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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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Sunday / November 17.
  • WASHINGTON, D.C. — North Carolina and Duke are supposed to hate each other like the Hatfields and the McCoys.

    Like Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger.

    Like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes.

    You get the idea.

    They’re not supposed to get along.

    But you wouldn’t know that from watching the USA South team here at the Nike Global Challenge.

    This team features two 2014 North Carolina commits in point guard Joel Berry (pictured) and wing Theo Pinson, and one 2014 Duke pledge in shooting guard Grayson Allen.

    BY JEREMY WOO

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    MEQUON, Wisc.—With a second day of action in the books at the NY2LA/Under Armour Summer Jam, here’s a look at some of the players who stood out.

    Cliff Alexander

    With John Groce, Rick Pitino and assistants from Kentucky, Michigan State and DePaul looking on, Alexander again looked like the best player in the tournament, and possibly the country. The 6-foot-8 big man from Chicago exposed UK commit Karl Towns, using his strength to overpower down low and win the matchup. His 19 points, 14 rebounds and handful of dunks spurred the Mac Irvin Fire to a statement victory in a heated game.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Tyus Jones and Jahlil Okafor would’ve been the main attraction here at the Nike Global Challenge.

    Fans and coaches alike could’ve seen the potential package deal in action before they potentially become a college package.

    But Okafor didn’t make it, leaving Jones to lead the USA Midwest team without him.

    “I think it would’ve been fun. It would’ve been fun and I think everyone would’ve liked to see it,” the 6-foot-2 Jones said after going for 6 points and 5 assists as USA Midwest crushed Brazil, 99-55, at Trinity Washington University.

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    ORLANDO — The top-ranked point guard out West has been making quite a name for himself in the past couple months, racking up offers from the likes of Indiana, UConn, Kansas, UCLA, USC, UNLV, Stanford and many others.

    Listed at 6-foot, 165-pounds, Jordan McLaughlin is virtually impossible to keep out of the lane due to his athleticism and quickness, and has drawn comparisons to Russell Westbrook and Allen Iverson. He is ranked No. 18 in the nation by ESPN as well. But he insists he still has much growth left to do.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Robert Johnson appears to be one of the hotter names on the recruiting trail right now, but he says four schools are working the hardest for him.

    “I’d probably say Villanova, Florida State, Indiana and Wake Forest,” the 6-foot-3, 185-pound combo guard from Chesterfield (Va.) Benedictine School told SNY.tv after scoring 11 points in the USA East’s 101-77 rout of France in the Nike Global Challenge at Trinity Washington University.

    Ranked No. 84 in the Rivals150 for the Class of 2014, Johnson says he wants to transition to point guard from shooting guard as he moves forward.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Houston Hoops wing Kelly Oubre recently cut his list to eight schools and says he will trim it again by the start of his high school season.

    “We’re still in the process right now,” Oubre said after going for 14 points and 5 rebounds as the USA West team beat Canada, 93-77, at the Nike Global Challenge at Trinity Washington University. “So you can look forward to that sometime during the high school season, when high school starts.”

    Kansas, Florida, Kentucky, Georgetown, Louisville, Oregon, UConn and UNLV made the initial cut, and he says he has one official visit he wants to take.

    WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ivan Rabb is one of just three 2015 players on the USA West roster here.

    On Thursday morning, Rabb played well in front of a slew of high-major coaches, putting up 13 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks as the West team beat Canada, 93-77, in the Nike Global Challenge at Trinity Washington University.

    “Schools that are recruiting me the hardest, Cal, Arizona, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Kansas, that might be it,” the 6-foot-8 Rabb, who earlier this summer won a gold medal with the USA U16 team at the FIBA Americas Championship, told SNY.tv.

    Arizona’s Sean Miller, Kansas’s Bill Self, North Carolina’s Hubert Davis and Ohio State’s Jeff Boals were among those on hand.

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