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.
Cliff Alexander Cuts List to 10; Talks Kansas Visit (UPDATED)
One of the top players in the Class of 2014, Cliff Alexander has cut his list of college suitors down to 10.
A 6-foot-8, 225-pound power forward out of Chicago Curie Metro High School and the No. 5 ranked player in the Class of 2014 according to Rivals, Alexander tweeted on Friday afternoon that his list is down to Kansas, Michigan State, Kentucky, Louisville, Illinois, DePaul, Indiana, Memphis, Baylor and Arizona in no particular order.
Alexander had a strong spring, leading Mac Irvin Fire to an 11-7 record through four stops on the Nike EYBL circuit. In those 18 games, Alexander has averaged a team-leading 16.4 points and 11.0 rebounds.
The 11-7 record was good enough to qualify Mac Irvin Fire for the EYBL Finals at Peach Jam July 10-14.
It’s worth noting that fellow-Chicago native Jahlil Okafor, a 6-foot-10 center and the consensus top-ranked player in the Class of 2014, appears to be on the same wave as Alexander. The Mac Irvin Fire teammates both have Arizona, Baylor, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State on their respective lists. Okafor cut his list to eight back on May 29.
Duke is considered by some to be the frontrunner for Okafor and Minnesota point guard Tyus Jones, who want to play together in college, possibly also with Houston St. John’s wing Justise Winslow. But Duke is not on Alexander’s list.
Still, Mac Irvin Fire coach MikeIrvin doesn’t see any reason why Okafor and Alexander couldn’t end up at the same college.
“Why not?” MikeIrvin told ESPNChicago on Friday. “One is a power forward, and one is a center. I could see that happening.”
“We really want to be teammates in college,” Alexander told SNY.tv.
Asked what it would be like if he and Okafor both picked the same school, Alexander told SNY.tv: “It would be pretty scary. We would kill of a high-low.”
Alexander visited Kansas Friday and said the staff told him he could be like Markieff Morris.
“It was great,” he said. “Loved everything about it. Coaches are great. I would love to come and go back down there.”
Alexander visits Illinois today (Saturday).
Follow Josh Newman on Twitter
One of the top players in the Class of 2014, Cliff Alexander has cut his list of college suitors down to 10.
A 6-foot-8, 225-pound power forward out of Chicago Curie Metro High School and the No. 5 ranked player in the Class of 2014 according to Rivals, Alexander tweeted on Friday afternoon that his list is down to Kansas, Michigan State, Kentucky, Louisville, Illinois, DePaul, Indiana, Memphis, Baylor and Arizona in no particular order.
Alexander had a strong spring, leading Mac Irvin Fire to an 11-7 record through four stops on the Nike EYBL circuit. In those 18 games, Alexander has averaged a team-leading 16.4 points and 11.0 rebounds.
The 11-7 record was good enough to qualify Mac Irvin Fire for the EYBL Finals at Peach Jam July 10-14.
It’s worth noting that fellow-Chicago native Jahlil Okafor, a 6-foot-10 center and the consensus top-ranked player in the Class of 2014, appears to be on the same wave as Alexander. The Mac Irvin Fire teammates both have Arizona, Baylor, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky and Michigan State on their respective lists. Okafor cut his list to eight back on May 29.
Duke is considered by some to be the frontrunner for Okafor and Minnesota point guard Tyus Jones, who want to play together in college, possibly also with Houston St. John’s wing Justise Winslow. But Duke is not on Alexander’s list.
Still, Mac Irvin Fire coach Mike Irvin doesn’t see any reason why Okafor and Alexander couldn’t end up at the same college.
“Why not?” Mike Irvin told ESPNChicago on Friday. “One is a power forward, and one is a center. I could see that happening.”
“We really want to be teammates in college,” Alexander told SNY.tv.
Asked what it would be like if he and Okafor both picked the same school, Alexander told SNY.tv: “It would be pretty scary. We would kill of a high-low.”
Alexander visited Kansas Friday and said the staff told him he could be like Markieff Morris.
“It was great,” he said. “Loved everything about it. Coaches are great. I would love to come and go back down there.”
Alexander visits Illinois today (Saturday).
Follow Josh Newman on Twitter
