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Adam Zagoria covers basketball at all levels. He is the author of two books and an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Sports Illustrated, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide.
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Tuesday / December 3.
  • NEWPORT, R.I. – The most interesting and controversial comments from Big East Football Media Day came from West Virginia senior QB Pat White, who said he did not play for the school’s baseball team this spring because there haven’t been many African-American players on the team.

    “In my knowledge of West Virginia baseball, there’s not been many players of my race on his (head coach Greg Van Zant’s) team,” said White, who is African-American. “He’s not too high on it.”

    Van Zant did not immediately return a phone message left at his office.

    NEWPORT, R.I. – Blogging live from Big East Media Day in lovely Newport, R.I. After hitting the Bruce Springsteen concert at Giants Stadium last night, I got to bed near 1 a.m….and then woke up at 5 to drive up here. I’ll need a nap later! Meantime,

    On the heels of two BIG EAST championships in the last three seasons, West Virginia has been tabbed as the favorite to take the 2008 title in the conference’s annual preseason media poll, released Tuesday as part of the conference’s Summer Kickoff at the Hotel Viking.

    The Mountaineers (11-2, 5-2 BIG EAST in 2007) received 22 of a possible 24 first-place votes to finish with 189 points in the poll of media representatives from each of the eight BIG EAST markets. West Virginia, which earned the BIG EAST’s Bowl Championship Series berth last season on its way to a 48-28 win against Oklahoma in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, will be led by two-time BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Pat White, who enters the 2008 season as a bona fide Heisman Trophy candidate. The Mountaineers are under the direction of new head coach Bill Stewart, who was promoted to the top spot in January after leading West Virginia to the bowl victory against the Sooners.

    Tamir Jackson has decommitted from UAB. Can DeMarcus Cousins be far behind?

    Jackson, a 6-foot-2 senior shooting guard at St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark, says he has decommitted from Mike Davis’ program.

    Jackson, a Paterson, N.J. native, says he’s now considering Miami, Penn, Harvard, Virginia Tech, Rice, Davidson and Arizona. UAB is still an option.

    “I don’t have a favorite,” he said in a text message.

    Isaiah Epps is reaping the benefits of his strong play in Vegas.

    After scoring 23 points in the Playaz 78-74 semifinal loss to DC Assault in the adidas Super 64, the 6-3 guard from Plainfield High School is garnerning major interest.

    “Isaiah is going to be recruited by Texas, UCLA, Michigan and Ohio State,” Playaz director Jimmy Salmon said.

    Epps already holds offers from Rutgers, Seton Hall, Maryland, Pitt and St. Joe’s.

    “That makes me feel good,” Epps said. “That shows me that I’m doing a good job at what I’m doing.”

    Epps said he had no favorites at this time, but that he wants to go away from home for college.

    “Far away,” he said.


    Kenny Boynton and Brandon Knight went for a combined 50 points to lead Team Breakdown over D-One Sports in the final of the Rbk Summer Championships in Las Vegas. The 6-2, 185-pound Boynton, Rivals No. 3 shooting guard in the Class of 2009, says he’s considering Florida, Memphis, Texas, Duke and Georgia Tech. Knight, the No. 2 junior point guard, has a long list including many major programs.

    **John Wall tallied 20 points in the final for D-One Sports and scored 30 points in two other games on the week. The No. 1 player in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals is rumored to be close to committing to Oklahama state but his coach says otherwise.
    “John has not decided where he will attend college, nor when he will decide to make a decision,” Brian Clifton wrote in an email.
    His list includes Oklahoma State, Kentucky, Oregon, Kansas, Baylor, Memphis, Oklahoma and N.C. State, according to Jody Demling.

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