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.
Arizona struck gold again with the Drew Gooden Soldiers AAU program by landing point guard Josiah Turner Sunday morning.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Turner is the No. 2 point guard in the Class of 2011 and is the AAU teammate of Findlay Prep guard Nick Johnson,who earlier committed to the Wildcats.
“I had a lot of fun here,” Turner told the Arizona Daily Star Sunday. “I bonded with everybody. I liked the teammates, the coaches and I got to meet the AD.”
Turner had also visited UCLA and Louisville and had a visit slated for Kansas next month.
I just wanted to be part of the UA tradition,” Turner told the Daily Star. “I like all the fans here. Everything was crazy.”
He joins Nick Johnson and 6-9 Oak Hill Academy wing Sidiki Johnson in Arizona’s 2011 recruiting haul and probably means that Oak Hill point guard Quinn Cook ends up elsewhere.
The Daily Star reported that the Wildcats are two over their allotment of 12 scholarships for next season, yet Arizona is also involved with Dallas wing LeBryan Nash, who visits Sept. 24.
“[He’s a] great player,” Nash said by text of Turner.
THOMPSON TO OHIO STATESam Thompson, a 6-7 senior wing from Chicago Whitney Young, verbally committed to Ohio State.
“I love the staff and love the school,” Thompson, the No. 4 small forward in the Class of 2011, told Alex Kline of The Recruit Scoop. “Coach Matta’s forwards have excelled in the past and I’m looking forward to help bring a national championship to Columbus!”
Thompson reportedly chose Ohio State over Florida and Oregon State. He averaged about 10 points in 19 games last season but ChicagoBreakingSports.com reported that he suffered an ankle injury early in the season.
Young joins guard Shannon Scott of Georgia and forward LaQuinton Ross of Mississippi in Thad Matta’s 2011 class.
FREE THROWS
More commitments per Alex Kline: Jabril Trawick, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Abington Friends High School in Pennsylvania, chose Georgetown over Florida State. “The coaching staff and the group of players that I will be playing with is a big reason why I chose Georgetown,” Trawick told Kline. “The time we will get on television is awesome and I really like the Verizon Center. There are a lot of connections there, it’s like a pipeline.” He added: “[Current Hoyas] Austin [Freeman] and Chris [Wright] are leaving and I’m going to fill in.”…Darius Nelson, a SF from California has committed to UTEP…Ramon Eaton, a SF from California has verballed to Pepperdine, according to their AAU Coach at Team Odom…Shonn Miller ’11, a 6-6 forward from Ohio, has committed to Cornell…Kenyatta Smith, a 6-8 center from Flintridge Prep (Calif.), committed to Harvard…Tim Dixon, a 6-10, 215-pound center from Oldsmar, Fla., committed to Georgia during his official visit this past weekend, according to multiple reports…Chier Ajou, a 7-1 center from Sudan, committed to New Mexico…Rickey Tarrant, a 6-foot point guard from Birmingham Pleasant Grove, committed to Tulane…Julian DeBose, a 6-4 point guard from Washington, D.C. St. John, verballed to Rice….6-9 JUCO big man Robert Goff chose Oklahoma, according to OUHoops.com.
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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.
Arizona struck gold again with the Drew Gooden Soldiers AAU program by landing point guard Josiah Turner Sunday morning.
The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Turner is the No. 2 point guard in the Class of 2011 and is the AAU teammate of Findlay Prep guard Nick Johnson, who earlier committed to the Wildcats.
“I had a lot of fun here,” Turner told the Arizona Daily Star Sunday. “I bonded with everybody. I liked the teammates, the coaches and I got to meet the AD.”
Turner had also visited UCLA and Louisville and had a visit slated for Kansas next month.
I just wanted to be part of the UA tradition,” Turner told the Daily Star. “I like all the fans here. Everything was crazy.”
He joins Nick Johnson and 6-9 Oak Hill Academy wing Sidiki Johnson in Arizona’s 2011 recruiting haul and probably means that Oak Hill point guard Quinn Cook ends up elsewhere.
The Daily Star reported that the Wildcats are two over their allotment of 12 scholarships for next season, yet Arizona is also involved with Dallas wing LeBryan Nash, who visits Sept. 24.
“[He’s a] great player,” Nash said by text of Turner.
THOMPSON TO OHIO STATE
Sam Thompson, a 6-7 senior wing from Chicago Whitney Young, verbally committed to Ohio State.
“I love the staff and love the school,” Thompson, the No. 4 small forward in the Class of 2011, told Alex Kline of The Recruit Scoop. “Coach Matta’s forwards have excelled in the past and I’m looking forward to help bring a national championship to Columbus!”
Thompson reportedly chose Ohio State over Florida and Oregon State. He averaged about 10 points in 19 games last season but ChicagoBreakingSports.com reported that he suffered an ankle injury early in the season.
Young joins guard Shannon Scott of Georgia and forward LaQuinton Ross of Mississippi in Thad Matta’s 2011 class.
FREE THROWS
More commitments per Alex Kline: Jabril Trawick, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard from Abington Friends High School in Pennsylvania, chose Georgetown over Florida State. “The coaching staff and the group of players that I will be playing with is a big reason why I chose Georgetown,” Trawick told Kline. “The time we will get on television is awesome and I really like the Verizon Center. There are a lot of connections there, it’s like a pipeline.” He added: “[Current Hoyas] Austin [Freeman] and Chris [Wright] are leaving and I’m going to fill in.”…Darius Nelson, a SF from California has committed to UTEP…Ramon Eaton, a SF from California has verballed to Pepperdine, according to their AAU Coach at Team Odom…Shonn Miller ’11, a 6-6 forward from Ohio, has committed to Cornell…Kenyatta Smith, a 6-8 center from Flintridge Prep (Calif.), committed to Harvard…Tim Dixon, a 6-10, 215-pound center from Oldsmar, Fla., committed to Georgia during his official visit this past weekend, according to multiple reports…Chier Ajou, a 7-1 center from Sudan, committed to New Mexico…Rickey Tarrant, a 6-foot point guard from Birmingham Pleasant Grove, committed to Tulane…Julian DeBose, a 6-4 point guard from Washington, D.C. St. John, verballed to Rice….6-9 JUCO big man Robert Goff chose Oklahoma, according to OUHoops.com.
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