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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.


NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C.
Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker were supposed to settle the question of who’s the No. 1 high school basketball player in America at high noon here on Friday.

But Parker, the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2013, was a no-show at the Peach Jam due to a foot injury that has shelved him for the summer.

All Wiggins could do then was go out and beat the No. 2 player in 2013, Julius Randle.

And that’s exactly what he did.

In a dramatic game played before a few thousand people in a jam-packed gym, including Kentucky coach John Calipari and Kansas coach Bill Self, Wiggins put up a game-high 28 points and 13 rebounds as CIA Bounce remained undefeated here with an 81-80 OT victory over the Team Texas Titans. Wiggins outscored the Titans by himself in the extra period, 8-7.

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Onetime Miami signee Melvin Johnson has found a new home.

The 6-foot-3 guard from The Bronx and St. Benedict’s Prep committed to VCU after visiting the school this week, his mother, Kizzy, confirmed to SNY.tv.

“Melvin Johnson is a big-time prolific scorer with unlimited range,” St. Benedict’s Prep coach Mark Taylor told SNY.tv.

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — For the second straight day here at the Peach Jam, Chris McCullough drew a Who’s Who of coaches to his game.

“He will be in college for one year,” one Division I coach told SNY.tv of the 6-foot-10 McCullough during Team Scan’s win over the Houston Hoops. “Just look at his skills.”

Among those on hand to watch McCullough and Team Scan Friday were Louisville coach Rick Pitino and assistant Kevin Keatts, UConn coach Jim Calhoun and assistant Glen Miller, Rutgers coach Mike Rice, Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua, St. John’s assistant Tony Chiles, Syracuse assistants Adrian Autry, Gerry McNamara and Nick Resavy,

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Because Syracuse head coach Jim Boeheim and associate head coach Mike Hopkins are busy this summer coaching Team USA, Syracuse has a new face on the recruiting trail.

When it comes to watching top prospects like 2014 forward Chris McCullough of Team Scan here at the Peach Jam, it’s now up to assistants Adrian “Red” Autry and Gerry McNamara, as well as graduate assistant Nick Resavy (second from left in picture near UCLA head coach Ben Howland).


NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Austin Colbert helped Team Final finish off Boo Williams with an empathic one-handed  dunk here Friday afternoon.

Looking more aggressive than we have seen him in recent weeks, the 6-foot-9 Colbert finished with 12 points, 7 rebounds, 3 blocks and 3 steals in the 66-60 victory, Team Final’s first in three games here.

The performance came with notable coaches like Bill Self, Rick Pitino, Tom Crean, Frank Martin and Mike Rice plus a slew of assistants watching.

“Aw, man that [dunk] felt pretty good,” Colbert said. “It kind of iced the game a little bit and I just felt good about that.”

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — Famed St. Patrick High School will reopen as The Patrick School this fall instead of closing due to financial reasons.

“We are definitely open,” basketball coach Chris Chavannes told SNY.tv, adding that the school will re-open at 555 Morris Ave. in Elizabeth, less than a block from Kean College.

Chavannes said the team will remain a member of the NJSIAA and will remain in the Watchung Conference of the Union County Conference.

Current NBA players Kyrie Irving and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist are both helping their alma mater out financially, a source close to the situation told SNY.tv.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Newly re-signed free agent power forward Kris Humphries was re-introduced by the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday morning at the PNY Center, and he was apparently in the mood to reminisce.

Humphries has been through some tough times with the Nets, namely the second half of the infamous 12-70 season in 2009-10. He played the last two seasons at the Prudential Center in front of a largely-apathetic fan base as the team prepared to move to Brooklyn.

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