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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.

Derrick Gordon visited a trio of Atlantic 10 schools and then chose one.

The 6-foot-2 former Western Kentucky guard Tweeted Friday that he picked UMass over St. Joe’s and Rhode Island.

The former St. Patrick standout averaged 11.8 points and 6.7 rebounds. He must sit a year per NCAA transfer regulations.

“THIS WAS A LONG AND HARD DECISION FOR ME…BUT NOW IT’S OVER…IT’S OFFICIAL I WILL BE GOING TO UMASS!!!!…” he Tweeted.

Ryan Rhoomes is headed to Fordham.

The 6-foot-9, 237-pound former TCU commit pledged to the Rams on Friday.

“I just chose them because everything felt right,” Rhoomes told SNY.tv. “It’s close to home and I feel they can develop my game.”

Rhoomes was recruited by assistant coach David Duke as well as head coach Tom Pecora.

“I think it might be a nice fit,” Cardozo coach Ron Naclerio said. “He visited the other day, he liked it. David played for me at Cardozo and he always works hard with Cardozo players.”

NEW YORK — Shane Battier may be the only player in the NBA who uses the word “serendipitous” but leave it to a Duke product to break out that Scrabble word.

Battier was asked Friday how he felt about the Knicks breaking the Memphis Grizzlies NBA-record of 12 straight postseason losses and he came up with this gem.

“It was a serendipitous turn of events for Mike Miller and I,” Battier said.

“How many NBA players use the word serendipitous?” Miller asked. “You’re at the top of your game, brother.”

By JOSH NEWMAN & ADAM ZAGORIA

NEW YORK — In a season that has been full of surprises, but is now teetering on the edge of playoff elimination, Amar’e Stoudemire appears to be intent on going down with the ship.

After the franchise power forward smashed his left hand through a glass encasement holding a fire extinguisher after the Knicks lost Game 2 in Miami on Monday evening, he missed Wednesday’s Game 3 loss and was officially called doubtful for Sunday’s Game 4. At Friday’s practice, those plans may have changed. That is, those plans have changed, depending on who you’re listening to.

“I’ll see how it feels tomorrow [Saturday],” Stoudemire said. “I’ll practice again [if I can] and see how it feels and we’ll see for Sunday. It’s definitely not 100 percent. It’s a little bit sore too.’’

NEW YORK — Like Yankee fans everywhere, LeBron James is feeling Mariano Rivera’s pain.

After dropping a game-high 32 points on the Knicks in Miami’s 87-70 victory in Game 3 Thursday night at Madison Square Garden, James went back to his hotel room and learned with the rest of the sports world that Rivera had been felled by a torn ACL.

“I think it’s unfortunate, honestly,” James said Friday at Heat shootaround at MSG. “We all know the great baseball player he is. Probably the best closer that MLB has ever seen. For him to have a freak accident like that, you can’t explain it. No one can explain it.”

Trivante Bloodman is headed to Mississippi State.

The 6-foot New York point guard committed Friday on his visit.

“I have just officially become a Bulldog,” he said by text.

The former Wadleigh High player also had interest from Seton Hall, Texas Tech and Cleveland State, among others.

Bloodman was a qualifier out of high school and will have three years of eligibility.

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