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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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Thursday / December 26.
  • Robert Hubbs Sr. said that Tennessee coach Cuonzo Martin went above and beyond the call during his recruitment of his son, and that’s why the 6-foot-3 Hubbs committed during an official visit Sunday night.

    “Yeah, he committed to Tennessee,” Hubbs Sr. told SNY.tv by phone Monday. “Coach Martin has really done a fine job in the recruiting process. He’s been around to several events. He’s done a lot of little things that caught the eye of people. He sent a handwritten card to my wife on Mother’s Day. He sent the school a card saying thanks for letting me come into the gym and recruit Robert.

    “All summer he’s been around in the front row at events recruiting my son and when he wasn’t he sent a text message saying, “I wasn’t able to make the trip but I’ll be back.”

    Kentucky head coach John Calipari offered a scholarship to 6-foot-9 forward Marcus Lee during the home visit Sunday night and Calipari will meet Tuesday with forward Tyler Roberson in New Jersey.

    Lee, out of Antioch (Calif.) Deer Valley, had previously cut his list to Kentucky, Louisville and Cal, and will visit Kentucky Oct. 12 for Big Blue Madness.

    “It’s just unbelievable how far this recruitment has come in the last year,” Lee’s brother, Brian Lee, told SNY.tv. “To go from low mid-majors to Kentucky is surreal. Marcus is still trying to wrap his head around what’s happening, but he’s very excited. They definitely solidified why they were in his top 3 with this visit.”

    Calipari will be in New Jersey Tuesday for an 8 p.m. meeting with the 6-8 Roberson out of Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, RC coach Dave Boff told SNY.tv.

    SMU coach Larry Brown will meet with Roberson at 4.

    Arkansas on Saturday landed 6-foot-9 Huntington (W.V.) Prep big man Moses Kingsley, according to reports.

    Huntington coach Rob Fulford has compared Kingsley, who committed on his visit to Arkansas and was also being courted by Louisville, to Louisville big man Gorgui Dieng.

    “They’re very similar,” Fulford told the Louisville Courier Journal. “Gorgui was probably a better shot-blocker at this stage, but Moses is a little better offensively at this stage.”

    The Anthony “Cat” Barber Sweepstakes is over and N.C. State is the winner.

    The athletic, rugged point guard from Hampton (Va.) picked the Wolfpack over Alabama and Kansas on Saturday.

    “N.C. State is the perfect place for me to reach my potential and to compete for ACC championships and a national championship!” Barber, the Rivals No. 3 point guard in the Class of 2013, told the Charlotte Observer by text. “Coach [Mark] Gottfried and [assistant] coach [Rob] Moxley made me believe we can be great.”

    Ron Patterson is no longer going to Indiana, but he will end up playing Division 1 basketball somewhere next year.

    The 6-foot-3 guard has been “very impressive” in his tenure so far at Brewster (N.H.) Academy, head coach Jason Smith told SNY.tv.

    “Xavier is going to meet with his parents at their home Monday,” Smith said. “Providence comes on Wednesday. And Kansas State next week as well. Pitt is very interested.”

    MONROE TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Since the Knicks signed former Louisville standout and New Jersey native Chris Smith to a non-guaranteed contract on Aug. 1, people have been screaming that the only reason Smith is here is because his brother is Knicks shooting guard J.R. Smith.

    Chris Smith may have performed well with the Knicks’ summer league in Las Vegas in July to help gain the contract and a shot in training camp next month, but no, it does not hurt that his brother is who he is and has the ear of key team executives, including Madison Square Garden Executive Chairman James Dolan.

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