Villanova, Indiana Watch Rawle Alkins; Kentucky-Bound Briscoe Scores 23 in Win

Jay Wright and Villanova assistants Kyle Neptune and Baker Dunleavy, as well as Indiana assistant Chuck Martin, watched 2016 Christ the King guard Rawle Alkins Sunday night at the Slam Dunk to the Beach event in Delaware.

The 6-foot-5 Alkins went for 23 points in a 66-57 loss to Sunrise (KS) Christian Sunday evening, including the above dunk that made YouTube.

Kentucky, Villanova, Cincinnati, Louisville, Kansas and N.C. State are among those involved for Alkins.

SMU Lands Duke Transfer Semi Ojeleye

Duke transfer Semi Ojeleye is headed to SMU.

“Yes, playing for coach [Larry] Brown is a great opportunity,” the 6-foot-8 Ojeleye told SNY.tv by text.

Asked what his role would be, Ojeleye said, “He wants me to be a basketball player, so [I’ll play] everywhere on the court.”

Ojeleye said he also considered Wisconsin, Illinois, Washington, Oregon and Creighton.

St. John’s Blows Out Tulane In Last Game Before Big East Play

In their last non-conference game before Big East Conference play begins Wednesday against Seton Hall, No. 17 St. John’s blew out Tulane, 82-57, at Barclays Center.

The Johnnies had their transition game humming in overdrive and were led by Sir’Dominic Pointer’s 24 points, 7 steals and 4 rebounds  and D’Angelo Harrison’s 21 points. They are now 11-1 for the first time since the 1985-86 season.

“We came out and it didn’t feel right, so I’m like, ‘It’s time to take over the game’ and that’s what I did,” Pointer told FoxSports1’s Donny Marshall. “They helped me do it, they said, ‘Dom, we need you this game.'”

Recruiting Roundup: Phillips Taking Visits; Felton, Kennard Drop 50+

By CHIP MILLER

Oak Hill Academy (VA) point guard Terrence Phillips highlights this weekend’s official visits as he takes the first of two currently scheduled. The first, starting Sunday and ending Monday, is to home state Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles. Phillips, a California native, recently gave SNY.tv his thoughts on the Lions.

“Well for one it’s back home for me,” he said. “Growing up in California, being back home, playing around my family, which is a big thing I’m looking at for them right now.”

Phillips still holds no official offer from Loyola but says he’s expecting the Lions to offer while on campus.

Dave Boff Has Roselle Catholic Flying High

By JEREMY FUCHS

ELIZABETH, N.J. — Dave Boff, the head coach of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, helms the best team in the state of New Jersey, with the best player in the state and a slew of future Division I players.

In his only his eighth season as the coach, Roselle Catholic’s meteoric rise under Boff is impressive.

“It’s happened faster than most people would’ve thought,” Boff, whose team opens play Sunday in the Slam Dunk to the Beach event in Delaware, told SNY.tv after his team beat Elizabeth 66-35 on Tuesday. “This was the goal. When we got here this was the goal.”

NBA Scouts Break Down Kentucky’s Win Over Louisville

I asked two NBA scouts to break down No. 1 Kentucky’s 58-50 win over Louisville on Saturday. Here are their takes:

NBA SCOUT 1:

Tough game to watch with such poor shooting from both teams.

Kentucky:

The Harrison twins both struggled. [Tyler] Ulis was the best player on the floor. Made big shots in the second half and did a nice job of handling the pressure from Louisville’s guards. Team just runs smoothly with him at the point. [Trey] Lyles was solid. He made open jump shots and rebounded well at both the 3 and 4 positions. [Willie] Cauley-Stein was just OK. Scored only on offensive rebound putbacks. Was not nearly the presence he has been lately at the defensive end. [Karl-Anthony] Towns is still their most talented player. Had a decent game but nothing spectacular stood out this afternoon. [Devin] Booker made a 3-pointer late but for the most part he was neutralized. Dakari Johnson rebounded well but was mostly a non factor throughout the game.

Ulis Keeps No. 1 Kentucky Unbeaten With Win Over No. 4 Louisville

By CHRIS RUSSELL

On the biggest stage of college basketball, the smallest player was the difference.

Despite a cut above his right eye that ultimately required three stitches, Kentucky freshman guard Tyler Ulis was the difference in Saturday’s  58-50 victory over No. 4 Louisville at KFC Yum! Center.

Ulis handled Louisville’s defensive pressure and connected on key jump shots in the second half en route to 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. He also had 2 assists and 0 turnovers as Kentucky (13-0) remained unbeaten and kept its hopes of a perfect season alive.

“It was a great feeling to get that win there, especially because it was a rivalry game,” Ulis said. “That was my first big away game and it was a great feeling.”

“I’ve loved him from the moment I started watching him,” Louisville coach Rick Pitino said. “He’s a great point guard.”