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.
Garland Owens to BC; Dwayne Daniel to Iona; Torren Jones to Mizzou
Garland Owens, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound small forward from Massanutten (Va.) Military Academy, pledged to Boston College Sunday, choosing the ACC school over Seton Hall after visiting the Pirates this weekend.
“The coaching staff made me feel like I was a part of the family,” Owens, a Maryland native, told SNY.tv after it was previously reported by several outlets.
“They have something special in store for me. And it’s in the ACC, arguably the best conference in the world.”
Asked what skillset he will bring, Owens said, “Just my athleticism and my energy to make momentum-changing plays whether it be a dunk or a block, just big play-making ability.”
Owens’s choice leaves Seton Hall with Aquille Carr as its only committed 2013 player.
DANIEL TO IONADwayne Daniel, a 5-11 2014 point guard from Lawrence High School on Long Island, pledged to Iona on Sunday, as first reported by SNY.tv.
“I chose Iona because it gives my family a chance to watch me play and compete at the highest level,” Daniel told SNY.tv. “I felt very comfortable speaking to the coaches. I feel I will help Iona continue its winning ways when I arrive in the fall of 2014.”
Daniel averaged 20.4 points last season for a Lawrence team that won its league title in Nassau County.
One source said Daniel should average more than 30 points per game this season and will be the “best point guard in the state in the 2014 class.”
Hofstra and Siena were also involved, but never offered.
“They spoke to him, nobody else offered,” Lawrence coach Joe Supple told SNY.tv. “He can fill it up, can shoot from anywhere on the court. He’s super athletic, had a great sophomore year.”
JONES TO MIZZOUTorren Jones, a 6-8 power forward from La Lumiere (IN), committed to Missouri just three days after the Tigers landed 6-8 forward Johnathan Williams III.
Jones is seen as a replacement for UConn transfer Alex Oriakhi after he leaves.
“I feel like [head] coach [Frank] Haith is a great coach,” Jones told the National Recruiting Spotlight. “He has helped me a lot on and off the court with life and as a man. It’s a great college town and a great atmosphere. I love the college town, it’s a nice landscape. It’s not just about basketball, I feel like I’d love to live at Missouri for four years.”
“I just felt like they’re one of the best coaching staffs and he’s a winning coach,” he continued. “He gets to the [NCAA] tournament and that’s exactly what I want to do.”
Jones follows Williams III and guards Wes Clark and Travis Jorgenson in Mizzou’s 2013 class.
Photo: Standardli.com
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.
Garland Owens, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound small forward from Massanutten (Va.) Military Academy, pledged to Boston College Sunday, choosing the ACC school over Seton Hall after visiting the Pirates this weekend.
“The coaching staff made me feel like I was a part of the family,” Owens, a Maryland native, told SNY.tv after it was previously reported by several outlets.
“They have something special in store for me. And it’s in the ACC, arguably the best conference in the world.”
Asked what skillset he will bring, Owens said, “Just my athleticism and my energy to make momentum-changing plays whether it be a dunk or a block, just big play-making ability.”
Owens’s choice leaves Seton Hall with Aquille Carr as its only committed 2013 player.
DANIEL TO IONA
Dwayne Daniel, a 5-11 2014 point guard from Lawrence High School on Long Island, pledged to Iona on Sunday, as first reported by SNY.tv.
“I chose Iona because it gives my family a chance to watch me play and compete at the highest level,” Daniel told SNY.tv. “I felt very comfortable speaking to the coaches. I feel I will help Iona continue its winning ways when I arrive in the fall of 2014.”
Daniel averaged 20.4 points last season for a Lawrence team that won its league title in Nassau County.
One source said Daniel should average more than 30 points per game this season and will be the “best point guard in the state in the 2014 class.”
Hofstra and Siena were also involved, but never offered.
“They spoke to him, nobody else offered,” Lawrence coach Joe Supple told SNY.tv. “He can fill it up, can shoot from anywhere on the court. He’s super athletic, had a great sophomore year.”
JONES TO MIZZOU
Torren Jones, a 6-8 power forward from La Lumiere (IN), committed to Missouri just three days after the Tigers landed 6-8 forward Johnathan Williams III.
Jones is seen as a replacement for UConn transfer Alex Oriakhi after he leaves.
“I feel like [head] coach [Frank] Haith is a great coach,” Jones told the National Recruiting Spotlight. “He has helped me a lot on and off the court with life and as a man. It’s a great college town and a great atmosphere. I love the college town, it’s a nice landscape. It’s not just about basketball, I feel like I’d love to live at Missouri for four years.”
“I just felt like they’re one of the best coaching staffs and he’s a winning coach,” he continued. “He gets to the [NCAA] tournament and that’s exactly what I want to do.”
Jones follows Williams III and guards Wes Clark and Travis Jorgenson in Mizzou’s 2013 class.
Photo: Standardli.com
