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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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Friday / November 22.
  • Scottie WilbekinBy JOSH NEWMAN
    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    Florida will be getting two key pieces back this week and it’s going to happen for one of the most anticipated games on the nonconference slate.

    Senior point guard Scottie Wilbekin, who suffered a sprained right ankle in the 19th-ranked Gators’ last game at UConn on Dec. 2, is expected to suit up when freshman sensation Andrew Wiggins and Kansas pay a visit to Gainesville on Tuesday evening.

    Additionally, highly-touted freshman point guard Kasey Hill is expected to play. The McDonald’s All-American has been out since Nov. 18 after suffering a high-ankle sprain against Southern.

    The way one NBA scout sees it, Doug McDermott could be the next Kyle Korver.

    “He’s a first-round pick and he will have to go to a team that appreciates what he brings to the table as a scorer and not a defender or athlete,” the veteran scout told SNY.tv after watching McDermott put up 33 points Sunday when Creighton beat Nebraska, 82-67.

    “He has no true position but will be a solid backup. Maybe he can be a version of Kyle Korver.”

    Are the Toronto Raptors tanking to try to bring Andrew Wiggins home to Canada?

    By trading Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings, it certainly looks like they are headed in that direction.

    From Toronto Star columnist Cathal Kelly:

    “In off-loading flighty wing and human anvil Rudy Gay to the Sacramento Kings, Raptors GM Masai Ujiri has finally given the order for this season — ‘Dive.’

    Syracuse signee Chris McCullough has resurfaced at Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy and is expected to suit up tomorrow night.

    “I’m just here to get better and prepare for college and take in all the sources here so I can improve my game,” McCullough told SNY.tv.

    “He brings size and athleticism to our team,” post-graduate coach John Mahoney told SNY.tv. “It’s hard for somebody to come in this late. We have great chemistry right now but he brings a skill level that we don’t have.”

    North Carolina, Indiana and UConn are some of the new schools recruiting 2015 Radnor (Pa.) Archbishop John Carroll small forward Derrick Jones, his dad told SNY.tv.

    North Carolina and UConn have recently offered, while Indiana called to express interest, Derrick Jones Sr. said.

    Kentucky, Arizona, Kansas, Syracuse, St. John’s, Maryland, Cincinnati, St. Joe’s, Villanova, Penn State, Temple and Kansas State are among those who have already offered the 6-foot-7 Jones.

    John Calipari may not be on the brink of leaving Kentucky anytime soon, but when he does his successor will have some big shoes to fill.

    Especially on the recruiting front.

    “When Cal leaves, that’s going to be a tough job,” former UCLA player Lynn Shackelford told Jerry Tipton of the Herald-Leader. “For years and years, they’re going to say why aren’t we getting the top recruits? What’s wrong?”

    Before this year, Calipari had landed Kentucky the No. 1 recruiting class for four straight years. Duke currently has the No. 1 class for 2014, with Kentucky at No. 2.

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