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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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Saturday / November 23.
  • NEW YORK — After missing Day 1 of the Under Armour Elite 24 practices, Thon Maker more than made up for it on Day 2.

    The 7-foot 2016 big man from the Carlisle (Va.) School put on a show in the scrimmage, draining 3-pointers, handling the ball in transition and flushing one dunk after another.

    In a game that also featured likely future pros Jaylen Brown, Malik Newman and Stephen Zimmerman, among others, Maker stood out in terms of his raw talent.

    “He’s KD on offense and KG on defense,” ESPN’s Fran Fraschilla, who watched from courtside along with a throng of other enthralled basketball junkies, told SNY.tv.

    Derryck ThorntonBy JOHN PAVIA

    Special to ZAGSBLOG

    NEW YORK – Derryck Thornton is unable to compete in the Under Armour Elite 24 events this weekend due to injury, but he still seemed to be enjoying the entire experience in New York City.

    “It’s been a lot of fun,” Thornton told SNY.tv. “It’s my second time so I’m still excited to be here and just get to look around New York and hang out with some of the guys.”

    Thornton, a 6-2 guard from Findlay Prep, suffered a broken wrist during USA U17 trials that has held him out of showcases like this Elite 24 event. Thornton is currently rated No. 8 in the Class of 2016 by Scout.

    Southern Miss transfer Aaron Brown is headed to Boston College.

    “I’m signing with BC,”  the 6-foot-5, 215-pound shooting guard told SNY.tv by text on Friday. “It’s my best situation for me. It’s close to home, it’s in the ACC and coach Jim Christian and the new staff are looking to turn things around, which I want to be a part of.”

    Brown, who averaged 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds last season at Southern Miss, also considered Iona and South Florida. He said some 22 schools reached out to him, but he had to narrow his list.

    As a graduate transfer, Brown would be eligible immediately for the 2014-15 season.

    fed-novakNEW YORK Johnny Mac isn’t exactly going out on a limb in selecting his favorites for the U.S. Open.

    The four-time U.S. Open champ is picking top seed and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic to win his second title in Queens and his eighth career Grand Slam.

    “If you ask me who the favorite is, this guy [Djokovic] is the guy who played one of the greatest matches I’ve ever seen in my life when him and Roger went at it [in the Wimbledon final],” McEnroe said Thursday evening at his Tennis Academy on Randall’s Island when he was seated next to Djokovic during a press conference. “And Roger is playing amazing, so clearly those two are the favorites.”

    Briscoe Peach Jam actionNEW YORK — The Under Armour Elite 24 game is set for Saturday night in Brooklyn (ESPNU, 7 p.m.), but injuries and absences have made a dent in the star-studded affair.

    During Thursday’s first practice, the injured crew of Isaiah Briscoe (foot), Derryck Thornton (hand), Cheick Diallo (back) and Ivan Rabb (foot) sat in chairs on the sideline and were unable to play.

    “It’s a big bummer, but at least I get to come out here and support my guys,” the 6-foot-10 Rabb out of Oakland (CA) Bishop O’Dowd told SNY.tv in this interview. “I have a lot of friends and people who are here.”

    Thomas Bryant and Malik Monk, both of whom are on Team Liberty (Green), were not in attendance and are not expected to play in the game.

    http://web.sny.tv/media/video.jsp?content_id=35550495

    NEW YORK — After recently taking trips to UCLA, Duke and North Carolina, Brandon Ingram has several more visits in the works.

    The 6-foot-8 2015 forward from Kinston (N.C.) High told SNY.tv after Thursday’s Under Armour Elite 24 practice that he plans to attend Midnight Madness at both Kansas on Oct. 10 and Kentucky Oct. 17. He also wants to hit Louisville.

    “I know [in] October I’ll be at Kansas [for] ‘Late Night in the Phog,'” Ingram said. “I know I’ll get out to Kentucky. Louisville I want to get out there, too, after I cut down my list at the end of the month. While I’m in Louisville, I can go over to Kentucky.”

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