NEW YORK — Since the Knicks and Nets last met in Brooklyn Nov. 26, the two teams have headed in opposite directions.
The Nets (11-8) have gone 2-4 since the much-hyped first meeting between the two New York City teams, and enter tonight’s game at the Barclays Center having lost four straight.
The Knicks (15-5) have won six of seven, including a 20-point blowout of the Heat in Miami without their star, Carmelo Anthony.
Aaron Gordon and Dakari Johnson, two of the top uncommitted prospects in the Class of 2013, will draw some big-name programs on Tuesday.
Arizona coach Sean Miller is expected to watched the 6-foot-9 Gordon at San Jose (Calif). Archbishop Mitty, according to Mitty coach Tim Kennedy. Washington coach Lorenzo Romaro was in last week to see Gordon, who is also considering Kentucky.
Mitty will face Travis (TX) High Thursday night on ESPN in a game that may not feature Kentucky-bound point guard Andrew Harrison, who is doubtful for the game with a calf injury.
“We’re excited for the game,” Kennedy told SNY.tv. “They’ve got a great team and Aaron is looking forward to going up against the Harrison twins.”
ESPN released it’s High School Basketball Showcase which will feature the top seven teams in the ESPN 25 Power Rankings and 36 ranked players in the ESPN 100, Super 60 and Terrific 25 in 14 games across ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU from Dec. 13, 2012 through Feb. 10, 2013.
The schedule tips off on Thursday with a doubleheader on ESPN featuring: No. 7 Aaron Gordon (No. 12 Archbishop Mitty) facing Kentucky-bound No. 5 Aaron Harrison (No. 7 Travis) in Houston at 8 p.m.
Fellow Wildcats signee Andrew Harrison is doubtful for the game with a hamstring injury, Ben Roberts reported.
Gordon is considering Washington, Arizona and Kentucky and will sign in the spring.
The Big East may be in disarray off the court, but on the court the league’s teams have won their last 17 games, including an 11-0 showing this past Saturday.
The Big East has a 103-27 record against Division I opponents this season. The.790 winning percentage is the best of any of the 32 conferences.
Meantime, the league honored Fuquan Edwin of Seton Hall as its Player of the Week and JaKarr Sampson of St. John’s as its Rookie of the Week.
Here’s a feature I did on Fuquan from last year that highlights the tough background in the Silk City of Paterson from which he comes.
BIG EAST Player of the Week
FUQUAN EDWIN, Seton Hall, F/G, Jr.
Edwin averaged 23.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in a 2-0 week for the Pirates, which included a come-from-behind 71-67 win at Wake Forest. In Saturday’s win against the Demon Deacons, Edwin scored 17 of his 24 points in the second half while helping the Pirates overcome a 14-point deficit. Earlier in the week, Edwin had 22 points and 10 rebounds in a 68-59 victory against NJIT. For the two games, Edwin shot 59.3 percent from the floor and 62.5 percent from 3-point range.
Julius Randle will visit Kansas Feb. 16
NEW YORK — Can it be long before Jason Kidd’s hockey helmet has its own Twitter account?
Kidd jokingly busted out the Rangers helmet during halftime of the Knicks 112-106 victory over the Denver Nuggets after he took yet another shot to the head, this one when Ty Lawson bit on a pump fake and landed on Kidd’s head in the second quarter.
“I thought the scouting report says I can’t shoot so I don’t know why everybody’s going for the pump fake,” Kidd joked after going for 15 points and seven assists while playing point guard down the stretch as the Knicks rallied to improve to 8-0 at home.
The helmet — and the overall play of the 39-year-old Kidd — was a huge hit with his teammates.
NEW YORK — Will Rasheed Wallace play for the Knicks in Tuesday’s intra-city battle against the Brooklyn Nets?
Wallace missed Sunday’s 112-106 victory over the Denver Nuggets with a sore left foot and his status going forward remains unclear.
“I don’t know,” Knicks coach Mike Woodson said. “It could be day-to-day, at this point I don’t know.”
The 6-11 Wallace has been a key addition off the bench so far, averaging 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds.
