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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.

"CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - NBPA Players Association Top 100 Camp at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville Virginia on June 18, 2015. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Under Armour)"

Shamorie Ponds could be closing in on a college decision. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Under Armour)

Shamorie Ponds won’t take his official visit to Minnesota this coming weekend and could make his decision soon.

“This week’s visit is off,” Thomas Jefferson coach Lawrence “Bud” Pollard told SNY.tv on Wednesday.

The 6-foot-1 Ponds has now taken officials to Providence, St. John’s and Creighton and is expected to pick from among those three.

“Yes,” Shawn Ponds, Shamorie’s father, said by phone Wednesday.

Asked when Shamorie might decide, his father said, “We’re not too sure yet. As soon as I know, I’ll let you know.”

4_3721553Trae Young, a 6-foot-1 2017 point guard from Norman (OK) North, has several visits planned in the next six weeks, his father confirmed to SNY.tv.

Young will visit Texas unofficially this weekend.

He will then trip to Kansas for Late Night in the Phog (Oct. 17) and Kentucky for Big Blue Madness the following weekend. He had been planning to visit UCLA the first week in November, but won’t do so now after the news that 2017 point guard Jaylen Hands has committed to the Bruins.

UCLA head coach Steve Alford was to visit Young Wednesday. but instead spoke with Rayford Young on the phone.

“They’re going to still stay in contact with him because in today’s age, with the kids that commit and recommit and all that,” the elder Young said. “But Trae already has relationships with other coaches. I don’t blame Jaylen Hands and his family because I think they knew how close Trae was with that staff and they can’t wait on Trae forever.”

Rayford said his son would cut his list — possibly to seven schools — after consulting with Michael Porter Jr.

LeviBy ZACH SMART

If the past few months have done anything for Elev8 big man Levi Cook, they’ve given him perspective.

Relegated to the spectator role, a torn ACL has reminded Cook just how much he misses the game.

At the same time, a desire to make up for lost time has grown within.

“This injury has made me hungrier than I ever thought I would be,” said Cook, who visited Florida unofficially this weekend. “Being away from the game that long reminded me of how much I love it and miss it.”

WashingtonThere was a mini-Pitino reunion on Tuesday at St. Raymond’s in The Bronx as Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and Minnesota head man Richard Pitino along with assistant Kimani Young checked in on 2017 prospects Isaiah Washington and Sid Wilson.

Both schools checked out the 6-foot Washington, a 6-foot 2017 point guard with offers from Minnesota, Providence, Rutgers and St. John’s, among others.

“[Coach Rick Pitino] said he is a tough defender and good passer,” St. Ray’s coach Jorge Lopez said of Washington, who didn’t pick up a Louisville offer.

Rawle UNCThe North Carolina schools continued their courting of Brooklyn guard Rawle Alkins on Tuesday.

After the 6-foot-5 guard took an unofficial visit to North Carolina on Sunday, head coach Roy Williams and assistant C.B. McGrath spent Tuesday visiting Alkins at Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God. Rawle Tweeted this picture of him with the staff.

Williams will head to Oak Hill Academy (VA) on Wednesday to see Harry Giles, who was visited Tuesday by Kentucky’s John Calipari.

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