November 2012 | Page 14 of 24 | Zagsblog
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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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Friday / November 22.
  • UCLA freshman guard Kyle Anderson injured his right wrist in Tuesday night’s game and is expected to undergo X-rays and/or an MRI today, his father told SNY.tv.

    “Kyle injured his right wrist last night while diving out of bounds in the first half [in No. 13 UCLA’s 80-79 OT win over UC-Irvine],” Kyle Anderson Sr. said. “He came back in the first half after leaving in obvious pain.

    “He will have X-rays and/or an MRI today.”

    Anderson finished with 10 points, 7 rebound and 0 assists.

    By JOSH NEWMAN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORK – As the NCAA continues to investigate whether or not University of Texas sophomore sensation Myck Kabongo received impermissable benefits during the offseason, his best friend and the man in the middle of it all, Tristan Thompson, has no choice but to sit idly by, unable to help as Kabongo has already missed the Longhorns’ first two games.

    NEW YORK — For all the early talk about Nerlens Noel, Willie Cauley-Stein and Alex Len as shot-blocking big men to watch, another college underclassmen may have added his name to the watch list on Tuesday.

    Chris Obekpa, a 6-foot-9 freshman forward from St. John’s, set a new school single-game record with eight blocks as St. John’s rallied from an eight-point first-half deficit to beat Detroit, 77-74, in a nationally televised ESPN game. Obekpa, out of Our Savior New American on Long Island, added 11 rebounds and seven points, including an elbow jumper that put the Johnnies up five points with a minute remaining.

    “It was OK, but it could be better,” Obekpa, a native of Nigeria, said of his eight blocks, which eclipsed Robert Werdann’s previous mark of seven set in a 1989 game against Hofstra.

    Shabazz Muhammad’s family has sounded off on the NCAA’s decision to declare him ineligible for the start of UCLA’s season.

    The family released the following statement Tuesday through the Los Angeles Times.

    “Shabazz’s family is very distressed by the NCAA’s recent decision and the manner in which it was announced. Shabazz and his family have been cooperating with the NCAA for well over a year. Earlier this year, the NCAA asked Shabazz and his family not to reveal to each other or to the press facts related to the NCAA investigation. Despite the many untrue rumors which were circulating on the Internet, Shabazz and his family dutifully did what they were told. In order to entice Shabazz’s family and others to cooperate, the NCAA repeatedly gave assurances that it would keep details of the investigation strictly confidential. As recently as November 2012, the NCAA promised that it would not issue a Press Release.

    Today is the last day of the NCAA early signing period and the Big East team leading the pack in recruiting for 2013 isn’t even in the Big East yet.

    That’s right, folks.

    Josh Pastner’s Memphis outfit is ranked No. 3 behind Kentucky and Kansas by ESPN.com in the Class of 2013 rankings.

    The early signing period runs Nov. 14-21.

    The Tigers recently landed a verbal commitment from Austin Nichols, a 6-8, 215-pound power forward from Memphis Briarcrest Christian, who is their top recruit.

    Joel Embiid, a 7-foot, 220-pound senior center from the Rock School in Gainesville, Fla., is headed to Kansas.

    “Proud to be a jayhawk,” he Tweeted Tuesday.

    He added by text: “Great school for big guys, development. I like the players, coaching staff, facilities [and] academics.”

    He chose the Jayhawks over Florida and Texas.

    “He chose KU over the others because it was in his gut and he believes that they have the ability to prepare him for the NBA,” his coach, Justin Harden, told SNY.tv.

    A native of Cameroon, Embiid is unranked by the major recruiting services because he has only played organized ball for a short time.

    “His upside is limitless depending on his work ethic,” Harden said. “He has great fundamentals for having only played for two years.”

    Craig Robinson’s Election Day experience was unlike that of any other Division 1 college basketball coach in the nation.

    Of course, no other D-1 college hoops coach is also the brother-in-law of the President.

    On the biggest day of the year for Barack Obama — and the nation — Robinson was coaching the President’s pickup basketball team.

    “We had our traditional game but I did not play. I was his assistant coach. He played,”

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