April 2014 | Page 22 of 28 | Zagsblog
Recent Posts
About ZagsBlog
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.
Follow Zags on Twitter
Couldn't connect with Twitter
Contact Zags
Connect with Zags:
Friday / March 29.
  • Cal-RandleARLINGTON, Texas — As there is every year with Kentucky, there will now come a flood of questions about who stays and who goes. Here are five questions facing the Wildcats in the aftermath of the NCAA championship game loss to UConn here on Monday night:

    1. Will John Calipari return as coach?

    Immediately prior to the game, an Internet report surfaced that Calipari-to-the Los Angeles Lakers was a done deal. The story hung over the game and Cal was asked about it as soon as the game ended. He denied it and said he wouldn’t dignify it with an answer. Still, with Calipari, the NBA rumors will always be there. Read more here.

    2. Where will Julius Randle and James Young get drafted?

    NapierARLINGTON, Texas — Of all the great point guards in the history of the UConn program, Shabazz Napier now stands apart.

    With his Most Outstanding Player performance in UConn’s 60-54 victory over Kentucky at AT&T Stadium, Napier now has two NCAA championship rings, one more than Khalid El-Amin, Taliek Brown and yes, even the great Kemba Walker, too.

    They were the point guards on UConn’s three previous championship teams in 1999, 2004 and 2011.

    CalARLINGTON, Texas — As soon as John Calipari was on the podium following the NCAA championship game, he was asked about yet another story linking him to an NBA job.

    “The Lakers have a basketball coach,” Calipari said following Kentucky’s 60-54 loss to UConn at the AT&T Center. “Kentucky has a basketball coach. I have the best job in the country.”

    He added: “I’m not going to even dignify that stuff.”

    Just minutes before the game tipped, Rex Chapman set Twitter afire with a Tweet suggesting that Calipari will be the next coach of the Lakers.

    masielloManhattan College announced Monday it will reinstate Steve Masiello as its men’s head basketball coach, once he has completed his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky.

    The head coach at Manhattan since 2011, Masiello was placed on unpaid leave March 26 and will remain there until he receives his degree. During his absence, associate head coach Matt Grady will lead the program as interim head coach.

    The fact that he had not received his degree from Kentucky came to light in a credentials check by the University of South Florida, with whom Masiello had agreed to accept employment as head basketball coach.

    [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_huiLUtrhw]

    Maryland has landed a commitment from 2014 Slovakian 7-footer Michal Cekovsky, a source with direct knowledge confirmed to SNY.tv.

    Cekovsky plays for Canarias Basketball Academy in Spain and head coach Rob Orellana previously told SNY.tv he had offers from Florida, Arizona, Louisville, UConn, Oregon, Florida State and Maryland.

    “Michal’s upside is off the charts,” Orellana said. “His skillset at 7-feet makes him a unique player. Add to that the fact he is a tireless worker. No question he will be a major impact player at a high-major program.”

    DelarosaAdonis Delarosa moved up his announcement date to Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. from April 18.

    “I will be committing on April 9th !! Was supposed to visit USC April 12th,” he Tweeted.

    Christ the King point guard Andre Walker will also announce Wednesday for either Boston University or Loyola (Md.). The 6-foot Walker was named MVP after scoring 25 points when Christ the King beat Long Island Lutheran last month in the  New York State Tournament of Champions “AA” Final.

    The 6-foot-11 Delarosa recently visited Pittsburgh and said he enjoyed it.

    Pitt has five commits for 2014. Small forwards Sheldon Jeter and Ryan Luther and center Shaq Doorson signed early, while shooting guard Detrick  Mostella and power forward/center Tyrone Haughton verbally committed.

    St. John’s — which has no commits for 2014 — also remains confident about its chances for the Christ the King big man. The Johnnies need bigs with the departures of Chris Obekpa, JaKarr Sampson, Orlando Sanchez and God’sgift Achiuwa.

    } });
    X