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.
Hofstra Adds Two for Six-Man Recruiting Class; Duane Notice Mulling Three; Lawrence Done For Season
Not much has gone right for Hofstra this season.
On the court, the Pride have lost nine of 10 to fall to 6-20, 3-10 in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Off the court, Hofstra is still recovering from the scandal in November which saw four players arrested on multiple counts of burglary and subsequently kicked off the team.
But head coach Mo Cassara is moving forward with a whole new class of recruits.
The Pride added two players from St. Thomas More (Conn.) in 6-foot point guard Amadi Udenyi and 6-2 combo guard Marquise Moore of Queens to bring the recruiting class to six players (as opposed to the four that has been incorrectly reported by some outlets).
“I’ve known Mo for a very long time,” St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn told SNY.tv. “He was very honest with the kids about the situation.
“There will be an opportunity to play if they do the right thing and if they play hard and the kids are looking forward to coming in and helping the program.”
Quinn said Cassara knows he must recruit high-quality kids going forward.
“What they’re looking for is quality kids who are good students and kids of integrity and kids who have the potential to get better,” Quinn said.
As for the on-court chemistry between Moore and Udenyi, Moore said that will help the Pride, too.
“We should jell pretty well,” said Moore, who said he also considered Fairfield, Rider, Marist and Cleveland State. “We play good together right now.”
Udenyi, who began his career at De La Salle High School (Calif.) and was originally in the Class of 2012,, committed about a month ago and is “more of a set-up point guard who will get you in to stuff,” Quinn said.
“He has been dealing with a knee injury [meniscus] but he’s back now,” Quinn said.
An athletic combo guard, Moore pledged on Sunday.
“He ‘s just so athletic,” Quinn said of Moore. “He gets from Point A to Point B quickly. He defends. He’s got a lot of potential. He has a pretty good ceiling.”
Udenyi and Moore join Hofstra’s four previous commits: Richard Williams of Vermont Academy and Brooklyn; Gervelle Kidd of Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy; Travis Hester of the Miller (Va.) School; and Iverson Fleming of North Brunswick (N.J.).
As for the Udenyi-Moore combination, Quinn said: “I think they’re different players. They play together. They’re roommates at prep school.
“They both can play a little bit.”
NOTICE LIKES THREEDuane Notice, a 6-3 Canadian combo guard at St. Thomas More, lists Duquesne, St. Bonaventure and Seton Hall.
“He’s talking about those three,” Quinn said. “We will take about [visits] when the season ends.”
He added: “He can score, defend, he’s cerebral. He knows how to play.”
Meantime, Gabe Levin, a 6-7 power forward, has offers from Hofstra, James Madison and UNC-Wilmington, among others.
“He’s not in any rush,” Quinn said.
CINCY PLEDGE LAWRENCE DONE FOR SEASON
Cincinnati commit Jermaine Lawrence is done for the season with a wrist injury, Pope John XXIII (N.J.) coach Jason Hasson confirmed to SNY.tv.
The 6-10 Lawrence had surgery that caused him to miss the first part of the season. He returned Jan. 24, but is now done for the season less than a month later.
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.
Not much has gone right for Hofstra this season.
On the court, the Pride have lost nine of 10 to fall to 6-20, 3-10 in the Colonial Athletic Association.
Off the court, Hofstra is still recovering from the scandal in November which saw four players arrested on multiple counts of burglary and subsequently kicked off the team.
But head coach Mo Cassara is moving forward with a whole new class of recruits.
The Pride added two players from St. Thomas More (Conn.) in 6-foot point guard Amadi Udenyi and 6-2 combo guard Marquise Moore of Queens to bring the recruiting class to six players (as opposed to the four that has been incorrectly reported by some outlets).
“I’ve known Mo for a very long time,” St. Thomas More coach Jere Quinn told SNY.tv. “He was very honest with the kids about the situation.
“There will be an opportunity to play if they do the right thing and if they play hard and the kids are looking forward to coming in and helping the program.”
Quinn said Cassara knows he must recruit high-quality kids going forward.
“What they’re looking for is quality kids who are good students and kids of integrity and kids who have the potential to get better,” Quinn said.
As for the on-court chemistry between Moore and Udenyi, Moore said that will help the Pride, too.
“We should jell pretty well,” said Moore, who said he also considered Fairfield, Rider, Marist and Cleveland State. “We play good together right now.”
Udenyi, who began his career at De La Salle High School (Calif.) and was originally in the Class of 2012,, committed about a month ago and is “more of a set-up point guard who will get you in to stuff,” Quinn said.
“He has been dealing with a knee injury [meniscus] but he’s back now,” Quinn said.
An athletic combo guard, Moore pledged on Sunday.
“He ‘s just so athletic,” Quinn said of Moore. “He gets from Point A to Point B quickly. He defends. He’s got a lot of potential. He has a pretty good ceiling.”
Udenyi and Moore join Hofstra’s four previous commits: Richard Williams of Vermont Academy and Brooklyn; Gervelle Kidd of Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy; Travis Hester of the Miller (Va.) School; and Iverson Fleming of North Brunswick (N.J.).
As for the Udenyi-Moore combination, Quinn said: “I think they’re different players. They play together. They’re roommates at prep school.
“They both can play a little bit.”
NOTICE LIKES THREE
Duane Notice, a 6-3 Canadian combo guard at St. Thomas More, lists Duquesne, St. Bonaventure and Seton Hall.
“He’s talking about those three,” Quinn said. “We will take about [visits] when the season ends.”
He added: “He can score, defend, he’s cerebral. He knows how to play.”
Meantime, Gabe Levin, a 6-7 power forward, has offers from Hofstra, James Madison and UNC-Wilmington, among others.
“He’s not in any rush,” Quinn said.
CINCY PLEDGE LAWRENCE DONE FOR SEASON
Cincinnati commit Jermaine Lawrence is done for the season with a wrist injury, Pope John XXIII (N.J.) coach Jason Hasson confirmed to SNY.tv.
The 6-10 Lawrence had surgery that caused him to miss the first part of the season. He returned Jan. 24, but is now done for the season less than a month later.
