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.
Former Oklahoma Commit Giovanni McLean to Quinnipiac
Less than two weeks after committing to Oklahoma, Westchester Community College point guard Giovanni McLean had a change of heart after the Oklahoma situation fell through.
The 6-foot-1 floor general is now headed to Quinnipiac.
“He’s going do it all for them,” WCC coach Tyrone Mushatt told SNY.tv. “He’s going to run the team, be real vocal. He’s going to be a leader. He’s experienced at being a point guard and can score from that position, too. He’s gonna help them out and be big part of their foundation.
“They can win the MAAC now. It starts with your guards.”
Sources said there was some confusion over the interpretation of a Big 12 league rule regarding the number of consecutive semesters a player had to spend at a junior college before enrollment that would have made McLean ineligible at Oklahoma.
But the rule in question is specific only to the Big 12 and doesn’t apply to the MAAC.
After the Oklahoma situation fell through, McLean pivoted and chose Quinnipiac, which had been involved in his recruitment from the beginning.
“He said, ‘Coach, call Quinnipiac and if they’re still interested in me I’m going,'” Mushatt said.
McLean, a Bronx Regional graduate, became a hot commodity this winter after averaging 16.8 points, 7.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game for the 28-5 Vikings, who advanced to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. They fell to Wallace State Community College in the first round.
In the Region XV title game, which sent WCC to the National Tournament, McLean had 13 points and 12 assists against zero turnovers in a 77-73 win over Harcum College.
He becomes Quinnipiac’s fifth commit in the Class of 2014. Quinnipiac also has 6-6 power forward Samuel Dingba from Salisbury School (CT), 6-1 combo guard Dmitri Floras from MacDuffie School (MA), 6-3 shooting guard Ayron Hutton from Cape Henry High (Va.) and 6-8 center Chaise Daniels from Putnam Science Prep (CT).
McLean is the second WCC player in as many days to pick a new home.
Keith Thomas, a 6-7 forward, pledged to St. John’s on Monday.
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Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
Less than two weeks after committing to Oklahoma, Westchester Community College point guard Giovanni McLean had a change of heart after the Oklahoma situation fell through.
The 6-foot-1 floor general is now headed to Quinnipiac.
“He’s going do it all for them,” WCC coach Tyrone Mushatt told SNY.tv. “He’s going to run the team, be real vocal. He’s going to be a leader. He’s experienced at being a point guard and can score from that position, too. He’s gonna help them out and be big part of their foundation.
“They can win the MAAC now. It starts with your guards.”
Sources said there was some confusion over the interpretation of a Big 12 league rule regarding the number of consecutive semesters a player had to spend at a junior college before enrollment that would have made McLean ineligible at Oklahoma.
But the rule in question is specific only to the Big 12 and doesn’t apply to the MAAC.
After the Oklahoma situation fell through, McLean pivoted and chose Quinnipiac, which had been involved in his recruitment from the beginning.
“He said, ‘Coach, call Quinnipiac and if they’re still interested in me I’m going,'” Mushatt said.
McLean, a Bronx Regional graduate, became a hot commodity this winter after averaging 16.8 points, 7.4 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game for the 28-5 Vikings, who advanced to the NJCAA Division I National Tournament. They fell to Wallace State Community College in the first round.
In the Region XV title game, which sent WCC to the National Tournament, McLean had 13 points and 12 assists against zero turnovers in a 77-73 win over Harcum College.
He becomes Quinnipiac’s fifth commit in the Class of 2014. Quinnipiac also has 6-6 power forward Samuel Dingba from Salisbury School (CT), 6-1 combo guard Dmitri Floras from MacDuffie School (MA), 6-3 shooting guard Ayron Hutton from Cape Henry High (Va.) and 6-8 center Chaise Daniels from Putnam Science Prep (CT).
McLean is the second WCC player in as many days to pick a new home.
Keith Thomas, a 6-7 forward, pledged to St. John’s on Monday.
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And like ZAGS on Facebook
