April 2009 | Page 2 of 17

While UConn coach Jim Calhoun and his staff are left to clean up the mess they made recruiting Nate Miles, Miles is headed to the NBA.

Connecticut newspapers reported that Miles will not be prosecuted on charges of violating a restraining order against his former UConn girlfriend.

With the case behind him, Mike Anthony of the Hartford Courant sites a source saying that the 6-foot-7 Miles will make himself eligible for the NBA Draft in June.

Calhoun once declared that Miles had “as much basketball ability” as any recruit he ever signed. Pretty high praise considering Ben Gordon, Ray Allen and Emeka Okafor all played for Calhoun.

Arizona, Pittsburgh, Villanova, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Xavier

Kennedy Makes Decision; Parrom Down to Final 2

April 28, 2009

author: Adam Zagoria

Markus Kennedy, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound junior forward from Living Faith Christian Academy (N.J.), will stay home for college.

Kennedy, a Philadelphia native, chose Villanova over West Virginia and Temple during a press conference Wednesday at his school.

“I just loved the coach and the team and everything about the campus,” Kennedy said by phone. “Coach [Jay] Wright really cares about the players. He just doesn’t care about winning basketball games. He cares about their future.”

Asked how much the Wildcats’ run to the Final Four impacted his decision, Kennedy said: “Yes, it did. The way that their team is, they only have a couple of big men and for them to get to the Final Four, that says a lot.”

Fordham

Jio Fontan Denied Release

April 28, 2009

author: Adam Zagoria

Jio Fontan was denied a release from Fordham during a meeting Tuesday even after promising school officials that he would not attend any Big East schools in the area.

“He was denied,” a source with direct knowledge said.

Fontan met with a Fordham official following another meeting last week that involved his family and an administrative committee.

Still, Fontan and his family are “100 percent” committed to fighting the decision and pursuing a release, the source said.

La Salle, St. John's

Malik Stith to St. John's

April 28, 2009

author: Adam Zagoria

You can never have enough skilled guards in the Big East and St. John’s just added another one.

Point guard Malik Stith, a Hempstead, N.Y. native who spent this year at Bridgton (Me.) Academy, verbally committed to St. John’s on Tuesday morning.

“I made [the decision] last night on my own,” the 5-foot-11, 175-pound Stith said Tuesday by phone. “I slept on it just to make sure I was 100 percent that everything was right. I called [St. John’s head coach] Norm Roberts today and I told him.

“I signed a fax paper today and I will sign my official Letter of Intent [Wednesday].”

Florida, Memphis, Pittsburgh, Transfers

Simpkins Transferring, Tyus Staying

April 28, 2009

author: Adam Zagoria

Memphis freshman Matt Simpkins is transferring.

“This is a decision that Matt came to after talking with his family and me,” said Memphis coach Josh Pastner. “We wish Matt the best as he continues his academic and athletic pursuits at another school. If there is anything I can do to help Matt in this process, I will do so to assist him in having a smooth transition.”

Simpkins, a 6-foot-9, 215-pound forward who was cleared to play on Dec. 4, saw action in 14 games and averaged 1.4 points and 1.5 rebounds.