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.
**Click the Video Player at right for my interviews with Tom Konchalski, where he talks New York and New Jersey high school playoffs and recruiting**
CALIPARI MAKING A RUN AT CORY JOSEPH
Just when you thought recruiting of the high-level senior guards had settled down comes the news that Kentucky coach John Calipari is making a run at Cory Joseph.
Calipari was in Las Vegas Monday to scout the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Joseph, a senior McDonald’s All-American at Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep who had previously cut his list to Villanova, UConn, Texas, UNLV and Minnesota.
“He was out here Monday. He came to practice,” said Findlay coach Michael Peck, coach of the defending national champions.
Peck said Calipari did not explicity offer a scholarship, but he assumed that’s what the coach had in mind.
“I’m assuming this time of the year him coming out personally was a pretty clear indication, I think that’s the case,” Peck said.
Joseph could not be immediately reached for comment, but Peck said he doesn’t think Joseph has altered his list of five schools.
“I don’t think he’s opening up [his recruitment] but that’s not 100 percent,” Peck said. “You kind of feel honored to have a head coach of Cal’s caliber to come out at this time of the year to make a special tirp for that purpsoe but I think Cory was impressed and felt flattered.”
Peck believes Joseph will choose from his orginal five but said anything is possible in recruiting.
“Cory hasn’t done anything in terms of adding anybody to the list of five,” Peck said. “I spoke with him the other day. We end our regular season this weekend at home. He’s going to use March as his month to really isolate and spend some time thinking about his options and hopefully by the first part of April he’ll have a good idea about what he’s gonna do.”
Still, Peck didn’t rule out that Joseph would consider Kentucky, which is also involved with guards Brandon Knight, Josh Selby and Doron Lamb.
“You and I both know we’ve seen crazier things happen with kids,” Peck said. “Could that happen? Absolutely. Could a 16 seed beat a 1 seed? I don’t know and I dont’ know if I expect that.”
Calipari likes long and athletic guards and will need at least one to replace John Wall, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and possibly two if fellow frosh Eric Bledsoe goes to the NBA.
Could his sudden interest in Joseph reveal an indication that he’s not as confident about getting some combination of Knight, Lamb and Selby?
“I just think at this time of the year they’ve probably looked at it and he probably looks at thier roster and sees there’s a good chance that there’s a few guys that are going to leave next year.
“Like the fans and the the staff, they’ve enjoyed the success and they want to continue that success year in and year out. Everybody knows you need players.”
Findlay has two games this weekend before wrapping up the season at the ESPN Rise National Invitational April 1-3.
(Photo courtesy Memphis Commercial Appeal)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.
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.
**Click the Video Player at right for my interviews with Tom Konchalski, where he talks New York and New Jersey high school playoffs and recruiting**
CALIPARI MAKING A RUN AT CORY JOSEPH
Just when you thought recruiting of the high-level senior guards had settled down comes the news that Kentucky coach John Calipari is making a run at Cory Joseph.
Calipari was in Las Vegas Monday to scout the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Joseph, a senior McDonald’s All-American at Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep who had previously cut his list to Villanova, UConn, Texas, UNLV and Minnesota.
“He was out here Monday. He came to practice,” said Findlay coach Michael Peck, coach of the defending national champions.
Peck said Calipari did not explicity offer a scholarship, but he assumed that’s what the coach had in mind.
“I’m assuming this time of the year him coming out personally was a pretty clear indication, I think that’s the case,” Peck said.
Joseph could not be immediately reached for comment, but Peck said he doesn’t think Joseph has altered his list of five schools.
“I don’t think he’s opening up [his recruitment] but that’s not 100 percent,” Peck said. “You kind of feel honored to have a head coach of Cal’s caliber to come out at this time of the year to make a special tirp for that purpsoe but I think Cory was impressed and felt flattered.”
Peck believes Joseph will choose from his orginal five but said anything is possible in recruiting.
“Cory hasn’t done anything in terms of adding anybody to the list of five,” Peck said. “I spoke with him the other day. We end our regular season this weekend at home. He’s going to use March as his month to really isolate and spend some time thinking about his options and hopefully by the first part of April he’ll have a good idea about what he’s gonna do.”
Still, Peck didn’t rule out that Joseph would consider Kentucky, which is also involved with guards Brandon Knight, Josh Selby and Doron Lamb.
“You and I both know we’ve seen crazier things happen with kids,” Peck said. “Could that happen? Absolutely. Could a 16 seed beat a 1 seed? I don’t know and I dont’ know if I expect that.”
Calipari likes long and athletic guards and will need at least one to replace John Wall, the likely No. 1 pick in the 2010 NBA Draft, and possibly two if fellow frosh Eric Bledsoe goes to the NBA.
Could his sudden interest in Joseph reveal an indication that he’s not as confident about getting some combination of Knight, Lamb and Selby?
“I just think at this time of the year they’ve probably looked at it and he probably looks at thier roster and sees there’s a good chance that there’s a few guys that are going to leave next year.
“Like the fans and the the staff, they’ve enjoyed the success and they want to continue that success year in and year out. Everybody knows you need players.”
Findlay has two games this weekend before wrapping up the season at the ESPN Rise National Invitational April 1-3.
(Photo courtesy Memphis Commercial Appeal)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter.
