December 2011 | Page 6 of 28 | 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 11.
  • Both Kentucky coach John Calipari and Louisville coach Rick Pitino were on Thursday to watch Chicago Simeon star Jabari Parker and his Chicago Simeon team beat Jahlil Okafor and Whitney Young.

    Considered by some the top prospect in America regardless of class, Parker had 15 points, nine rebounds and four blocks to help Simeon win, 62-55, at the UIC Pavilion.

    Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose, who played at Simeon and then for Calipari at Memphis, was also on hand.

    Parker, a 6-foot-7 junior small forward, is being courted by  Duke, Kentucky, Michigan State, Kansas and Illinois, among others.

    Mac Irvin, known as the “Godfather” of Chicago basketball, died Saturday at the age of 74, the Chicago Tribune reported.

    A diabetic, he had been hospitalized since July while battling complications from the disease.

    “Today we lost a father, brother, husband and friend to many throughout the world,” his family said in a statement. “We are comforted by the outpouring of support shown to our family over the last few months. The Irvin family is committed to continuing the legacy of Mac Irvin through his foundation, but more importantly, by following the example he left for us through his life’s work.”

    Fifty college point guards were nominated last week for the Bob Cousy  Collegiate Point Guard of the Year Award.

    And Seton Hall’s Jordan Thedore did not make the list.

    This despite the fact that Theodore, a senior from Englewood, N.J., leads the Big East in assists (7.3 apg), ranks 13th in scoring (15.8 ppg) and ranks ninth in steals (1.8 spg). (Seton Hall’s Fuquan Edwin leads the league in steals at 3.3).

    “I don’t understand how a guy leading the league in assists is not on the list for best point guards,” Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard told SNY.tv. “He’s playing great.”

    Tyler Roberson, one of the top small forwards in the Class of 2013 out of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, will be contributing periodically to ZAGSBLOG during his junior season. Here’s his first entry:

    For anyone who may not know, my name is Tyler Roberson and I’m a 6’8 small forward from Union, N.J.

    I’m currently a junior at Roselle Catholic High School in Roselle N.J. This is my first year at RC and I’m currently sitting out the mandatory 30 days for all transfers. Sitting out watching my team compete is really hard to do, but it’s given me the chance to see the game from a different perspective and also spend some extra time adjusting to my new school and work hard on my grades.

    Currently we are 3-1 with our only loss coming to St Benedict’s, who is 7-0 and one of the top teams in the country. Our team is working hard every day in practice to get better and play together as a team since we have some new guys this year and most of last year’s 22-7 RC team is back also.

    Wagner coach Dan Hurley set up games this year against Big East foes UConn and Pitt in order to prepare his rising team for the Northeast Conference schedule and potential postseason battles to come.

    Earlier this season, he wasn’t openly admitting his Seahawks could pull off either upset.

    “We’re not delusional,” Hurley told SNY.tv before his team lost the UConn game. “We’re in Year 2 of rebuilding of what was when we took over one of the five to seven worst teams in the country out of the three hundred and fifty whatever.”

    That rebuilding process appears to be well under way.

    NEW YORK — Before the lockout-shortened NBA season of 1999, the Knicks added a defensive-minded center and an athletic wing player to an established veteran core.

    Led by newcomers Marcus Camby and Latrell Sprewell, and holdover Allan Houston, the eighth-seeded Knicks upset three higher-seeded Eastern Conference teams — including Pat Riley and the No. 1 Miami Heat — en route to an appearance in the NBA Finals.

    Thirteen years later, the Knicks have added another defensive-minded center in Tyson Chandler and another prolific wing scorer in Carmelo Anthony to a core led by Amar’e Stoudemire.

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