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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.
  • TempleTemple took the subway to the Wells Fargo Center and then ran over Kansas like a freight train.

    The Owls drilled the No. 10 Jayhawks, 77-52, prompting the fans to storm the court.

    For Temple, it was the kind of win that could ultimately help them make the NCAA Tournament.

    “I think we have to build on this and say we’re good enough to play with a lot of teams in the country but we can’t do it without being terrific on the defensive end and making really good choices on the offensive,” Temple coach Fran Dunphy said on ESPN. “So tonight we got that done.”

    img_2146By JACK LeGWIN

    COLUMBIA, S.C.- Jalek Felton will take visits in January to five schools — Arizona, Kansas, North Carolina, Kentucky and Wichita State — he told SNY.tv after a 22-point performance in front of Roy Williams in an 83-62 loss to Keenan (S.C.).

    Felton, the No. 5-ranked player in the Class of 2017 by 247 Sports and the nephew of Dallas Mavericks point guard Raymond Felton, says that while North Carolina is the frontrunner, he is going to give all schools a chance.

    “They’re always No. 1,” Felton told SNY.tv in reference to his uncle’s tenure at the school. “But I’m going to look around at the other schools and see what all of my options are.” 

    NEW YORK — Tyler Ennis didn’t play at all on Saturday afternoon when the Phoenix Suns visited the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.

    About 100 miles South, his brother Dylan Ennis played 32 minutes in Villanova’s 82-77 OT win over Syracuse in Philadelphia.

    It was an odd moment, to be sure. If Tyler were in the college game (where his parents went to support Dylan), he surely would have been a factor.

    “It’s kind of weird watching [Syracuse] because I felt like I was just in practice with those guys a couple weeks ago,” Ennis told SNY.tv.

    “The first game I watched, I wondered how different this would be if me and Jerami [Grant] were still there. But I don’t regret any decision I made in the past year.”

    Findlay Prep point guard Derryck Thornton is unlikely to reclass to 2015 but is planning visits to Kentucky, Louisville Arizona and Duke in the New Year, his father told SNY.tv Monday.

    “Louisville talked to us about it, but right now it makes more sense for him to stay put in 2016,” Tank Thornton said.

    He added: “We’re still thinking about it.”

    Louisville head coach Pitino met with the 6-foot Thornton last week and broached the possibility of the 2016 point guard joining the program next season. Louisville has already missed out on guards Antonio Blakeney and P.J. Dozier and will need a floor general to replace the departing Chris Jones.

    Coming off a 53-47 come-from-behind win over St. Mary’s, St. John’s (9-1) moved up to No. 17 in the latest AP Poll.

    The Johnnies play Long Beach State Monday and Tulane Dec. 28 before a highly anticipated Big East opener against Seton Hall (9-2) on Dec. 31.

    Kentucky remained the unanimous No. 1 in the poll for the third straight week, followed by Duke, Arizona, Louisville, Virginia and Wisconsin.

    Villanova chimed in at No. 7.

     

    Record Pts Prv
    1. Kentucky (65) 12-0 1,625 1
    2. Duke 10-0 1,548 2
    3. Arizona 12-0 1,502 3
    4. Louisville 10-0 1,344 4
    5. Virginia 11-0 1,336 6

    PONDS 150Shamorie Ponds, a 6-foot 2016 point guard from Brooklyn Thomas Jefferson, is wowing coaches and piling up offers.

    In recent days, Ponds has added offers from Minnesota, St. John’s, Miami, Seton Hall, Oklahoma, Iona and Fordham.

    South Carolina and West Virginia are also due in to see him soon.

    “It’s exciting,” Ponds told SNY.tv Monday. “I’m looking to add more offers.”

    WEST ORANGE, N.J. — It was hard to miss Nick Richards during St. Patrick’s 55-40 victory over Bergen Catholic Sunday at the Hoop Group Tip-Off Showcase.

    He was the 6-foot-11 gazelle ripping down rebounds, altering shots and showing some nice footwork and touch around the basket. He finished with 9 points, 10 rebounds and 2 blocks in the win.

    “It feels good,” Richards told SNY.tv. Asked what he wants to work on, he said, “Mostly face-ups, a little bit back-to-the basket, jump hooks, all the little tricks. If my guards don’t give it to me, I try my best to get it off the rebound.”

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