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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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Thursday / December 19.
  • Isaiah Briscoe has added two more high-major offers.

    The 6-foot-3 2015 St. Benedict’s Prep guard picked up offers from UCLA and Florida State, George Briscoe told SNY.tv.

    “UCLA, when they come calling you definitely have to listen and weigh your options, absolutely,” Isaiah’s father told SNY.tv. “We definitely plan on making a visit to the West Coast. We definitely want to visit UCLA.”

    He added that Florida State had offered about a week ago.

    By JEREMY WOO

    Special to ZAGSBLOG 

    MINNEAPOLIS — Many call him the best player on the West Coast.

    Over the weekend, the argument could have been made that Stanley Johnson was the best player in the gym, period.

    The 6-foot-6, 200 pound man-child of a wing was the picture of consistency for the Oakland Soldiers at the Minneapolis EYBL session.

    The Soldiers were without highly rated 2015 big man Ivan Rabb, but hardly missed a beat. Johnson led his squad to a 4-1 record on the weekend and sealed a berth in the Peach Jam in July, where they’ll defend their 2012 championship.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUr8QP71Ivg&w=560&h=315]

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    SUWANEE, Ga. Skal Labissiere is the definition of a “versatile big man.”

    The 6-foot-11 2015 Center from Port-au-Prince, Haiti turned some heads at the Nike Memorial Classic over the weekend in wins over the Boca Raton (FL) Vipers, E1T1 Flash and Team Impacts.

    With the ability to shoot with range, Labissiere has gotten the attention of many colleges all across the country, which has earned him offers from the likes of Kentucky, Kansas, Memphis, Georgetown, Auburn and Tennessee, and he knows that his perimeter game will help him at the next level.

    By JEREMY WOO

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    MINNEAPOLIS  — Not many teams can overcome the loss of their best player and still dominate a game.

    Thanks to Cliff Alexander, the Mac Irvin Fire doesn’t have to worry about that problem.

    The 2014 star and Chicago native stepped up in a big way at Saturday’s EYBL session after Fire center Jahlil Okafor, whom many consider the top recruit in the country, went down with an ankle injury in a morning matchup with All Ohio Red.

    On the back of Alexander, also rated as one of the top post players in his class, the Fire went 2-0 to start off their weekend. Just one more win will clinch a spot for the squad at the Peach Jam in July.

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    SUWANEE, Ga. — The class of 2016 is loaded, and Jayson Tatum is proof of just that.

    The 6-foot-6, 180-pound versatile freshman out of St. Louis (LA) Chaminade put up every stat in the book when he recorded 12 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 4 steals in a 65-25 win for St. Louis Eagles over West Georgia Elite at the Nike Memorial Classic.

    A talented wing-guard who can contribute all over the floor, Tatum can run the point as well as playing all the way through the small forward position and he knows that his versatility is key in his development in the future.

    “It really helps me a lot to be able to put a stat in every category to help my team win,” he told SNY.tv.

    By JEREMY WOO

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    MINNEAPOLIS — It’s not every day you see freshmen competing at AAU basketball’s highest level.

    Even more rarely are they 7-foot, 200-pound centers with advanced skill sets. Meet 16-year-old Thon Maker, who just might be basketball’s next big thing.

    At the fourth and final EYBL session this weekend, Maker dominated the final minutes of Boo Williams’ Saturday morning matchup with the CP3 All-Stars. He nearly helped his team to a comeback win with eight points in the game’s final minutes, including consecutive and-one baskets.

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