August 2011 | Page 5 of 21 | 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.

Andre Drummond is headed to UConn after all.

The 6-foot-11 center pulled a 180-degree turn Friday, announcing via Twitter that he will play for the defending NCAA champion Huskies this fall instead of going for a postgraduate year in high school.

“It’s official I’m heading to the university of connecticut to be a husky this year! Do I hear repeat,” Drummond said on Twitter.

The Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year last season, Drummond averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds a game while leading St. Thomas More to a 30-7 record and a National Prep School Tournament championship.

“Andre Drummond’s going to be a factor [in the Big East],” St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn, who spoke to Drummond and his mother, Christine, for 20 minutes Friday, told SNY.tv. “First of all, the best thing about Andre Drummond, he’s a great teammate.

Huntington (West Va.) Prep coach Rob Fulford says sexual assault charges against guard Ray Lee have been dropped and that Lee has been removed from the team.

“Ray Lee was removed from our program for entering the Marshall dorms, period,” Fulford told SNY.tv. “We have a very strict policy against our players being in the Marshall housing and regardless of what happened behind closed doors, Ray was removed from the team for being there.

“As for the charges, the accuser has notified the MUPD (Marshal University Police Dept.) that all charges are dropped and Ray is awaiting word from the prosecutor’s office confirming the official release from charges. We wish Ray the best.”

Former St. John’s standout Justin Burrell has signed a contract with the Yokohama B-Corsairs outside of Tokyo and will head to Japan the first week of September.

The 6-foot-9 Burrell averaged 6.3 points and 3.9 boards last season.

“Justin’s dominating physical style of play in the basket area at both ends of the court was key to our success this past season. He has been a great ambassador of St. John’s basketball on our campus and in the community,” Johnnies coach Steve Lavin said. “He will have a terrific experience overseas. Justin has helped us greatly in recruiting future Johnnies, and the St. John’s family is pleased that he has received this well-deserved opportunity to play professional basketball.” 

By STEVE KLURFELD

For me, the best part of the U.S. Open is the four-day long qualifying tournament that precedes it.

This year, the 128 men and 128 women started play on Tuesday and by Friday (weather permitting) the final 16 in each draw will be granted spots in the main draw, which begins Monday.

It’s free to attend, and that attendance has grown over the last 30 years I’ve been visiting.

Here are my top 5 reasons the quallies are where it’s at.

Ray Lee, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Detroit, was arrested by Marshall University Police and charged with four counts of felony sexual assault Wednesday afternoon, according to the Huntington Herald-Dispatch.

Lee, who attends Huntington (W.V.) Prep, reportedly sexually assaulted a 17-year-old Marshall University student in her dorm room on Monday. He faces two charges each of sexual assault in the first degree and sexual assault in the second degree.

Marshall University spokesman Matt Turner told the newspaper university records showed Lee was a registered guest of the victim at the time of the incident.

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