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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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Wednesday / December 18.
  • Baltimore St. Frances forward Dwayne Morgan is off the board.

    The 6-foot-8 forward made the announcement at his high school and also wrote the following post for ZAGSBLOG.

    “Wassup, basketball word? This is Dwayne Morgan. I will be doing my latest blog on my decision for college in the next year.

    “Today I had to make the biggest decision of my life and I would like to thank all the schools that recruited me for giving me a wonderful experience within the recruiting process. Georgetown, Maryland and UNLV were the final schools involved in my recruitment. There was a lot of hype surrounding me leading down to my decision.

    “And this is a decision that I have to live with in the near future. In the next year, I have decided to go West and further my education at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Throughout my recruitment UNLV stayed the most consistent and involved. There were about two games that they were not in attendance for this past summer.

    Andrew Wiggins was named the 2013 Gatorade National Player of the Year on Tuesday, and was presented with the award by former NBA star Alonzo Mourning.

    The 6-foot-8 Wiggins averaged 23.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocks and 2.5 assists per game this season, leading the Express to a 30-3 record, according to USA Today.

    “When I received the award, it was a really significant moment for me, so it felt great to surprise Andrew with the news and invite him into one of the most prestigious legacy programs in high school sports,” said Mourning, a Gold Medalist, seven-time NBA All-Star, and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. “Gatorade has been on the sidelines fueling athletic performance for years, so to be recognized by a brand that understands the game and truly helps athletes perform is a huge honor for these kids.”

    With Tulsa and East Carolina set to join the old Big East in 2014, here’s how the new and old Big Easts break down going forward:

    The old Big East will rename itself by mid-April, with America 12 one of the options.

    As ESPN.com pointed out, nine of the 11 teams in that league in 2014 will be former Conference USA teams: Cincinnati, South Florida, UCF, Houston, SMU, Memphis, East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa.

    Northwestern University hired Chris Collins as the 24th head coach of the Wildcats men’s basketball program on Wednesday.

    Collins will remain in his current position as the Associate Head Coach at Duke through the NCAA Tournament. Duke meets Michigan State in the Sweet 16 on Friday in Indianapolis.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Chris, his wife, Kim, and their children, Ryan and Kate, home to Chicago and into the Northwestern family,” said Vice President for Athletics & Recreation Jim Phillips. “He has a tremendous pedigree as a basketball coach and will be an outstanding leader for Chicago’s Big Ten Team, and mentor for our student-athletes. After a thorough and comprehensive search process, there is no doubt he is a perfect fit for this institution and our men’s basketball program.”

    We are down to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament with games tipping off Thursday and Friday.

    Nate Silver of the New York Times ran a computer analysis of each’s teams chances of cutting down the nets in Atlanta.

    No. 1 overall seed Louisville has the highest percentage chance of winning it all, according to Silver.

    Here’s how it breaks down:

    Louisville – 32.4 percent

    Florida – 21. 3 percent

    With Shaka Smart and Brad Stevens apparently out of the mix at UCLA, a source with direct knowledge of the situation told SNY.tv that the school’s boosters support the hiring of N.C. State head coach Mark Gottfried.

    “Mark said he wants it and the boosters want Mark Gottfried,” the source told SNY.tv. “He’s got the support of the boosters.”

    Smart has reportedly negotiated an extension at VCU through 2023 that will pay him $1.5 million annually, while Stevens is said to want to avoid the limelight associated with Los Angeles.

    “Shaka and Brad Stevens were their top choices,” the source said. “Neither of them wants it.”

    Former Seton Hall guard Aaron Cosby has narrowed his list of future destinations.

    “I’ve narrowed things down to Baylor, UConn, Missouri, Iowa State, Illinois, N.C. State, Vanderbilt and Kansas State,” he told SNY.tv.

    The 6-foot-2 Cosby will return home to Lexington, Ky., today until next Tuesday and will begin in-home visits then.

    “As of right now, Baylor, Missouri, Illinois, N.C. State and Kansas State will be making home visits while I’m there,” he said.

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