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.
NEW YORK –– Rice center Kadeem Jack is down to five schools and plans to announce April 28.
Jack is considering Arizona, Arkansas, Miami, UConn and St. John’s.
“Every school is equal to me unless a school just straight out wows me,” Jack said after putting up 21 points and 8 rebounds for the City Team in a 137-133 loss to the Suburban Team in the Jordan Brand Regional Game Saturday at MSG.
Having taken his first official to Arizona earlier this year, the 6-foot-9 Jack visited Miami last weekend.
“It was great. It was a great experience going out there with Durand [Scott] and all the coaches. Coach [Jorge] Fernandez, Coach [Frank] Haith. I visited the campus, I met the president,” Jack said.
Scott and Jack played together at Rice and that could be a factor in Miami’s favor.
“He played a big part of my development because he gave me a lot of confidence during the games last year,” Jack said. “My junior year he started giving me the ball more even though I was fumbling and all that. And at the end of the season I came in to my own and Durand really helped my development. That’s something if I go to Miami, it will keep on.”
Jack also hopes to visit Arkansas and UConn between now and April 28, but his mentor, Damian Leslie, said the dates have not been set.
“The distance doesn’t matter to me,” Jack said. “Just going to a place where the coach will develop me, turn me into a pro player one day. The distance doesn’t matter.
Jack has a Rice connection at UConn also because Huskies point guard Kemba Walker played there.
“UConn, I like how Kemba plays, so I want to go over there with him,” Jack said.
New St. John’s coach Steve Lavin has also reached out to Jack about keeping him home, but Jack has yet to visit the Queens school since Lavin took over.
“Just speaking about him trying to come in and change the program, needing some key players to come in and change the program and he thinks I could be one of those players,” Jack said. “St. John’s is close to home, [I would] get to be close to my mother.”
St. John’s is also looking at bringing in Rice head coach Moe Hicks as the Director of Basketball Operations. If Hicks takes the job, a new NCAA rule would prohibit Jack from going to St. John’s.
“If he goes there, I can’t go there anyway,” Jack said. “I’m actually making my decision on April 28, so whether he decides or not, I’m going.”
(Photo courtesy Daily News)
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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 –– Rice center Kadeem Jack is down to five schools and plans to announce April 28.
Jack is considering Arizona, Arkansas, Miami, UConn and St. John’s.
“Every school is equal to me unless a school just straight out wows me,” Jack said after putting up 21 points and 8 rebounds for the City Team in a 137-133 loss to the Suburban Team in the Jordan Brand Regional Game Saturday at MSG.
Having taken his first official to Arizona earlier this year, the 6-foot-9 Jack visited Miami last weekend.
“It was great. It was a great experience going out there with Durand [Scott] and all the coaches. Coach [Jorge] Fernandez, Coach [Frank] Haith. I visited the campus, I met the president,” Jack said.
Scott and Jack played together at Rice and that could be a factor in Miami’s favor.
“He played a big part of my development because he gave me a lot of confidence during the games last year,” Jack said. “My junior year he started giving me the ball more even though I was fumbling and all that. And at the end of the season I came in to my own and Durand really helped my development. That’s something if I go to Miami, it will keep on.”
Jack also hopes to visit Arkansas and UConn between now and April 28, but his mentor, Damian Leslie, said the dates have not been set.
“The distance doesn’t matter to me,” Jack said. “Just going to a place where the coach will develop me, turn me into a pro player one day. The distance doesn’t matter.
Jack has a Rice connection at UConn also because Huskies point guard Kemba Walker played there.
“UConn, I like how Kemba plays, so I want to go over there with him,” Jack said.
New St. John’s coach Steve Lavin has also reached out to Jack about keeping him home, but Jack has yet to visit the Queens school since Lavin took over.
“Just speaking about him trying to come in and change the program, needing some key players to come in and change the program and he thinks I could be one of those players,” Jack said. “St. John’s is close to home, [I would] get to be close to my mother.”
St. John’s is also looking at bringing in Rice head coach Moe Hicks as the Director of Basketball Operations. If Hicks takes the job, a new NCAA rule would prohibit Jack from going to St. John’s.
“If he goes there, I can’t go there anyway,” Jack said. “I’m actually making my decision on April 28, so whether he decides or not, I’m going.”
(Photo courtesy Daily News)
RELATED CONTENT:
**Brandon Knight to Kentucky
**Michael Gilchrist to Kentucky
**Rosario to visit Florida
**Josh Selby still mulling college options
**Doron Lamb Says He’s Decided
**Terrences to announce together
**Calipari a factor for recruits
**Jordan Brand rosters
**Cory Joseph talks recruiting
**Biruta waiting on Rutgers; Roberts likes St. Joe’s
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
