January 2017 | Page 17 of 30 | 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 / May 6.
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    • Recruiting

    SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Trevon Duval has yet to take an official visit, but that is apparently about to change.

    “I’m getting ready to take some visits coming up soon,” the 6-foot-3 IMG Academy (FL) point guard said after posting a double-double of 12 points and 13 assists en route to MVP honors as IMG handled Wasatch Academy (UT), 61-51, on Sunday at the Hoophall Classic.

    “My dad has all of the dates and everything…Some of them are in season and I might finish out some after the season.”

    Duval continues to list Duke, Kansas, Arizona, Baylor and Seton Hall as his top five.

    Recruiting

    SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Eric Ayala has now become the alpha dog for Putnam Science Academy (CT) after Hamidou Diallo left early to enroll at Kentucky.

    Sans Diallo, Ayala went for 20 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists en route to MVP honors as Putnam held off Vermont Academy, 81-79, on Sunday at the Hoophall Classic.

    “I’ve always been a leader,” he said. “I have to be more of a vocal leader [without Diallo], making sure my teammates are in the right spot. And then off the court, I’m just trying to build relationships with my teammates.”

    The 6-foot-5 Ayala listed Kansas, Arizona, Maryland, UConn, Syracuse, Louisville, Indiana, Texas and N.C. State among those recruiting him.

    Arizona

    SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — On Saturday at the Hoophall Classic, Arizona assistant Book Richardson had a front-row seat for a view of the future of his program.

    Three Class of 2017 Arizona signees — DeAndre Ayton, Brandon Randolph and Ira Lee — all played, and played well, at Blake Arena. Brian Bowen, an Arizona target who is considering five schools, also was effective, scoring 18 points in Monday’s loss to Marvin Bagley and Sierra Canyon (CA).

    In the showcase game of the day on Saturday, the 6-foot-5 Randolph went off for 30 points en route to game MVP honors as Westtown (PA) beat Ayton and Hillcrest Prep (AZ), 66-54, on ESPN. Ayton, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, scored 19 points while battling Westtown big man Mohamed Bamba.

    “He’s definitely a force, so I’m definitely looking forward to playing with him, Ira and [Alex] Barcello],” Randolph told me in reference to Arizona’s 2017 class, ranked No. 3 behind Kentucky and UCLA by Scout.com. “They’re all great players and great guys.”

    Villanova

    By MIKE McCURRY

    NEW YORK — Villanova redshirt freshman Donte DiVincenzo was unable to participate in any of the Wildcats’ four games at Madison Square Garden last season, as a broken right foot signaled the end to his year after just eight contests.

    On Saturday, the 6-foot-5 guard made up for lost time, scoring a game-high and career-high 19 points on 7-of-10 shooting in his first collegiate game at “The World’s Most Famous Arena,” as No. 3 Villanova defeated St. John’s, 70-57.

    In doing so, DiVincenzo not only put the finishing touches on a terrific personal week, but also received the utmost compliment imaginable from head coach Jay Wright, who compared his indispensable reserve to his All-American.

    “I think he can be a Josh Hart,” said Wright of DiVincenzo. “I really do. And I’ve talked to [Donte] about that before.”

    When likening DiVincenzo to Hart, Wright probably wasn’t alluding to Saturday’s version of the National Player of the Year frontrunner.

    Hart was held in check by St. John’s Malik Ellison, posting a season-low 11 points on a 4-of-13 showing from the field.

    Duke, Kentucky, Recruiting

    SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Mohamed Bamba, the 6-foot-11 big man from the Westtown (PA) School, is down to four schools in his recruitment and is planning official visits to Kentucky and Duke.

    Following his team’s 66-54 win over DeAndre Ayton and Hillcrest Prep (AZ) in front of Shaquille O’Neal on Saturday night at the Hoophall Classic, Bamba said he has eliminated Harvard, Syracuse and UConn from his list and is now considering Kentucky, Duke, Texas and Michigan.

    So far, Bamba has taken officials to Michigan and Texas, in addition to going to Harvard on several occasions. He will have one official remaining after Duke, but may not use it, he said.

    As for a timetable on a decision, Bamba said he’s looking at late March or early April.

    “Yeah, definitely probably toward the end of March, early April,” he said. “I kind of want to get home after spring break. I kind of want to do final visits with the coaches and then make a decision after that.”

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