April 2013 | Page 27 of 32 | 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.

ATLANTA — Trey Burke picked up the Naismith Player of the Year award and the Oscar Robertson Trophy Player of the Year honors on Friday to go with his Associated Press National Player of the Year honors.

Despite being projected as the No. 7 pick in the NBA Draft By DraftExpress.com, he has yet to decide if he will turn pro after this season, according to his mother.

“He has not made any decision,” Ronda Burke told Yahoo! Sports Thursday afternoon. “Trey is focused on playing the games.”

Rysheed Jordan moved his commitment date up to next Thursday from April 15.

“IM GIVING A VERBAL COMMIT TO A COLLEGE ON THE 11th THIS MONTH!!!!!!!!!!!,” he Tweeted.

Sources close to St. John’s indicate they are confident of landing the 6-foot-4 Philly Vaux Roberts guard, who is also considering Temple and UCLA.

Jordan is ranked as the No. 5 point guard in the Class of 2013 by Rivals.

A scholarship recently opened up at St. John’s after wing Amir Garrett opted to transfer. 

Ohio State junior DeShaun Thomas is headed to the NBA Draft.

A veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv he could go late first round, while DraftExpress.com has him going at No. 22 in the second round.

“He’s a big, strong left,” the scout said. “He led the Big Ten in scoring and free throw shooting. Inside or outside as well as off the bounce, he can and will score the ball.”

“My three years at Ohio State have been the best years of my life,” Thomas said.  “I have grown tremendously as an individual and as a basketball player.  I intend to return to finish my degree, but I believe that now is the best opportunity to pursue my dream and begin my career as a professional basketball player.  I will always be a Buckeye and am blessed to be a part of the Ohio State University family.” 

ATLANTA — Nick Wiggins no longer thinks Kentucky is the best fit for his younger brother and believes his parents want Andrew Wiggins to pick Florida State.

“I think both my parents would like him to go to Florida State University because that’s where my mom and my dad attended school so it would be pretty amazing to see him do that and I believe they would be happy with that decision,” Nick, a junior guard at Wichita State, told SNY.tv during an exclusive interview in the Shockers’ locker room at the Georgia Dome.

He was referring to his parents, former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins, and former Canadian Olympic track star, Marita Payne-Wiggins.

“But I mean they would also be happy with anywhere that he goes to school,” added Nick, who averages 5.0 points and 1.8 rebounds off the bench for the Shockers, who play Louisville here Saturday in one national semifinal.

ATLANTA — Rick Pitino is headed to the Naismith Hall of Fame.

According to a report on ESPNNewYork.com, the Louisville coach and New York native has been notified that he will be inducted in the Class of 2013.

Pitino will be officially named to the Hall of Fame Monday morning, and he could win his second NCAA championship later that night.

“I just would love to see the national championship one happen,” Pitino said here Thursday.

http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=26017687

By MATT SUGAM & ADAM ZAGORIA

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Tim Pernetti has resigned as the Athletic Director at Rutgers, and President Robert L. Barchi is facing tremendous heat.

Just five months after engineering Rutgers’ move to the Big Ten from the Big East, Pernetti stepped down in the wake of the Mike Rice videotape scandal, handing in a letter of resignation to Barchi.

“I write in confirmation of our conversation earlier today during which we agreed that it was in the best interests of Rutgers University that I step down from my position as Director of Intercollegiate Athletics,” Pernetti wrote.

“I do so reluctantly because I always have and always will love Rutgers.”

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