May 2011 | Page 14 of 18 | 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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Monday / October 14.
  • John Calipari and Rick Pitino matching coaching wits in the FIBA Tournament of the Americas with a spot in the 2012 Olympics on the line would have been some good entertainment.

    Instead, we may have to settle for Calipari against Dave Odom.

    Odom, the former Wake Forest and South Carolina coach, is now the leader to replace Pitino as the coach of the Puerto Rican National team, according to a well-placed source.

    “He is the frontrunner,” the source said.

    Chris Thomas, the No. 4 player in the Class of 2013 according to Rivals, is currently on an unofficial visit to Arizona.

    And if trends continue, Thomas could be playing his college ball there, too.

    Thomas holds offers from a Who’s Who of elite programs, including Kansas, Kentucky, UConn, Memphis and Arizona, but Westwind Prep coach Gary Trousdale said Arizona is currently working the hardest.

    One year of college was all Tobias Harris needed.

    The 6-foot-8, 226-pound freshman forward from Tennessee will remain in the NBA Draft and forgo his final three years of college eligibility.

    “Want to thank all that supported me during my time at UT. Its truly been a blessing, the Lord has guided me in the greatest of ways,” Harris posted on Twitter Friday afternoon.

    Harris, a Dix Hills, N.Y., native, is projected as the No. 16 pick in the June 23 draft by DraftExpress.com.

    Beginning Wednesday, Ryan Harrow and his mother, Fern Matthews, will embark on a 10-day, five-school odyssey that will help them decide where the transfer from N.C. State will land.

    In one of the most unique recruiting trips you’ll ever hear about, Harrow, a 6-foot-1 freshman point guard, and his mom will visit Kentucky, Texas, Louisville, Georgia and St. John’s without going home in between.

    “Everything is back-to-back like this is because there’s a dead period from the 19th through the 27th,” Matthews said Friday by phone from Raleigh, N.C. “Summer school’s starting the second week in June.

    Kentucky freshman Brandon Knight said he will remain in the NBA Draft and forgo his final three years of college eligibility.

    “It was an opportunity I just couldn’t pass up,” Knight said Friday.

    Knight’s teammates, freshman Terrence Jones and junior DeAndre Liggins, have until Sunday night to make a decision.

    Jones said he planned to announce on Saturday via Twitter.

    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.

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