March 2015 | Page 20 of 30

BY JEREMY FUCHS

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — You could’ve forgiven Pope John senior forward Moustapha Diagne for being distracted. After all, the Syracuse-bound Diagne has had to deal with the turmoil surrounding his future school and the prospect of reduced scholarships and perhaps diminished chances at winning.

But the 6-foot-9 Diagne didn’t seem fazed Wednesday night at the Rutgers Athletic Center, when he scored 18 points and had 11 rebounds as Pope John XXIII beat Seton Hall Prep 52-42 to win the New Jersey North Non-Public A title.

“I just focus on my senior season,” Diagne said after the game.

Pope John coach Jason Hasson confirmed that Diagne is signed with Syracuse, has his scholarship intact, and will be a member of the Orange next season.

Articles, Kentucky

Kentucky-Bound Briscoe Drops 34 in State Sectional Final

In a battle of New Jersey’s two McDonald’s All-Americans, Kentucky-bound point guard Isaiah Briscoe came out on top against Syracuse signee Malachi Richardson.

Briscoe scored 21 of his 34 points in the second half and added 7 assists to help Roselle (N.J.) Catholic overcome a 19-point deficit on Wednesday to beat Trenton Catholic, 72-67, in the New Jersey South Non-Public B final.

“That’s what I do, and I do what I do,” Briscoe told Mike Kinney of MSGVarsity.com. “I go to get the win.”

Richardson scored 23 points in the loss.

The Lions will face North champion St. Anthony at 7 p.m. on Saturday in the Non-Public B state final in Toms River, N.J. The winner of that game will advance to the New Jersey Tournament of Champions, which features the state’s six group champions — four public and two non-public — in a winner-take-all event.

Kris Dunn, Ryan Arcidiacono Named Co-Big East Players of the Year; Angel Delgado Wins Rookie of the Year, Jay Wright Coach of the Year

Providence sophomore point guard Kris Dunn and Villanova junior point guard Ryan Arcidiacono were named co-Big East Players of the Year on Wednesday.

Other players also received votes for Player of the Year, multiple sources told SNY.tv.

The 6-foot-3 Dunn earlier was named co-Defensive Player of the Year along with Sir’Dominic Pointer of St. John’s. Dunn averaged 15.5 points, 7.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 steals for the Friars (21-10, 11-7 Big East). He is projected as a late first-round pick in the NBA Draft by Draft Express.com.

Eli Cain to DePaul

Eli Cain, a 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard from Newark (N.J.) St. Benedict’s Prep and the NJ Playaz AAU program, committed to DePaul on Wednesday following a recent official visit.

“Thanks to everyone that supported me through my recruiting process.. For my college career I will be attending DePaul University,” he Tweeted.

“One of the wings is graduating and they have a lack of guard depth, so it’s minutes for me as a freshman,” Cain told SNY.tv on Wednesday. “The coach [Oliver Purnell] lets them play, too. And it’s in the Big East, which is always a plus. And it’s not too far from home. I think I can flourish there.”

Cain, who helped the Playaz win the Peach Jam last summer alongside Kentucky-bound guard Isaiah Briscoe of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic and St. Benedict’s sophomore Trevon Duval, also considered Iona, Wagner and Delaware, the school from which he decommitted last fall.

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