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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.
  • Chicago Curie big man Cliff Alexander won’t visit Michigan State on an unofficial and is done with his trips.

    “No, he’s not going to MSU so we are done with the away visits,” his mother, Latillia Alexander, told SNY.tv.

    She added that Memphis is  due in today for a home visit, Illinois is coming tomorrow and Kansas may also come at some point.

    The 6-foot-9 Alexander is down to a final five of Illinois, DePaul, Michigan State, Kansas and Memphis and will announce Nov. 15 on ESPNU.

    Every year I try to compile a list of some of the most high-profile high school hoops tourneys. These events feature some of the top recruits and coaches in the nation and are great stops to see future college standouts.

    Here is a preliminary list; click on the name of the event for schedule and details. If  your event doesn’t have a website, pull it together and get one up.

    If I’ve missed anything, shoot me an email at zagoria@hotmail with the tourney info and link.

    Also, if you’re interested in covering any of these events for ZAGSBLOG.com, shoot me an email.

    KENTUCKY ELITE SHOOTOUT, Nov. 16, Perry (KY.) Central High School

    NATIONAL PREP SHOWCASE, Nov. 22-24, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT

    MARSHALL COUNTY HOOPFEST, Dec. 5-7, Benton, KY

    PLAY BY PLAY CLASSICS, Dec. 6-7, Coatsville, Pa. & Philly

    While one NBA GM recently admitted to ESPN.com that he is tanking this season in order to score in the loaded 2014 NBA Draft, one of his colleagues actually says a half dozen teams are doing the same thing.

    “Utah is going young which is understandable and Denver is looking to lower their payroll,” the NBA exec told SNY.tv. “Orlando and Sacramento just aren’t good enough because of the jobs of their predecessors, but Philadelphia and Phoenix are obvious [in tanking the season] with Philadelphia not even trying to hide it.”

    Brewster (N.H.) Academy point guard Donovan Mitchell says two schools are working the hardest right now.

    “BC and Providence are recruiting me the hardest,” the 2015 guard told SNY.tv Wednesday.

    A 6-foot-3, 205-pound native of White Plains, N.Y., Mitchell has visited BC twice and also tripped to Providence last weekend, where he was joined by 2014 commits Jalen Lindsey, Ben Bentil and Paschal Chukwu, among others.

    “Providence was awesome,” he said. “I liked being around the coaches and the players. The event was amazing as well.”

    Kentucky, Ohio State and Maryland are among those pursuing Carlton Bragg, one of the top prospects in the Class of 2015.

    On Wednesday, Louisville also offered the 6-foot-8 2015 power forward from Cleveland Villa Angela St. Joseph, and Iowa recently offered, too.

    Bragg recently visited Kentucky unofficially and his mentor, Michael Graves, said the entire staff is recruiting him — though they have yet to offer.

    Head coach John Calipari and assistants John Robic and Orlando Antigua are involved in a “team effort,” Graves said, adding that he heard from Calipari on Monday and Robic on Tuesday.

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ERJVt0PsMw&w=560&h=315]

    Expect to hear a lot about the high-profile freshmen at Kansas and Kentucky this season, especially since they figure to dominate the 2014 NBA Draft.

    Kansas phenom Andrew Wiggins made his debut Tuesday night in an exhibition game, going for 16 points and 6 rebounds, including this highlight-reel, two-handed dunk, in a 97-57 exhibition victory over Pittsburg State.

    “That is a set play,” Kansas point guard Naadir Tharpe told the Kansas City Star. “Don’t tell anybody.”

    Michael Chandler is off the board to Oregon, Northwest Florida coach Steve DeMeo told SNY.tv.

    Oregon is the fourth school the 6-foot-10, 245-pound center has committed to, following Louisville, Xavier and UCF.

    Arizona, Memphis, Gonzaga, Iowa State, and Seton Hall had also been involved to varying degrees with Chandler, a former Lawrence (Ind.) North star who was ranked the No. 5 center in the Class of 2011 by Rivals.

    “Michael’s long, thin and very athletic,” DeMeo said. “He runs the floor well and has really good hands and range to 17 feet.

    “Coach [Dana] Altman and his staff will definitely help Mike refine his game and bring out the best in him on and off the court. We here at Northwest Florida are excited for Michael and his family that he is going to such a special place like Oregon.”

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