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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.
  • By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    ORLANDO, Fla. — V.J. King is never the flashy player that catches your eye right away.

    He finds other ways to do so over the course of time.

    The fourth-ranked player in the Class of 2016 by ESPN, King led the King James Shooting Stars to a 35-point win over Hokies Elite in the first game of pool play at the 16U National Championships at the Wide World of Sports.

    One of the smoothest players in the country, King is listed at 6-foot-7, and was seen running the offense at the point guard spot often in the second half in the win.

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    ORLANDO, Fla. – Luke Kennard has arrived.

    A 6-foot-5, 185-pound combo guard out of Franklin (Ohio) High School put on a show in a first round game at the 16U National Championships, knocking down five 3-pointers, and most memorably, hitting a turn-around right-handed hook shot which completed a showcase of his full arsenal.

    “My post-up game is something that I have worked on,” Kennard told SNY.tv. “I’ve been in the weight room recently and I’ve gotten

    UNION, N.J. — All college basketball players compete to make a run in the postseason, but Ryan Boatright, Shabazz Napier and their UConn teammates didn’t have that chance a year ago.

    UConn was banned from the postseason because of their sub-standard APR scores and the Huskies missed out on the Big East and NCAA Tournaments.

    A year later, Boatright and Napier are starving for a chance to get back into the postseason.

    Kyle Wiltjer’s transfer to Gonzaga from Kentucky raises the parallel between himself and Kelly Olynyk.

    Zags coach Mark Few told ESPN.com he thinks Wiltjer could follow in Olynyk’s footsteps after sitting out the upcoming season.

    That, of course, would be an ideal situation for Wiltjer, considering Olynyk was the No. 13 pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Providence coach Ed Cooley sat courtside for much of last week’s Nike Global Challenge.

    The Friars head man was keeping an eye on recent commit Jalen Lindsey, as well as players he hopes ultimately become Friars, such as 2014 forward Abdul Malik Abu.

    “We want to recruit the best players in the country,” Cooley, speaking generally because he cannot comment on specific players, told SNY.tv.

    “Everybody always says a lot of negative things about the brand of Providence. Whether that’s in the past or whatever, I don’t look at that. I want the best players in the country to to play in the best league in the country.”

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    ORLANDO, Fla. — Playing in front of a packed court 12 at the Super Showcase 16U, Kwe Parker put on a show that included three highlight-reel dunks.

    Parker led the Karolina Diamonds to a win over Team NOLA in front of coaches from all over the country, including an assistant from North Carolina.

    A 6-foot-2 rising sophomore out of Fayetteville, N.C., he has received offers from Virginia Tech and Charlotte. In three years when he graduates from high school, he will be the first member of his family to attend college.

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