October 2014 | Page 18 of 20 | Zagsblog
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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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Friday / March 29.
  • Eli Thomas, the 6-foot-9 big man from Lancaster (TX), enjoyed his weekend visit to SMU and next trips to Texas A&M Oct. 10.

    “It was legit, I enjoyed it,” he told SNY.tv. “I love the staff, and their team is going to be scary good.”

    He added: “[Coach] Larry Brown is Larry. He’s a legend and a teacher of the game.”

    Of the schools on his list, SMU is the closest to home.

    “It’s cool but I wouldn’t say it’s a factor,” he said. “But SMU being in my city is cool.”

    Thomas has already visited LSU, Oklahoma State and Illinois. Oklahoma State recently landed a pledge from Thomas’ AAU teammate Jawun Evans, which could impact the big man’s decision.

    Rodney PurvisBY JOHN F. SILVER

    STORRS, Conn. – The Ferrari is out of the garage.

    To UConn basketball fans that can mean only one thing. The Rodney Purvis era for the Huskies has begun.

    UConn head coach Kevin Ollie has had Purvis, a former McDonald’s All-American who played one year at N.C. State, in the program for more than a year. Purvis transferred after his freshman year and had to sit out last season watching the national championship run from the sidelines.

    The 6-foot-4, 205-pound Purvis was there in practice. He showed all the explosive athletic skills that made him a highly-sought after recruit coming out of high school….in practice. The only game action Purvis had was on the bench cheering in street clothes.

    A Ferrari in the garage is what Ollie called Purvis.

    SamuelEditor’s Note: Samuel Japhet-Mathias reclassed to 2017 from 2016 after this story was first written.

    By DREW MESSMER

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    Arguably the best unknown basketball prospect in the United States just arrived on Sept. 23.

    In his opening week, the man-child had a coming out party in front of 30+ total Division I programs, including Pittsburgh, Kansas State, Providence, Oklahoma State, Virginia, Wake Forest, and many more.

    Samuel Japhet-Mathias is a 6-foot-11 2017 center with a freakish 7-4 wingspan from Globe Academy in London, England.

    Last season, he posted averages of 12 points and 9 rebounds per game against the best England has to offer. He recently arrived at Vermont Academy to play for Coach Alex Popp, and it didn’t take him long to make a big first impression.

    “I think he has a very high ceiling.” Popp told SNY.tv, “The fact that he is 6-11, 270 pounds with great hands and feet is fantastic, but his greatest gift is his love for the game. He just started playing and he is only 16. I have coached a few McDonald’s All-Americans, and he is on par with them.”

    The Sharette Dixon Classic is a one-day event featuring the top boys’ high school basketball from across New York and New Jersey.

    This annual event is being organized in memory of Sharette Dixon, wife of Minnesota assistant Kimani Young and mother of Kamaal Young (12), Khaliq Young (10) and Salimah Young (8). Proceeds from the event will support a family education fund that has been established for the three children.

    This year’s event will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, at the Gauchos Gym in the Bronx and will feature two contests at 6 and 8 p.m., a sophomore game and upperclassmen game.

    Here are the rosters:

    LeBron James never went to college, but he has a locker in the Ohio State basketball locker room.

    Now it appears the Buckeyes are trying to land his son.

    That would be his 9-year-old son, LeBron James Jr.

    Ohio State beat writer Eric Seger Tweeted, “Thad Matta said LeBron James, Jr. ‘will be’ on his radar for recruiting. The kid is 9 years old.”

    We’ve seen college coaches land kids in seventh and eighth grade before, and it usually hasn’t worked out.

    In what may be viewed by some rival coaches as a sure sign of The Apocalypse, ESPNU will televise Kentucky’s NBA combine on Oct. 10 from 3-5 p.m.

    Technically, Kentucky is not calling it a combine, but a practice — as in, “We in here talking about a practice…Not a game, not a game, not game. We’re talking about practice.”

    All NBA teams were invited to attend — and all are expected.

    No media, including the Kentucky beat writers are invited, which I’m sure makes them happy.

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