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.
Bryant Crawford to Wake Forest; Alex Thomas to Towson; Christion Thompson to Rhode Island
By JACK LeGWIN & ADAM ZAGORIABryant Crawford has committed to Wake Forest.
“ITS BEEN A LONG PROCESS! THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT! ITS OFFICIAL I AM COMMITTED TO WAKE FOREST! #godeacs” the 6-foot-3 point guard from Washington D.C. Gonzaga tweeted.
The No. 80 ranked player by 247 Sports in the Class of 2015, Crawford committed to the Demon Deacons Sunday night.
“Bryant brings to Wake Forest a pass-first point guard who has the ability to make plays for others,” Gonzaga coach Steve Turner told SNY.tv.
Crawford took a visit to Wake Forest two weeks ago. He chose the Deacs over Georgetown, SMU, Indiana and Louisville, among others.
Crawford missed his freshman season after breaking his leg and was sidelined for part of the 2013 summer after knee surgery. In December, he broke his thumb.
“Bryant’s had to deal with a couple different injuries during his high school career and from where he was at the beginning of it all to he is now he’s basically back to where thought he would be,” Turner told SNY.tv this summer.
“So now he’s 100 percent healthy and is playing some great basketball,” Turner said. “Bryant is a pass-first point guard and for me personally, I love it because I think he’s the total package. So many point guards now just score, score, score, but I don’t think they make others better. He’s always been a guy that can make others better, which allows him to be a multi-dimensional point guard and one of the best in his class.”
ALEX THOMAS TO TOWSONAlex Thomas, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward from Coastal Academy (N.J.) and the Playaz Basketball Club, committed to Towson Sunday.
He also had offers from Fairfield, St. Bonaventure, FDU, Wagner and Canisius.
Thomas averaged 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds this summer as the Playaz won the Peach Jam championship.
“Coach [Pat] Skerry and how much he cares about about his players, along with their occupational therapy program, is what made me choose Towson,” Thomas said. “I think I bring a skilled four man with good passing that can stretch the defense, rebound, and play good post defense along with protecting the rim.”
“Alex brings a great skill set to Towson,” Hawthorne Christian coach Kevin Standford said. “He is a stretch 4 who is solid in the post, but also shoots the 3 consistenty well. Alex provides a strong defensive presence on the interior. I believe his best basketball is ahead of him.”
CHRISTION THOMPSON TO RHODE ISLANDRhode Island landed a pledge from Christion Thompson, a talented 6-4 wing scorer from Madison (LA) Prep and Nike Team Louisiana.
He averaged 21.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for Dutchtown last season before transferring to Madison. He also averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals on the Nike EYBL circuit.
“On my visit, I felt like I was one of his [Coach Dan Hurley’s] already,” Thompson told CoxHub.com. “I felt like Rhode Island fit me best and that I fit great with the plan. I have the tools and was looking for someone to push me to be the best player I can be, and know Coach Hurley and the staff will do that.”
“He’s a super kid with a great family,” Madison coach Jeff Jones told CoxHub.com. “His mother and father are tremendous people, he’s a good student, good person and a good basketball player.
“He’ll be a big addition for us. He’s skilled, can play either the 1 or the 2 and has a terrific basketball IQ,” Jones said. “He will start at the point for us this year. He can shoot it from deep, is a strong kid and an underrated defender. Coach Hurley and Rhode Island are getting a steal. He’s one helluva player.”
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
By JACK LeGWIN & ADAM ZAGORIA
Bryant Crawford has committed to Wake Forest.
“ITS BEEN A LONG PROCESS! THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THE SUPPORT! ITS OFFICIAL I AM COMMITTED TO WAKE FOREST! #godeacs” the 6-foot-3 point guard from Washington D.C. Gonzaga tweeted.
The No. 80 ranked player by 247 Sports in the Class of 2015, Crawford committed to the Demon Deacons Sunday night.
“Bryant brings to Wake Forest a pass-first point guard who has the ability to make plays for others,” Gonzaga coach Steve Turner told SNY.tv.
Crawford took a visit to Wake Forest two weeks ago. He chose the Deacs over Georgetown, SMU, Indiana and Louisville, among others.
Crawford missed his freshman season after breaking his leg and was sidelined for part of the 2013 summer after knee surgery. In December, he broke his thumb.
“Bryant’s had to deal with a couple different injuries during his high school career and from where he was at the beginning of it all to he is now he’s basically back to where thought he would be,” Turner told SNY.tv this summer.
“So now he’s 100 percent healthy and is playing some great basketball,” Turner said. “Bryant is a pass-first point guard and for me personally, I love it because I think he’s the total package. So many point guards now just score, score, score, but I don’t think they make others better. He’s always been a guy that can make others better, which allows him to be a multi-dimensional point guard and one of the best in his class.”
ALEX THOMAS TO TOWSON
Alex Thomas, a 6-foot-9, 220-pound forward from Coastal Academy (N.J.) and the Playaz Basketball Club, committed to Towson Sunday.
He also had offers from Fairfield, St. Bonaventure, FDU, Wagner and Canisius.
Thomas averaged 2.8 points and 3.5 rebounds this summer as the Playaz won the Peach Jam championship.
“Coach [Pat] Skerry and how much he cares about about his players, along with their occupational therapy program, is what made me choose Towson,” Thomas said. “I think I bring a skilled four man with good passing that can stretch the defense, rebound, and play good post defense along with protecting the rim.”
“Alex brings a great skill set to Towson,” Hawthorne Christian coach Kevin Standford said. “He is a stretch 4 who is solid in the post, but also shoots the 3 consistenty well. Alex provides a strong defensive presence on the interior. I believe his best basketball is ahead of him.”
CHRISTION THOMPSON TO RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island landed a pledge from Christion Thompson, a talented 6-4 wing scorer from Madison (LA) Prep and Nike Team Louisiana.
He averaged 21.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game for Dutchtown last season before transferring to Madison. He also averaged 9.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.3 steals on the Nike EYBL circuit.
“On my visit, I felt like I was one of his [Coach Dan Hurley’s] already,” Thompson told CoxHub.com. “I felt like Rhode Island fit me best and that I fit great with the plan. I have the tools and was looking for someone to push me to be the best player I can be, and know Coach Hurley and the staff will do that.”
“He’s a super kid with a great family,” Madison coach Jeff Jones told CoxHub.com. “His mother and father are tremendous people, he’s a good student, good person and a good basketball player.
“He’ll be a big addition for us. He’s skilled, can play either the 1 or the 2 and has a terrific basketball IQ,” Jones said. “He will start at the point for us this year. He can shoot it from deep, is a strong kid and an underrated defender. Coach Hurley and Rhode Island are getting a steal. He’s one helluva player.”
Follow Jack on Twitter
