April 2015 | Page 8 of 29 | 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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Monday / April 29.
  • rp_primary_PaschallMetFordham freshman guard Eric Paschall will transfer to Villanova, as first reported Thursday morning by SNY.tv.

    He will have to sit a year per NCAA transfer rules and will be eligible for the 2016-17 season. The 6-foot-6 Paschall later made the news official on Twitter.

    Paschall recently cut his list to five schools — Villanova, Providence, Florida, Kansas and Fordham. He has visited Villanova and Florida.

    “We’re happy that it’s all over and Eric can focus on school and basketball,” Juan Paschall, the player’s father, told Pat O’Keefe of News 12.

    Asked why he chose Villanova, Juan said, “Distance, education and basketball. Love the coaching staff – [they are] young and energetic.”

    4_2971168Lamonte Turner, a 6-foot-2 point guard from Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy, is looking to reclass to 2015 from 2016, IMG head skills trainer Dan Barto told SNY.tv.

    “He will have the opportunity to enroll this fall,” Barto said. “He is a great student and is beyond college ready.”

    Coaches from Tennessee, Alabama, Arkansas and Baylor have all been in to see the Alabama native this week.

    “Anyone who’s looking for a scoring point guard now will be interested,” Barto said.

    10363734Seton Hall transfer Jaren Sina is off the board to George Washington, where he will join former Gill St. Bernard’s teammate Alex Mitola, a Dartmouth transfer.

    Sina also considered Michigan, Stanford, Boston College, South Carolina, Binghamton and Rhode Island, among others.

    “I have made a decision and I will be playing for Coach Mike Lonergan at George Washington University,” Sina said in a group text.

    DialloSt. John’s coaches Chris Mullin, Barry “Slice” Rohrssen and Matt Abdelmassih had a second visit with Cheick Diallo on Wednesday after meeting with him on Saturday, a source confirmed to SNY.tv.

    Kyle Tucker of the Courier-Journal first reported the news.

    The source also confirmed that Diallo is looking to announce next week.

    Before Wednesday, Kentucky coach John Calipari on Sunday was the last coach to visit with the 6-foot-9 Diallo, who is considering Kansas, Pitt and Iowa State in addition to Kentucky and St. John’s.

    After winning the MVP of the Jordan Brand Classic Friday night on the heels of taking MVP honors at the McDonald’s All-American Game, Diallo also met this weekend with Kansas coach Bill Self.

    Malik MSUMalik Newman is staying home.

    As expected, the top uncommitted guard in the Class of 2015 verbally committed to Mississippi State at his Friday press conference at The Clarion-Ledger.

    “Really just weighing out all my options and I think it’s somewhere that I can go and I can really have an impact,” he said Friday. “I think the guys really want me there and things like that. I think with the new coach [Ben Howland], I think he’ll push me and he only expects great things out of me and the team and I think that’s something that will happen.”

    The 6-foot-4 guard from Jackson (MS) Callaway said he also considered Kentucky and Kansas.

    NCAA Basketball: Butler at ProvidenceBy JOSH NEWMAN

    Another projected lottery pick in the 2015 NBA Draft will return to school for at least one more season.

    Providence College redshirt sophomore point guard Kris Dunn announced Friday he will return for a fourth year next season. This, after the New London, Conn. native shot up draft boards this winter with his strong play, culminating with his being named Big East Co-Player of the Year.

    “I am excited about next season,” Dunn said in a statement Friday after Yahoo! Sports first reported the news earlier in the week. “I have seen this program accomplish a lot over the last three seasons and I would like to be part of some more success. I really enjoy being around my teammates, coaches and all the friends and family I have in Friartown. Lastly, I am looking forward to continuing my growth, improving as a basketball player and earning my diploma.”

    UnknownThe Big East and Big Ten Conferences today announced the matchups for the inaugural Gavitt Tipoff Games, with eight men’s basketball games set to air on FOX Sports 1, BTN, or an ESPN Network from Nov. 17-20, 2015.

    The Gavitt Tipoff Games is an annual early-season series played between the two conferences and named in honor of Dave Gavitt, founder of the Big East and basketball visionary. The Big East home games will be telecast on FOX Sports 1, while Big Ten home games will air on BTN or an ESPN Network.

    “Our family is excited about the Big Ten and Big East launching this new series, which honors the memory of Dave Gavitt and his passion for college basketball,” said Dan Gavitt, NCAA Vice President of Men’s Basketball Championships. “He would be most pleased that the student-athletes, coaches and supporters of these historic college basketball programs can look forward to annual competition at the highest level to help open the college season with a bang. We are thankful to the two great conferences for recognizing the Gavitt legacy with the intra-conference games featuring new and old rivalries and intriguing match-ups.”

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