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.
Maurice Watson to Creighton; Foster to Penn State ; Dejean-Jones, Williams to Iowa State
Transferring Boston University point guard Maurice Watson committed to Creighton on Sunday, his father, Maurice Sr., told SNY.tv.
“It’s the Big East, so he gets to come home and play in front of his family as well as against some of the best talent in NCAA basketball on the big stage,” Maurice Sr., said. “He loved everything and the program offered everything he is looking for. The player development piece as well as the coaching staff has been recruiting him since he was in high school. They love him and made him feel like they were the program for him. And we as a family agree.”
The 5-foot-10 Philadelphia native was also considering Illinois and Wichita State, his dad said.
Watson led BU in scoring (13.3 points per game), assists (7.1) and steals (2.1) as a sophomore. As per NCAA rules, he would have to sit out next season and will then have two years remaining.
JUCO GUARD DEVIN FOSTER COMMITS TO PENN STATE
Vincennes (IN) College combo guard Devin Foster has committed to Penn State.
“Devin wanted to play in the Big Ten,” Vincennes assistant coach Brian Davis told SNY.tv. “Penn State is close to Dayton, Ohio. He loved the coaches and campus. He is a strong, athletic lefty combo guard at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. He shoots it well and attacks the basket.”
Foster also held offers from Bradley, Eastern Kentucky, Loyola University Chicago, St. Bonaventure and Texas A&M, Davis said.
DEJEAN-JONES, WILLIAMS TO IOWA STATE
Iowa State picked up a pair of players in UNLV shooting guard Bryce Dejean-Jones and Iowa Western Community College forward Darien Williams, sources told SNY.tv.
Dejean-Jones, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 13.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for the Runnin’ Rebels this year. The news broke just a few weeks ago that Dejean-Jones would not be returning to UNLV.
Due to the graduate transfer rule, Dejean-Jones is eligible to play immediately for Iowa State next year.
The 6-8 Williams will have surgery on his shoulders and will miss next season, suiting up in 2015, he told the Ames Tribune.
“I have to get surgery on my shoulders to get them tightened up,” he told the paper, “because they get kind of loose. I didn’t take care of it in high school.
“It’s not a major thing, like I tore something, it’s just my shoulders pop out so I have to get them tightened up.”
He averaged 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds last season.
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.
Transferring Boston University point guard Maurice Watson committed to Creighton on Sunday, his father, Maurice Sr., told SNY.tv.
“It’s the Big East, so he gets to come home and play in front of his family as well as against some of the best talent in NCAA basketball on the big stage,” Maurice Sr., said. “He loved everything and the program offered everything he is looking for. The player development piece as well as the coaching staff has been recruiting him since he was in high school. They love him and made him feel like they were the program for him. And we as a family agree.”
The 5-foot-10 Philadelphia native was also considering Illinois and Wichita State, his dad said.
Watson led BU in scoring (13.3 points per game), assists (7.1) and steals (2.1) as a sophomore. As per NCAA rules, he would have to sit out next season and will then have two years remaining.
JUCO GUARD DEVIN FOSTER COMMITS TO PENN STATE
Vincennes (IN) College combo guard Devin Foster has committed to Penn State.
“Devin wanted to play in the Big Ten,” Vincennes assistant coach Brian Davis told SNY.tv. “Penn State is close to Dayton, Ohio. He loved the coaches and campus. He is a strong, athletic lefty combo guard at 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds. He shoots it well and attacks the basket.”
Foster also held offers from Bradley, Eastern Kentucky, Loyola University Chicago, St. Bonaventure and Texas A&M, Davis said.
DEJEAN-JONES, WILLIAMS TO IOWA STATE
Iowa State picked up a pair of players in UNLV shooting guard Bryce Dejean-Jones and Iowa Western Community College forward Darien Williams, sources told SNY.tv.
Dejean-Jones, a 6-foot-5 guard, averaged 13.6 points and 3.7 rebounds per game for the Runnin’ Rebels this year. The news broke just a few weeks ago that Dejean-Jones would not be returning to UNLV.
Due to the graduate transfer rule, Dejean-Jones is eligible to play immediately for Iowa State next year.
The 6-8 Williams will have surgery on his shoulders and will miss next season, suiting up in 2015, he told the Ames Tribune.
“I have to get surgery on my shoulders to get them tightened up,” he told the paper, “because they get kind of loose. I didn’t take care of it in high school.
“It’s not a major thing, like I tore something, it’s just my shoulders pop out so I have to get them tightened up.”
He averaged 16.1 points and 6.7 rebounds last season.
