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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.
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Sunday / December 22.
  • EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — You can’t blame Kevin Durant if he wishes he had some college eligibility left right about now.

    There’s no NBA basketball and Durant had to sit behind the Texas bench Saturday night and watch his Longhorns lose to Oregon State, 100-95 in overtime, in the Legends Classic at the Izod Center.

    “Yeah, man, of course me being a competitor I always want to play,” Durant, who left Texas after one year and is a two-time NBA scoring champ, told SNY.tv.

    “But those guys handled it well. It’s tough for us to lose that way.”

    NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Just as Brewster Academy tipped off Saturday in the National Prep Showcase at Albertus Magnus College, St. John’s coach Steve Lavin walked into the gym.

    The Johnnies remain in the hunt for the 6-foot-8 Sampson even though he decommitted and re-opened his recruitment.

    “St. John’s is still in the mix,” Sampson told SNY.tv before putting up 20 points and 7 rebounds in Brewster’s 91-75 win over Fishburne (Va.).

    What would it take for him to re-commit to the Johnnies?

    NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Sam Cassell Sr. went to Florida State, but his son says dad isn’t necessarily pushing him in that direction.

    “He said it’s my decision,” Cassell Jr. said after putting up 30 points, including 5 of 9 from beyond the arc, as Notre Dame Prep beat New Hope (Md.) at the National Prep Showcase as Albertus Magnus College. “He’s not pushing it.

    A Baltimore native, Cassell Jr. listed Nebraska, Maryland, Florida State and Washington among schools that have offered.

    NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Amir Garrett says he plans to join the St. John’s basketball team at the semester break in December and he can’t wait to get there.

    “I gotta finish out this semester and submit my classes and I should be good,” Garrett said after putting up 20 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal in Bridgton (Maine) Academy’s 90-86 loss to Hargrave (Va.) Military at the National Prep Showcase at Albertus Magnus College.

    NEW YORK — Renardo Sidney was a massive 320 pounds when he first began to train this past summer with former NBA coach John Lucas.

    “I remember one time we was in the gym and I laid out, and he said, ‘Somebody gonna get that whale out the middle of the floor?'” Sidney recalled Thursday night at Madison Square Garden.

    “I know he was playing, but it kind of hurt.”

    Now “down” to 287 pounds, the 6-foot-10 Sidney is still rounding into shape, but at least he will leave New York a champion.

    UConn freshman guard Ryan Boatright has been suspended six games for receiving improper benefits. The school was notified of the decision by the NCAA Friday evening.

    Boatright has already been withheld from the first three regular season games by the school and will also miss the next three games, against Coppin State on Nov. 20 and the first two games of the Battle 4 Atlantis on Paradise Island Nov. 24 and 25.

    He will be permitted to travel with the team and see action for UConn beginning with the final game of the tournament on Nov. 26.

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