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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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Wednesday / November 6.
  • Dan Hurley has landed his first two commitments since moving to Wagner College from St. Benedict’s Prep.

    Orlando Parker, a 6-foot-8-inch senior power forward from two-time state champ Orlando Christian Prep, verbally committed on Monday, as did 6-2, 175-pound combo guard Latif Rivers, an Elizabeth, N.J. native now at Avon Old Farms, a prep school in Conn.

    “I’ve known Coach Hurley for some time and I know how he operates,” Rivers said by phone. “I know the coaching staff that they have has a lot of experience. If they can help me get better, I’m hoping I can help get their program to the next level. I checked out the school and I liked the school. I thought that Wagner would be the best fit for me.”

    Jelani Hewitt is off the board.

    A 6-foot-2, 180-pound point guard who averaged 16 points and 6 assists at Oakland Park (Fla.) Northeast High School, Hewitt committed to Georgia Southern Monday morning.

    “I actually just committed 10:30 this morning,” Hewitt said by phone. “I chose Georgia Southern over Tulane, Rice, George Washington and St. Bonaventure.”

    Hewitt said he liked everything about Georgia Southern, especially head coach Charlton Young.

    Terrence Ross, the No. 10 shooting guard in the Class of 2010, is off the board.

    The 6-foot-5 Ross has decided to commit to Washington, the school he takes an official to Monday.

    “I am going to Washington because of the great relationship I have with the team and coaches. I thought it would be the best choice for me and I would fit in with the team,” Ross told ZAGSBLOG contributor Alex Kline via Facebook.

    Ross, The Oregonian Class 5A Player of the Year in 2008, chose Washington over Kansas, Kentucky, Oregon and Oklahoma.

    I caught up briefly with C.J. Leslie while he waited for his plane at the airport after his weekend official to UConn.

    Leslie said freshman big man Ater Majok was his host.

    “It went good,” said Leslie, the No. 4 power forward in the Class of 2010. “They showed me the campus.”

    According to the UConn forum, a group of students made up white T-shirts that read, “CJ Leslie Please Commit To UConn.”

    “They showed me campus and that was it,” Leslie said.

    Count Bob Huggins and Rick Barnes among the high-major coaches targeting LaQuinton Ross, a 6-foot-8 junior wing from Burlington (N.J.) Life Center Academy who averaged 18 points and 10 rebounds last season.

    “Bob Huggins flew in Monday. Rick Barnes came on Tuesday,” Life Center coach Wilson Arroyo said, referring to the West Virginia and Texas head coaches.

    Since transferring in January from Jackson (Miss.) Murrah High School, Ross has generated a lot of interest from Big East schools.

    Arroyo said Syracuse associate head coach Mike Hopkins, Villanova assistant Doug West and Seton Hall assistant Steve Sauers all came in last week to watch Ross.

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