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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.

Below are the players selected for the Jordan Brand Regional Game set for April 18 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Four Seton Hall commits — Khadeen Carrington, Angel Delgado, Desi Rodriguez and Ismael Sanogo — will play in the Regional Game, while Pirates pledge Isaiah Whitehead, also a McDonald’s All-American, is in the National game. Rodriguez and Whitehead both played at Lincoln for coach Tiny Morton, who is expected to join the Seton Hall staff next season.

Rutgers-bound guard Michael Williams of Bishop Loughlin and Rutgers pledge D.J. Foreman of Massanutten Military were also chosen.

Two players from Our Savior New American — Baylor-bound shooting guard Kobie Eubanks and uncommitted forward Michael Nzei — were also selected.

Also of note, Christ the King big man Adonis Delarosa, whose team won back-to-back New York State Federation titles, is due to announce April 18, meaning he could do so at the event.

Here is the link to the Jordan Brand Classic national team players.

For tickets, go here.

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Khadeen Carrington (Seton Hall)

Adonis Delarosa (Uncommitted)

Dwayne Foreman (Rutgers)

Terry Larrier (VCU)

Below is a constantly fluid list of Early Entrant candidates for the 2014 NBA Draft based on various sources, interviews and media reports, including DraftExpress.com.

The NCAA Early Entry “Withdrawal” Deadline is April 15 and the NBA’s Early Entry eligibility deadline is April 27. The NBA will release its official list of Early Entry Draft candidates on May 2.

Click on the name of the player for a link to the related story. If you have tips on other players,

Tweet them to me here:    

By JOSH NEWMAN & ADAM ZAGORIA

Manhattan coach Steve Masiello will be the next coach at South Florida, Gary Parrish of CBSSports.com is reporting.

Masiello is in “negotiations” with South Florida, a source confirmed to SNY.tv.

A second source said the Manhattan players were aware it was “done.”

One report has Masiello being offered a five-year deal worth $6.2 million.

According to Parrish, among the influential people supporting Masiello’s candidacy is Tampa resident and Outback Steakhouse co-founder Chris Sullivan, a close friend of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino.

Towns kiss

By ADAM ZAGORIA

TRENTON, N.J. — Seated on the end of a podium inside the bowels of the Sun National Bank Center, Karl-Anthony Towns pressed his forehead up against the New Jersey Tournament of Champions trophy.

After patiently answering several questions, the 7-foot-1 Kentucky signee talked joyously about how he wanted to finish up the press conference so he could take the trophy to dinner.

One year after coming up short in the New Jersey Tournament of Champions final against Roselle Catholic, Towns and Vanderbilt commit Wade Baldwin finally enjoyed sweet redemption.

But it didn’t come easy.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHREe838Kwk&w=560&h=315]

Despite getting bounced in the second round of the NCAA Tournament by Mercer on Friday, there is some good news for Duke.

Luke Kennard, a 6-foot-5 2015 shooting guard from Franklin (Ohio) who was named the Ohio Gatorade Player of the Year and the AP Ohio Mr. Basketball, announced for the Blue Devils on Monday night at his high school.

Ranked No. 24 in the Class of 2015 by ESPN.com, Kennard also considered Kentucky, North Carolina, Louisville, Ohio State, Michigan and Florida.

“Being around Coach K and the players – how the program was ran – I could tell it was a very special place and I could see myself fitting in there,” he said, according to the News & Observer. “I felt at peace with my decision. Duke was the best fit for me.”

Kennard, who scored a career-high 59 points in February and averaged 40 points and 10.4 rebounds, visited Duke earlier this month for the North Carolina game and loved his official visit.

JaKarrDespite not being listed on the DraftExpress.com 2014 Mock Draft, 6-foot-9 St. John’s sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson announced Monday that he intends to forego the remainder of his collegiate career and enter the 2014 NBA Draft.

St. John’s will hold an 11 a.m. press conference on Tuesday.

“JaKarr will forego his final two years of eligibility and pursue his dream of playing in the NBA. We are grateful for JaKarr’s contributions to our St. John’s basketball program,” said Red Storm head coach Steve Lavin. “In speaking with NBA general managers JaKarr is projected as a draft prospect with intriguing talent and upside.”

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