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.
Antonio Blakeney was one of several late additions to the USA Basketball U18 trials, and after his first practice Tuesday night Blakeney sounded excited about the opportunity.
“It’s real good to be out here with all these good players, competing and trying to be on the USA team, represent the USA. That’s a big honor,” the 6-foot-4 2015 guard out of Orlando (FL) Oak Ridge told SNY.tv by phone from Colorado Springs, Colo.
Blakeney said it would be a dream come true to make the final cut.
Chase Jeter is officially listing six schools, but says four of them are recruiting him the hardest at the moment.
“At this point, the ones that have gotten on me the hardest since I’ve cut down my list are UNLV, Arizona, Duke and UCLA,” the 7-foot, 225-pound Jeter out of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman told SNY.tv by phone from the USA Basketball U18 trials in Colorado Springs, Colo. “Those are the schools I talk to the most.”
Jeter also lists Kansas and Oregon, and says he’s still considering both of those as well.
Each 1 Teach 1’s Daniel Giddens will announce his college choice July 4th, his birthday.
The 6-foot-10, 215-pound Giddens out of Marietta (Ga.) Wheeler cut his list in February to six schools: Kansas, Georgia, Ohio State, Arizona, Indiana and Florida.
He recently received an offer from Arkansas as well.
“Arkansas was a good offer. I’m still listening to some other colleges, but my list still stays the same,” Giddens told SNY.tv recently.
Georgetown and Syracuse announced in a joint release that the schools will renew their long-time rivalry in men’s basketball beginning in the 2015-16 season with a four-year home-and-home series.
One of the preeminent rivalries in all of college basketball, Georgetown will host the Orange at Verizon Center during the 2015-16 season and the Hoyas will visit the Carrier Dome in 2016-17.
“We’re excited to announce the renewal of the Georgetown-Syracuse rivalry,” Georgetown AD Lee Reed said. “The reestablishment of this series is good for college basketball fans across the country. I know that our program and fans will be excited to have a game against Syracuse on our schedule This is something that both schools have worked very hard to have happen and we’re very happy to have this series continue.”
Billydee Williams is a 6-foot-6, 215-pound guard/forward from Orlando, Fla. who most recently attended South Plains Community College in Texas. He will have two years of eligibility remaining at WVU.
“We are excited to get a player of this caliber this late in the recruiting process,” said head coach Bob Huggins. “Billydee is another guy who increases our size and athleticism on the perimeter as well as being able to stretch people out with his 3-point shooting. He also will be a valuable resource as we try to rebound the basketball more efficiently.”