December 2010 | 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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Wednesday / December 4.
  • “Born Ready” apparently isn’t ready for the NBA just yet.

    During his storied career at Lincoln High School, Lance Stephenson, nicknamed “Born Ready,” enjoyed some of his brightest moments under the lights at Madison Square Garden.

    The all-time leading scorer in New York State history, Stephenson led Lincoln to four Public Schools Athletic League titles in the famed arena.

    But when the 6-foot-5 Stephenson returns to the Garden Sunday as an Indiana Pacers rookie, he’ll likely be sitting on the end of the bench in a suit as his teammates battle the Knicks (18-14).

    By ADAM ZAGORIA & ALEX KLINE

    There is no leader in the clubhouse just yet for Kyle Anderson, but Xavier may be outworking everyone else for the 6-foot-8 junior point guard from St. Anthony.

    Xavier assistant Rasheen Davis flew in to watch Anderson play two games in Newton, Mass. Wednesday-Thursday.

    He did so even though he had to leave at 4:30 a.m. Friday for a 6 a.m. flight and a two-hour layover at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport in order to get back for a 4 p.m. game with Florida.

    DeAndre Daniels stands on the brink of making a college decision, according to West Coast recruiting expert Dinos Trigonis, who spoke Thursday with Daniels.

    “They’re trying to make a decision here, hopefully around Jan. 1,” Trigonis, who has coached Daniels in AAU, said Thursday by phone. “They’re going to basically finalize and get together as a family and decide what they want to do.”

    Neither DeAndre nor his father, LaRon, were immediately available by phone.

    The 6-foot-9, 197-pound Daniels recently returned from his fourth visit, to Texas, and Trigonis said it went well.

    Former Memphis guard Jelan Kendrick is transferring to Ole Miss.

    Due to NCAA transfer rules, the 6-foot-6, 200-pound Atlanta native can start practicing with the team in the upcoming semester and will be eligible to suit up for the Rebels next December.

    “We are pleased to announce that Jelan Kendrick has joined our program,” Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy said. “Jelan is a very talented young man that was looking for an opportunity to start anew. His talent has never been questioned with versatility being his greatest strength. After visiting with him and his family, we are excited about his future as an Ole Miss Rebel.”

    One day after Louisville head coach Rick Pitino used the word “confused” to describe a FoxSports.com college basketball writer, Art Alvarez of the Miami Tropics said he never believed Pitino took the Puerto Rican National Team coaching job to gain a recruiting edge.

    “I disagree with what was written that Coach Pitino had only taken the job for recruiting purposes,” Alvarez said Thursday by phone from Miami, referring to a column for which he was interviewed suggesting Pitino agreed to coach Puerto Rico in 2011 Olympic qualifying in order to land 2012 shooting guard Ricky Ledo, who has since committed to Providence.

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