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.
Muhammad, Parker to Announce By April 11 (UPDATED)
BOSTON –– The college basketball recruiting picture will become a whole lot clearer on April 11.
Shabazz Muhammad and Tony Parker, two of the top uncommitted players in the Class of 2012, are set to announce that day.
The 6-foot-6 Muhammad will announce April 11 in Charlotte at the Jordan Brand Classic, his father, Ron Holmes, told SNY.tv.
And the 6-foot-9 Parker will announce “at his school [Miller Grove] on the 11th,” his father, Virgil, told SNY.tv.
Virgil had previously said his son would announce at next week’s McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago, where Muhammad will also play.
Parker is considering UCLA, Kansas, Duke, Ohio State, Memphis and Georgia.
Asked if his son had already decided, Virgil said, “Not yet but he is getting there.”
UCLA remains the clubhouse leader for Muhammad, whose parents are from Los Angeles.
Muhammad is also considering Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and UNLV.
It remains unclear whether Muhammad will take an official visit to UCLA prior to announcing. His father, Ron Holmes, had initially told SNY.tv he would, but then realized the weekend he had in mind conflicted with the Nike Hoop Summit.
Still, Muhammad has been to the UCLA campus on many occasions and probably doesn’t need to see it again.
One of UCLA’s main recruiting draws for both Parker and Muhammad remains 6-9 point guard Kyle Anderson, who has been compared to Magic Johnson and recently completed his two-year St. Anthony career with back-to-back New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles and a 65-0 record.
“I think that UCLA is definitely high on the list,” Virgil Parker previously told SNY.tv. “Those kids have competed against each other for a long time.”
Said Ron Holmes: “It would be very appealing for [Shabazz] to play with Kyle, if Tony comes in, and you got Jordan Adams. It’s a strong freshmen class coming in, so that makes it appealing.’
Anderson will be with both players next week at the Mickey D’s game and last week he told SNY.tv that UCLA could be “Final Four good” if Muhammad joins him in Westwood.
“I’m excited for the McDonald’s Game, but with Tony and Shabazz, I’m just going to let them live the moment because it’s a great process to be a part of for those two kids,” Anderson previously told SNY.tv.
“I’m not gonna pressure them to go to UCLA with me, I’m gonna put it in their head, but it’s up to them. It’s a decision I want them to be happy with.”
Photo: ESPN.com
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.
BOSTON –– The college basketball recruiting picture will become a whole lot clearer on April 11.
Shabazz Muhammad and Tony Parker, two of the top uncommitted players in the Class of 2012, are set to announce that day.
The 6-foot-6 Muhammad will announce April 11 in Charlotte at the Jordan Brand Classic, his father, Ron Holmes, told SNY.tv.
And the 6-foot-9 Parker will announce “at his school [Miller Grove] on the 11th,” his father, Virgil, told SNY.tv.
Virgil had previously said his son would announce at next week’s McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago, where Muhammad will also play.
Parker is considering UCLA, Kansas, Duke, Ohio State, Memphis and Georgia.
Asked if his son had already decided, Virgil said, “Not yet but he is getting there.”
UCLA remains the clubhouse leader for Muhammad, whose parents are from Los Angeles.
Muhammad is also considering Kentucky, Kansas, Duke and UNLV.
It remains unclear whether Muhammad will take an official visit to UCLA prior to announcing. His father, Ron Holmes, had initially told SNY.tv he would, but then realized the weekend he had in mind conflicted with the Nike Hoop Summit.
Still, Muhammad has been to the UCLA campus on many occasions and probably doesn’t need to see it again.
One of UCLA’s main recruiting draws for both Parker and Muhammad remains 6-9 point guard Kyle Anderson, who has been compared to Magic Johnson and recently completed his two-year St. Anthony career with back-to-back New Jersey Tournament of Champions titles and a 65-0 record.
“I think that UCLA is definitely high on the list,” Virgil Parker previously told SNY.tv. “Those kids have competed against each other for a long time.”
Said Ron Holmes: “It would be very appealing for [Shabazz] to play with Kyle, if Tony comes in, and you got Jordan Adams. It’s a strong freshmen class coming in, so that makes it appealing.’
Anderson will be with both players next week at the Mickey D’s game and last week he told SNY.tv that UCLA could be “Final Four good” if Muhammad joins him in Westwood.
“I’m excited for the McDonald’s Game, but with Tony and Shabazz, I’m just going to let them live the moment because it’s a great process to be a part of for those two kids,” Anderson previously told SNY.tv.
“I’m not gonna pressure them to go to UCLA with me, I’m gonna put it in their head, but it’s up to them. It’s a decision I want them to be happy with.”
Photo: ESPN.com
