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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

    Emmanuel Mudiay denied reports he might leave China before their season ends in order to boost his NBA stock.

    “This is all rumors, it’s completely false,” Mudiay told reporters in China, according to this report which was translated. “The media are the ones that like to come out with these things, but it’s not the reality.”

    Asked if he would play the full season, the 6-foot-5 Mudiay said: ” I will, without question. Right now I’m playing in Guangdong, and will definitely be with the team until the end, through the end of the season.”

    Articles, Texas

    Gabriel Olaseni, Isaiah TaylorNEW YORK — Texas was dealt a blow on Friday when it announced that sophomore guard Isaiah Taylor will not play in tonight’s game vs. Cal in the 2K Classic final at Madison Square Garden due to a left wrist injury suffered during last night’s contest against Iowa.

    He will be reevaluated upon the team’s return to Austin, but sources told SNY.tv Taylor could miss extended time.

    ESPN’s Jeff Goodman later reported Taylor is expected to miss 4-6 weeks, per a source.

    Taylor crashed hard to the floor on his left wrist after driving to the basket and encountering 6-10 Gabriel Olaseni late in Texas’ 71-57 win over Iowa Thursday night. The Iowa big man was given a flagrant foul 2 and ejected from the game. Taylor made 1-of-2 free throws and finished with 15 points in the win.

    Articles, Syracuse

    Kaleb JosephBy JOSH NEWMAN

    NEW YORK – Phoenix Suns point guard Tyler Ennis has already spent time in the D-League.

    It’s no secret that Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim wanted him back for his sophomore season, but Boeheim has now put his team in the hands of freshman Kaleb Joseph.

    Joseph is not Ennis, who starred for Boeheim last winter as a freshman, but bolted college after he was a projected first-round pick. Ennis wound up going 18th overall to the Suns, leaving the Orange to work a young, inexperienced team around a young, inexperienced point guard.

    “We got spoiled a little bit last year because we had an unusual freshman point guard,” Boeheim said after Syracuse fell to the Bears, 73-59, late Thursday evening at the 2K Classic at Madison Square Garden. “That’s a once in, maybe a coach’s career that you’ll get a freshman that can play with that understanding of the game.”

    “Kaleb is a very good freshman point guard, very talented, but he’s got a lot to learn about the game.”

    Articles, Texas

    Myles TurnerBy JEREMY FUCHS

    NEW YORK —  There was a time when Texas freshman forward Myles Turner was the No. 2 recruit in the country.

    Now? It’s tough to find him in the maze of big-name freshmen dominating the college hoops scene.

    Turner had been the second-best recruit in the country, according to ESPN.com, behind only Jahlil Okafor of Duke, and ahead of Kentucky forward Karl-Anthony Towns and Kansas forward Cliff Alexander.

    But a few games into the college season and Turner has disappeared into oblivion. That comes even though he is the best recruit to walk through Austin since his hero Kevin Durant. That comes even though he scored 15 points in his debut.

    Kentucky

    Thomas Bryant will take an unofficial visit to Kentucky Friday for their game against Boston University, Huntington Prep coach Arkell Bruce confirmed to SNY.tv.

    The Wildcats are now recruiting Bryant, a 6-foot-10, 235-pound big man, who has already visited Syracuse, Missouri and Indiana (twice). Bryant’s teammate, 2016 guard Miles Bridges, will also make the trip, he told SNY.tv. Kobi Simmons, a 2016 point guard from Georgia, also Tweeted he will visit Kentucky this weekend.

    In addition to signing 6-10 face-up big man Skal Labissiere last week, Kentucky is already involved for numerous late-signing 2015 big men, including Stephen Zimmerman, Ivan Rabb, Carlton Bragg, Cheick Diallo and Caleb Swanigan.

    Articles, Kentucky

    SliceNEW YORK — Christ the King coach Joe Arbitello remembers last spring when Barry “Slice” Rohrssen, always stylishly dressed, strolled into the New York City Catholic League playoffs while he was still on the staff at Pittsburgh.

    “He walked into the CHSAA Brooklyn-Queens games and there was not one player who could play at Pittsburgh,” Arbitello told SNY.tv. “Not one.”

    The memory sticks out for Arbitello because it helps define why Rohrssen is so well liked and respected by high school and AAU coaches in New York and New Jersey.

    “Without a doubt, he’s the most well-respected coach I know,” said Arbitello, whose team has won three New York State Federation titles and four New York City Catholic crowns since 2010.

    Slice, a Brooklyn native, was given his nickname by legendary Five Star Basketball guru Howard Garfinkel when Rohrssen played at St. Francis College in Brooklyn. Legend has it that Rohrssen couldn’t shoot and kept slicing to the basket.

    Articles, Duke

    NEW YORK — There is no truth to the rumor that the winner of  Saturday’s game between the 3-10 Knicks and 0-11 Philadelphia 76ers will advance to face unbeaten Kentucky on Sunday at Madison Square Garden.

    But the loser of that game will take a step closer to possibly landing Jahlil Okafor in next year’s NBA Draft.

    The Duke big man is the projected No. 1 pick in 2015 and, perhaps not coincidentally, he will be playing about 3 miles away from the Sixers and Knicks on Saturday when Duke competes in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic at Barclays Center.

    The Sixers and Knicks have the NBA’s two worst records and — along with 3-10 Oklahoma City — lead the Tankathon race.

    Sitting at his locker at Bankers Life Fieldhouse Tuesday night after Duke beat Michigan

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