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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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    • Duke, USA Basketball

    chgbsicusaar8xjDuke must really want that Wendell Carter Jr. and Gary Trent Jr. package deal to materialize.

    One day after offering a scholarship to the 6-foot-5 Trent Jr., who was named MVP of the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Argentina, the Blue Devils offered the 6-10 Carter Jr., a source confirmed to SNY.tv. Both players are members of the Class of 2017.

    Both players told SNY.tv before winning gold for the USA U16 team at the FIBA Americas Championship that they had discussed a potential package deal, with Duke the leading candidate for the duo.

    “Me and Gary, we kind of decided to go to school together,” Carter Jr. told SNY.tv by phone. “I don’t know if it’s going to be official but we’re going to try to. We’re going to try to put Jarred [Vanderbilt] in the [mix] too.”

    Articles

    porzingisBy JOSH NEWMAN

    No NBA Draft prospect is garnering more buzz nine days before the event than 19-year-old Latvian big man Kristaps Porzingis.

    Like any European prospect, Porzingis, who is slotted at No. 3 overall to the Philadelphia 76ers according to the latest mock draft from DraftExpress, has a buyout with one year remaining on his current deal with Sevilla of Spain’s ACB League.

    According Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress, Porzingis’ buyout is €850,000, which equates to roughly $956,000. NBA teams are allowed to pay up $625,000 towards an international buyout, which will not count against the salary cap. That means Porzingis would need to make up the rest of $331,000 out of his after-tax salary.

    “I don’t like being labeled soft,” Porzingis told Adrian Wojnarowski Yahoo Sports. “I’m very hungry. I love the game. I’ve got to prove to coaches and GMs that I’m not soft just because I’m from Europe. They need to see that I’m not just some skinny white guy, that I’m going to be there fighting. They’ll need to see that I’m a worker who’s going to play hard, and play tough.”

    Articles, USA Basketball

    gilesJPGIf all goes right for Harry Giles, he could win his third gold medal in three years this summer with USA Basketball.

    The 6-foot-10 Giles out of Winston-Salem (N.C.) Wesleyan Christian won gold in 2013 at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship in Uruguay and in 2014 at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Dubai.

    Now he is among 16 finalists for the U19 World Championship team that will play in Crete, Greece June 27-July 5.

    “It would be great to travel,” Giles told SNY.tv by phone Monday night after the first round of cuts were announced. “This would be my third country in three years, so to be able to just travel the world like I have it’s an honor and a blessing. And at my age to be able to go to Greece and play for a gold medal with the USA team, it’s a blessing.”

    Articles, USA Basketball

    tatumJPGJayson Tatum made the first cut for the USA U19 roster on Monday and says he’s still considering all four schools on his college list.

    A report out of St. Louis earlier this month suggested Tatum was down to two schools, suggesting it was Duke and Saint Louis.

    “No, I’m still at four [schools],” the 6-foot-9 guard/forward from St. Louis (MO) Chaminade College Prep told SNY.tv by phone Monday night after the roster was cut to 16 players.

    That quartet includes Saint Louis, Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina.

    “It’s about the same, I hear from all schools,” Tatum said.

    Asked how the rumor began that he was down to two, he said, “I don’t know.”

    Asked to break down each school, Tatum offered this analysis:

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