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.
Former Oregon Signee Ray Kasongo Piling Up Offers (UPDATED)
Ray Kasongo, the 6-foot-10 power forward who had originally signed with Oregon before the school did not admit him, piled up scholarship offers this week at the NJCAA National Tournament in Hutchinson, Kansas.
The Toronto native went for 9 points and 10 rebounds on Wednesday as the College of Southern Idaho lost to Georgia Highlands 67-66 on a go-ahead 3-pointer with 5 seconds remaining in the Round of 16.
LSU, Kansas State, Seton Hall, UNLV, Ole Miss and Mississippi State all offered Kasongo this week, while Kentucky, Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Oregon State and Wichita State have shown interest.
At this time of year, colleges are looking for players to fill their rosters for next year and Kasongo is a tall, athletic big who is appealing to many of them.
“He’s tall with some real skill and there’s not many bigs around,” one D-1 assistant said.
He averaged 6.1 points and 4.7 rebounds during the season.
“Ray Kasongo is developing very well and starting to reach his potential, which is extremely high,” CSI coach Jared Phay told SNY.tv recently.
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Rutgers head coach Eddie Jordan and assistant Greg “Shoes” Vetrone watched 6-7 wing Deshawn Freeman of Hutch. Rutgers is “working hardest,” assistant coach Jay Cyriac said… Seton Hall, Cincinnati and South Carolina have offered 6-8 Burlington (N.J.) Life Center big man Nysier Brooks. “He has made himself into a high-major Division 1 big man,” WE R 1 coach Terrell Myers told SNY.tv.
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.