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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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Thursday / March 28.
  • Villanova forward Taylor King left the team after a violation of team rules, ESPN.com reported.

    The University released a statement saying the 6-foot-6 King planned “to remain at Villanova to focus his efforts on completing his degree requirements.”

    Villanova coach Jay Wright did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.

    King transferred to Villanova in the summer of 2008 after one year at Duke University. The former McDonald’s All-American sat out the 2008-09 campaign as a transfer student and then appeared in 32 games, averaging 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 19.0 minutes per game.

    Andre Drummond, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2012, plans to release a list of potential colleges after the AAU Nationals next month.

    “After Nationals in Florida I’ll let out a list of schools that I’m interested in. There’s no Top 5,” Drummond said by phone Monday from San Antonio, Texas after he was named to the 12-man roster for the USA U17 National Team.

    The 6-foot-11, 265-pound Drummond is a rising junior at Oakdale (Conn.) St. Thomas More, where he plays for head coach Jere Quinn.

    There has been much speculation that Drummond could wind up at UConn because he lives and attends school in Connecticut, but Drummond says people shouldn’t assume that.

    EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Derrick Favors and DeMarcus Cousins have been facing off against one another since the 10th grade.

    “To be honest,” Cousins said after their joint workout Monday with the Nets, “me and Derrick have been in competition our whole career. I mean it was always who was better, me or Derrick, me or Derrick? And after we went to college, I pretty much thought those days were over. But we’re right back at stage one.”

    Four years after they first faced off at at event in Atlanta, the two big men have shared workouts in Sacramento, Philadelphia and, now New Jersey.

    The Nets hold the No. 3 pick in Thursday’s NBA Draft, while the 76ers pick at No. 2 and the Kings at No. 5.

    “I think we all walked out of here going, ‘These are going to be two really fine NBA players going down the road,'” said Gregg Polinsky, the Nets’ Director of Player Personal.

    Maurice Harkless has decided to open it up.

    After initially committing to UConn, the 6-foot-8, 187-pound Queens native has decided to decommit and reevaluate his options.

    “I want to just reopen my recruitment,” Harkless told SNY.tv exclusively Monday morning by phone. “I just want to make sure UConn is still the right choice and explore my other options.”

    The No. 21 small forward in the Class of 2011, Harkless averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds last season at Forest Hills High.

    UConn has undergone some turmoil in recent months.

    Even Chane Behanan admitted to being surprised at his most recent performance.

    After averaging 14.7 points and leading the Hawks to the championship game, the 6-foot-6, 240-pound Behanan was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Top 100 Camp in Charlottesville, Va.

    “I was shocked,” Behanan, the No. 6 power forward in the Class of 2011, said Sunday night in a phone interview. “I felt good this morning. A lot of people came through that camp and I was the most outstanding one so I was kind of happy.”

    Behanan’s phone hasn’t been ringing off the hook the way you might expect, but he did pick up an offer from Indiana Sunday.

    By ALEX KLINE & ADAM ZAGORIA

    Tyler Harris is hitting the road.

    Harris, a 6-foot-8, 195-pound small forward from Dix Hills (N.Y.) Half Hollow Hills West and the younger brother of incoming Tennessee freshman forward Tobias Harris, will take several visits over the next two weeks.

    According to Torrel Harris, Tyler’s father, the planned schedule goes like this:

    Monday (June 21) – North Carolina

    Tuesday – N.C. State

    Thursday – Rutgers

    During the week of June 27, Tyler will also visit Syracuse, Seton Hall and UConn.

    In what may prove a precursor to his college career, Jermaine Sanders lit it up this weekend on the Villanova campus.

    The 6-foot-4, 205-pound rising senior wing from Rice High School averaged 18 points and 8 rebounds and hit two game-winning shots to lead Rice to a perfect 5-0 mark at Villanova’s team camp.

    “Jermaine has a high basketball IQ,” said New Heights AD and Rice assistant Kimani Young.  “Once he increases his strength and conditioning, the sky’s the limit for him.

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