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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.
  • NEW YORK — Lost in all the news coverage of Louisville junior power forward Terrence Jennings hiring an agent and remaining in the NBA Draft is is the identity of that agent.

    Jennings’ agent is none other than Eddie Lau, the infamous New York-based basketball personality who was a mentor to former New Jersey prep star Derrick Caracter and an alleged runner for NBA agent Dan Fegan.

    “I’ve been working with Eddie for a while now,” the 6-foot-10, 235-pound Jennings, a Sacramento, Calif., native, said in an exclusive interview Wednesday morning after a workout at Baruch College. “He’s helped me through this whole process.”

    Louisville coach Rick Pitino said he expects NBA players to flood Europe during an extended NBA lockout.

    “I do think there are a lot of guys in the NBA who have made a lot of money, but have not invested wisely,” Pitino said Wednesday by phone. “So if they think the lockout’s long, they’re going to try to get Greece, Italy and Spain as quickly as they can.”

    Pitino said he advised Louisville junior power forward Terrence Jennings, a borderline second-round NBA Draft pick, to take the first European deal he is offered.

    “I gave him all the information and said to him, ‘You’re probably, if you have good workouts, going to get drafted in the second round,'” Pitino said. “That being said, you must understand that the first deal that comes across from Europe, you need to take because a lot of these pro guys are very good and they’re going to need money and they’re going to have to go to Europe because of the lockout.”

    By ALEX KLINE

    About a month ago, Georges Niang had no high-major offers and was being recruited by a number of mid-majors. But he was bound to breakout.

    Both Iowa and Iowa State noticed the 2012 forward’s talents and decided to offer. After visiting both schools in March and getting some recognition, schools began to inquire about Niang.

    “I just got off the phone with Seton Hall; they offered,” Niang said by phone. “It feels good to have a Big East school that’s on the up rise believe in me enough to come in and help their program be the best it can be.”

    Ashton Gibbs won’t have much time to make a decision that will determine the rest of his life.

    Gibbs, a sophomore guard at Pittsburgh from Scotch Plains, N.J., is one of 44 draft-eligible players who will work out this weekend in front of coaches and personnel executives from 26 NBA teams at the Nets facility in East Rutherford, N.J.

    At least Gibbs can give thanks that he isn’t one of the players working out Sunday — because by midnight Sunday underclassmen must decide whether they will remain in the draft or pull out and return to campus.

    “The whole decision is kind of a train wreck,” said veteran NBA agent Mark Bartelstein. “If the goal is for players to get really accurate information on where they stand and make a good decision, I think the May 8 date is certainly not benefitting [them].

    Seton Hall announced the signing of Sean Grennan (Sea Girt, N.J.)Kevin Johnson (Woodland Hills, Calif.) and Brandon Mobley (Savannah, Ga.) for their 2011-12 recruiting class.

    “I’m very pleased with the addition of these three talented players,” head coach Kevin Willard said.  “Brandon and Kevin will really help us inside and Sean solidifies our guard position.  We targeted guys who could come in and help us right away.  I’m really excited with the potential that all six of our newcomers will bring to this roster next year.”

    Regarded as an excellent passer and accurate shooter, Grennan was named to New Jersey’s All-Ocean County team three straight years.  A 6-foot-2 guard, he averaged 19 points, five assists and four rebounds per game as a senior at Monsignor Donovan High School.  A strong three-point shooter, Grennan tallied over 1,400 career points in his career as a four-year starter.

    Several future Big East players as well as some of the top uncommitted juniors in the nation will highlight the 4th Annual Frankie Williams Charity Classic hosted by Frenji Sports June 2nd at the Theodore D. Young Community Center in Greenburgh, N.Y.

    Among those expected to play are top uncommitted juniors  DaJuan Coleman (pictured), Kyle Anderson and Omar Calhoun; St. John’s signee Maurice Harkless; Rutgers commits Eli Carter and Myles Mack; Villanova-bound Achraf Yacoubou; Cincinnati signee Jermaine Sanders; and West Virginia-bound Jabarie Hinds.

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