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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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Friday / March 29.
  • By ADAM ZAGORIA & ALEX KLINE

    At 6 feet 10 inches and with natural shot-blocking abilities, Nerlens Noel may well be the best defensive player in the Class of 2013.

    “Nerlens has cat-like reflexes, incredible instincts, quickness, reflexes for a guy his size,” said Tilton (N.H.) School coach Markus O’Neil. “He has uncanny shot-blocking ability.

    “He can do a lot just naturally on defense. He’s got a decent frame on him. He needs to continue to get stronger and build his offensive skills.”

    Mike Brey will reportedly meet with Maryland officials Sunday, one day after Arizona announced that head coach Sean Miller had agreed to an extension.

    The Washington Post reported on its Website that Brey, the Notre Dame coach and a Maryland native, will meet today with Maryland officials about potentially succeeding the retired Gary Williams.

    The Big East and National Coach of the Year, Brey is a Bethesda, Md., native, graduated from George Washington and coached for five years under Hall of Famer Morgan Wootten at Dematha (Md.) Catholic.

    EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Good news for Pitt basketball fans.

    Ashton Gibbs will return to campus for his senior year instead of remaining in the NBA Draft.

    That should automatically make Pitt a contender for another Big East regular season title and the first Final Four of the Jamie Dixon Era.

    “We can be very good,” Gibbs said by text. “[We have] a lot of good  young players that are going to surprise people.”

    After Tweeting a week ago that he was headed to West Virginia, Aaric Murray made it official Saturday.

    The 6-foot-10, 250-pound center who played two seasons at La Salle has signed a grant-in-aid to attend West Virginia and will be eligible for the 2012-13 season

    A Philadelphia native, Murray will have to sit out this season due to NCAA transfer rules. He will have two years of eligibility remaining.

    EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — One day after Tennessee freshman Tobias Harris announced he would remain in the NBA Draft,  junior shooting guard Scotty Hopson said he’s following suit.

    “Just say I’m staying,” he told SNY.tv Saturday in an exclusive interview during an NBA combine at the PNY Center.

    “It’s all good. Just say I’m staying.”

    He is projected by DraftExpress.com to go No. 54 overall, No. 24 in the second round, to the Cleveland Cavaliers.

    Hopson is expected to sign with New York-based agent Alberto Ebanks, who also reps Lance Stephenson of the Pacers.

    Providence coach Ed Cooley has his first recruit.

    LaDontae Henton, a 6-foot-6-inch, 215-pound wing from Eastern High School in Lansing, Mich., signed with the Friars.

    “We are very excited to be able to add a student-athlete with LaDontae Henton’s skills to our team,” Cooley said. “He will join us in September with the ability to play solid defense and rebound the basketball.  LaDontae has the athleticism to run the floor and mix it up in the paint.  He comes from one of the top high school and AAU programs in Michigan.”

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