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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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Wednesday / December 25.
  • T.J. GibbsAfter a strong summer in which he won the Peach Jam with the Playaz Basketball Club, T.J. Gibbs is a wanted man.

    “It boosted my stock,” Gibbs told SNY.tv by phone Friday. “I think I was able to really show what I was able to do this summer.”

    The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Seton Hall Prep shooting guard added an offer from Rutgers Thursday during a visit, and will trip to St. John’s sometime next week.

    “[Rutgers head coach Eddie Jordan] told me that they want me, they offered me a scholarship,” Gibbs said. “They said they play a two-guard front and they think I can really contribute to it.”

    Derrick Jones has a top nine and will kick off his home visits with UConn next month.

    The 6-foot-7 small forward from Radnor (PA) Archbishop Carroll has a top nine of UConn, Kansas, Kentucky, Florida, Louisville, North Carolina, Arizona,  Auburn and UNLV (after adding UNLV to the initial eight), Derrick Jones Sr. told SNY.tv.

    At this point, the only home visit is with UConn and coach Kevin Ollie on Sept. 10.

    After the Elite 24 game Aug. 23 in Brooklyn, Jones will sit down with his father and his AAU coach, Terrell Myers of WE-R1, and map out visit dates. Jones Sr. previously told SNY.tv they plan to visit Kentucky, Louisville, Kansas and Auburn, among others.

    LR- Jaylen Brown - Adidas Gauntlet Indy (Day 1)After a terrific July on the recruiting circuit, Jaylen Brown of Marietta (GA) Wheeler has taken over the No. 1 spot in the Scout Top 100 rankings from Diamond Stone.

    ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla told SNY.tv that the 6-foot-7 Brown would have been a Top 15 pick in this year’s NBA Draft based on potential alone had he been eligible to enter.

    Brown, who went for 22 points and 14 rebounds Thursday in a win at the Nike Global Challenge, recently visited UCLA and will trip to Kansas Oct. 10 for “Late Night in the Phog” and also plans to visit Kentucky. Georgia is also among those involved in his recruitment.

    Ben Simmons, a 6-9 LSU commit who dominated play at the Peach Jam last month, is ranked No. 2.

    Henry Ellenson, Diamond Stone and Malik Newman helped lead the 2014 USA Men’s U17 World Championship Team into the semifinals with a 113-71 quarterfinal victory over China (2-3) at the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Men on Thursday afternoon at the Hamdan Sports Complex in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

    Ellenson went for 21 points and 10 rebounds.

    Stone scored 17 points and hauled in eight rebounds, while setting USA U17 records for single-game and U17 competition blocked shots. He swatted five, edging the previous record of four, against China and his 20 blocks through five games eclipsed the previous USA U17 mark of 15.

    Newman, who has been linked to Stone in a potential package deal, added 16 points and five assists. Harry Giles tallied 12 points and Terrence Ferguson scored. 11.

    malikBy JACK LeGWIN & ADAM ZAGORIA 

    Amar Alibegovic has committed to St. John’s and will be eligible for the upcoming season.

    SNY.tv was the first to report the news Wednesday afternoon.

    “We are pleased that Amar has chosen to join our St. John’s basketball family,” head coach Steve Lavin said. “Amar has the skill, size and basketball intellect to help fuel our purposes as we continue to build our program into a sustainable winner.”

    Ranked as the No. 41 prospect of his age in Europe, the 6-foot-9 Alibegovic helped Bosnia and Herzegovina post a perfect 8-0 mark to sweep the field and win the U20 European Championship Division B in mid-July. The forward had three double-figure scoring games and averaged 5.1 points to go with 2.8 rebounds in the tournament. Alibegovic also shot 54.8 percent from the floor, including a 35.3 percent clip from long range. Earlier in July, Alibegovic had been named to the preliminary 23-man roster for the Senior National Team.

    Cincinnati v Harvard

    By JACK LeGWIN

    Jermaine Lawrence, a Cincinnati transfer, has received a waiver to play immediately and will be eligible for the Manhattan Jaspers this year, Head Coach Steve Masiello said.

    “We are very excited about the addition of Jermaine to this year’s team,” Masiello told SNY.tv.

    “He is an extremely long, athletic and versatile wing at 6-9. He is a very humble young man who continues to work on his craft and will only get better as time goes on. He will fit into our brand and style not only on the court but off as well.”

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