April 2015 | Page 9 of 29 | 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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Articles, Kentucky

ML2_9568-1-1NEW YORK — Kentucky coach John Calipari and Big Blue Nation shouldn’t have any doubts about Isaiah Briscoe’s confidence level when he joins the program this summer.

The kid from Newark is brimming with self-confidence.

So much so that he says he trash talks with Carmelo Anthony on text messages and is ready to take on the Knicks star in one-on-one. Of course, with Anthony sidelined after knee surgery, the game may have to wait awhile.

“It’s not so much advice [he gives me], it’s more like trash talking,” Briscoe said Friday night at the Jordan Brand Classic after he and Anthony spoke at mid-court following Briscoe’s 22-point, 6-rebound, 6-assist performance in the East’s 118-116 loss to the West. “I’m a competitor so I’m telling him we could play one-on-one whenever you ready.

Articles, Kentucky, Recruiting

2014top100-4511NEW YORK — Kentucky-bound big man Skal Labissiere expects to be cleared by the NCAA and plans to arrive on the UK campus by July 1.

“I’ll be able to play right away,” Labissiere told Kyle Tucker of the Louisville Courier-Journal on Friday. “The NCAA is going to clear me and I’ll be able to play right away.”

As for when he plans to arrive on campus, the 7-footer told me after the Jordan Brand Classic on Friday, “I think the first week of July. I’ll have to find out when I get there.”

A Memphis-based AAU coach told SNY.tv and CBSSports.com last November that Labissiere’s guardian, Gerald Hamilton, hoped to profit off Labissiere, a native of Haiti.

Articles, Recruiting, Seton Hall

LCEZiFbM_reasonably_smallAfter decommitting from Kansas State on Sunday, 6-foot-9 power forward Eric Cobb of Baltimore (MD) St. Frances is focusing on three schools.

“He picked up three [offers Tuesday], South Carolina, VCU and Seton Hall,” Nick Myles, Cobb’s coach at St. Frances, told SNY.tv by phone on Wednesday.

Cobb ended up visiting Seton Hall on Thursday, Myles confirmed, and will visit VCU on Monday.

Myles said Cobb had no timeframe on a decision.

Seton Hall, St. John's

NCAA Basketball: Georgetown at St. JohnSir’Dominic Pointer of St. John’s won the Haggerty Award on Wednesday, presented to the All-Met Division I men’s player of the year by the Met Basketball Writers Assn.

Glenn Braica of St. Francis and Jim Engles of NJIT were named co-Coaches of the Year.

Eric Paschall of Fordham and Angel Delgado of Seton Hall were selected co-Rookies of the Year.

“I am humbled and honored to receive the Haggerty Award,” said Pointer. “This is a special award with great tradition and history that has a strong connection to St. John’s. Some of the great players who came through our program have won the Haggerty Award, so it is very special to now be among such a prestigious group. I am excited to bring this award back to St. John’s for another year after D’Angelo won it last year.”

Articles, UConn

The Oklahoma City Thunder fired coach Scott Brooks on Wednesday, and a source close to the situation said UConn coach Kevin Ollie is “listening.”

“Ollie is listening and any coach would,” the source told SNY.tv.

The source added: “OKC has been trying to get Ollie to leave for a year. He is loyal to UConn and loves his job but if KD [Kevin Durant] and Russ [Westbrook] want him there to make a run at a title, it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. He won’t pass it up.”

The same source told SNY.tv before Brooks was fired that Ollie was being “seriously considered” for the job.

“We have a deep appreciation for all that Scott has contributed to the Thunder organization over the last seven years,” Thunder Chairman Clayton I. Bennett said in a statement on the team’s Website. “He helped us build the foundation of this team and led us to much success. While a very hard decision, I support the need to transition to a new coach that will allow us to continue the growth and progress that will help us reach all of our goals. We wish Scott and his family only the best as he moves forward.”

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo! Sports first reported the Brooks firing.

Earlier Wednesday, Ollie issued a statement in response to the initial SNY.tv story.

Articles, Kentucky, Recruiting

4_2917241By JACK LeGWIN

Jayson Tatum met with Kentucky head coach John Calipari Tuesday afternoon and Tatum had nothing but good things to say about the in-home visit.

“It went well [Tuesday] afternoon,” Tatum told SNY.tv by phone. “We had a good talk. He talked a little bit about how he recruited me, how he’s seen me develop ever since I was a freshman, and how he can help me get to the next level.”

The 6-foot-8 Tatum, the No. 3 player in the Class of 2016 according to 247Sports.com, also said Calipari spoke about the players from Kentucky who have entered the NBA Draft.

“He talked about the other guys that have come through the program and went to the NBA,” Tatum said. “He just said that he could do the same for me. There’s a reason they’re in my top four.”

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