November 2008 | Page 18 of 21 | Zagsblog
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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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    • Americans in Europe, Arizona, Florida, Seton Hall, South Florida, Texas, UConn

    Lots of movement in the world of college basketball going on…

    **Jai Lucas, son of former NBA player John Lucas, is transferring out of Florida. Lucas started all 36 games for the Gators last season, averaging 8.5 points and 2.3 assists. Playing alongside Nick Calathes, the Southeastern co-freshman of the year, in a three-guard lineup didn’t work out for Lucas, who could end up at a Big 12 school close to his home in Bellaire, Texas. Oklahoma State, Kentucky and Maryland were among his finalists last time around.

    “I just think we were going in different directions.” Lucas told Gatorsports.com. “I have no regrets about it. The coaching staff, the players, the school, were great. I had a great time while I was here. I just wanted something else.”

    Dominic Cheek, High Schools, Hurleys, Kansas, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, St. John's, Villanova

    Rutgers is officially in the running for St. Anthony star Dominic Cheek.

    The 6-foot-5 Cheek will visit Rutgers officially later this month.

    “He will visit Rutgers Nov. 21,” St. Anthony associate head coach Ben Gamble said Wednesday.

    Cheek will also visit Rutgers unofficially Nov. 10 for an exhibition game against Division II Caldwell College.

    The NCAA early signing period runs Nov. 12-19, and Gamble said Cheek most likely would not commit during that period.

    Lance Stephenson, St. John's

    NEW YORK — Anthony Mason Jr. says he’s fully healthy and can’t wait for the 2008-09 season to begin.

    “It’s the most important year, I can’t wait for the season to start. I can’t,” Mason, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound senior forward and the son of former Knicks standout Anthony Mason, said Wednesday at St. John’s Media Day.

    Mason underwent surgery in the spring to repair a high ankle sprain in his left leg that caused him to miss eight games a year ago. He averaged 14 points and 4.4 rebounds and earned Big East honorable mention status. Mason dropped 29 points in back-to-back games against Pittsburgh and Louisville in January.

    Memphis, Oklahoma State, Seton Hall

    Karron Johnson, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound power forward from Mount Zion Academy in North Carolina who has been compared to Kenyon Martin, committed to Oklahoma State head coach Travis Ford on Wednesday night.

    “It’s true,” said James Shange Black. Black and his wife are mentors who live with Johnson in Raleigh, N.C. “He just did it last night.”

    Johnson had developed a relationship with Oklahoma State assistant Butch Pierre when Pierre was at LSU and the relationship carried over. He committed after taking a visit to Oklahoma State last weekend.

    “Coach Pierre was recruiting him at LSU and he always kept in contact with Karron and Karron had a great relationship and was always comfortable with him,” Black said.

    High Schools, Kansas, Memphis, Villanova

    Xavier Henry, the No. 1 shooting guard in the Class of 2009, will undergo surgery on Thursday morning to repair a broken cheekbone and a damaged area underneath his eye and nose, Jayhawk Slant reported.

    Henry suffered the injuries during a car crash Oct. 22 in Oklahoma City and he has been unable to practice with the basketball team since.

    “We believe he does have to wear a face-mask,” Carl Henry, Xavier’s father, told me the other day. “All the swelling is down and everything is back to normal. He’s doing a lot better than they thought he would.”

    Lance Stephenson, St. Anthony, St. Benedict's, St. Patrick

    The first edition of the National Prep Basketball Poll is out and, as usual, Brooklyn Lincoln and the trinity of Jersey Catholic powerhouses are near the top.

    Lance Stephenson and Lincoln are No. 4 in the national poll, followed by Danny Hurley’s St. Benedict’s team at No. 5 and Kevin Boyle’s St. Patrick team at No. 6. For the record, we’re picking the Celtics to win the New Jersey Tournament of Champions in 2009. Led by North Carolina-bound G Dexter Strickland, George Mason commit Paris Bennett and junior guard Kyrie Irving, the Celtics are the best team in Jersey.

    Bob Hurley’s defending national champion St. Anthony chimed in at No. 13.

    Duncanville of Texas, winner of 74 of its last 76 games, is No. 1.

    Here are some key dates for the local teams:

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