December 2013 | Page 17 of 22 | Zagsblog
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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.
  • Australian small forward Jonah Bolden will take an official visit to UCLA today (Sunday) with his father, he confirmed to SNY.tv.

    The 6-foot-9, 210-pound Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep forward recently cut his list to six schools —  UCLA, Louisville, Kentucky, Indiana, USC and SMU — but told SNY.tv that UCLA was among those working the hardest.

    UCLA assistant David Grace recently visited with Bruce Bolden, Jonah’s father and an American who played professionally in Australia.

    NEW YORK — During the final seconds of St. John’s 104-58 blowout of Fordham on Saturday afternoon at Madison Square Garden, a handful of Johnnies fans let loose a chant.

    “We want ‘Cuse.”

    Coming off their most complete and impressive victory of the season, the Johnnies (6-2) will host No. 4 Syracuse Dec. 15 at the Garden. The two former Big East foes will meet in a non-conference tilt in which there will surely be a lot of orange-clad fans visiting the renovated Garden.

    “It’s always fun to play Syracuse,” Johnnies sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson said after going for 12 points and 4 rebounds. “It’s a packed house. It’s a lot of Syracuse fans in here even though it’s our homecourt. But It’s always fun to play Syracuse. It’s my first time playing Syracuse in the Garden, so it will be fun to see how that goes.

    NEW YORK — It is the Year of the Freshmen in college basketball and New York’s two best frosh squared off in a Saturday matinee at Madison Square Garden.

    Fordham’s Jon Severe could’ve used the game to show St. John’s coach Steve Lavin and the Red Storm fans what they missed out on by not recruiting him.

    St. John’s freshman Rysheed Jordan could’ve put on a show in his first college game at the Garden.

    Instead, neither freshmen did those things in a game in which the Johnnies thrashed the Rams, 104-58, by shooting 79 percent in the first half (making 17 straight shots at one stretch) and 66 percent overall.

    Kansas signee Kelly Oubre dropped 52 points on Friday night.

    Oubre scored the points in Findlay Prep’s 112-61 win over somebody called Options Academy.

    Kelly Oubre Sr. said his son was motivated because teammate O’Shae Brissett “suffered a horrible knee injury just minutes before the game.”

    “It was all for my brother @oshaebones , i’m praying for you family , see you soon soldier !! Love you lil bro,” Oubre Tweeted.

    Oubre was one of the most impressive wings on the summer circuit and narrowed his choices to Kentucky and Kansas before selecting the Jayhawks.

    Victor OladipoBy JOSH NEWMAN
    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORK – Orlando Magic rookie sensation Victor Oladipo had never played at Madison Square Garden before taking on the Knicks on Friday night.

    As far as rookie debuts at The World’s Most Famous Arena go, Oladipo’s 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocks were tame, but it was not without its memorable moments.

    Early in the first quarter of a 121-83 Knicks win, Raymond Felton whipped a pass to Carmelo Anthony, who was cutting to the hoop. As Anthony rose for what looked like a shore dunk, Oladipo, who is four inches shorter than Anthony, met him at the rim and rejected the dunk attempt. That play was sandwiched in between two long Oladipo 3-pointers, the second of which gave the Magic their largest lead of the game at 15-5 just over four minutes in.

    “I’m just trying to help my teammates out and trying to make plays on the ball,” Oladipo said. “Sometimes, you might get scored on, you might get dunked on but it’s just a matter of if you’re going to do it or not.”

    No date has been set, but Myles Turner is planning a visit to Kentucky.

    “Yes, Kentucky is in the plans,” David Turner, Myles’ father, told SNY.tv Friday by text.

    As reported here, Kentucky’s John Calipari and Orlando Antigua sat courtside Thursday night as the 6-foot-11 Turner went for 29 points, 15 rebounds and 9 blocks as Trinity (TX) beat Homeschool Christian (TX), 57-53, on ESPNU.

    Turner, who is projected as the No. 2 pick in the 2015 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com, begins an official visit to Oklahoma State today (Friday) and has already taken an official to Ohio State.

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