Fisher, Ebanks in World University Games; Walker, Taylor Lead U19 National Team
Four Big East players have been tabbed
Four Big East players have been tabbed
Could Rick Pitino be headed back to the NBA?
A Yahoo! Sports report by Adrian Wojnarowski says “multiple sources” indicate Pitino is a candidate for the Sacramento Kings gig. Woj cites “several NCAA and NBA sources” who say Pitino has spoken with at least one member of the Maloof family.
“I think he’s a great coach and he’s done an unbelievable job at Louisville,” Kings co-owner Gavin Maloof told Yahoo! Sports. “But we haven’t talked to him.”
A Louisville spokesman told the Louisville Courier-Journal that Pitino had no plans to leave the team.
The Kings are reportedly considering several candidates, including former Rutgers
NEW YORK -- Joe Girardi was reminded
St. John’s recruited Lance Stephenson as hard as it could for several years, dreaming that the Coney Island native would someday light up the Madison Square Garden scoreboard and the New York fans in the process.
But now, barring a dramatic turn of events, Stephenson will never play for the Red Storm.
“We are totally out. Not pursuing [him] anymore,” a source within the St. John’s program said.
Johnnies head coach Norm Roberts and assistant Fred Quartlebaum attended many of Stephenson’s Lincoln High School games, visited the family for in-home visits and recently had “Born Ready” on campus for an official visit.
To the surprise of absolutely no one, John Wall is still considering Kentucky even after Eric Bledsoe committed to the Wildcats on Wednesday.
“Yea,” Wall wrote in a text message Thursday.
The 6-foot-4 Wall is the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2009 and is considering Baylor, Duke, Florida, Kentucky, Memphis, Miami and N.C. State.
He said he has yet to cut his list.
“Not right now,” he said.
Kentucky coach John Calipari pursued both Wall and Bledsoe, with the idea that Wall would start at the point and Bledsoe would play 10-15 minutes as a backup. If Wall jumped to the NBA after one season, Bledsoe would take over in 2010.
Calipari has already secured an impressive recruiting class that includes Bledsoe, DeMarcus Cousins, Daniel Orton, Darnell Dodson and Jon Hood. The addition of Wall could make the Cats a Final Four-caliber team.
RECRUITING NOTES
Providence is no longer in the running for former Florida forward Allan Chaney. The Friars are holding the ship for 2010. Chaney has visited St.
St. Patrick of Elizabeth (N.J.) is losing Dexter Strickland to North Carolina and Paris Bennett to George Mason from its Tournament of Champions team, but the Celtics served notice that they will still be the team to beat in New Jersey next year.
The NJ Celtics — featuring Kyrie Irving (pictured), Michael Gilchrist, Derrick Gordon, Kevin Boyle Jr. and Chase Plummer — went 7-0 to win the recent Providence Jam Fast.
The Celtics beat the Mass Rivals in the final after knocking off a Boo Williams team in the semis that included Carolina-bound Kendall Marshall, Duke-bound Andre Dawkins and Georgia Tech commit Travis Mckie (2010).
St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle said Rob Kennedy of the Hoop Group told him: “I don’t know who Oak Hill and Findlay [Prep] get [next year], but I don’t know a high school team that’s going to be better than you guys.”
As reported here last night, Parker (AL)
