September 2014 | Page 11 of 23 | 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.
  • Tyus Battle USA hoopsThe parade of high-major Division 1 coaches coming through Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Bernard’s continues unabated.

    After Louisville’s Rick Pitino, Villanova’s Jay Wright and Rutgers’ Eddie Jordan came through last week to see 2016 combo guard Tyus Battle, Michigan’s John Beilein, Ohio State’s Thad Matta and Florida’s Billy Donovan all visited on Monday. Each meeting Monday lasted about an hour.

    On Tuesday, UConn’s Kevin Ollie will stop through before meeting with 2015 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic point guard Isaiah Briscoe later in the day, and Miami’s Jim Larranaga will also make an appearance at Gill.

    os-2013-varsity-media-day-basketballBy JACK LeGWIN

    Antonio Blakeney has pulled his verbal commitment to Louisville and reopened his recruitment.

    “I am still really considering louisville heavily I like everything about [their] program , coaches and fans!!” Tweeted Blakeney, who committed earlier this month on his visit.

    “I made a quick and emotional decision based on some of the wrong reasons,” Blakeney told Reggie Rankin from ESPN. “I really loved my visit and everything about Louisville and I am still strongly considering them.”

    The 6-foot-4 Blakeney has no visits planned, his AAU coach Steve Reese told SNY.tv Tuesday morning.

    “We haven’t heard from any schools yet since he committed a few weeks back,” Reese said.

    TyusIt’s hard to argue that Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski doesn’t have a recruiting advantage as the head coach of the U.S. National Team.

    He does.

    And it’s also hard to suggest that Coach K isn’t one of the greatest basketball coaches of all time.

    He is.

    The man has now won four NCAA championships, two Olympic gold medals and two World Championships. He has guided Team USA to four straight international titles — the 2008 Olympics, the 2010 World Championship, the 2012 Olympics and the 2014 FIBA World Cup.

    Now after returning from Spain — amid a massive takedown by Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports — Coach K will face his next challenge.

    He has to figure out the whole one-and-done thing.

    Former St. John’s standout JaKarr Sampson has signed a partially guaranteed contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, his agent Seth Cohen told SNY.tv.

    The deal is partially guaranteed for three years with a fourth-year team option.

    “According to the Sixers, who have been very high on JaKarr from the very beginning — both Sixers GM Sam Hinkie and Head Coach Brett Brown called me within seconds after the draft was over — JaKarr has a real shot at making their final roster,” Cohen said.

    The 6-foot-9 Sampson was the Big East Rookie of the Year in 2012-13,  when he averaged 12.8 points and 6.1 rebounds. He went undrafted after leaving St. John’s following his sophomore season, but was immediately picked up by the Sixers as an undrafted free agent.

    Briscoe Peach Jam 2The recruitment of Isaiah Briscoe is full steam ahead.

    The 6-foot-3 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic point guard met this weekend with coaches from Missouri, Seton Hall and Georgia Tech, and this week will host UConn coach Kevin Ollie and Kentucky coach John Calipari.

    “Isaiah really enjoyed spending time with the Georgia Tech and Seton Hall staffs on Sunday,” RC head coach Dave Boff told SNY.tv. “He also had a good experience with Missouri on Saturday.”

    } });
    X