October 2010 | Page 2 of 18 | 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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Saturday / November 23.
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Articles, Rutgers

Greg Lewis became the seventh player in the Class of 2011 to commit Rutgers coach Mike Rice when he verbally pledged Friday night.

“Yeah, I did,” the 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward from Baltimore St. Frances said. Lewis is the No. 14 center in the Class of 2011 according to Rivals.

Asked why he chose Rutgers over South Florida and interest from Maryland, Lewis said, “My relationship with Coach Rice and Coach [David] Cox. Rutgers presented me with a good opportunity.”

Lewis, a cousin of the late former Boston Celtics star Reggie Lewis, averaged 14 points and 11 rebounds last season.

Articles, Kansas, Memphis

When Josh Pastner took over for John Calipari as the head coach at the University of Memphis in April 2009, one of his first goals was to keep the local talent at home.

“When I was fortunate enough to be able to become the head coach, the first thing I said at my press conference was, ‘We’ve got to do all we can to protect the backyard and to get the best student-athletes locally,’” Pastner said Friday morning by phone. “Memphis pound-for-pound is one of the best, if not the best, cities in America in terms of student-athletes coming out.”

The Tigers added yet another talented Memphian Thursday when Adonis Thomas, a 6-foot-6 wing from Memphis Melrose ranked the No. 6 small forward in the Class of 2011, verbally committed to Memphis over Tennessee, Florida, UCLA and Arkansas.

Articles, Maryland, Oregon State, Seton Hall, Wake Forest

Two of New Jersey’s top 2011 recruits will hit the road on official visits this weekend when guard Elijah Carter trips to Oregon State and forward Desmond Hubert heads to Maryland.

“Taking an official tomorrow [Friday] to OSU,” Carter said Thursday night by text.

A year after initially committing to St. Bonaventure, the recruitment of the 6-foot-2 Carter has exploded, with Pac-10 and Big East schools getting involved.

At this point, Seton Hall, Oregon State and Charlotte appear to be the most likely destinations for Carter, who plays at Brewster (N.H.) Academy.

Binghamton

(AP) — Binghamton University has bought out the contract of former men’s basketball coach Kevin Broadus, who guided the team to its first NCAA tournament and then watched the program quickly crumble.

In exchange for his resignation, which takes effect Monday, and withdrawal of all claims and potential future lawsuits, Broadus will receive a $1.2 million settlement. According to interim president C. Peter Magrath, Binghamton University will pay $819,115 and the State University of New York will pay $380,884.

Magrath said the settlement was about $400,000 larger than the amount due on Broadus’s contract to include legal fees.

Articles, Carmelo Anthony, Old Knicks

Carmelo Anthony wants a change.

So he told Yahoo! Sports after scoring 23 points in Denver’s season-opening victory against the Utah Jazz Wednesday night. He said he has no intention of signing the Nuggets’ three-year, $64 million contract extension offer.

“They want to sit down and talk, but my thing is it’s way beyond this year,” Anthony told Yahoo!. ”It ain’t got nothing to do with the new GM, Josh [Kroenke], the players. For me, I feel it’s a time for change.

“If I do nothing now, I’m never going to do anything. I feel like my time is now to make a decision if I want to leave or if I want to stay.”

Maryland, Memphis

Adonis Thomas, the No. 6 small forward in the Class of 2011, will stay home in Memphis to play his college ball.

The 6-foot-6 Thomas busted out a blue Memphis Tigers baseball hat on ESPNU and chose the hometown team over Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and UCLA.

“I’d like to take my game and further my college career to the University of Memphis,” he said.

“Coach [Josh] Pastner and his staff were just great from the beginning after Coach Cal left. The assistant coach, Coach [Derek] Kellogg, had been recruiting me hard. I love Memphis. They have a great fan support here and I just love playing with those players. They have great guys who play with me during the AAU season and guys who I’ve been seeing at exposure camps.

Duke

By Jim O’Connell, AP Basketball Writer

Defending national champion Duke was a runaway No. 1 in The Associated Press preseason Top 25 men’s basketball poll.

At the other end of the Top 25 there was big news Thursday with San Diego State entering the rankings for the first time ever.

Duke, on top for a seventh time, has two starters returning to a roster featuring highly touted freshman Kyrie Irving and transfer Seth Curry, Stephen’s little brother.

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