December 2014 | Page 7 of 21 | Zagsblog
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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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Sunday / November 24.

North Carolina coach Roy Williams on Saturday watched Marietta (GA) Wheeler forward Jaylen Brown go for 19 points and 9 rebounds in a 55-52 win over Paul VI at the City Of Palms, according to multiple reports.

Williams is also expected to watch 2015 forward Brandon Ingram on Monday at the Chick-fil-A Classic in Columbia, S.C.

Brown later told Evan Daniels of Scout.com that Williams, Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory and Georgia coach Mark Fox are the only head coaches to have watched him this year.

Tyus BattleBy ARTHUR WARNER-KAMSLER

WEST ORANGE, N.J. –Injuries have delayed the start of Tyus Battle’s junior season but nothing can slow down his recruitment.

The five-star combo guard in the Class of 2016 has missed the first two games of Gill St. Bernard’s season due to an ankle injury that had Battle walking in a boot during his team’s appearance at the Hoop Group Tip-Off Showcase. While the injury does not appear to be serious Battle is unsure on when he will be cleared to play.

While Battle’s injury might be keeping him off the court it hasn’t stopped some of the biggest college programs in the country from recruiting him.

NCAA Basketball: UCLA vs KentuckyBy CHRIS RUSSELL

In a clash between two of the most storied college basketball programs in the nation, No. 1 Kentucky obliterated UCLA, 83-44, in the CBS Sports Classic to remain undefeated on the season.

The Wildcats are now 12-0 and have won every game by double-digits.

If anybody knows what it’s like to coach an undefeated team, it’s Bruins coach Steve Alford.

Alford, who coached Division III Manchester University from 1991-95, led his 1994-95 squad to a 31-0 record and into the championship game before suffering its first loss to Bo Ryan’s Wisconsin-Platteville squad.

“I don’t know in my 20 years coaching [the] Division I level that I’ve coached against a better team than what this team looks like,” Alford said after the blowout loss.

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Louisville’s Montrezl Harrell was ejected from the Cardinals 76-67 victory over Western Kentucky after he threw a punch in the first half.

Louisville SID Kenny Klein confirmed that Harrell was ejected on a Flagrant 2 foul, not for fighting. The ACC will reportedly review the play and can add a suspension if it deems it’s warranted.

Louisville’s next game is Tuesday against Cal-State Northridge.

“He deserved to get ejected,” Cardinals coach Rick Pitino said on Fox Sports 1 after the game.

“I used to coach Charles Oakley [with the Knicks], I saw that every night.”

Joey De La Rosa made his season debut for No. 20 St. John’s in Friday night’s 53-47 win over St. Mary’s.

The 6-foot-11 senior played 12 minutes and went scoreless but did notch one rebound and two blocks.

De La Rosa missed the first semester per NCAA rules after transferring from FIU.

He will have eligibility beyond this season, sources told SNY.tv. De La Rosa played the 2011-12 and 2012-13 and just 7 games in November 2013 at FIU.

CroninCincinnati head coach Mick Cronin will not coach Saturday’s game against VCU for medical reasons, the school announced. Associate head coach Larry Davis will lead the Bearcats in his absence.

During a routine workup for lingering headaches it was discovered that Coach Cronin has an unruptured aneurysm. Further testing is being conducted, but given this finding, he is under physician’s orders to refrain from coaching until such testing has been completed.

“Coach Cronin is doing well,” UC team physician Dr. Michael Donaworth. “While he would love to be courtside, he understands our decision. His health is our biggest priority.”

AJ EnglishBy JEREMY FUCHS

Iona junior guard A.J. English has received visits from a dozen NBA scouts, according to Iona officials.

Entering today’s game at George Mason, the 6-foot-4 English is the leading scorer in the nation—averaging 24.4 points per game. He is also the son of former NBA player A.J. English II, who played a few seasons with the Washington Bullets in the early ‘90s.

Despite a game against Indiana State on Saturday where he only scored eight points—his lowest output of the season—Sycamore coach Greg Lansing immediately saw pro potential.

“For one, watching him, he just looks like a pro,” Lansing said. “Does everything, can stroke, gets off the bounce, also gives it up. He knows he has good guys around him. He missed a couple open shots, but we had a good defender on too.”

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