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.
Junior forward Kyle Singler announced on Monday that he will return to Duke for his senior season, giving the Blue Devils a major boost in their attempt to repeat as NCAA champions.
Singler, the 2010 Final Four Most Outstanding Player, has averaged 15.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists during his first three seasons as a Blue Devil.
“I love being here at Duke and am excited about next year,” said Singler. “I had two great options in front of me, but I did not want to miss out on all of the great things to come in a senior season.”
Rutgers AD Tim Pernetti announced Monday that Fred Hill has resigned from his position as head men’s basketball coach.
The Star-Ledger, citing two sources “with knowledge of the agreement,” said Hill accepted a buyout of between $800,000 and $850,000. He was due $1.9 million, including bonuses, over the final three years of his deal. The school initially offered him a $600,000 buyout.
“I would like to thank Freddie for his hard work and service to Rutgers,” said Pernetti. “We appreciate his efforts on the behalf of our student-athletes and wish him the very best in his future endeavors.”
St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin has officially put former Golden State Warriors assistant Rico Hines on staff.
Hines becomes the second person to join Lavin’s staff, following former Drexel assistant Tony Chiles.
“Rico is a talented, natural-born teacher and coach with a relentless work ethic. He is one of the true rising stars in the coaching profession,” said Lavin. “His talents in on-court player skill development and his reach as a north-to-south, coast-to-coast recruiter are among the definite benefits he brings to our staff at St. John’s.”
Mount Vernon junior point guard Jabarie Hinds suffered an ankle injury Saturday but is still picking up high-major Division I interest.
Playing with the Westchester Hawks against All-Ohio Red in the Pitt Jam Fest, Hinds rolled his ankle on what Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino called a “freak play.”
“He was going for a break-away layup and came down in a freak way on his own ankle,” Cimmino said Monday morning. “He’s in an air cast. The X-rays were negative but he will be sidelined for a while now.”
Prior to the injury, the 5-11, 150-pound Hinds had drawn recent interest from Florida State, Oklahoma State and Villanova.
While the Jordan Brand Classic games were going on Saturday at Madison Square Garden, Elijah Carter was up in Bridgeport, Conn., playing in the JCC Schoolboy Classic.
Carter, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound guard from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony who has signed with St. Bonaventure, played every minute of the game because his team brought only six players.
And he still dropped a game-high 42 points in New Jersey’s 124-119 double-OT loss to Connecticut.
It was the most points scored in the event since Jeff Ruland dropped 45 in 1977, according to the Stamford Advocate. Aishon White, an uncommitted guard from Union, N.J., added 39 points.