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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.

Chalk up another gold medal for USA in men’s youth basketball.

The Americans beat Argentina, 94-48, Saturday in the gold medal game of the FIBA Americas U16 championship in Uruguay.

Josh Jackson led the way with 16 points, Jayson Tatum had 14, Seventh Woods had 12 and Ivan Rabb posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 boards.

“We knew we had to come out a little stronger tonight and our pressure just really took it to them,” USA coach Don Showalter told SNY.tv by phone from Uruguay. “Our pressure just changed the game.”

Malik Newman, a 6-foot-4 guard from Jackson (MS) Calloway, was named MVP of the tournament after putting up nine points and four assists in the final.

By: DAVE SPAHN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va.- We often see athletes thanking God after a big win or talking about their faith life during the good times, but rarely do we see someone consistently speak about their faith at all times in sports. In our politically correct society, players usually keep their faith to themselves and stay away from constantly talking about God in the media.

Not Leron Black.

A Memphis native, Black makes sure every coach recruiting him knows the most important part of his life. He frequently talks Bible verses with coaches and has in-depth conversations about his beliefs with the schools recruiting him.

Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell figured to make a big jump from his freshman to his sophomore season regardless of what happened this summer.

The 6-foot-8 North Carolina native  flashed some moments of brilliance last season, such as when he went off for 20 points and  seven rebounds when Louisville stormed back to crush Syracuse in the Big East championship game at Madison Square Garden.

But now Harrell is training with the USA U19 team in Colorado Springs, Colo., battling some of the top bigs in college basketball.

Just because Billy Donovan is the head coach of the U.S. U19 team doesn’t mean Michael Frazier will automatically make the final cut.

And nobody knows that better than Frazier himself.

“I just want to come out here and just play and show my ability,” Frazier, a 6-foot-4 rising sophomore guard at Florida, told SNY.tv by phone from training in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“People might say that he’s the coach, so I’m automatically on the team. That’s not the case because there’s a lot of guys out here that’s trying to get the spot I’m trying to get.”

The USA U16 team will play  Argentina for the gold medal at the FIBA Americas championship Saturday in Uruguay.

The Americans beat Puerto Rico, 93-64, behind Ivan Rabb’s double-double of 19 points and 14 rebounds and Diamond Stone’s 19 points.  Josh Jackson added 13 points andThomas Bryant had 11.

“Rabb had a double-double and played with energy,” U.S. coach Don Showalter told SNY.tv. “Stone was a force inside. Our depth was a big factor in our win as our bench scored 36 points.

“We had 68 point sin the paint and scored 26 points from their 24 turnovers, which is a credit to our defense.”

By: DAVE SPAHN

Special to ZAGSBLOG

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The top spot in the 2015 class nationally has been up for grabs this spring.

Multiple names have been thrown around as contenders, with Ivan Rabb Jr., Diamond Stone, and Malik Newman all mentioned at the top of recruiting rankings.

Now it’s time to throw Stephen Zimmerman into the conversation.

The 7-footer from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman has been as impressive as any player at the NBPA Top 100 camp this week, displaying elite athleticism and agility for a kid his size. He’s been a defensive force all year long and continuing his work against older, stronger competition the past two days.

Less than a month after announcing he was transferring to Auburn from Rutgers, Jerome Seagears has officially done a 180 and returned to the New Jersey school

The rising junior guard on Friday completed the necessary paperwork to return to Rutgers and will be  immediately eligible for competition for the 2013-14 season.

“I believe everything happens for a reason and God has a plan for everybody,” said Seagears, who opted to transfer in the wake of the Mike Rice scandal. “I believe this is his plan for me, to return home to my Scarlet Knights. I have experienced a lot of uncertainty over the last several months and I look forward to continuing my college career where it started.” 

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