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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 / December 9.
  • Kentucky signee Archie Goodwin says the Wildcats could challenge for a second straight NCAA championship if Shabazz Muhammad and Nerlens Noel come to Bluegrass country.

    “I think we’ll be a really good team and be another national championship contender because those guys have great talent and we’ll be looking forward to having another great year,” Goodwin, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Little Rock, Ark., told SNY.tv Thursday from the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore.

    Both Muhammad and Noel are undecided and are expected to announce April 11 on ESPNU.

    The Florida Gators got some good news Thursday when junior guard Kenny Boynton Tweeted that he will return to campus.

    “To confirm the questions being ask lately I have reached a decision and I am returning to Gainesville for my senior season #go gators,” Boynton tweeted.

    According to GatorZone,com, Boynton’s parents met Tuesday with Florida coach Billy Donovan to discuss his options. The result worked in Florida’s favor.

    A parade of coaches has lined up to meet with UConn power forward Alex Oriakhi and his father now that Oriakhi is free to suit up next year.

    A junior with one year of eligibility remaining, Oriakhi became eligible after UConn’s appeal to the NCAA was denied Thursday, meaning the school is banned from all postseason competition.

    “Ten or so schools will visit the dad,” a source close to Oriakhi told SNY.tv. “There’s no official list and it will likely be a lengthy process.”

    Dan Hurley has his first commit since taking over as head coach at Rhode Island.

    And it happens to be a player who had previously committed to the Rams.

    Jordan Hare, a 6-foot-9, 198-pound power forward from Saginaw, Mich., reaffirmed his commitment after meeting Thursday with Hurley and Rhody assistant Preston Murphy.

    “Coach Hurley and Preston just stopped by for a home visit and I’m just reaffirming my commitment to Rhode Island,” Hare told SNY.tv during an exclusive interview Thursday.

    It comes as no surprise after the way his season ended, but Syracuse sophomore center Fab Melo has officially announced his plans to enter the NBA Draft.

    “After meeting with my mother, my family and Coach [Jim] Boeheim, I have decided to enter my name in to the 2012 NBA Draft,” the 7-footer said in a statement.

    “Being able to play professional basketball has been my dream since I first starting playing this game and now I have the opportunity to accomplish that dream. Coach Boeheim, Coach Hopkins and the rest of the Syracuse staff have helped me develop as a player and as a man and I will always be appreciative for what they’ve done for me. I wish Syracuse University, the basketball program and the Syracuse fans nothing but the best.”

    Shabazz Muhammad says Kentucky’s win in Monday night’s NCAA championship game “boosted their option for me,” but that he remains undecided and plans to pick a school in the days following Saturday’s Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore.

    Asked what kind of impact Kentucky’s victory over Kansas had on his thought process, Muhammad told SNY.tv Thursday by phone from Portland: “That has an impact. Just seeing how they run in transtion, how those guys get out so fast and how Coach Cal has the guards really getting out and running the floor. it just boosted their option for me by going there.”

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