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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 / December 5.
  • By ADAM ZAGORIA

    BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — R.J. Hampton is considering four schools and reclassifying to 2019  is still a major option.

    The 6-foot-5, 170-pound Hampton from Little Elm, Texas is considering Duke, Kentucky, Kansas and Memphis in his recruitment and has the option of going to college in 2019 or 2020. The No. 5-ranked recruit in 2020 according to 247Sports.com, he plans to wait to see how things shake out on the rosters of those four teams, with a keen eye on which point guards stay on campus and which head to the NBA Draft.

    “And let’s be honest, everybody’s talking about the reclass and I can’t sit here and lie. There is a possibility,” Rod Hampton, R.J.’s dad, told ZAGSBLOG Saturday at the USA Basketball Junior National Team mini-camp at the Jefferson Activity Center.

    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    MINNEAPOLIS — After a wild 48 hours filled with rumors about Chris Mullin’s future that spread like wildfire through the college basketball world, St. John’s AD Mike Cragg said Saturday that Mullin is still the head coach.

    Reports that Mullin would either retire or resign after Cragg did not grant him a contract extension had spread, with one New York radio station even reporting Mullin was done. Mullin has two more years on his current deal which pays him roughly $2 million annually. The school would have to pay him $4 million to buy him out.

    “Coach Mullin and I have had several meetings since the end of the season and I would describe those meetings as productive, engaging and positive for the future of St. John’s Basketball and our athletic department as a whole,” he said in a statement.

    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    MINNEAPOLIS — Kevin Willard will remain as the Seton Hall coach and isn’t taking the Virginia Tech job.

    “Yes,” a source close to Willard said Saturday morning. “He wants to stay.”

    Virginia Tech had targeted Willard, who turned 44 Saturday, to replace Buzz Williams after he left for Texas A&M. But Willard opted to remain at Seton Hall, which he has led to four straight NCAA Tournaments.

    “Nothing to talk about, I’m at my desk,” Willard said by text on Friday.

    Williams reportedly made $3 million this past season at the ACC school, which would have been a significant pay raise from what Willard now makes, which is closer to $2 million.

    By ADAM ZAGORIA

    MINNEAPOLIS — Syracuse commits Joe Girard and Brycen Goodine aren’t competing in the Final Four this weekend — and they won’t even get to attend the games here at U.S. Bank Stadium.

    But the two Orange pledges roomed together in Minneapolis for the American Family Insurance High School Slam Dunk & 3-Point Championships.

    “It was a fun experience, getting to hang out with a lot of high-level athletes,” the 6-foot-3 Goodine out of St. Andrews School (R.I.) said by phone. “And I got a chance to room with Joe so I got to know him a little bit better. We were just laughing and talking the whole weekend.”

    Both players competed in the 3-Point Championship, which was won by Louisville commit Samuell Williamson.

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