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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.

Tai WynyardNEW YORK — Following Tai Wynyard’s commitment to Kentucky on Sunday, fellow Kiwi Steven Adams says more American colleges should recruit New Zealand.

“We got talent down there,” the 7-foot Adams of the Oklahoma City Thunder told SNY.tv before his team played the Knicks Wednesday night. “I’ve been saying that the whole time, we definitely do got a lot of  talent down there.”

Adams was the first New Zealander selected in the first round of the NBA Draft when he was chosen No. 12 in 2013 .He said he’s not very familiar with Wynyard, a 16-year-old 2016 power forward who also considered Villanova and Texas before choosing the No. 1 Wildcats.

BriscoeKentucky-bound guard Isaiah Briscoe of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic was among the 24 players selected Wednesday for the McDonald’s All-American Game April 1 at Chicago’s United Center (9 p.m., ESPN).

The 6-foot-3 Briscoe is the 16th member of the NJ Playaz to make the prestigious game in 18 years. Former Playaz to make the McDonald’s game include the likes of Kobe Bryant, J.R. Smith, Kyle Anderson and Dajuan Wagner.

Briscoe is the only Kentucky signee to make the game as Skal Labisierre was ineligible and Charles Matthews was not selected. A year ago, four Kentucky signees were McDonald’s All-Americans. Kentucky coach John Calipari has had 21 McDonald’s All-American at the school.

“It would be an honor playing in the McDonald’s game,” Briscoe, who is averaging 21 points, 5.7 assists and 5.5 rebounds, told SNY.tv on Sunday. “After watching it growing up, and for me to be a part of it, it just shows that hard work pays off.”

“We are very happy for Isaiah that all of his hard work has been rewarded with a McDonald’s All-American selection,” RC coach Dave Boff said. “He had a goal and he worked hard to achieve it. We are really excited for him. As a program we are proud to have our first McDonald’s participant. It’s another step in the process for us as we continue to grow as a program on the national level.”

Image credit to STERLING Imageworks

Image credit to STERLING Imageworks

By CHIP MILLER

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR — Adrian Moore is one part of a triple-threat guard attack at North Little Rock (AR) High School, but the 6-foot-4 2016 shooting guard realizes that the end of the season means an end to a part of his daily life.

“I have been playing with them [K.J. Hill and KeVaughn Allen] ever since I started the game of basketball,” Moore said. “I know it’s our last year and I’m probably going to be really sad. I really don’t get sad over stuff like this, but these are guys that I grew up with and we’re all brothers and we do everything together. They’re all going to be gone and I’m still going to be here another year. I still have a lot of friends in my grade and below but it’s not going to be the same, I can tell you that.”

Moore continues to work on every aspect of his game.

By MATT JESSEN-HOWARD

Winter recruiting is always full of new names and interest, and one of the hottest names in the country right now is Huntington (Va.) Prep’s Levi Cook. The 6-foot-10, 300-pound senior center has leveraged a successful high school season and a slimmer body to the uptick in his recruitment.

“The high school season’s going real well,” he told SNY.tv in an exclusive interview. “We’re 21-2 I think, and I’m playing really good personally. We’re just hungry for a national championship. I’ve been working on getting in better shape and my conditioning. I’ve also been working on improving my skills in every area. I’m starting to get in shape and starting to feel better. Since I came here, I’ve lost 25-30 pounds. My target weight is about 260 or 270.”

Several high-major schools have been calling and visiting the former West Virginia commit recently.

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