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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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Thursday / March 28.
  • mda7ehx5c2345r7xNew Eastern Kentucky coach Dan McHale is already scoring some key victories on the recruiting trail.

    One day after landing forward Anthony Pratt, Eastern Kentucky secured a pledge from 6-foot-7, 213-pound Rhode Island graduate transfer Jarelle Reischel, who will be immediately eligible in 2015-16 and has one year of eligibility remaining.

    “Just the relationship with Coach Dan and the other assistant coaches,” said Reischel, a native of Germany who played at Point Pleasant Beach (N.J.) High. “I loved my visit and they have a winning culture and I want to be a part of it.”

    mudiay1Projected top three picks Karl-Anthony Towns, Jahlil Okafor and Emmanuel Mudiay are among the players expected to skip next week’s Draft Combine in Chicago.

    Mario Hezonja of Croatia and Kristaps Porzingis of Latvia are also not expected, according to Chad Ford of ESPN.com.

    The 7-foot Towns, out of St. Joe’s-Metuchen and Kentucky, is training and said on Sunday he’s looking forward to picking an agent and working out for some NBA teams.

    “It would be awesome to play for anyone,” he said. “Wherever the chips fall, the chips fall. It’s just going to be an honor to be in the fraternity that is the NBA, to be able to play with the greats who have ever played this game, to put the jersey on as they put it on. I just can’t wait. I just can’t wait to see what happens.”

    9193048Former Louisiana Tech coach Michael White will succeed Billy Donovan at Florida, the school announced Thursday.

    White agreed to a six-year deal worth $2 million per.

    “I have an incredible amount of respect for the University of Florida, and I am so excited to be a Gator,” White told Gatorzone.com, the school’s athletic website. “Not only is Florida home for me, but the tradition and success that the Gators have built make this an incredible opportunity. I know about the great home-court advantage in the O’Connell Center, which is a testament to the fans and the Rowdy Reptiles. There’s an unbelievable commitment to excellence athletically and academically at UF, and it starts with the leadership of Dr. Fuchs and Jeremy Foley. I look forward to returning to the SEC where I have a lot of great memories, and I can’t wait to create many more alongside The Gator Nation.”

    qn0gFmhL_400x400Kyle Alexander , a 6-foot-10 1/2, 205-pound power forward from Orangeville Prep (Ontario) and CIA Bounce, committed to Tennessee, his AAU coach Tony McIntyre told SNY.tv.

    Alexander also considered Dayton, Missouri and New Mexico.

    “I thought it would be a better choice for me and family for me to attend the University of Tennessee,” the Milton, Ontario native told SNY.tv. “It’s closer to home. Rick Barnes is a Hall of Fame coach with a lot of success with Canadians and [I like] his assistant Rob Lanier.”

    Barnes coached both Tristan Thompson and Myck Kabongo, fellow Canadians, at Texas and recently added another Canuck in 6-10 Ray Kasongo of College of Southern Idaho. Tennessee also landed reclassified point guard Lamonte’ Turner of IMG Academy in the late period.

    KobeOnetime Baylor commit Kobie Eubanks remains on the board as we head into mid-May.

    A 6-foot-5, 212-pound wing out of Delray Beach (FL) Elev8 Sports Institute, Eubanks told SNY.tv on Friday he hopes to visit Kansas and Alabama in the next week and then make a decision.

    “I’m trying to plan out some visits,” he said by phone. “I’m just not sure yet, probably in the next week or so.”

    Eubanks said Kansas head coach Bill Self and assistant Jerrance Howard have been recruiting him.

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