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.
Tyler Roberson to Syracuse; Meeks to North Carolina; Anya to N.C. State; Hamilton to UTEP; New ESPN Top 10 Class Rankings
The Tyler Roberson Sweepstakes is over.
The 6-foot-8 small forward from Roselle (N.J.) Catholic picked Syracuse on Friday over Villanova and Kansas.
“They’re going into the ACC next year which is a really good conference,” Roberson said on ESPNU as he pulled out a Syracuse shirt.
“And coach [Jim] Boeheim is one of the best coaches in college basketball and they’re just a really good college team.”
The Rivals No. 7 small forward in 2013, Roberson can play both forward positions but said his goal is to “Just to come in and help the team however I can and contribute.”
He said his long-term goals are to “keep working on my game, everything overall, shooting, dribbling, blocks shots and just getting stronger.”
Said Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff: “Tyler is going to be a great fit for Syracuse. His length will be a good fit for their zone and his ability to play in transition works perfectly with what they like to do offensively.”
Roberson is Syracuse’s fifth commit in 2013, joining point guard Tyler Ennis of St. Benedict’s Prep, small forward B.J. Johnson out of Philly, shooting guard Ron Patterson of Brewster (N.H.) Academy and big man Chinonso Obokoh of Rochester.
In Ennis and Roberson, Syracuse landed arguably the two best players in New Jersey.
Syracuse may now be done for 2013, although they have also been involved with forwards Jermaine Lawrence of Pope John (N.J.) and Dakari Johnson of Montverda (Fla.) Academy.
MEEKS TO NORTH CAROLINAKennedy Meeks, the Rivals No. 5 center in 2013 out of West Charlotte (N.C.), chose North Carolina over Georgetown.
“Next year I will be going to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to play for coach Roy Williams,” he said on ESPNU.
“Just the atmosphere, the fans, the alumni, the teammates, just all fit in and made me feel like high school gain.”
He said Williams told him he was “important” and would “use me through the offense.”
“Once I get in the conditioning program, I feel I’ll be alright [to run],” he added.
Meeks joins a North Carolina recruiting class that includes point guard Nate Britt and power forward Isaiah Hicks.ANYA TO N.C. STATEBeejay Anya, the Rivals No. center in 2013 out of DeMatha Catholic, picked N.C. State as expected.
The 6-8 Anya had initially cut his list to Indiana and N.C. State, before Indiana was no longer involved.
Anya visited the ACC school in late October and told SNY.tv the coaching staff told him: “It’s the perfect place for me. I’m going to be able to play a lot right off the bat because C.J. Leslie and Richard Howell are leaving.”
Anya joins an impressive group for coach Mark Gottfried that includes power forward Kyle Washington of Brewster (N.H.) Academy and point guard Anthony “Cat” Barber of Hampton (Va.).
HAMILTON TO UTEPIsaac Hamilton, a 6-foot-5-inch shooting guard out of Los Angeles, picked UTEP over UNLV on ESPNU.
The Rivals No. 4 shooting guard out of St. John Bosco, he also considered Baylor, San Diego State and UCLA.
“Tim Floyd’s been close friends of the family,” Hamilton said. “He coached my uncle at UTEP and he was real good friends with my grandmother who passed away. I felt I should go with somebody that I trust so that’s why I chose UTEP.”
Floyd previously recruited Jordan Hamilton, Isaac’s brother, at USC, although Jordan went to Texas for two years before being taken in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft.
“He really didn’t have a reaction,” Isaac said. “He was happy. Another Hamilton to add to the family. I’m just happy to go there and be a part of UTEP.”
ESPN’S NEW TOP 10 RECRUITING CLASSES (FROM DAVE TELEP)
1. Kentucky
2. Kansas
3. Memphis
4. Indiana
5. North Carolina
6. Florida
7. Louisville
8. LSU
9. Michigan
10. Marquette
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.
The Tyler Roberson Sweepstakes is over.
The 6-foot-8 small forward from Roselle (N.J.) Catholic picked Syracuse on Friday over Villanova and Kansas.
“They’re going into the ACC next year which is a really good conference,” Roberson said on ESPNU as he pulled out a Syracuse shirt.
“And coach [Jim] Boeheim is one of the best coaches in college basketball and they’re just a really good college team.”
The Rivals No. 7 small forward in 2013, Roberson can play both forward positions but said his goal is to “Just to come in and help the team however I can and contribute.”
He said his long-term goals are to “keep working on my game, everything overall, shooting, dribbling, blocks shots and just getting stronger.”
Said Roselle Catholic coach Dave Boff: “Tyler is going to be a great fit for Syracuse. His length will be a good fit for their zone and his ability to play in transition works perfectly with what they like to do offensively.”
Roberson is Syracuse’s fifth commit in 2013, joining point guard Tyler Ennis of St. Benedict’s Prep, small forward B.J. Johnson out of Philly, shooting guard Ron Patterson of Brewster (N.H.) Academy and big man Chinonso Obokoh of Rochester.
In Ennis and Roberson, Syracuse landed arguably the two best players in New Jersey.
Syracuse may now be done for 2013, although they have also been involved with forwards Jermaine Lawrence of Pope John (N.J.) and Dakari Johnson of Montverda (Fla.) Academy.
MEEKS TO NORTH CAROLINA
Kennedy Meeks, the Rivals No. 5 center in 2013 out of West Charlotte (N.C.), chose North Carolina over Georgetown.
“Next year I will be going to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to play for coach Roy Williams,” he said on ESPNU.
“Just the atmosphere, the fans, the alumni, the teammates, just all fit in and made me feel like high school gain.”
He said Williams told him he was “important” and would “use me through the offense.”
“Once I get in the conditioning program, I feel I’ll be alright [to run],” he added.
Meeks joins a North Carolina recruiting class that includes point guard Nate Britt and power forward Isaiah Hicks.
ANYA TO N.C. STATE
Beejay Anya, the Rivals No. center in 2013 out of DeMatha Catholic, picked N.C. State as expected.
The 6-8 Anya had initially cut his list to Indiana and N.C. State, before Indiana was no longer involved.
Anya visited the ACC school in late October and told SNY.tv the coaching staff told him: “It’s the perfect place for me. I’m going to be able to play a lot right off the bat because C.J. Leslie and Richard Howell are leaving.”
Anya joins an impressive group for coach Mark Gottfried that includes power forward Kyle Washington of Brewster (N.H.) Academy and point guard Anthony “Cat” Barber of Hampton (Va.).
HAMILTON TO UTEP
Isaac Hamilton, a 6-foot-5-inch shooting guard out of Los Angeles, picked UTEP over UNLV on ESPNU.
The Rivals No. 4 shooting guard out of St. John Bosco, he also considered Baylor, San Diego State and UCLA.
“Tim Floyd’s been close friends of the family,” Hamilton said. “He coached my uncle at UTEP and he was real good friends with my grandmother who passed away. I felt I should go with somebody that I trust so that’s why I chose UTEP.”
Floyd previously recruited Jordan Hamilton, Isaac’s brother, at USC, although Jordan went to Texas for two years before being taken in the first round of the 2011 NBA Draft.
“He really didn’t have a reaction,” Isaac said. “He was happy. Another Hamilton to add to the family. I’m just happy to go there and be a part of UTEP.”
ESPN’S NEW TOP 10 RECRUITING CLASSES (FROM DAVE TELEP)
1. Kentucky
2. Kansas
3. Memphis
4. Indiana
5. North Carolina
6. Florida
7. Louisville
8. LSU
9. Michigan
10. Marquette
