school right now and had no further comment.

“We were advised not to talk to anyone right now,” Black said.

(Photos courtesy Rivals, USA Basketball)

Vincent Council

“He never made it to the Rutgers visit,” Vincent Council Sr. said. “So they’re going to reschedule another one.”

The 6-foot-2 Council plays at The Patterson (NC) School, the No. 1 prep school in the National Prep Poll, and is considering Providence, Rutgers, UCF and Arkansas. His father says he’s leaning toward Providence and could announce soon.

“He wants to see other schools,” the father said. “He wants to see Arkansas also.”

As for the 7-foot Hamga, Mark Adams, his advisor, said his flight to the Pitt-Rutgers game was “cancelled.”

“He hasn’t rescheduled it yet,” Adams said. “He’s trying to do it for Wednesday for the Marquette game.”

Hamga is transferring from UNLV and is considering Rutgers, South Carolina, Ole Miss and Oklahoma State.

Adams said Oklahoma State was a “long shot”  because they’re waiting on a high school senior, whereas Hamga will likely decide by next week.

“By this time next week he should decide,” Adams said.

Hamga, a 7-foot, 225-pound native of Cameroon, is considering transferring from UNLV to Ole Miss, South Carolina or Rutgers. He secured his release from UNLV.

“I know he’s going to visit Ole Miss and South Carolina and he’s looking at one more to visit and make up his mind,” Mark Adams, Hamga’s guardian, said by phone from Indiana. “He’s going to visit a third school and there’s a good chance it will be Rutgers.” Adams said no date had been set on the Rutgers visit.

Hamga signed with UNLV out of Decatur (Il.) Christian and redshirted his first year. He played in just five games this season before deciding to transfer. He was ranked the No. 5 center in the Class of 2007 by Rivals.

He will have two and a half years of eligibility remaining, beginning in December 2009.

“He’s a very good defensive rebounder and shot blocker,” Adams said. “He’s a very good defensive player. Like most African kids he needs to work on his offense. He’s got a nice shot. He can definitely shoot it.”

Hamga will visit South Carolina Dec. 30 for the Clemson game. The other visits have yet to be worked out.

As for the 6-10 Thomas, he has finally secured a release from Oklahoma State, according to Jeff Goodman of FoxSports.com.

Thomas is considering Marquette, Cincinnati, Villanova, Kentucky, Illinois State and Rutgers.

A close friend of Rutgers junior center Hamady N’Diaye, Thomas has visited the Rutgers campus several times.

Thomas was averaging 8.3 points and 3.9 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game in seven starts for the Cowboys this season. The native of Dakar, Senegal, averaged six points and 4.1 rebounds per game last year.

Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound power forward, recently chose Oklahoma State over UAB, Memphis and Seton Hall. Loving is a 6-5 small forward. We hope to have an update later on.

Speaking of Oklahoma State, Ibrahima Thomas, a 6-11 sophomore forward, was dismissed from the team Monday.

Texas-bound junior Tristan Thompson led the Gray Bees, No. 4 in the ESPN poll, with 22 points, Rice-bound guard Tamir Jackson added 16 points and sophomore point guard Myck Kabongo scored 12. Gilvydas Biruta added 12 points and 10 boards, and Pitt-bound forward Lamar Patterson added nine points.

That followed a Friday night game in which St. Ben’s beat Jackson Provine of Miss. 72-56. Thompson had 18 and 12, Kabongo scored 12 points and Patterson 10.

Oak Hill also downed Chicago Simeon, 58-52, Saturday night.

Oak Hill big man Keith “Tiny” Gallon missed the game after landing awkwardly on his right knee in Friday night’s game.

“I have to get an MRI,” Gallon said via text message.

Gallon’s teammate, former New York City guard Doron Lamb, told Scout he is being recruited by the entire Big East, Kansas, Memphis, Kentucky and Clemson. Lamb had 14 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in Oak Hill’s win Friday over Duncanville (Texas).

OKlahoma coach Jeff Capel, Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford and Louisville coach Rick Pitino were all on hand.

A year ago, Tamir Jackson lit up Brandon Jennings and Oak Hill for 29 points in an upset victory on the ESPN networks.

This year, Texas commit Tristan Thompson (pictured) posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 boards as the Newark school downed Jackson (Miss.) Provine by 16 points, according to Scout.com.

St. Ben’s, which finished last year ranked No. 2 in the nation, plays Chicago Whitney Young on Saturday and the games are being shown on the old Interweb here.

In a game that featured some eight Division I players, Oak Hill Academy downed Duncanville, 69-57. Oklahoma commit Keith “Tiny” Gallon of Oak Hill was injured in the game after a dunk.

“When I dunked it, I came down too hard,” Gallon, No. 3 among centers in the Class of 2009, wrote in a text message. “I’m going to get it X-rayed in the morning. Hopefully, I will play tomorrow.”

Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel, fresh off dining with my man Jeff Goodman of FoxSports, in the wake of Oklahoma’s victory over USC Thursday night, was also on hand to watch Gallon.

“Gallon brings size, skill, understanding how to play basketball,” Capel told me last week when his team won the NIT Tip-Off at MSG. “He can score it, he can shoot it, he can pass it. He’s a really skilled guy and if he comes in here and really gets after working with our strength coach, then he can be very successful.”

Scout reports that Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford and assistant Butch Pierre were also on hand to watch OSU commits Roger Franklin and Reger Dowell of Duncanville.

Marshall County Hoopfest schedule

Friday, December 5
5:30 p.m. Marshall County (KY) vs Obion County Central (TN)
7:00 p.m. Oak Hill Academy (VA) vs Duncanville (TX)
8:30 p.m. St. Benedicts (NJ) vs Jackson Provine (MS)
10:00 p.m. Briarcrest (TN) vs Homewood Flossmoor (IL)

Saturday, December 6
10:30 a.m. Paducah Tilghman (KY) vs Lexington Catholic (KY)
12:00 p.m. South Laurel (KY) vs Lafayette (MO)
1:30 p.m. Memphis White Station (TN) vs Columbus Northland (OH)
3:30 p.m. Marshall County (KY) vs Madisonville North Hopkins ((KY)
5:00 p.m. Wheeler (GA) vs Jackson Callaway (MS)
6:30 p.m. Scott County (KY) vs Duncanville (TX)
8:00 p.m. Oak Hill Academy (VA) vs Chicago Simeon (IL)
9:30 p.m. Chicago Whitney Young (IL) vs St. Benedicts (NJ)
11:00 p.m. Montverde Academy (FL) vs Findlay (NV)

**Patterson (N.C.) head coach Chris Chaney says point guard Vincent Council of New York has offers/interest from Providence, Rutgers Charlotte and Arkansas and is “leaning toward Providence.” The 6-foot-2 Council is averaging 13 points and 10 assists for Patterson, ranked No. 3 in the National Prep Poll behind No. 1 Hargrave Military and No. 2 Brewster. Hargrave and Patterson will square off on Sunday in Maryland.

“[Council] has a very high basketball IQ,” Chaney said. “He really knows how to play. He’s a tough kid. He makes he right plays during the game. He’s one of those guys you can count on. He’s a quarterback who makes the right plays.”

**Chaney also said 6-3 shooting guard DeAndre “Big Daddy” Kane of Pittsburgh (pictured) was receiving calls from UConn and Seton Hall. Pitt associate head coach Tom Herrion placed Kane at Patterson, but Kane did not sign an NLI to Pitt. Kane averaged 31 points last year and helped Pittsburgh Schenley win its fourth straight City League title. His high school teammates included DeJuan Blair, D.J. Kennedy and Jamaal Bryant.

“He’s pretty talented,” Chaney said of Kane. “He’s a big, long two guard. He’s a skilled tough kid.”

**Mount Vernon senior wing Sherrod Wright did not sign early and will wait until April. Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino says South Carolina, Villanova and Marquette are Wright’s top three suitors, but Wright also mentioned Virginia, UMass and Oklahoma State.

“I have no real favorite,” Wright said. “I liked the visit to South Carolina. That’s the only one I went to.”

**Thomas Jefferson guard Keith Spellman says he has offers/interest from St. John’s, Rutgers, George Mason, Virginia Tech and Oklahoma State and lists St. John’s, George Mason and Virginia Tech as his favorites.  Spellman has 1,700 career points and is on his way to 2,000.

(PHoto courtesy Pittsburgh Courier)

**Akol, who once played at Our Savior New American on Long Island, was cleared by the NCAA on Monday and practiced for the first time yesterday with Oklahoma State. The 6-foot-11 native of the Sudan had his initial SAT score contested by South Florida, but he took the test again and his new score was very similar to his previous one.

Akol averaged 21 points, 15 rebounds and seven blocks while playing at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., last season.

“I’m happier for him more than anything because he has worked his tail off to get to this point,” Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford told the Tulsa World.

The Cowboys next game is Thursday at Washington in the Big 12/PAC 10 Hardwood Series.

According to the Tulsa paper, Ford said Akol’s availability will allow OSU to use center Ibrahima Thomas at forward sometimes so he doesn’t have to guard “big, huge guys and get in foul trouble every game. It gives us some versatility in that area.”

**As for the 7-2 Cincinnati-bound Riek (pictured), he received a qualifying score on the ACT, but is still waiting on approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse. Riek is also recovering from ACL surgery at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

“We’re waiting on the NCAA Clearinghouse,” Muraisi said. “He’s still at IMG. He has an appointment [with the doctor] Friday. He’s supposed to get full clearance to participate Friday.

“He’s not going to go to Cincinnati until he gets cleared. It could be anytime in December, January or February. We’re told the latest is March. As long as it takes us, it takes.

“He might not play this year, which might not be a bad thing. Truthfully with the knee surgery that might not be a bad thing.”