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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.
  • http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=25553255

    NEW YORK — The good news for the banged-up Knicks is this. They have only one game in the next seven days, two in the next eight and three in the next 11.

    For a team with a whole slew of injuries and ailments, that is good news.

    “It is no secret that we have the oldest team,” J.R. Smith said Sunday following the team’s 100-87 win over New Orleans at MSG. “We can definitely use the time off and recover. It is going to be fun. It is the first time abroad during the regular season. It is going to be interesting.”

    After practice today, the Knicks will jump on a plane and cross the pond to London where they will practice once or twice before Thursday’s game with the Detroit Pistons. 

    Rodrick Rhodes has played with and against some pretty good point guards in his day and he swears that Emmanuel Owootoah is one of the best he’s ever seen.

    The 6-foot Owootoah — who has reclassified to 2013 but must still take the SAT — plays for Rhodes at Cordia High School in Kentucky. He holds offers from UCLA, Tennessee and San Francisco at this point, but Arizona, Villanova and Baylor are showing interest, Rhodes told SNY.tv Monday.

    The former St. Anthony standout and NBA player says UConn is really the kid’s dream school, though.

    “He loves UConn,” Rhodes said. “If it was up to him, his dream school is UConn. He said he grew up wanting to play at UConn.”

    Florida big man Amida Brimah has committed to UConn during his weekend visit and is head coach Kevin Ollie’s third pledge for 2013.

    Brimah joins Brooklyn South Shore point guard Terrence Samuel and Long Island Lutheran big man Kentan Facey in UConn’s class.

    “I will be playing college basketball at University Of Connecticut#Blessed,” he Tweeted.

    The 6-foot-11 center from Miami Archbishop Carroll is considered raw but with a big upside. The native of Ghana reportedly has a 7-6 wingspan. He is averaging about 15 points, 12 blocks and 6 blocks per game.

    By SEVE COUSINS

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    SPARTA, N.J. — On Saturday night, Pope John XXIII High School (Sparta, N.J.) hosted the first annual Living Hope Festival to Benefit Cancer Research.

    The event featured two of the top teams in New Jersey in host team Pope John XXIII and St. Benedict’s as well as St. Andrew’s (R.I.), Hillhouse (Conn.) and Our Savior New American (N.Y.)

    Some of the top young talent in the tri-state area was on hand when St. Benedict’s Prep knocked off Our Savior New American at the buzzer, 68-66.

    NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony has been fasting for 15 days and says he has struggled to find energy during that time.

    “I usually do it to get some clarity in my life and spiritual reasons,” Anthony said after going for 27 points and seven boards as the Knicks snapped a three-game losing streak with a 100-87 win over the New Orleans Hornets. “But I’m done now.”

    The fast might explain Anthony’s slow starts recently. In his last two games, he’s 2-for-16 with six combined points in two first quarters against Chicago and New Orleans. Of course, he finished with 39 and 27 points, respectively.

    After trailing for the 11th time in 12 games after the first quarter (29-22), the Knicks turned the tide in the second. In the period, Anthony scored 18 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 5-of-6 from the line as the Knicks outscored the Hornets, 27-12, to seize a 49-41 halftime lead. He had 20 points and six rebounds at the break.

    “It’s a long story, man,” he said of his fast. “I haven’t had a good meal in about two and a half weeks. No meats, no carbs, anything like that. So I don’t know how I was out there competing at high level. It’s been some games this past week where your body just feels depleted out there and you’re trying to find a way to get some energy.

    By SEVE COUSINS

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    SPARTA, N.J. — It’s Saturday night in this small town and 6-foot-10 Jermaine Lawrence can be easily recognized walking into the gym at Pope John XIII High School for the first annual Living Hope Festival to Benefit Cancer Research.

    Lawrence walks over to join his teammates, shaking hands with students and faculty as if he were a politician.

    Eventually, the Pope John players head into the locker room, leaving Lawrence in the stands by himself.

    Lawrence has yet to play a game this season after undergoing surgery on his hand and could miss another two weeks. He sat in street clothes as his team lost to New Haven (Conn.) James Hillhouse High, 56-51.

    “It’s been hard,” Lawrence told SNY.tv during an exclusive interview before the game.

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