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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.

NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony and Tyson Chandler of the Knicks were named among the 20 finalists for the U.S. Olympic roster, but Amar’e Stoudemire was predictably left off.

“It’s definitely not my choice, I would love to play,” Stoudemire said following the Knicks 102-93 loss to the Orlando Magic at MSG. “My loyalty is with USA Basketball, as it always has been.”

In July 2010, then-Knicks GM Donnie Walsh called USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo to say that the team wanted to pull Stoudemire out of consideration for the World Championships because his contract was uninsured related to his multiple knee surgeries.

Tony Parker has now added UConn to his list of potential landing spots.

“[Huskies coach Jim] Calhoun called me recently,” Parker told CBSSports.com. “I’ll sit down with my dad. They’re one of his favorite schools.”

Having struck out on big man Jarnell Stokes when he landed at Tennessee, the Huskies are also in the mix for 2012 late signee Chris Obekpa. Calhoun watched the 6-foot-9 Obekpa at the Hoophall Classic on Sunday.

The 6-9 Parker, out of Livonia (Ga.) Miller Grove, is also considering Kentucky, Duke, UCLA, Ohio State and Memphis. Kansas is also involved.

By JOSH NEWMAN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

NEW YORK – Princeton Day School, A K-12 institution that is not a member of the NJSIAA and plays in relative anonymity among the powers that be in the Garden State, is probably not the place you would first go to find a top 100 shooting guard.

No, it’s not the first program that comes to mind when thinking of a star shooting guard, but that’s exactly where Davon Reed plays and that’s where coaches are flocking to.

Despite a 56-49 loss to PSAL Queens ‘AA’ Bayside at the Big Apple Invitational on Monday afternoon, Reed showed off all the reasons why he is coveted by high-majors, as well as mid-majors.

NEW YORK — Former Kentucky standout and Orlando Magic rookie DeAndre Liggins believes his alma mater is better this year than it was a year ago when it reached the Final Four with himself and fellow rookie Josh “Jorts” Harrellson of the Knicks.

“Yeah, they’re more talented, they’re deeper,” the 6-foot-6 Liggins told SNY.tv prior to the Magic-Knicks game Monday at MSG. “I think they’re going to have a chance to win it all.”

Both St. John’s coach Steve Lavin and UConn coach Jim Calhoun were on hand Sunday at the Hoophall Classic to watch 6-foot-9 senior forward Chris Obekpa of Our Savior New American, according to a report on MassLive.com.

Obekpa had 10 points, 13 rebounds and eight blocks as Our Savior beat Mount St. Joseph, of Baltimore, 87-64 .

“I don’t think he understood how hard he had to work to be successful,” Our Savior coach Ron Stelzer told MassLive.com regarding Obekpa, a native of Nigeria. “He works hard, he’s got a 7-foot-5 wingspan, and he’s actually a more refined offensive player than people think he really is.”

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