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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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Friday / November 22.
  • Jayson Tatum to Visit Kansas, Talks Possible Package with Giles and Smith Jr.

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    By JACK LeGWIN

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    One of the top players in the nation, Jayson Tatum, will be making a trip to Kansas.

    “My visit is scheduled for the 20th-22nd of June,” Tatum told SNY.tv. “I’m going to get a chance to see them practice, I’m going to get a chance to see how they do things, and to see how the coaches interact with the players.”

    Tatum, ranked No. 4 in the nation by 247 Sports, could be one of the most  intriguing players in the Class of 2016. Listed at 6-foot-9, it is deceiving to see that Tatum is listed as a guard, and yet, that is exactly what he is…a guard.

    “I’m a very tall and versatile guard that can play multiple positions on the court,” Tatum said. “I’ve learned to play faster now, learning to attack more. It’s helped a lot playing in the EYBL.”

    Tatum averaged 18.9 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.3 steals per game for the St. Louis Eagles on the EYBL circuit. 

    Tatum will be participating in the USA Basketball U17 trials beginning July 24 in Colorado Springs, Colo., and says that it will be nice to play with some good friends (along with college coaches in attendance) once again.

    “We see each other on the circuit, and we’ve talked about some of the memories we’ve had,” Tatum said. “We can’t wait to get back at it, to practice again and to be on the same team.”

    Much has been made of the possible Tatum and Harry Giles package deal, but now with the emergence of Fayetteville (N.C.) Trinity Christian School 2016 point guard Dennis Smith Jr., Tatum says that it would be big if the trio went to school together.

    “It would mean a lot,” Tatum said. “That would be something that would be very special for all of us, that is, if all three of us come together and make it happen. It’s a pretty big piece for me with the relationships to see who you would play well with on the basketball court.”

    If those three chose to attend school together, it would cause a big change in the landscape of college basketball.

    Tatum currently holds offers from Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Missouri, Florida, St. Louis, Illinois, Marquette, Memphis, Michigan State, North Carolina, Ohio State and Wake Forest.

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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.

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