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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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Monday / December 23.
  • UCLA, Kentucky, North Carolina and Ohio State will participate in the CBS Sports Classic across the next three seasons.

    The event debuts at the United Center in Chicago on Dec. 20. North Carolina will take on Ohio State at 1 p.m. ET, followed by UCLA vs. Kentucky at 3:30 p.m. ET.

    The event will move to the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Dec. 19, 2015 and will travel to Las Vegas in Dec. 2016.

    “This event will feature programs that represent 25 national championships, which is remarkable,” UK head coach John Calipari said. “Not only that, some of the best fan bases in college basketball will have the opportunity to see us play in three major venues against some of the top programs in the country. We’re excited to be part of an event of this caliber for the next three seasons.”

    By ZACH SMART

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    If Luis Montero’s Division-I profile was a stock it would be a hot purchase right now.

    The 6-foot-9 2015 guard/forward averaged 15.9 points, six boards, and three assists en route to leading Westchester Community College to a 28-4  season culminating with a berth in the NJCAA tournament for the first time since 1996.

    He’s garnered the notice of several high majors. A 19-point performance at the JUCO national tournament in Hutchinson, Kan., turned more eyes to the prodigious Dominican talent.

    Montero, a crafty finisher who stretches the floor out and can score the rock in a variety of ways, has budding interest from Alabama, West Virginia, Penn State, LSU, and South Florida.

    OllieUConn coach Kevin Ollie took to Twitter Tuesday to dismiss reports that he would meet Thursday with the Lakers.

    “Don’t Believe everything you hear!! Only meeting I have is with my team on Thursday at Gampel.. We are preparing everyday for Greatness!!” he Tweeted.

    One source close to the situation told SNY.tv Ollie wouldn’t take the Lakers’ job if it’s offered.

    “He wouldn’t take it,” the source said. “Not even considering it.”

    Kentucky on Tuesday offered a scholarship to Cheick Diallo, according to T.J. Walker of Rivals and Diallo’s AAU program, Team Scan.

    Diallo is a 6-foot-9 forward from Our Savior New American ranked No. 8 in the 2015 ESPN 60.

    We reported Saturday that Kentucky was expected to pick up its recruitment of Diallo now that New York’s Barry “Slice” Rohrssen is on the staff. Rohrssen had previously been at Pittsburgh, which was heavily involved for Diallo.

    Kansas, Louisville, Iowa State and St. John’s are among the schools also in the mix for Diallo, a native of Bamako, Mali.

    Less than a week after committing to Oregon State, transferring Maryland guard Nick Faust is re-opening his recruitment in the wake of Craig Robinson’s firing.

    “Basically, I’m opening my recruitment back up,” Faust told SNY.tv by phone Tuesday night.

    He added: “I’m open to everyone.”

    The 6-foot-6 Baltimore native said he would still consider Oregon State “depending on who the coach is.”

    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.”

    Transferring Oregon State guard Hallice Cooke is planning visits to Dayton and St. Joe’s and will decide sometime after those trips, his father told SNY.tv.

    “He’s got two left, St. Joseph’s and Dayton is what we’re trying to set up,” Rob Cooke told SNY.tv Tuesday. “So hopefully within the next two weeks.”

    Other schools have reached out, including Tennessee, Boston College and Creighton, but Rob said it was unclear if Hallice would visit any of those schools. The 6-foot-3 Cooke is enrolled at Oregon State until school ends next month.

    “Other schools have reached out, but his availability and the time is short and you got the dead period at the end of the month,” Rob said. “So that’s making things a little tight.”

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