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.
Calipari to Coach Dominicans; Knight to Hold Presser
Kentucky coach John Calipari will officially coach the Dominican Republic in this summer’s FIBA Tournament of the Americas.
The event serves as a qualifier for the 2012 Olympics.
Calipari announced on his Website that Kentucky will host a mini-camp in early August “with some of the Dominican Republic’s emerging young stars, most of whom are already playing American college basketball, including our own Eloy Vargas.”
The Dominican team could feature as many as four NBA players in Francisco Garcia, Al Horford, Charlie Villanueva and Trevor Ariza.
“He’d be more than welcome, you know, he’s a good coach, great coach,” Garcia said in January.
“I have already spoken with several of the Dominican players in the NBA,” Calipari said.
Calipari said Kentucky fans will get to see an exhibition at Rupp Arena between the Dominican team and “former Cats and former players.”
“The team will play another exhibition in the Dominican Republic before heading to Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil for the Jenaro “Tuto” Marchand Continental Cup (August 24-26),” Calipari wrote on his site. “From there, we will travel to Mar del Plata, Argentina for the FIBA Americas Championship for Men/Olympic Qualifying Tournament (August 30 – Sept. 11).”
KNIGHT TO HOLD PRESSER
Kentucky freshman point guard Brandon Knight will hold a press conference Friday morning in which he is expected to announce his NBA plans.
Calipari told ESPN’s Andy Katz on Wednesday, “Brandon got the confirmation that he wanted” during a recent workout for NBA representatives.
Sunday is the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from draft consideration and retain their college eligibility.
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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.
Kentucky coach John Calipari will officially coach the Dominican Republic in this summer’s FIBA Tournament of the Americas.
