January 2014 | Page 11 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.
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    • Articles

    Wiggins and EmbiidBy JOSH NEWMAN
    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    If there was any doubt remaining as to how good Joel Embiid is right now and how good he could be with some more seasoning, those questions should have been put to rest on Saturday afternoon.

    Kansas’ 7-foot freshman out of The Rock School (Fla.) by way of Cameroon had a career effort against Oklahoma St. and he did it in front of a CBS audience, finishing with 13 points, 11 rebounds and eight blocks as the Jayhawks outlasted probable 2014 Lottery pick Marcus Smart and the Cowboys, 80-78, at Allen Fieldhouse.

    That monster effort prompted DraftExpress to move Embiid to No. 1 in its 2014 NBA Mock Draft on Saturday evening, with Jayhawks classmate Andrew Wiggins at No. 2 and Duke freshman sensation Jabari Parker No. 3. That order echoes that of ESPN’s Chad Ford, whose Big Board was recently changed to reflect a top 3 of Embiid, Wiggins and Parker. 

    Recruiting

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3mmagkJsY8&w=560&h=315]

    By JASON MORROW

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    KETTERING, Ohio – With Kentucky coach John Calipari in attendance for Saturday night’s Flyin’ to the Hoop Invitational, Franklin (Ohio) forward Luke Kennard put on another show, scoring 38 points in a loss to HCYA (TX).

    Kennard, who is planning to begin taking official visits in March or April, knew about the appearance from the Kentucky staff ahead of time.

    “He let me know they were playing this morning [against Tennessee], and then actually the assistant coach told me that they were coming,” Kennard said. “Coach Cal didn’t. That was kind of a surprise. But Coach Orlando [Antigua] was here with them and it was pretty much the same, ‘Hey, good luck tonight, we’ll see you there.’”

    Articles, Syracuse

    Pretty soon, Tyler Ennis’ Bandwagon is going to needs its own Bandwagon.

    That’s how crowded it’s getting.

    It’s liable to grow still bigger after Saturday’s performance in which Ennis scored six of Syracuse’s final eight points as the No. 2 Orange remained unbeaten with a 59-54 victory over No. 22 Pittsburgh at the Carrier Dome.

    “This was a Big East game, forget about ACC,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim told ESPN’s Doris Burke. “This was a war.”

    Ennis finished with 16 points, 3 assists and 1 turnover. C.J. Fair added 13 points, Jerami Grant 12 and Rakeem Christmas 10 as Syracuse remained unbeaten at 18-0, 5-0 ACC.

    Pitt, which got 18 points from Lamar Patterson and 12 from Talib Zanna, dropped to 16-2, 4-1 ACC.

    Articles, Kentucky, NBA Draft

    Andrew Harrison couldn’t have missed all the talk that he and his brother haven’t lived up to expectations so far.

    “Its frustrating when you hear people that say you are not as good as you think you are,” Kentucky’s freshman point guard said. “I feel that it is my responsibility to step up as the point guard of this team.”

    Harrison enjoyed a breakout game Saturday, scoring a career-best 26 points in No. 13 Kentucky’s 74-66 win over Tennessee and proving that he can both lead the team from the point guard position and score, too. He went a perfect 10-for-10 from the line and added 3 assists with no turnovers.

    Articles

    IMG_7444

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    LAKELAND, Fla.– Juwan Durham has impressed some of the best coaches from all over the country so far this year, and he will only continue to do so.

    “Lately, most of the Florida schools have been recruiting me the most,” Durham told SNY.tv on Saturday after a 62-26 win over McKeel Academy on Friday night. “Louisville has come along recently as well.”

    The 6-foot-10 sophomore from Tampa Prep is ranked no. 19 in the class of 2016 by ESPN and has received offers from Florida, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, LSU, South Carolina, South Florida, and Texas A&M.

    Articles, NBA Draft

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBcZgbn2rKI&w=560&h=315]

    Aaron Gordon has been compared to Blake Griffin ever since he burst onto the national scene a few years ago.

    They look somewhat alike.

    They dunk in similar fashion.

    And they’re both incredible athletes.

    So, does Griffin himself see the comparison?

    “A little bit,” Griffin told SNY.tv after going for 32 points and 7 boards Friday night as the Los Angeles Clippers beat the Knicks, 109-95, at Madison Square Garden.

    “He’s very athletic, he’s got a pretty good motor.”

    Articles, Findlay Prep, Recruiting

    By JASON MORROW

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    KETTERING, Ohio – Sitting out of Friday night’s win over Huber Heights (Ohio) Wayne at Flyin’ to the Hoop with a left knee injury, Findlay Prep point guard Rashad Vaughn was able to give an update on his recruitment.

    Earlier this week, North Carolina head coach Roy Williams visited the 6-foot-5 point guard ahead of his Feb. 14 official visit. Vaughn discussed what Roy said to ESPN’s 17th-ranked player in the 2014 class.

    “He was talking about this season, and you know he needs some scorers,” Vaughn said. “They can see me fitting in well with the team they got coming in next year.”

    Williams also visited 2015 Bishop Gorman big men Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter on his visit to Vegas.

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