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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 2.
  • For sheer fun and enjoyment basketball fans everywhere should read Harvey Araton’s piece on the hapless New Jersey Nets — who play their final game in the Garden State tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers — in today’s New York Times.

    From the perspective of a college basketball writer (and fan) it’s fascinating to recall that John Calipari, Larry Brown and Rollie Massimino (almost) all coached the Nets.

    All three men have also won NCAA championships, while the Nets still seek their first NBA title.

    St. John’s has emerged as a potential landing spot for former Arizona point guard Josiah Turner, multiple sources told SNY.tv.

    Turner has ties to several current and future Johnnies in that a year ago he was named MVP of the iS8/Nike Spring Championship final in Queens.

    Turner teamed up with current St. John’s wing Sir’Dominic Pointer, his former Quality Education (N.C.) teammate, to help the Sean Bell All-Stars beat Real Scout in that final.

    JaKarr Sampson, who will join the Johnnies next season, was on that Real Scout team and was impressed with how Turner ran his team in the final.

    Iona continued to reshape its roster this weekend with the addition of two shooters.

    The Gaels landed 6-foot-3 shooter A.J. English out of St. Thomas More and 6-5 Brandon Parga out of Citrus (Calif.) College.

    “A.J. is a multi-dimensional scorer,” St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn told SNY.tv. “The kid can score from all over the court, 3’s, score on his own, can take it to the rim. He’s a pretty talented kid.”

    Savon Goodman’s recruitment is heating up.

    The 6-foot-6 wing from Philly Constitution High who decommitted from Villanova has a number of visits coming up.

    “We are scheduling [official] visits to Pitt and Missouri and unofficials to Temple and Seton Hall,” Constitution coach Rob Moore told SNY.tv. “We are also waiting to hear back from St. John’s. Interest is renewing from UCLA.

    “He is open in his recruitment and prep [school] is still an option.”

    St. John’s has added a big man and a sharpshooter for the 2012-13 season.

    Orlando Sanchez, a 6-foot-9 forward, and Marco Bougault, a 6-6 sharp-shooting wing, of Monroe (N.Y.) College both pledged to the Johnnies on their weekend visit.

    Sanchez will have two years of eligibility remaining and Bourgault will have three.

    “Both committed [Sunday] morning,” sources told SNY.tv.

    “I committed to St. John’s,” Bourgault added.

    “I like the coaches, New York, the team, the situation, the opportunities and Madison Square Garden,” added the Frenchman.

    Amedeo Della Valle is headed to Ohio State.

    The 6-foot-5, 183-pound combo guard from Findlay Prep chose the Buckeyes Saturday over Arizona and Texas A&M.

    “Probably the level of competition and the kind of guys they have,” the 19-year-old Italian guard said of why he chose Ohio State. “They are great guys and they have great coaches. Coach [Thad] Matta is a great coach.

    “Those are the things that made me decide.”

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