NEW YORK – On a day when St. John’s lost one of its most athletic current players to transfer, the bounciest of the program’s future players engaged in a thrilling dunkfest before a capacity crowd in the iS8/Nike Spring Classic championship game.

JaKarr Sampson seemed to have the defining dunk of the afternoon when he drove on former St. John’s signee Dwight Meikle and threw down a ferocious one-handed slam in the first quarter, when Real Scout led the Sean Bell All-Stars by as many as 10 points.

“Durant,” said referee Arnold Saunders, referring to Kevin Durant’s jaw-dropping, one-handed slam on Brendan Haywood in Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.

But Sir’Dominic Pointer, Sampson’s future St. John’s teammate, had a defining moment of his own.

With Sean Bell mounting a big fourth-quarter run, the 6-foot-5 Pointer drove the lane and flushed one on the head of the 6-10 Sampson as Sampson attempted to rotate over for a block.

Pointer finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds — and Sean Bell won the championship, 71-60, over a Real Scout team that featured three St. John’s signees.

“I beat my man one-on-one and JaKarr stepped up kind of late,” Pointer said of the dunk. “I said, ‘Welcome to St. John’s.’”

“I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time,” said Sampson, who finished with 9 points, 7 rebounds and 4 turnovers.

Both Pointer and Sampson were named to the All-iS8 1st Team for their play this spring.

The 6-6 Meikle is Pointer’s teammate at Quality Education (N.C.) and was a onetime St. John’s signee before he got his release and committed to Hampton. Pointer said he had to get Sampson back for dunking on his teammate.

“I just went and did it,” Pointer said. “But that is my teammate from Quality Education, a former St. John’s recruit so I had to get it back. I had a little something.”

Another teammate of Pointer’s is Arizona-bound point guard Josiah Turner, who was named MVP of the final after putting up 16 points and 7 assists.

Turner said he was accustomed to seeing Pointer make athletic plays like the dunk on Sampson.

“I see that all the time,” Turner said. “He goes to my school, so I see it all the time.”

Still, Sampson believes his Durant-like dunk was the best of the game.

“Definitely mine,” Sampson said. “My head was at the top of the backboard so I say mine.”

Told that the official compared his dunk to Durant’s, Sampson said, “That Kevin Durant dunk was sick.”

Still, after Sampson missed a 15-foot jumper in the second quarter, a fan said, “That ain’t no Kevin Durant jump shot.”

“That’s what I got to work on,” Sampson said of his jumper.

Sampson still models his game somewhat after the Oklahoma City star.

“He’s an athletic wing, you know,” Sampson said. “He can put the ball on the ground a little bit.”

Sampson had two other St. John’s signees on his team.

Maurice Harkless managed just 3 points while playing on a bum ankle and D’Angelo Harrison tallied 10 points, 8 steals, 6 assists and 4 rebounds. That came one day after a 23-point outburst in the semis.

The future teammates continue to build a bond while playing together in events before heading to campus.

“It was a good experience playing with D’Angelo, getting to know him, getting to know his playing style,” Sampson said. “So we can come in and just play right away, you know?”

The Johnnies will need all the chemistry they can muster from their nine-man recruiting class, especially after rising sophomore Dwayne Polee announced Sunday he was transferring. Polee and Malik Stith were the program’s only two returning players.

“I heard about that,” Sampson said. “It means less experience. We’re going to be even younger than we were going to be before, so we just got to come in and play hard from the get go.”

He added: “We’re going to be a very young team.  We’re going to have a lot to learn.”

One thing they won’t have to learn much about is dunking.

And you can bet Pointer will be reminding Sampson about the dunkfest once practices begin next season.

“Oh yeah, I’m going to remind him a few times during the season,” Pointer said. “I’m going to remind him.”

ALL iS8 TEAMS

Player of the Year

Myles Mack, Playaz (Rutgers)

1st Team

Sidiki Johnson, New Heights (Arizona)

Sir’Dominic Pointer, Sean Bell (St. John’s)

Tavon Sledge, Real Scout (Iowa State)

Kyle Anderson, Playaz Juniors (Uncommitted)

JaKarr Sampson, Real Scout (St. John’s)

2nd Team

Khem Birch, Sean Bell (Pitt)

Kuran Iverson, LI Lightning (Uncommitted)

Jevon Thomas, Juice All-Stars (St. JOhn’s)

Jermaine Sanders, New Heights (Cincinnati)

Damion Lee, Sean Bell (Drexel)

3rd Team

Maurice Hatton, Phili

Kelvin Amayo, NIA (Towson)

Jabril Trawick, Playaz (Georgetown)

Max Hooper, Real Scout (Harvard)

Jalen Cannon, Sports Fest (St. Francis, NY)

RELATED CONTENT

**Harvard-bound Hooper lights it up at iS8

**St. John’s-bound Harrison drops 23 in iS8 semis

**St. John’s signees repping big at iS8

(Photo courtesy NY Post)

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NEW YORK – Just hours after landing on New York soil, St. John’s recruit D’Angelo Harrison – fueled with adrenaline – poured in a game-high 23 points to lead Real Scout to an exciting 84-78 semifinal victory over the  Playaz Saturday afternoon in front of a jam-packed crowd at the iS8/Nike Spring Classic

“D’Angelo arrived here late last night and paid his own money to get out here,” said Real Scout head coach Nate Blue. “He didn’t come out here to win one game. He came out here to win a championship with his future teammates.”

With the victory, Real Scout advanced to Sunday’s championship game against the Sean Bell All Stars, a 73-56 victor over New Heights (Artie)  in the day’s second semifinal.

Just last month while playing at an event in Houston, Harrison guaranteed a Final Four for St. John’s in 2012.

Leading 80-78 with 36 seconds remaining, the 6-foot-3 Harrison pick-pocketed future Big East rival Myles Mack (Rutgers) at center court and was subsequently fouled on the other end. He calmly sank the two free throws, and extended Real Scout’s lead, which they would never relinquish.

“I knew that we needed a stop,” said Harrison. “So I dug in and had two steals in the final minute to help us win.”

Harrison’s energy was quite noticeable throughout the second half, as he not only dove for loose balls and battled with his bigger frontcourt opponents for rebounds (10 boards, five offensive ).

He also wasn’t afraid to jaw at the opponent’s bench, a tactic which caused  his future collegiate teammate chuckle after the game.

“I know D’Angelo for a while,” said 6-foot-9 forward JaKarr Sampson, who added 17 points and eight rebounds. “He’s like a little bully out there.”

Sampson, who himself relished the opportunity to battle North Carolina recruit Desmond Hubert (eight points) in the post, was elated at the chance to play alongside future teammates Harrison and Maurice Harkless.

Harkless finished with five points while playing through a right ankle injury.

“It was quite funny playing with them,” said Sampson. “We have a pretty good bond now and it makes it so much easier playing with them in the future.

New Rochelle’s P.J. Torres (Duquesne) added 12 points, while Iowa State signee Tavon Sledge chipped in with 10 points in the victory.

“There was a lot of emotion out there,” Blue said. “And even though we are still in May, it was great to see the kids play hard and compete.”

Mack, who led all scorers with 28 points, rallied his team from a 12-point deficit (33-21) midway through the second quarter to grab a 46-44 lead with less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter.

But a long trey by Harrison (3-for-9 from distance) from the right wing and two driving hoops by Sampson and Torres, respectively, gave Real Scout an advantage that they would never surrender.

Jabril Trawick (Georgetown) and Charles Oliver (Rider) added 15 and 14 points, respectively, in the loss.

Uncommitted junior Ricardo Ledo led four All-Stars in double-figures with 15 points. Pittsburgh recruit Khem Birch added 14, while Grandy Glaze and Arthur Edwards, both uncommitted, chipped in with 12 and 10 respectively.

The All-Stars led 31-19 after one, and built the lead to 20 at 58-38 late in the third quarter, driving past the New Heights defenders with countless transition baskets.

Arizona commit Sidiki Johnson led New Heights with 16 points, while Darrel Lucky of Paul Robeson High added 11.

LEDO HAS LIST

Ledo, who decommitted to Providence in January, has not scheduled any new visits as of yet, but he does have his share of interests.

“I am looking at Kentucky, Providence, Syracuse and UConn,” said Ledo, who compares his game to Joe Johnson of the Atlanta Hawks and Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

“It’s a good process and I am opening it up to see other schools. We will see where it goes from here.”

RELATED CONTENT

**St. John’s signees repping big at iS8

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NEW YORK – Andre Drummond is a professional disguised in a St. Thomas More jersey.

The 6-foot-10, 260-pound behemoth runs the floor like a long-legged gazelle and possesses awareness and scoring ability that seems unrivaled at this level.

The No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2012, Drummond dropped 17 points and tore down 11 rebounds en route to St. Thomas More’s 73-59 win over Quality Education (N.C.) Monday in the Big Apple Basketball Invitational at Baruch College.

St. Thomas more coach Jere Quinn said about half a dozen schools are legitimately in the hunt for Drummond.

“Louisville, Kentucky, West Virginia, Connecticut, Pitt, North Carolina and Georgetown,” Quinn said. “No one else is even talking to him.

“I don’t think anybody else is coming in.”

“Everybody is moving at the same pace right now,” added Drummond, who has added bulk to his once-spindly frame.

“I don’t have a list. Honestly, my Mom knows all that stuff. I’m not really focused on that. I’m staying focused on working hard and I’m just trying to enjoy being a kid.”

A native of Middletown, Conn., Drummond says he does not have any visits slated.

The 17-year-old has been working diligently on developing a dependable deep jumper that he can extend beyond the arc.

He’s added a 20-footer, a feathery hook, and various back-to-the-basket moves to his arsenal.

Quinn said he will sit down in the spring with Drummond and his mother and go from there.

“He’s not doing anything until the spring and we’re going to sit down and make  a decision,” Quinn said.

FREE THROWS

St. John’s signee Sir’Dominic Pointer put up 35 points on 13-for-23 shooting to go with 10 rebounds and 4 assists for Quality Education and DePaul commit Charles McKinney added 13 points and 4 steals. St. John’s-bound Dwight Meikle went scoreless for Quality Education. 6-11 Quality Education big man Lekan Ajayi had 5 points and 3 boards. St. Thomas More features a player named Indiana Faithfull…Lincoln routed Hills West of Long Island, 74-38, behind Shaquille Stokes’s 17 points and Isaiah Whitehead’s 12 points and 8 rebounds, including an electrifying first-half dunk. 7-footer Jordan Dickerson had 6 points and 4 rebounds. He is likely to prep next year…Iowa State-bound guard Tavon Sledge of LuHi had 13 points…Lincoln has three players named Shaquille…Long Island Lutheran downed Rice, 72-63, behind Villanova-bound Achraf Yacoubou’s 27 points and 14 boards. Cincy-bound Jermaine Sanders posted 20 and 6 for Rice….

RELATED CONTENT

**Uncommitted studs at Big Apple Invitational

**Tough day for Johnnies commits at Big Apple

**Future Big East stars invade Big Apple

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“Oklahoma has offered,” Brewster coach Jason Smith said. “Coach [Jeff] Capel will be here today [Monday]. Kansas is involved and Coach [Bill] Self] will be here on Thursday. UCLA and Villanova have been in contact, too. St. John’s is still a school Naadir is interested in.”

N.C. State has also offered.

Tharpe has only visited Minnesota, but both Oklahoma and Kansas want him to trip there.

“Nothing has been set up,” Smith said. “However, both have asked about him taking an official.”

SLEDGE TO IOWA STATE

Tavon Sledge, a 5-foot-9, 165-pound point guard from Dix Hills (NY) Half Hollow Hills West, verbally committed to Iowa State, choosing them over St. John’s and UTEP.

A jet-quick floor leader, Sledge averaged 18.3 points and 11.1 assists last season.

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Lawson is mulling Purdue, Seton Hall, West Virginia, Ole Miss and Maryland, according to his coach, Stan Kowalewski.

“I think everything’s even right now,” Kowalewski said of the schools. “We’re trying to work through the process and once he feels there’s something he loves he’ll pull the trigger.”

Lawson took his first official to Purdue and was still on campus as of Friday afternoon.

“It went well,” Kowalewski said. “It’s a great campus, great environment. They’re gonna be really good this year. The staff’s really good.”

The only other official set up at this point is to Ole Miss the weekend of Sept. 17.

Lawson also has several in-homes set:

Sept. 10 – Seton Hall

Sept. 14 – Purdue

Sept. 20 – West Virginia

As far as Seton Hall, former coach Bobby Gonzalez’s staff actually originally offered Lawson, and new coach Kevin Willard followed up.

“The former staff offered Jacob way back,” Kowalewski said. “He took an unofficial to Seton Hall [last February] and really liked the campus and facilities. He hasn’t had a chance to sit down in person with the new staff. But they immediately offered once they got the job. Kevin Willard is one of the younger, up-and-coming coaches in the country. He’s willing to sit down and go from there.”

Wherever Lawson lands, his coach thinks he can make a significant impact.

“I think he’s an impact kid,” he said. “He brings a tremendous amount of athleticism to the table. As he hones his skills, especially from the outside with the perimeter to go along with his ability to finish inside, he can make an immediate impact.

“It has to be a team that likes to go up and down and defend, that’s his game. He has to find the right fit. He can certainly help as a freshman.”

FREE THROWS

6-foot-6, 215-pound wing Adonis Thomas of Memphis will visit Tennessee Sept. 11 for his first officials. Nothing else is set at this point…West Virginia is no longer involved with Long Island PG Tavon Sledge, sources say. He’s down to SJU, UTEP & Iowa State…Former Seton Hall commit Eugene McCrory, a 6-8, 235-pound forwrad, was offered by Marshall and will visit next Friday…6-6 forward Isaiah Williams of The Robinson School is visiting Iona unofficially today (Friday)…Former LaSalle & Paterson Catholic forward Terrell Williams has transferred to D-2 Lynn University. His twin, Jerrell, remains at LaSalle…Former LaSalle & Paterson Catholic wing Kimmani Barrett is now playing professionally in the Austrian A-League.

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The 6-foot-8, 190-pound wing from Queens is the first player from the Class of 2011 to commit to St. John’s and new head coach Steve Lavin, and he made the announcement Tuesday at the SNY studio in Manhattan.

“I will be going to St. John’s University in New York,” Harkless said.

“I always wanted to look into St. John’s but they weren’t that good in the past few years and with a new coach, I feel like it’s a brand new opportunity and the coaches are hungry. I’m in New York. I can represent my city in my city.”

“It’s going to be real exciting. Playing in Madison Square Garden is one of the world’s most famous arenas. Just being home, so that plays a big factor as well.”

Harkless, who will prep at South Kent (Conn.), initially committed to UConn last December, but then changed his mind in June — a story first reported by ZAGSBLOG.

He is the No. 13 small forward in the Class of 2011 and the No. 45 player overall, according to Rivals.com

He also considered Rutgers, Maryland, Oregon, Florida State, Florida, Cincinnati and Arizona.

“I could really do it all,” he said. “I can shoot. I can rebound. I can defend any position and I use my length really well  so I feel I will be able to bring a lot to the table at St. John’s.”

St. John’s has 10 scholarships to give in 2011 and Harkless is the first to join what Lavin is calling his “Noah’s Ark.”

“It’s a situation where I call it the St. John’s Noah’s Ark,” Lavin said earlier this summer. “We’re going to need two of every position.”

More than 75 percent of the St. John’s roster will turn over after this coming season, when St. John’s will feature nine seniors and expects to compete for a spot in the top half of the Big East.

“We really have no choice because we have nine seniors and we have 10 scholarships available, so it appears that we’re moving in that direction where we’re going to sign 9 or 10 players in our first class and that way we’ll have two of every position,” Lavin said.

St. John’s is also involved with several elite players, including JaKarr Sampson, Amir Garrett, D’Angelo Harrison, Norvel Pelle, Tyler Harris, Quinn Cook, Naadir Tharpe and Tavon Sledge.

“[Lavin] is hungry,” Harkless said. “He tells me what kind of plans he has and I think we could really do big things there.”

After a mediocre spring, Harkless blew up on the summer circuit.

He was invited to the LeBron James Skills Academy but instead was named the Most Outstanding Player at the Hoop Group Elite Camp in Reading, Pa., in early July.

He led the New York Panthers to the semifinals of the Fab 48 event in Las Vegas and was named to the All-Tournament team.

And he finished up his tremendous tour by helping the Panthers win the Desert Duel event in Arizona, beating out Tony Wroten, Quinn Cook,Wayne Blackshear and Tharpe for MVP honors.

“I just wanted to prove to myself mainly that I was a better player than a lot of people thought because I started off this spring not so well,” he said. “A lot of people doubted me so I just wanted to go out there and show people what I could do.”

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After a 15-year hiatus, the Golden Hoops basketball tournament returns Saturday to Edmond’s Playground in Fort Greene, Brooklyn from noon to 8 p.m.
Among those expected to participate are NYC basketball legend and Queens native Kenny Anderson (Team NYC), Brevin Knight (Team Jersey), John Wallace (Team Empire State), Kyle Lowery (Team Philly) and Cappie Pondexter (Girls Team NYC).

“Golden Hoops was a tournament I looked forward to playing in every summer,” Anderson said. “It brought together all the best players from the New York City metropolitan area for a great competition in a great atmosphere. I am excited Golden Hoops is coming back and I look forward to being a part of it this summer as an Honorary Coach.”

THE MATCHUPS

Noon Team NYC vs.Team Philly 2 p.m.

Team Jersey vs. Team Empire 4 p.m.

Team NYC vs.Team Jersey (girls) 6 p.m.

Boys championship

BOYS

TEAM NYC

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Omar Calhoun         G     Christ the King    2012

Kareem Canty         G  Wilbraham & Monson    2011

Daniel Dingle           F         St. Raymond    2012

Corey Edwards        G     Christ the King    2011

Tyquan Goodlett     G               Jefferson    2011

Maurice Harkless G/F            South Kent    2011

Kadeem Jack            F            South Kent    2011

Sidiki Johnson          F        Oak Hill (Va.)    2011

Kamari Murphy         F                  Lincoln    2011

Kerwin Okoro      F         St. Raymond    2012

Jermaine Sanders G/F                       Rice    2011

Mike Taylor             G          Boys & Girls    2011

Coaches: Kenny Anderson, Dermon Player

TEAM JERSEY

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Kelvin Amayo          G                NIA Prep    2011

Kyle Anderson         G           St. Anthony    2012

Reggie Cameron  G/F   Hudson Catholic    2013

Myles Davis             G     St. Peter’s Prep    2011

Sterling Gibbs          G     Seton Hall Prep    2011

Derrick Gordon        G             St. Patrick    2011

Vaughn Gray           G         St. Benedicts    2011

Tyrone Johnson       G   Montrose Christian    2011

Myles Mack             G           St. Anthony    2011

Derrick Randall        F            South Kent    2011

Kavon Stewart       G   Hudson Catholic    2013

Coaches: Derrick Bobbitt, Brevin Knight

TEAM EMPIRE

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Jordan Allen         G/F             Bay Shore    2011

Terry Brutus             F          L.I. Lutheran    2011

Galal Cancer            G                       CBA    2011

DaJuan Coleman      F Jamesville-DeWitt    2012

Sheldon Hagigal      G              Westbury    2011

Tyler Harris              F   Half Hollow Hills    2011

Derek Millinghause G         Schenectady    2011

Daouda Samoura     C                     OSNA    2011

Tavon Sledge           G   Half Hollow Hills    2011

John Wallace Jr.      G      Greece Athena    2011

Stan Weir                G      Nichols School    2012

Achraf Yacoubou     G          L.I. Lutheran    2011

Coaches:             Steve Treffiletti, John Wallace

TEAM PHILLY

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Jaylen Bond              F Plymouth-Whitemarsh    2011

Devin Coleman        G     Friends Central    2011

Erik Copes                F   Imhotep Charter    2011

Malcolm Gilbert       C                       ANC    2011

Savon Goodman       F                       ANC    2012

Joey Gripper            G  Abington Friends    2011

Amile Jefferson        F     Friends Central    2012

John Johnson           G            Life Center    2011

Daniel Ochefu          F  Westtown School    2012

Jibril Troutwick        G  Abington Friends    2011

Yilret Yiljep              F  Westtown School    2013

Coach: Terrell Myers

GIRLS

TEAM NYC

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Siera Calhoun      G/F     Christ the King    2014

Cori Coleman          G             Bergtraum    2011

Bianca Cuevas         G               Nazareth    2014

Jazmine Davis      G/F        Francis Lewis    2012

Taylor Ford               F               Nazareth    2011

Tiffany Jones           F               Nazareth    2011

Diani Mason            G           Bishop Ford    2011

Nia Oden              G/F     Christ the King    2011

Fannisha Price          F          South Shore    2012

Janera Roper           G                  Lincoln    2013

Bria Smith                G     Christ the King    2011

Coaches: Lauren Best, Kym Hampton,Ron Kelley, Apache Paschall

TEAM JERSEY

NAME                   POS                 SCHOOL  YEAR

Syessence Davis      G                Neptune    2011

Chyna Golden          C                Neptune    2011

Sarah Halejian         G                 Ramapo    2011

De-Asia Jones          F                Shabazz    2013

Alicia Lovette          G                Shabazz    2011

Teana Muldrow        F    E. Orange Campus    2013

Zaire O’Neil              F                Shabazz    2014

Sakeena Richardson G               Neptune    2011

Bridget Ryan            F  Mount St. Mary’s    2011

Brianna Sykes         G             University    2012

Amber Thompson    C             University    2011

Coaches: Keith Jefferson, Cappie Pondexter

* Rosters subject to change

(Photo courtesy Daily News)

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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.

No officials are set but his AAU coach, Mike Moore, says planning is in the works.

“In September or close to the end of this month he’ll decide on which schools he’s going to visit,” Moore said. “I don’t think he can go wrong in terms of what schools he’s going to go to. They all offer solid academics. It’s really about what schools are going to meet his basketball needs.”

Said Sledge: “I’m looking for the best situation for me. Staying home or going away doesn’t really matter. Whatever’s the best for me, that’s where I’m going to go.”

(Photo courtesy MaxPreps.com)

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“He’s been cleared. His hand will be heavily taped and padded,” Seton Hall spokesman Matt Sweeney said.

The second leading scorer in the Big East at 22.4 points per game, Hazell sustained a deep cut on his right (shooting) hand during the Pirates’ 59-50 win Wednesday at St. John’s Wednesday. He took eight stitches.

But senior point guard Eugene Harvey is “unlikely” to play with a bruised wrist.

“Eugene Harvey is now unlikely to play as his wrist is bothering him quite a bit.  [He] will be a game-time decision,” Sweeney said.

Harvey suffered a bone bruise to his right wrist in last Sunday’s win over DePaul.

WEST VIRGINIA OFFERS SLEDGE

West Virginia has offered a scholarship to Tavon Sledge, a 5-9, 160-pound junior combo guard at Dix Hills (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West.

“They offered me on Monday,” Sledge said, adding that he had no immediate visits planned.

Zach Smart first reported the story.

Hofstra is the only other school to offer Sledge, who transferred from St. Benedict’s Prep. Providence is also involved.

“I spoke to [West Virginia assistant] Larry Harrison [Thursday] and he said they watched him play, they love him, they think he’s got a world of potential,” Half Hollow Hills coach Bill Mitaritonna said.

“They loved his competitiveness, his sped, his ability to get better as the season goes on.”

Sledge is averaging 17 points and 11 assists for Hall Hollow Hills West, which is 19-0 after Friday’s 54-43 victory over Sachem North in the Suffolk County tournament.

Last month he dropped 21 points in a 75-72 victory over Bishop Loughlin and Villanova-bound forward JayVaughn Pinkston.

Half Hollow Hills West, which also features Tennessee-bound senior Tobias Harris and his younger brother Tyler, next play Tuesday in the second round of the county tournament.

(Sledge Photo courtesy Gotham Hoops)

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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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