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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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Breaking News, Coaching moves, Ohio State

The Thad Matta Era at Ohio State is over.

The school announced Monday that Matta, 49, will no longer be the head men’s basketball coach effective immediately. The school’s AD Gene Smith said he favored a “change” and Matta said he agreed.

“I just felt like it was time,” Smith said, adding that the school would honor the “remaining three years of his contract.”

Smith said the option of having Matta coach one more year was never on the table.

“I don’t think he really wanted to make this move but after the discussion we both sort of agreed that it probably needed to be done,” Matta said of Smith. “He could’ve been a nice guy [and let me coach another year] but his job is to run this basketball program and I respect that, there’s no doubt in my mind.”

Several reports indicated that Matta wanted to keep coaching, but the school felt otherwise.

Matta said he has undergone “four major back surgeries” since he was 15 and battled “chronic” health issues throughout his life. Asked if he was 100 percent healthy, if he would still be the coach, Matta said, “Yeah, probably.”

Recruiting

Tremont Waters has signed with LSU after taking a recent visit.

“Tremont Waters is a dynamic point guard who will help our program immediately,” said new Coach Will Wade. “His ability to pass and score, along with his defensive tenacity, will help us tremendously as we move ahead toward the 2017-18 campaign.”

The 5-foot-11 Waters played in the Jordan Brand All-Star game, where he had eight points and two assists. He was named the Gatorade Player of the Year for Connecticut in 2016-17.

He finished the season at Notre Dame (CT) High School averaging 25.3 points, 4.6 assists and 4.6 steals per game while shooting 87.3 percent from the line this past season, leading the Knights (22-2) to the first round of the Class LL state tournament.

Breaking News, St. John's, Transfers

St. John’s on Tuesday officially announced the signing of 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward Sedee Keita. The Philadelphia native transfers to St. John’s from South Carolina and will have three years of eligibility remaining after sitting out the 2017-18 season.

The news was first reported by ZAGSBLOG on Sunday.

“We are excited to welcome Sedee to our basketball family,” said St. John’s head coach Chris Mullin. “Sedee is a very athletic big man with a wide frame who comes with high major experience.”

A consensus four-star, top-100 recruit in the Class of 2016, Keita played in 29 games as a freshman last season during South Carolina’s run to the Final Four. He logged 9.6 minutes per game while averaging 1.1 points and 2.0 rebounds. Keita finished the season fourth on the team with 11 blocks, as he made two of those rejections in an Elite Eight victory over Florida at Madison Square Garden.

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