Stock rising on Class of 2019 point guard Jalen Gaffney (UPDATED) | 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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Friday / March 29.
  • Stock rising on Class of 2019 point guard Jalen Gaffney (UPDATED)

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    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    INDIANAPOLIS — Jalen Gaffney’s stock was already rising before this weekend’s Under Armour Association stop here.

    But when Gaffney hit a half court buzzer-beating three-pointer to cap Team Rio’s victory over Nico Mannion and Team Breakdown on Friday night, it only helped add to his growing reputation.

    “Yeah, Jalen hit a half court,” Mannion said of Team Rio’s 80-77 win over West Coast Elite.

    Since that weekend, Gaffney has added offers from UConn, Virginia Tech, Georgetown and Marquette. Pittsburgh and Xavier had offered before Indianapolis.

    The 6-foot-3, 185-pound point guard out of the Westtown (PA) School recently had a home visit with St. John’s head coach Chris Mullin and assistant Matt Abdelmassih, who are also recruiting Gaffney’s Rio teammate Scottie Lewis.

    Their message?

    “That St. John’s would be the perfect school for me, the ball would be in my hands, it’s a guard system,” he said. “It’s right near my home.”

    Playing alongside five-star prospects Lewis and Bryan Antoine, who counts Duke and Villanova among his top suitors, Gaffney will have an opportunity to showcase himself in front of high-major coaches all summer long. Team Rio is 6-2 after this weekend.

    “I’m just here just to show that I’m one of the best players out here, how great I am,” he said.

    As for what he’ll bring to a college, he figures to be a top playmaker.

    “I’m a player that’s willing to do everything on the court, play defense, assist, score, whatever they want me to do,” he said, “I’m there.”

    Photo: Under Armour

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    Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle. A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013. He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.

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