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.
Here are a few recruiting and hoops notes from the local New York/New Jersey area…
**Louisville has offered Jabarie Hinds, a 6-foot, 160-pound point guard from Mount Vernon (N.Y.). Hinds teamed with George Mason commit Sherrod Wright to win the SNY Invitational this year and could be the next great player out of “Money Earnin’ Mount Vernon.”
Louisville is also involved with 6-8, 205 pound junior SG Rod Odom of Concord (MA) Middlesex School; J.J. Moore., a 6-6 junior SF from Brentwood (NY) Brentwood; and 6-3 SG Mike Taylor of Brooklyn Boys & Girls. Moore also reportedly holds an offer from Rutgers.
**Taylor, who holds numerous offers, helped the Metrohawks win the recent Gym Rat Challenge averaging 23 points as the team went 7-0. He was named MVP.
**LIU signed Jamal Olasewere, a 6-6 forward from Springbrook (Md.) who averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and 5 blocks for a team that went 27-0 and won back-to-back Maryland 4A titles.
**Derrick Williams, a 6-7, 250-pound power forward from St. Anthony in Jersey City, will visit Virginia this coming weekend. Seton Hall, Hofstra and Fordham have also offered.
**Devon Collier (pictured), Williams’ 6-7, 205-pound St. Anthony teammate, has several schools working him hard, according to St. Anthony
“Certainly, the University of Memphis should not suffer a financial penalty or vacation of records for the 2008 NCAA tournament as a result of this allegation,” according to a report detailing the school’s investigation into NCAA allegations.
Here’s what Jeff had to say about Norm Roberts, Fred Hill, Bobby Gonzalez and Derrick Whitteburg. What are your thoughts on these coaches?
3. Norm Roberts
Goodman: Roberts is one of the best guys around, but he has yet to crack the top 10 in the Big East in his five years at the helm. The Red Storm are 21
Kyrie Irving plans to cut his list of schools down later this summer, but right now Indiana ranks right up near the top.
Irving, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound guard from St. Patrick of Elizabeth (N.J.), visited Indiana two weeks ago for an AAU event and really enjoyed his time there.
“They’re at the top of my list for now,” Irving said in a phone interview. “It’s them and Notre Dame and Duke and Virginia. They’re at the top of my list right now.”
Irving is the No. 4 point guard in the Class of 2010 according to Rivals and St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle is on record with some very high praise for the young man.
Just when you thought it was safe to bring out the summer grill and forget about some of these people, a few of our favorite college basketball names are back in the news.
**A Kentucky basketball blog says Xavier Henry is not happy at Kansas and that he could still end up at Kentucky. Henry initially committed to Memphis and then changed his mind after John Calipari took the Kentucky job.
Sources say Henry will not attend the first summer school session at Kansas but that Xavier and his brother, C.J., still plan on attending the school. Xavier also just worked the last four days at a Kansas camp with the players in Wichita. The family has made no official comment.