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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.
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Kentucky, Recruiting

Kentucky coach John Calipari was on hand for the first night of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, MO on Thursday night.

Calipari watched 2017 signee P.J. Washington of Findlay Prep (NV), 2018 star Marvin Bagley of Sierra Canyon (CA) and 2019 stud R.J. Barrett of Montverde (FL) Academy. The 6-foot-11 Bagley and the 6-7 Barrett are each ranked the No. 1 players in their respective classes by ESPN.com, and arguably the two top prospects in high school basketball. (For more on Barrett, read this.)

Bagley went for 15 points and seven rebounds as Sierra Canyon dispatched Republic, 72-54, to advance to a semifinal showdown on Friday with Findlay Prep. Washington went for 21 points in Findlay Prep’s 77-50 win over Madison Prep.

Recruiting

By ZACH SMART

Luguentz Dort leaked out with a full head of steam and finished a left-handed layup, the go-ahead bucket in The Conrad Academy’s 49-47 win over Tech Academy in Kentucky.

In a memorable matchup, the oft-slashing 6-foot-3 215-pound guard barreled to the rim throughout, bullying his way to 24 points and Game MVP honors. Dort, as potent and multi-layered an athlete as there is on this level, turned in several hard drives and thunderous dunks along the baseline during a dizzying second half.

A bit on the demure side (both on the court and off it), Dort even exchanged hostilities with Tech Academy’s 6-11 Matur Makar. The two were separated at one point, heightening the battle between two of Canada’s elite during Grind Session’s Mustang Madness in Paducah, Ky.

St. Anthony, St. Patrick

MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — One team owns the New Jersey Tournament of Champions trophy.

Their archrival wants it.

On Saturday, reigning TOC champion St. Anthony’s — winner of 41 straight games dating to March 2015 — will put its streak on the line against The Patrick School, the No. 14 team in the nation according to USA Today and the favorite to win this year’s TOC crown. The teams will square off at 5:45 p.m. in the Dan Finn Classic at the Jersey City Armory.

“It’s a St. Pat’s- St. Anthony’s game, that’s all that needs to be said,” Patrick School (7-2) co-coach Mike Rice said Tuesday night after watching the Friars (9-0) edge out the Ranney School, 51-48, at Brookdale Community College.

Iona

Hamidou Diallo apparently isn’t the only NY Ren to enroll in college this month.

Samson George, a 6-foot-7, 210-pound forward from Pittsburgh (PA) First Love Christian and the Rens AAU program, will enroll at Iona this week, a source told ZAGSBLOG.

While the 6-6 Diallo plans to redshirt at Kentucky and begin playing in the 2017-18 season, it remains unclear if George will redshirt or play.

George also considered Central Connecticut, Oregon State and Monmouth.

“I love their style of play and also think this is the program that will get me better as a player,” George said when he committed.

Recruiting

Oregon is making a late run at Class of 2017 wing Jordan Tucker, who is primarily focusing on Indiana and Villanova and is targeting a decision next month.

Oregon assistant Tony Stubblefield and Indiana assistant Chuck Martin were in to see the 6-foot-7 Tucker on Thursday morning at Marietta (GA) Wheeler.

“Oregon is trying to get in the mix, trying to make a late run based on relationships,” Lou Tucker, Jordan’s father, said by phone.

Roselle Catholic, St. Anthony, St. Patrick

Bob Hurley remembers his St. Anthony’s team playing on the grand stage of the Hoophall Classic against Malik Monk and Bentonville (AR) a year ago.

Monk, who had signed with Kentucky, scored 22 points in a loss in front of Wildcats coach John Calipari, but it was St. Anthony’s junior guard R.J. Cole who really made a name for himself.

“It’s a big, big stage and when a kid plays on that stage and plays well, it’s something that you remember,” Hurley, whose team has won 41 straight games, said Thursday on The 4 Quarters Podcast. “Last year Malik Monk scored [22] points, R.J. Cole scored 23. R.J. scored the first 16 points of the game, and after that game he and his family knew he was going to get a scholarship because he had done that on a stage that’s even bigger than when you play in the state final.”

Cole ultimately chose Howard over Monmouth and Boston University, but a whole new crop of young New York and New Jersey stars will get a chance to impress college coaches this weekend at the Hoophall Classic.

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