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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 19.
  • Adonis DelarosaBy JOSH NEWMAN
    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORK – After flirting with a transfer, Chris Obekpa will return to St. John’s, which is just fine with Red Storm commit Adonis Delarosa.

    “When I heard he was leaving, I was a little mad about it, just because I would’ve had someone that was there that could teach me some stuff because he was already in the system for two years,” Delarosa, who has yet to sign his National Letter of Intent said after going for 12 points and eight rebounds as his white team defeated the black team, 102-99, in the Jordan Brand Classic regional game. “I got the news he was coming back and I was just excited. Me, him and my brother Joey Delarosa can battle it out next year.”

    NEW YORK –– After decommitting from Marquette in the wake of the coaching change, Marial Shayok is considering several options going forward.

    “I’m still considering Marquette, still trying to see how I feel about the new coach. Virginia, Indiana and I’m getting some interest from Florida and Michigan,” the 6-foot-7 Shayok told SNY.tv after going for 12 points as the Away team lost to the Home team, 102-99, in the Jordan Regional Game at Barclays Center.

    Shayok, out of Blair (N.J.) Academy and the CIA Bounce AAU outfit, has no visits planned, but hopes to decide soon. The late signing period runs April 16-May 21.

    As we reported earlier this week, freshman forward Marcus Lee will return to Kentucky for the 2014-15 season.

    “I’ve really enjoyed my college experience and I’m looking forward to continuing to develop as an all-around player,” Lee said. “Playing in the Final Four was such an amazing feeling, but I want to come back and help win that final game this year.”

    The 6-foot-9 forward had a 10-point, eight-rebound, two-block performance in the Elite Eight against Michigan. He finished the tournament shooting 70 percent from the field and was named to the Midwest Regional All-Tournament team.

    St. John’s head coach Steve Lavin announced on Friday that sophomore center Chris Obekpa will return to the Red Storm team for the 2014-15 season.

    The big man had been granted a release from the school to transfer on April 3. With Obekpa on the roster, the Red Storm projects to return 11 letterwinners for next year’s campaign.

    Despite losing JaKarr Sampson to the NBA Draft and Orlando Sanchez to graduation, St. John’s has a strong core for next season now with Obekpa, guards Rysheed Jordan, Phil Greene, Jamal Branch and D’Angelo Harrison and wing Sir’Dominic Pointer. 

     

    247sports.com

    247sports.com

    By JOHN PAVIA

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORK — As many of the crucial players from top-tier schools have begun to make the decision whether to return to school or enter the NBA Draft, Stanley Johnson is busy prepping to contribute right away at Arizona next season.

    After Wednesday’s practice for the Jordan Brand Classic, Johnson spoke to SNY.tv about how Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson departing from Arizona for the NBA Draft would affect the team for next year.

    “That’s a really personal decision for them,” he said. “They feel like they can play in the

    Young_James_2013-14By JOSH NEWMAN
    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    James Young became the first Kentucky domino to fall as the school announced on Thursday afternoon that the freshman wing would enter the NBA Draft after just one season in Lexington.

    A 6-foot-7 native of Rochester Hills, Mich., Young is the first Wildcat underclassman to declare for the draft. Fellow-freshman Julius Randle has not officially declared, but is expected to, while sophomore big man Willie Cauley-Stein announced he will return to school for his junior season. 

    “He is one of the best shooters in the draft,” a veteran NBA scout told SNY.tv. “He is

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