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.
Recruiting Roundup: Kentucky Looking at Jamal Murray; Nicola Akele Discusses Recruitment; Myers to West Virginia
Kentucky is the latest school to show interest in Jamal Murray, the 6-foot-5 2016 lead guard from Orangeville Prep (Ontario).
Wildcats assistant Barry “Slice” Rohrssen saw Murray on his recent trip to Canada where he also saw 7-footer Thon Maker.
Both players are considering reclassing to 2015 from 2016, with Maker recently saying he’s “70 percent” inclined to do so.
Sources said Kentucky has yet to offer but is impressed by Murray, who starred at the recent Basketball Without Borders Camp in New York over All-Star weekend.
“As for now he’s 2016,” Roger Murray recently told SNY.tv. “If everything lines up for 2015, so it be.”
As far as recruiting, Roger said he’s talking to “10-15 schools,” including Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Maryland, Louisville, Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina, Oregon and Wake Forest. Other schools, like Pittsburgh, have recently offered Murray.
Both Murray and Maker will play for the World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit on April 11 in Portland, Ore., and could then play in the BioSteel All Canadian Basketball Game (ACBG), a high school all-star game taking place on April 14 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
AKELE DISCUSSES RECRUITMENTBy EDDIE GIBBONNEW LONDON, Conn— Nicola Akele and IMG Academy (FL) fell short in the final game of the National Prep Championship on Wednesday, losing to Brewster (N.H.) Academy, 87-53.
A 6-7 Italian forward in the 2015 class, Akele showed some of the promise that is attracting some of the top programs in the country. He hit a 3-pointer and showed off skills around the basket. A quality defender, Akele altered many shots in the lane and forced a couple of steals.
Since coming to IMG from Italy in November, he feels as though he has been focusing more on his individual skills.
“Here basketball is different, its more one-on-one,” he said. “I’ve worked on my ball-handling and shooting, and I think I have improved on both.”
Akele holds offers from USF, Duquesne, Elon and Eastern Michigan and is being monitored by Florida State, Miami and St. Johns.
In terms of future visits, Akele said, “I have to take the SATs this Saturday, and after that we’ll figure out where to visit.”
Akele is hoping to get the recruiting process done soother rather than later, and is hoping to decide some time next month.
“I think I will decide in April,” he said. “That gives me enough time to take visits, and talk with my family.”
MYERS TO WEST VIRGINIA Teyvon Myers, a 6-2 shooting guard from Brooklyn and Williston (N.D.) State College, committed to West Virginia and won’t make trips to Louisville and Arizona State as planned.
“It was fun,” he told SNY.tv after his visit. “I saw a lot of great things at West Virginia but most important those guys are family.”
He added: “I will bring hard work and dedication. I will be the best player I can be.”
Myers, who averaged 25.1 points, 4.0 rebound and 3.4 assists this season, said he hasn’t cut his list and is “considering every option.”
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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.
Kentucky is the latest school to show interest in Jamal Murray, the 6-foot-5 2016 lead guard from Orangeville Prep (Ontario).
Wildcats assistant Barry “Slice” Rohrssen saw Murray on his recent trip to Canada where he also saw 7-footer Thon Maker.
Both players are considering reclassing to 2015 from 2016, with Maker recently saying he’s “70 percent” inclined to do so.
Sources said Kentucky has yet to offer but is impressed by Murray, who starred at the recent Basketball Without Borders Camp in New York over All-Star weekend.
“As for now he’s 2016,” Roger Murray recently told SNY.tv. “If everything lines up for 2015, so it be.”
As far as recruiting, Roger said he’s talking to “10-15 schools,” including Michigan, Michigan State, Illinois, Maryland, Louisville, Missouri, Indiana, North Carolina, Oregon and Wake Forest. Other schools, like Pittsburgh, have recently offered Murray.
Both Murray and Maker will play for the World Team in the Nike Hoop Summit on April 11 in Portland, Ore., and could then play in the BioSteel All Canadian Basketball Game (ACBG), a high school all-star game taking place on April 14 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
AKELE DISCUSSES RECRUITMENT
By EDDIE GIBBON
NEW LONDON, Conn— Nicola Akele and IMG Academy (FL) fell short in the final game of the National Prep Championship on Wednesday, losing to Brewster (N.H.) Academy, 87-53.
A 6-7 Italian forward in the 2015 class, Akele showed some of the promise that is attracting some of the top programs in the country. He hit a 3-pointer and showed off skills around the basket. A quality defender, Akele altered many shots in the lane and forced a couple of steals.
Since coming to IMG from Italy in November, he feels as though he has been focusing more on his individual skills.
“Here basketball is different, its more one-on-one,” he said. “I’ve worked on my ball-handling and shooting, and I think I have improved on both.”
Akele holds offers from USF, Duquesne, Elon and Eastern Michigan and is being monitored by Florida State, Miami and St. Johns.
In terms of future visits, Akele said, “I have to take the SATs this Saturday, and after that we’ll figure out where to visit.”
Akele is hoping to get the recruiting process done soother rather than later, and is hoping to decide some time next month.
“I think I will decide in April,” he said. “That gives me enough time to take visits, and talk with my family.”
MYERS TO WEST VIRGINIA
Teyvon Myers, a 6-2 shooting guard from Brooklyn and Williston (N.D.) State College, committed to West Virginia and won’t make trips to Louisville and Arizona State as planned.
“It was fun,” he told SNY.tv after his visit. “I saw a lot of great things at West Virginia but most important those guys are family.”
He added: “I will bring hard work and dedication. I will be the best player I can be.”
Myers, who averaged 25.1 points, 4.0 rebound and 3.4 assists this season, said he hasn’t cut his list and is “considering every option.”
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