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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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Sunday / December 22.
  • Egi Gjikondi, a 6-foot-9, 240-pound forward from San Jacinto Community College, pledged to Houston Tuesday.

    Gjikondi, who averaged 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds last season, also considered Loyola Chicago, Oral Roberts, Jacksonville and Tennessee State.

    He will have three years of eligibility going forward.

    “I picked University of Houston because I thought it was the best for me personally,” he told SNY.tv. “After meeting with the coaching staff and coach [Kelvin] Sampson I felt comfortable to where the program is headed.

    Boeheim Coach KThe ACC Tournament is moving its final into primetime.

    The new tournament schedule, mutually agreed upon by ACC and ESPN, will feature Friday semifinal games at 7 and 9 p.m. ET, followed by the championship game on Saturday evening at 8:30 p.m. All 14 tournament games will continue to be televised nationally by ESPN and the ACC Network.

    The Big East Tournament has long held its final in primetime on Saturday night, and now the two leagues will go head-to-head in New York once the ACC comes to Brooklyn for 2017 and ’18. The Big East Tournament is held at Madison Square Garden.

    Malik Nichols has signed a National Letter of Intent with Hofstra and will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

    The 6-foot-6, 210-pound Nichols initially committed to former Hofstra coach Mo Cassara in November 2010 but was academically ineligible. He then went to Bridgton Academy (ME) before ending up at South Plains College in Levelland, TX.

    “Malik is another great addition to our evolving roster,” head coach Joe Mihalich said. “He will add some much-needed depth to our team as we continue to reshape the foundation of this program. We are also excited that we are adding a player from the local area. Bringing local, highly-talented student-athletes to Hofstra University is a priority of this coaching staff and we are thankful that Malik has chosen to become a member of the Pride.”

    Cincinnati’s Jermaine Lawrence has asked for and will be granted his release due to family reasons.

    “I’m leaving UC because my father is ill,” Lawrence said in a school-released statement. “I want to be closer to him as well as be close enough where I can have him and my mom attend my games. We appreciate everyone’s support.”

    The 6-foot-9 former Pope John XXIII standout is looking to come closer to home, and a source confirmed that Lawrence has been released to Iona, Manhattan, Rutgers, St John’s, Seton Hall, Hofstra and Fordham.

    Lawrence is due to visit Hofstra Wednesday, the New York Post reported.

    GovanJessie Govan figured he didn’t need to wait any longer and so he is headed to Georgetown.

    The 6-foot-10, 260-pound 2015 big man from Wings Academy committed to the Hoyas on Tuesday, choosing them over Seton Hall, UConn and Miami, according to New York Lightning coach Dana Dingle.

    “What made him choose them now was him, his parents and everybody was sold on their development and the history of the big guys, the centers they’ve had in the history of the program,” Dingle told SNY.tv by phone. “They were pretty much sold on that and it was hard to overlook.

    “And they have a need for a center. They don’t really have any centers after this year, so there’s an opportunity to come in and play early. And it’s not too far from home, in the Northeast.”

    [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WN6gJ3TRrR8&w=560&h=315]

    USC, Penn State and Wagner all picked up commitments on Tuesday.

    USC landed a pledge from 6-foot-8 2015 Lawndale (Calif.) power forward Chimezie Metu, who committed to Scout.com in the above video.

    Metu also considered Harvard, Arizona State, Creighton and Cal.

    “USC was just the best fit for me,” Metu told Scout.com.

    Metu is coach Andy Enfield’s first commit in the Class of 2015.

    “They just want me to come in and do what I’m best at, make plays and be the person that they recruited,” Metu said.

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