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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.
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    • Articles, Findlay Prep, Kansas

    Kelly OubreBy JOHN PAVIA
    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORK — For some high school players, playing two games in less than 24 hours can be exhausting and limit one’s ability to perform in the second game, but you’d never know it from watching Kelly Oubre play Thursday in his Findlay Prep (NV) team’s 67-59 win over Rainier Beach (WA).

    Oubre, the 6-foot-7 wing who is heading to Kansas next season, finished with 17 points and 14 rebounds after playing 18 minutes in the McDonald’s All-American game in Chicago Wednesday night. He is ranked 11th in the Class of 2014 on ESPN and will essentially be replacing Andrew Wiggins, who declared for the NBA Draft a couple days ago.

    Oubre talked with SNY.tv about the notion that replacing Wiggins, the potential No. 1 pick, might be a burden for him entering next year.

    Creighton

    McBuckets 2ARLINGTON, Texas — Doug McDermott won The Associated Press, Oscar Robertson and John R. Wooden National Player of the Year awards this week.

    That comes as absolutely no surprise given the dominant campaign the 6-foot-8 Creighton senior put up this year. He led the nation in scoring (26.7 ppg.) and points (934) while also ranking second in field goals made (330) and ninth in three-point percentage (.449).

    What may come as a surprise to some is the news that Dougie McBuckets would’ve jumped to the NBA a year ago had Creighton not shifted leagues to the Big East from the Missouri Valley.

    “I think I would’ve [gone to the NBA],” McDermott told SNY.tv here Thursday. “The thing that was appealing to me about my senior year was the change, going to different cities, playing in different arenas, playing in front of different fans, it’s just great exposure.”

    Articles, Duke

    parker-okaforARLINGTON, Texas — For the next couple of weeks, or at least until Jabari Parker makes his future plans official, Duke fans can dream.

    They can dream of a Jabari Parker-Jahlil Okafor combo leading the way to a Final Four in 2015.

    “Oh, it would be great,” the 6-foot-8 Parker, a projected top-3 pick int he NBA Draft, told SNY.tv back in November.

    “I would just work off him. A lot of attention would come up towards him and a lot of attention will come towards me, so we can work hand-in-hand with each other depending on where we are on different spots on the floor.”

    At this point in time it remains theoretically possible that the two Chicago natives, the two Morgan Wootten National High School Players of the Year, could team up under Coach K next season.

    Articles, Huntington Prep

    LyleBy JOHN PAVIA

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORK — In a thrilling quarterfinal contest in the DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament, Montaque “Teki” Gill-Caesar stood out on his very talented Huntington (W.V) Prep team as they defeated La Lumiere (IN), 65-63.

    Gill-Caesar, ranked 18th in ESPN’s Super 60 for the Class of 2015, finished with a game-high 20 points in the game played at Christ the King High School in Queens.

    Oregon commit JaQuan Lyle tallied 11 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer at the buzzer from the right wing and right in front of the Huntington bench. 2015 center Thomas Bryant added 14 points and eight rebounds while Providence commit Jalen Lindsay notched 11 points.

    St. John's, Transfers

    ARLINGTON, Texas — St. John’s sophomore big man Chris Obekpa has been granted a release and will transfer.

    The 6-foot-9 Obekpa would be the second big man to leave the program since the Johnnies lost in the first round of the NIT to Robert Morris. Sophomore forward JaKarr Sampson previously declared for the NBA Draft. Guard Max Hooper, who graduates in May, will also transfer.

    “We wish Chris good luck as he moves toward his next opportunity,” head coach Steve Lavin said in a statement after the news was previously reported by SNY.tv. “Max graduates in May with a degree in psychology and will look to continue his education and playing career at another institution. We wish Max the best of luck in all of his future endeavors.”

    Obekpa averaged 3.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 blocks this past season, but played just 2 minutes in the loss to Providence in the Big East Tournament quarterfinals. He then played 11 minutes in the loss to Robert Morris.

    Articles

    Mickey DJahlil Okafor had a crucial dunk in the final seconds en route to  the John R. Wooden MVP award as the West All-Stars edged the East All-Stars, 105-102, in the McDonald’s All-American Game at Chicago’s United Center.

    The Duke pledged slammed home a dunk to give the West a 103-102 lead and finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds in the game played in his hometown. Kansas-bound Kelly Oubre Jr. (11 points) added two free throws to add to the West’s total, and Indiana commit James Blackmon Jr. missed an off-balance 3-pointer for the East in the final seconds.

    SMU-bound guard Emmanuel Mudiay added 15 points and 6 assists for the West, while UNLV pledge Rashad Vaughn had 14 points and 5 rebounds.

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