Nine NBA Scouts Watch McDermott Drop 30 on Seton Hall
Nine NBA scouts watched Creighton's Doug McDermott
Nine NBA scouts watched Creighton's Doug McDermott
By KURT J. STUBBS II
Special to ZAGSBLOG
WHEELING, W.V. – Carlton Bragg is very familiar with Bishop Gorman’s junior duo of Stephen Zimmerman and Chase Jeter, having played against the two at one time or another on the travel circuit or at the Adidas Nations.
However, this was the first time the Clevland Villa Angela- St. Joseph’s junior had to deal with both in a real game setting on national television.
Bragg’s VASJ Vikings met the Gaels on Friday night in game featured on ESPNU as part of the 7th Annual Cancer Research Classic. It was evident from the start Bragg was pressing and appeared a bit nervous, but the 5-star prospect didn’t attribute the nerves to television. Rather, the presence of John Calipari and assistant Orlando Antigua had him a bit on edge.
“I tried to block that out, but I was very nervous coming in,” Bragg, a 6-foot-8, 2015 power forward, said in regards to Calipari sitting on press row. “I had to really pick it up in the second half.”
Kentucky coach John Calipari and North Carolina coach Roy Williams were on hand in Wheeling, W.V., Friday night to watch a trio of 2015 big men.
Stephen Zimmerman, a 7-foot center with an offer from Kentucky, went for 21 points and 8 rebounds as Las Vegas Bishop Gorman beat Cleveland Villa Angela St. Joseph, 73-60, in the Cancer Research Classic at Wheeling Jesuit University. The game was shown on ESPNU.
Zimmerman’s teammate, 6-10 Chase Jeter, added 11 points and 9 rebounds in the win. Jeter holds offers from a slew of big-time schools, most recently picking one up from UConn.
Duke and North Carolina appear to be the only teams standing in the way of Syracuse becoming just the second team ever to win a power conference during its first year in the league.
Jim Boeheim’s club is currently 13-0 and ranked No. 2 behind Arizona as it enters its first year in the ACC — beginning with Saturday’s game against Miami.
As Mike Waters pointed out in this excellent piece, Arkansas won the Southeastern Conference regular season title in the 1991-2 season after moving over from the now-defunct Southwest Athletic Conference.
Villanova added to its bright future on Friday by securing a verbal pledge from 2015 shooting guard Donte Divincenzo.
“COMMITTED TO BE A VILLANOVA WILDCAT !” he Tweeted.
A 6-foot-4 shooting guard out of the Wilmington (Del.) Salesianum School, Divincenzo is ranked No. 78 in the Class of 2015 by Rivals.
St. John’s is already 0-1 in the Big East, and the Johnnies know all too well that an 0-2 start is entirely possible with Saturday’s date at Georgetown looming.
“We definitely don’t want to drop two straight, especially in the league,” junior wing Sir’Dominic Pointer said.
“It’s a tough league, and we definitely don’t want to lose to Georgetown. We’re going to go in and play hard and hopefully we get the win. We are going to go in and play our game. They’re going to play their game and hopefully we come out with a W.”
LIU Brooklyn star Julian Boyd re-tore his ACL and his career is likely over.
“I feel so badly for Julian, he has worked tirelessly over the past year to rehabilitate his knee,” head coach Jack Perri said in a statement. “He was determined to make it back on the court in whatever capacity he could. He has such an incredible work ethic that you thought if anyone could do it, he could. I just can’t help but feel sick with all that he has gone through and had to deal with over his career. He is truly a special person and competitor that helped LIU Brooklyn basketball achieve unparalleled heights.”
