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.
A week from tonight it is entirely possible that two New York-area teams involved in a bitter rivalry will play an exciting game with an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament on the line.
And if that Iona-Manhattan game happens in the MAAC Conference championship, it will take place in Springfield, Mass., some 140 miles from the Big Apple.
That same night, another New York-based team will play a fellow bottom-feeder under the bright lights of Madison Square Garden.
After delaying his visit to see Villanova play, Tyus Battle was on hand Sunday afternoon when the No. 8 Wildcats clipped Marquette, 73-56.
The 6-foot-6 Gladstone (N.J.) Gill St. Bernard’s sophomore guard is one of the top prospects in the Class of 2016 and considered a future pro by his coach.
“I love the way [head coach] Jay [Wright] talks to his guys,” Gary Battle, Tyus’ father, told SNY.tv. “They have a very unified group. Ty enjoyed the visit.”
As March Madness begins to heat up, so too does recruiting.
Here are a few updates from this weekend’s developments.
**Marvin Clark, a 6-foot-6 post-graduate small forward from Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Christian, visited Michigan State for the Illinois game and had a ball.
“It was great, one of the realist visits I’ve ever been on,” he told SNY.tv. “They want to play me at three positions, 2, 3 and 4. And I liked how real it was. They showed me who they really were.”
NEW YORK — Steve Lavin and his players awoke Sunday morning to the daily update from ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi.
And it went like this: St. John’s is currently among the First 4 Out of the 68-team NCAA Tournament field.
St. John’s, like a lot of bubble teams at this point, has only one option to keep its dancing dreams alive: Keep on winning.
They did what they were supposed to do Sunday afternoon, beating DePaul, 72-64, at Madison Square Garden behind D’Angelo Harrison’s 25 points, 10 rebounds and four assists.Sir’Dominic Pointer had 14 points and five boards, Orlando Sanchez added 13 points and seven rebounds and Chris Obekpa grabbed 10 rebounds.
“I don’t turn on SportsCenter, none of that,” Harrison said of Lunardi’s bracket. “I watch NBA TV.”
UNION, N.J. — Dupree McBrayer is a New York native who has played high school ball in New York, Las Vegas and now New Jersey.
And on Saturday night the uncommitted 6-foot-5 senior guard poured in a game-high 25-points as The Patrick School won the Union County championship with a 62-54 victory over Linden at Kean University.
“I didn’t see it coming,” said Chris Chavannes, The Patrick School coach who succeeded the legendary Kevin Boyle and won his second straight Union County title and the school’s 18th overall. “Usually with Dupree, you have to chastise him to shoot the basketball and to be aggressive offensively. One of the problems we had in the two losses to Linden was our guards were back on their heels. We weren’t attacking them. That’s what we wanted him to do today.”
Rutgers has four commits for 2014: Quality Education (N.C.) center Ibrahima Diallo, Bishop Loughlin guard Mike Williams, ASA College guard Bishop Daniels and Massanutten Military forward D.J. Foreman.
“Rysheed attended Niaja’s [Kane] funeral yesterday in Philadelphia and he will return to New York tonight,” Lavin said. “This has been a very challenging week for Rysheed and his family as they have been grieving this tragic loss.
“It’s clear that Rysheed needs more time before returning to action. He will not suit up for tomorrow’s game but will be on the bench to support his teammates. Our thoughts and prayers remain with Rysheed and his family.”