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.
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — I drove down here today to check in with Chris Chaney’s Patterson School team, arguably the top prep program in the nation right now. Patterson improved to 19-0 by blowing out one of Apex Academy’s four teams, 108-63, in a game that featured 16 first-half dunks by a Patterson team that has Rice-bound Arsalan Kazemi, Marshall commit Hassan Whiteside, Georgia State commit Rashanti Harris and Washington-bound Clarence Trent.
Numerous Division I coaches were on hand, including La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini, Scott Adubato and Derm Player of Seton Hall, Craig Carter of Rutgers, Chris Chaney of St. John’s and coaches from St. Peter’s, Florida Atlantic and Southern Illinois.
One of the featured uncommitted players on Patterson is DeAndre “Big Daddy” Kane, a 6-4 wing from Pittsburgh who is being courted by Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Marquette.
He is a very athletic wing player who moved quickly and easily up the court and had no problem scoring near the basket. On one play he went coast-to-coast, grabbing a defensive rebound, dribbling the length and laying it in. He also hit a 3-pointer to show some range.
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.
“I got Top three Seton Hall, Marquette and PIttsburgh,” Kane said, adding that he plans to visit Seton Hall Dec. 19.
“My boy goes there, Herb Pope,” he added about Seton Hall. “That’s my boy. He told me it’s nice. I’ve been talking to Coach Adubato.” Pope, a native of Aliquippa, Pa., is sitting out the year at Seton Hall after transferring from New Mexico State.
Kane also plans to visit Marquette, but said, “I don’t have a date yet.”
Pittsburgh associate head coach Tom Herrion placed Kane at Patterson, but Kane said: “I never committed to Pitt.”
Still, he said he planned to see the Panthers play when he’s home soon on the holiday break.
He said he will decide sometime in January. Stay tuned for updates…
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
CHERRY HILL, N.J. — I drove down here today to check in with Chris Chaney’s Patterson School team, arguably the top prep program in the nation right now. Patterson improved to 19-0 by blowing out one of Apex Academy’s four teams, 108-63, in a game that featured 16 first-half dunks by a Patterson team that has Rice-bound Arsalan Kazemi, Marshall commit Hassan Whiteside, Georgia State commit Rashanti Harris and Washington-bound Clarence Trent.
Numerous Division I coaches were on hand, including La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini, Scott Adubato and Derm Player of Seton Hall, Craig Carter of Rutgers, Chris Chaney of St. John’s and coaches from St. Peter’s, Florida Atlantic and Southern Illinois.
One of the featured uncommitted players on Patterson is DeAndre “Big Daddy” Kane, a 6-4 wing from Pittsburgh who is being courted by Pittsburgh, Seton Hall and Marquette.
He is a very athletic wing player who moved quickly and easily up the court and had no problem scoring near the basket. On one play he went coast-to-coast, grabbing a defensive rebound, dribbling the length and laying it in. He also hit a 3-pointer to show some range.
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.
“I got Top three Seton Hall, Marquette and PIttsburgh,” Kane said, adding that he plans to visit Seton Hall Dec. 19.
“My boy goes there, Herb Pope,” he added about Seton Hall. “That’s my boy. He told me it’s nice. I’ve been talking to Coach Adubato.” Pope, a native of Aliquippa, Pa., is sitting out the year at Seton Hall after transferring from New Mexico State.
Kane also plans to visit Marquette, but said, “I don’t have a date yet.”
Pittsburgh associate head coach Tom Herrion placed Kane at Patterson, but Kane said: “I never committed to Pitt.”
Still, he said he planned to see the Panthers play when he’s home soon on the holiday break.
He said he will decide sometime in January. Stay tuned for updates…
