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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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    • Articles, Kentucky, Recruiting

    BlakeneyCould John Calipari capitalize on a loss by Rick Pitino?

    Calipari and Kentucky assistant Kenny Payne met Wednesday night with former Louisville pledge Antonio Blakeney, with Blakeney Tweeting, “UK visit went well.”

    The 6-foot-4 Blakeney Tweeted similar things this week after home visits with coaches from Missouri, LSU and USC.

    After an 11-day commitment to Louisville, Blakeney decommitted earlier this month and re-opened his recruitment.

    Calipari was among the coaches actively pursuing Blakeney this summer at the Peach Jam when the player showed a knack for scoring from all three levels, especially with a crafty mid-range game.

    “I just want to get better and play versus good competition,” Blakeney told SNY.tv in August at the Big Strick Classic in New York. “You know, every time you play versus good competition you want to bring your all and just try to show that you’re the best.”

    Articles, Duke

    Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski and assistants Jeff Capel and Jon Scheyer had a “very impressive” presentation Wednesday for 2016 guard Tyus Battle at Gill St. Bernard’s, Gill coach Mergin Sina told SNY.tv.

    “You get a guy like that coming into Gill, obviously he’s a legendary coach,” Sina said. “He was really good. He knew Tyus to a ‘T,’ which always helps. He had a good evaluation of Tyus. He explained all the things that he could work on to get better, and some of the things that are going to make him successful.”

    Sina added: “They like him as a multi-purpose player, which I agree with. I think he can play two to three positions, two very well I think and the third one [point guard] he’d have to work on. The point guard is the one he has to work on, the two is more of a natural position for him. He can get a rebound and go with and handle the ball in transition. The elite guys all say the same thing about Tyus, that he is versatile. That’s something that will help him.”

    Articles

    Trevon Duval, a 6-foot-3 2017 point guard from St. Benedict’s Prep and the Playaz Basketball Club, continues to pile up the offers.

    Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin and Texas Tech assistant Vincent Taylor both offered Duval after watching him at practice Tuesday.

    Last week, Duval added offers from Miami, Pittsburgh and SMU to go along with Villanova, Seton Hall and Rutgers.

    Texas Tech also offered 6-2 2017 guard Nate Pierre-Louis and 6-9 2016 forward Arnaldo Toro. 

    “Those guys are legit, those young guys are legit.” one D-1 coach said. “[Toro] is a big body and he still has two years left.”

    Articles, Louisville

    After parting ways with Antonio Blakeney following his decommitment, Louisville has zeroed in on P.J Dozier, a 6-foot-5 two guard out of Columbia (S.C.) Spring Valley.

    Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and assistant Kenny Johnson will have a home visit with Dozier tonight (Wednesday).

    “I talked to Coach Kenny, and they just want to come down and sit down and talk and start the process over again,” Perry Dozier, Sr. who coaches his son, told the Louisville Courier-Journal. “We wouldn’t have them come in if (P.J.) wasn’t (interested).”

    Dozier is also considering North Carolina, Michigan, Georgetown and South Carolina, with the Tar Heels the presumed favorite on 247Sports.

    Articles, Recruiting

    Ernest Aflakpui, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Radnor (PA) Archbishop Carroll, has added an official visit to St. Louis, probably the weekend of Oct. 3-5, Carroll coach Paul Romanczuk told SNY.tv.

    He has already taken official visits to Philadelphia schools St. Joe’s and Temple, as well as VCU this past weekend, which he enjoyed.

    “Coach [Jim] Crews and Coach [Tanner] Bronson have done a great job piquing Ernest’s interest in not only how they play and use their big guys but of the unselfish, team-first culture he longs to play in,” the coach said.

    Articles, Duke, Recruiting

    GLADSTONE, N.J. — Duke will come three deep with Coach K, Jeff Capel and Jon Scheyer on Wednesday when they meet with 2016 guard Tyus Battle at Gill St. Bernard’s.

    “The fact that [Coach K] is taking some time off [from his team] where I know he is completely exhausted [from the FIBA World Cup] and has to get back to his own team, and for him to come down here with the whole staff, that’s impressive,” Gill coach Mergin Sina said Tuesday at the school.

    “To me, that’s saying that the guy really believes that this is a kid who could help his program.”

    Said the 6-foot-6 Battle, who turned 17 on Tuesday: “It’s great. I’m just enjoying the whole college recruiting experience.”

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