June 2008 | Page 3 of 11

The good news keeps on coming for Rutgers. The four-man recruiting class featuring McDonald’s All-American Mike Rosario of St. Anthony was ranked No. 30 nationally by Rivals.com. I interviewed future Rutgers center Greg Echenique of St. Benedict’s Prep earlier this month before he left for his native Venezuela to play with his national U18 team in the upcoming FIBA Championships. You can read the full story here at Rivals High.

In other college notes…

**Keith Sargeant has the story on how former Rutgers radio announcer Bruce Johnson was replaced by Chris Carlin of WFAN, a blow to many RU fans..

High Schools, Maryland, Recruiting, Rutgers, Seton Hall

Vasil Resigns from Plainfield; Epps to Prep?

June 25, 2008

author: Adam Zagoria

Pete Vasil has resigned as head coach of the Plainfield boys basketball team.

Vasil, 45, was told by Plainfield officials to re-interview for his job, which he did on Tuesday. He then stepped down after the meeting with the six-person panel, handing a letter of resignation to the new principal (Brian Bilal) and interim AD (Dan Cone). Vasil then handed other letters to the Board of Education and the interim Superintendent.

“I made up my mind with my wife last night to resign,” Vasil said by phone. “I’m not about that (politics) as far as the game of basketball goes. I’m a stand-up guy. I’ve never been about that. I thought it would be best to detach myself from the whole scenario for the best interests of my family.”

Brandon Jennings, Lance Stephenson, NBA, Recruiting

If Jennings Goes Overseas, Will Others Follow?

June 24, 2008

author: Adam Zagoria

Brandon Jennings and those close to him are weighing the options as to whether he will play overseas or at Arizona next season.

The question is: If Jennings goes overseas, will it set a trend for others to follow? Could we see a Lance Stephenson or a Renardo Sidney follow Jennings abroad for a year before entering the NBA?

“I think it potentially could be exactly that, especially if it works out well,” said Jeff Valle, a Los Angeles-based attorney representing Jennings who has worked with Eric Clapton, Kevin Costner and Home Box Office. “And it may also cause the (NBA and NCAA) to look more carefully into their own situation (with the age limit). If the top players find it more attractive to not go to play college ball because they get paid right away and play in very competitive international leagues, I could imagine the NCAA saying, ‘We have to make sure we’re not losing our top players.'”

High Schools

Tommie Patterson to Clifton

June 24, 2008

author: Adam Zagoria

Tommie Patterson is on the move. Again.

Patterson, the former head boys basketball coach at Paterson Catholic and Paterson Eastside, is poised to accept the coaching vacancy at Clifton High School.

“I’m just excited to have the opportunity to be the head coach at Clifton,” said Patterson, who will remain a special education teacher at Eastside. “I’m glad that they’re giving me the opportunity.”

High Schools, Recruiting, St. Patrick

St. Pat’s Stakes Claim to No. 1

June 22, 2008

author: Adam Zagoria

St. Patrick of Elizabeth staked an early claim as the No. 1 team in New Jersey heading into next season.

Led by Co-MVPs Kyrie Irving and Markus Kennedy, the Celtics served notice to the rest of the Garden State by crushing Windsor (Conn.), 54-17, in the final of The Hoop Group Showcase Sunday at The Barn at Rutgers. Windsor was ranked No. 1 in Connecticut for much of last season before losing in the state Class LL semifinals. The Warriors played the entire tournament without a head coach on the sideline and the players coached themselves in a poised and intelligent fashion.

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Irving, a rising junior who transferred in from Montclair Kimberley, scored 17 points in the final after averaging 16 in the quarters and semis. The 6-8, 230-pound Kennedy was dominant in the low post, scoring 11 in the title game afer pouring in 22 in the quarters and 15 in the semis. Junior Chase Plummer added 12 in the final.