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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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    • Articles, Villanova

    NEWARK — Most New York City products relish the chance to return home to play in Madison Square Garden.

    Not JayVaughn Pinkston.

    “No, not really,” the 6-foot-7 former Bishop Loughlin star said in advance of Saturday’s Villanova-St. John’s game.

    “I really don’t like playing in the Garden. It’s a lot of pressure. But I’m up to it now, so it’s just getting out there and keep getting better.”

    Pinkston is averaging a team-best 16.1 points along with 5.1 rebounds for a No. 8 Villanova team that is 14-1 and 3-0 in the Big East.

    If the NCAA Tournament started today, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Wildcats as a No. 2 seed.

    Huntington Prep, Recruiting

    By CHIP MILLER & ADAM ZAGORIA

    PADUCAH, Ky. — Huntington (W.V.) Prep star Montaque “Teki” Gill-Caesar is still weighing reclassifying to 2014 from 2015.

    “I have no idea, man. It’s still up in the air,” he said after his Huntington Prep team edged out Cheick Diallo and Our Savior New American, 68-66, at the Mustang Madness showcase on Thursday night.

    An athletic 6-foot-5 Canadian who has drawn comparisons to Andrew Wiggins — who did reclass to 2013 from 2014 before selecting Kansas — Gill-Caesar says he has no timetable on a decision about reclassifying.

    “No, none at all,” he said. 

    Huntington Prep, Recruiting

    By CHIP MILLER

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    PADUCAH, Ky. — Huntington (W.V.) Prep combo guard JaQuan Lyle has postponed his official visit to Kansas this weekend due to a family situation.

    “No, I’m not going to go,” Lyle told SNY.tv. “My mom’s not going to be able to go. One of my nephews was born a couple of months early and he gets out of the hospital this weekend.

    “I’m actually leaving [Thursday night] to go back home for that. We have a special weekend, so I’m not going to be able to make it.”

    Articles, Seton Hall

    Chier Ajou, a 7-foot-2 former Northwestern center, is transferring to Seton Hall, sources confirmed to SNY.tv.

    He will be eligible in December and have two and half years of eligibility.

    A native of South Sudan, Ajou is a cousin of Luol Deng, who was traded from the Bulls to the Cavaliers.

    Ajou appeared in seven games as a true freshman in 2012-13 prior to undergoing season-ending knee surgery. He received a medical hardship waiver and played in one game this season, against UCLA on Nov. 29.

    Articles

    In a major shakeup of the landscape of postseason high school tournaments, Madison Square Garden will no longer host the New York Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) championship in March but will host the DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament — formerly the ESPN National High School Invitational (NHSI) — in April.

    As for the PSAL, it is now headed to Barclays Center in Brooklyn and slated for March 8.

    “The PSAL basketball championships are exciting for our students, families, and schools,” said Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña. “Whether in the classroom or on the basketball court, we have incredibly talented students. As a Brooklyn native and current resident, I want to thank Barclays Center for hosting this event.”

    Sources told SNY.tv that a revamped gym at Christ the King in Queens will host the first two rounds of the High School National Tournament April 3-4 before the boys and girls championship games take place at the Garden April 5. Games will continue to be shown on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.

    “High school basketball has a long and rich tradition at Madison Square Garden as we have hosted some of the game’s legendary players including: Lew Alcindor, Bob Cousy, Nancy Leiberman-Cline, Connie Hawkins as well as NY Knicks Amare Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony,” Joel Fisher, executive vice president of MSG Sports, said in a statement. “We are excited to host the boys and girls finals of the DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament, the premier high school basketball tournament in the country.”

    Articles, Villanova

    NEWARK — Jay Wright confesses he misses the old Big East.

    The Villanova coach came of age as a leader while matching wits against Jim Boeheim of Syracuse, Jim Calhoun of UConn, Rick Pitino of Louisville and Mike Brey of Notre Dame, among others.

    Those teams are all gone from the new-look Big East now, headed to the greener pastures of other leagues.

    “I miss the tradition and everything I grew up in,” Wright told SNY.tv after his No. 8 Wildcats improved to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in the Big East with an 83-67 victory over Seton Hall at the Prudential Center. “I grew up in it and I loved it.”

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