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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 26.
  • 4_1006508

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    Justin Gray is one of the fastest rising players in the state of Florida and he is ready to make an impact next year for Texas Tech.

    The 6-foot-5 senior from Berkeley Prep (Fla.) is showing he can get the job done in his final year in Tampa, averaging 17.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, leading the Buccaneers to a 20-2 record, with their two losses coming to Lake Highland Prep with Joel Berry and Tampa Prep with sophomore stud Juwan Durham.

    According to the Source Hoops 4A Poll for the State of Florida, Berkeley Prep and Gray sit in second place, and are in a great position to make a run in the state playoffs.

    Tyus Battle ZagTyus Battle is headed to Syracuse Saturday for the Duke game and he cannot wait.

    “It’s going to be ridiculous with Duke coming in and the first time playing them in the ACC,” the 6-foot-5 2016 Gill St. Bernard’s guard told SNY.tv this weekend. “It’s going to be great.”

    Battle has been to Syracuse three times before but never for a game.

    “It’s going to be a great trip,” he said. “I’m going with my dad, my little brother, and my mom. The atmosphere is going to be ridiculous. We’re leaving Saturday morning around 10. The atmosphere is going to be great.”

    NEW YORK — After a strong performance in support of Carmelo Anthony on Sunday, Tim Hardaway Jr. put on a Michigan baseball cap and appeared happy not only with his own play but with that of his alma mater, too.

    Hardaway Jr. scored 16 of his 18 points in the second half as the Knicks won their second straight, 110-103, over the Lakers. Anthony followed his career-best 62-point outing Friday night win 35 points in this one.

    “My offense I feel like it’s fine, it’s just the defense I’m really trying to get better at,” said Hardaway Jr., who went 7-for-12 from the field and 4-for-5 from deep. “Just try to get better each and every day in practice and during the games.”

    Stan Wawrinka and a sudden back injury in the finals of the Australian Open put a stunning and sudden halt to Rafael Nadal’s assault on the history books.

    Nadal’s path to a 14th Major championship — which would have tied him with Pete Sampras for second on the all-time list behind Roger Federer— will have to wait until Roland Garros after No. 8-seeded Wawrinka stunned No. 1 Nadal, 6-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, in the Melbourne final.

    “There’s a big chance I get drunk tonight,” Wawrinka told reporters.

    For Wawrinka, Federer’s Swiss countryman, his first Major championship came in his first appearance in a Grand Slam final and after he had lost his previous 12 matches — and all 26 sets — to Nadal.

    Loughlin winsNEW YORK — Before taking on Bishop Loughlin for the SNY Invitational championship, Bob Hurley said his team needed to contain Seton Hall-bound guard Khadeen Carrington and Rutgers-bound guard Mike Williams, who had combined for 52 points in the semifinals.

    Otherwise, the Hall of Fame coach said, “We’re gonna be in a pile of hurt.”

    When all was said and done, Carrington and Williams did deliver a “pile of hurt” on two-time defending champion St. Anthony, combining for 37 points and 16 rebounds as the Brooklyn school demolished Hurley’s club, 69-55, to win the SNY Invitational at CCNY in their first year in the event.

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