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.
Boost Mobile Profiles: Leslie, Selby, Smith & Pressey
NEW YORK — Four of the most sought after players in the Class of 2010 are C.J. Leslie, Josh Selby,Roscoe Smith and Phil Pressey.
Leslie, a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Academy, listed North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Maryland as the schools recruiting him the hardest.
“I haven’t made [any] dates” to visit yet,” said Leslie, the No. 14 player in the Class of 2010.
“I’ve been to UNC a couple of times because they’re right in my back yard. I haven’t been to Florida or Kentucky yet,” he said.
Asked if he had a favorite, Leslie said, “No, I don’t.”
What kind of player will he be?
“A lot of energy,” he said. “Somebody that can push the ball, can do a little bit of everything.”
SELBY WIDE OPENThe 6-foot-1 Selby, out of Baltimore (Md.) Lake Clifton, recently decommitted from Tennessee and his mother says about 15 schools are in the mix.
UConn, Syracuse, Texas, Oregon, Kentucky and Kansas are among those in contention.
Selby, the No. 4 prospect in the Class of 2010, visited UConn recently and enjoyed it.
“The UConn visit went very well,” he said. “We met Coach [Jim] Calhoun, he was a great guy. The assistant coaches were great. The players that I met were very cool, so my visit up there was very good.”
What about Kentucky?
“Kentucky is just like any other school,” he said. “They’re recruiting me and I’m looking at them. I’m looking at them the same way I’m looking at other schools. There’s no difference because it’s Kentucky and Coach [John] Calipari. NOthing went on [with William Wesley], so it’s no different.”
Selby and his mother are finalizing a schedule for other in-home and official visits after the Boost Mobile.
“There’s no schools really sticking out,” Selby said. “Every school is on the same level. I”m wide open and giving everybody a chance.”
SMITH TO CUT LISTRoscoe Smith, a 6-7 SF out of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, also has a long list.
He mentioned UConn, Duke, Florida, Kentucky and LSU and said he planned to take several unofficials before school starts.
Smith’s Rivals page lists a slew of other offers as well: Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Georgetown, Tennessee, Texas, Florida and Florida STate, among others.
“After Friday I will be making some unofficial visits,” he said. “I’m going to pick out the school that I’m going to commit to going on the middle of my Oak Hill season.”
He said he transferred to Oak Hill to improve and prepare for college.
“I just wanted to be around great players,” he said. “I think me going to Oak Hill will step my game up more and get me ready for college life.
“I just want to try and win a national championship for Steve Smith and other Oak Hill alumni.”
PRESSEY HAS TOP FIVEPhil Pressey, a 5-11, 160-pound PG from Dallas Episcopal, said his final five were UCLA, Baylor, Missouri, Arizona and LSU.
“When I get back I’ll probably visit a couple schools,” he said.
Pressey is the son of former NBA player Paul Pressey.
“He knows a lot of the coaches. He gets information about the coaches, that helps me out,” he said. “I take it as an advantage. I like it. He helps me out in whatever I do.”
TEAGUE TO VISIT KENTUCKY THIS WEEKENDMarquis Teague, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2011, will visit Kentucky unofficially on Saturday, per Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal.
“We haven’t had the opportunity to go there,” Shawn Teague, Marquis’ father, told Demling. “We want to keep our eyes open and absorb the conversation and see what it’s all about.”
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.
NEW YORK — Four of the most sought after players in the Class of 2010 are C.J. Leslie, Josh Selby, Roscoe Smith and Phil Pressey.
Leslie, a 6-foot-8 small forward out of Raleigh (N.C.) Word of God Academy, listed North Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Maryland as the schools recruiting him the hardest.
“I haven’t made [any] dates” to visit yet,” said Leslie, the No. 14 player in the Class of 2010.
“I’ve been to UNC a couple of times because they’re right in my back yard. I haven’t been to Florida or Kentucky yet,” he said.
Asked if he had a favorite, Leslie said, “No, I don’t.”
What kind of player will he be?
“A lot of energy,” he said. “Somebody that can push the ball, can do a little bit of everything.”
SELBY WIDE OPEN
The 6-foot-1 Selby, out of Baltimore (Md.) Lake Clifton, recently decommitted from Tennessee and his mother says about 15 schools are in the mix.
UConn, Syracuse, Texas, Oregon, Kentucky and Kansas are among those in contention.
Selby, the No. 4 prospect in the Class of 2010, visited UConn recently and enjoyed it.
“The UConn visit went very well,” he said. “We met Coach [Jim] Calhoun, he was a great guy. The assistant coaches were great. The players that I met were very cool, so my visit up there was very good.”
What about Kentucky?
“Kentucky is just like any other school,” he said. “They’re recruiting me and I’m looking at them. I’m looking at them the same way I’m looking at other schools. There’s no difference because it’s Kentucky and Coach [John] Calipari. NOthing went on [with William Wesley], so it’s no different.”
Selby and his mother are finalizing a schedule for other in-home and official visits after the Boost Mobile.
“There’s no schools really sticking out,” Selby said. “Every school is on the same level. I”m wide open and giving everybody a chance.”
SMITH TO CUT LIST
Roscoe Smith, a 6-7 SF out of Oak Hill (Va.) Academy, also has a long list.
He mentioned UConn, Duke, Florida, Kentucky and LSU and said he planned to take several unofficials before school starts.
Smith’s Rivals page lists a slew of other offers as well: Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Georgetown, Tennessee, Texas, Florida and Florida STate, among others.
“After Friday I will be making some unofficial visits,” he said. “I’m going to pick out the school that I’m going to commit to going on the middle of my Oak Hill season.”
He said he transferred to Oak Hill to improve and prepare for college.
“I just wanted to be around great players,” he said. “I think me going to Oak Hill will step my game up more and get me ready for college life.
“I just want to try and win a national championship for Steve Smith and other Oak Hill alumni.”
PRESSEY HAS TOP FIVE
Phil Pressey, a 5-11, 160-pound PG from Dallas Episcopal, said his final five were UCLA, Baylor, Missouri, Arizona and LSU.
“When I get back I’ll probably visit a couple schools,” he said.
Pressey is the son of former NBA player Paul Pressey.
“He knows a lot of the coaches. He gets information about the coaches, that helps me out,” he said. “I take it as an advantage. I like it. He helps me out in whatever I do.”
TEAGUE TO VISIT KENTUCKY THIS WEEKEND
Marquis Teague, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2011, will visit Kentucky unofficially on Saturday, per Jody Demling of the Louisville Courier Journal.
“We haven’t had the opportunity to go there,” Shawn Teague, Marquis’ father, told Demling. “We want to keep our eyes open and absorb the conversation and see what it’s all about.”
