October 2015 | Page 12 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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Articles, St. John's

MullinNEW YORK –– St. John’s was picked dead last among 10 Big East teams in the Preseason Coaches’ Poll, but first-year coach Chris Mullin doesn’t care.

“No,” he said Wednesday at Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden. “No offense but I never really paid attention to preseason stuff and frankly, it really wouldn’t matter what we’re going to do tomorrow in practice. And that’s really where we’re at, rebuilding and having nine new guys.”

St. John’s got 13 points from the coaches. The next closest team was Creighton in ninth place with 23 points. DePaul was picked eighth with 25 points.

Villanova was the unanimous pick to win the league.

Articles, Seton Hall

Mar 11, 2015; New York, NY, USA; Seton Hall Pirates guard Isaiah Whitehead (15) passes off over Marquette Golden Eagles forward Juan Anderson (10) during the first round of the Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

NEW YORK — There was a lot going on at Seton Hall last season, and a lot of it wasn’t very positive.

After a 13-3 start, the Pirates went 3-12 the rest of the year as reports surfaced of a fractured locker room, pitting the heralded freshmen class against some of the upperclassmen. Two upperclass guards — Jaren Sina and Sterling Gibbs — transferred out as Coach Kevin Willard’s program appeared to be at a crossroads.

Every time Isaiah Whitehead and his teammates looked on Twitter, they saw more reports and rumors about bad news swirling around their program.

“Just how many rumors there was, I don’t think it was necessarily truth,” Whitehead, a Preseason All-Big East Second Team selection, said on Wednesday at Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden.

“There was a lot of people coming out with stuff saying things like it’s upperclassmen versus the freshmen and after every Tweet that you read about that, it always says ‘sources said.’ It doesn’t say it’s a fact, so by all of us seeing that we really don’t know what to believe.”

Articles, Marquette

Ellenson 2NEW YORK — The Big East hasn’t exactly been synonymous with one-and-done talent in recent years.

While Kentucky and Duke regularly churn out NBA players after one year on campus, no Big East team has had a one-and-done player since Steven Adams left Pittsburgh in 2013.

Yet here comes Henry Ellenson, a 6-foot-10 freshman forward from Marquette projected as the No. 8 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com. Another Big East player, Providence junior guard Kris Dunn — the Big East Preseason Player of the Year — is projected at No. 7.

“For me obviously it’s a goal and dream of mine to play in the NBA, but until that time comes I’m going to stay focused on what we have,” Ellenson said Wednesday at Big East Media Day at Madison Square Garden. “I haven’t played a minute of college basketball yet, so just working hard every day in practice and just getting better is my main focus right now.”

Articles, Kentucky, Recruiting

101315skallabissiereJohn Calipari is miffed about the “firestorm” over Skal Labissiere’s NCAA eligibility.

“I think my team will be fine and you guys will figure it out when we go out there the first game,” he told reporters Wednesday at Media Day, according to Kyle Tucker of the Louisville Courier-Journal. “How did this become such a huge (deal)? This became like a firestorm. Where did this come from? Feel real good what my team’s going to look like on the first day.”

Calipari also said that only the “best players” get reviewed by the NCAA. The 6-foot-11 Labissiere is projected as the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.

“Everything is good to go,” Calipari said. “Every year we’ve been here, players go through the review. You won’t believe this: it’s always the best players that get the review.”

Articles, Kansas, Kentucky, Recruiting

NICK RICHARDSKentucky head coach John Calipari and two assistants watched 6-foot-11 big man Nick Richards on Tuesday at the practice facility for St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth (N.J.).

A native of Jamaica who has only played organized basketball for about three years, Richards already holds a Kentucky offer, along with many other high-major offers.

“Anytime you have Coach Calipari come into a gym with two assistants and spend half an hour after an open gym explaining to Nicholas Richards what ball, life and school is like at UK, it’s very impressive and speaks volume for their interests,” St Pat’s coach Chris Chavannes said. Assistant Tony Barbee was in last Wednesday. “All the kids were excited to have an opportunity to showcase their talents in front of one of the most iconic figures in basketball. ”

Kentucky has had great success recruiting New Jersey in recent years, landing current freshman guard Isaiah Briscoe out of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic and big men Michael Kidd-Gilchrist (St. Pat’s) and Dakari Johnson (St. Pat’s/Montverde Academy). Both Kidd-Gilchrist and Johnson are currently in the NBA.

Articles, St. John's

Thon Maker SJUSt. John’s continues to push ahead for what could be a gigantic 2016 recruiting class.

The Johnnies have already landed Brooklyn (N.Y.) Thomas Jefferson guard Shamorie Ponds and remain strongly in the mix for Hutchinson (KS) Community College wing Bashir Ahmed.

This week they will continue their pursuit of Thon Maker and Rawle Alkins.

St. John’s assistant coach Barry “Slice” Rohrssen will visit the 7-foot Maker again today (Tuesday) at Orangeville Prep in Ontario, Maker’s guardian, Ed Smith, told SNY.tv. As first reported here last month, Rohrssen jumped into the Thon Maker Sweepstakes by visiting Maker last month. Indiana assistant Chuck Martin will also visit Maker this week, as the Hoosiers and Arizona State also continue their pursuit.

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