April 2015 | Page 20 of 29 | Zagsblog
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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.
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    • Recruiting, St. John's

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    Italian guard Federico Mussini will visit St. John’s on Sunday on his way home from Saturday’s Nike Hoop Summit, sources told SNY.tv.

    The 6-foot Mussini, who is also being recruited by Davidson, Gonzaga and Virginia, will play for the World Team in Saturday’s game.

    Former St. John’s coach Steve Lavin targeted Mussini, and now he is on new head coach Chris Mullin’s radar.

    Mussini is ranked No. 13 in the 1996 European age group by Eurohoops and No. 7 by DraftExpress.com. He averaged 14.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game in the 2012 U16 European Championship Men’s Division.

    Articles, Recruiting

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    Cheick Diallo, the MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game, is still considering all five schools on his list, his coach says.

    “Cheick Diallo is still considering all five schools,” Eric Jaklitsch of Our Savior New American said in a group text to reporters. “Any reports of leaders or schools being eliminated are false.”

    The 6-foot-9 Diallo is considering Iowa State, St. John’s, Kentucky, Kansas and Pitt.

    Articles, Michigan State

    Caleb Swanigan

    Caleb Swanigan, the 6-foot-8 2015 center from Fort Wayne (IN) Homestead High, committed to Michigan State and head coach Tom Izzo on the eve of the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore.

    The five-star center recently cut his list to seven schools consisting of some of the biggest names in college basketball and one that may surprise some. He also considered Cal, Kentucky, Purdue, Arizona, Duke and Chicago State.

    Some thought he would end up at Cal in a possible package deal with 6-10 big man Ivan Rabb, who may also announce this weekend at the Hoop Summit.

    Articles, Recruiting

    4_2917241Jayson Tatum, one of the top players in the Class of 2016, has cut his list to four schools.

    The 6-foot-8 small forward out of St. Louis (MO) Chaminade is down to Duke, Kentucky, North Carolina and his hometown St. Louis University.

    Tatum told SNY.tv in December that Kentucky is in a good position.

    “They’re pretty high on my list,” Tatum said. “I have a great relationship with Coach Cal [John Calipari] and Coach [Kenny] Payne, I have a lot of interest in Kentucky. [Coach Cal] … said he wants to coach me and he could develop my game, and help me get better.”

    Articles, Kentucky, Video

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    It is possible but not likely that Kentucky commit Tai Wynyard could reclass to 2015 from 2016 and land on the school’s campus midway through the 2015-16 season.

    The 6-foot-10, 265-pound New Zealand big man told Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com that he will graduate from high school this coming December and is undecided on where he will spend his time before college begins in the fall of 2016.

    “I guess I’m really still thinking about it with my parents and stuff,” Wynyard told Givony. “I committed really early because I knew from Day 1 where I wanted to go just [because of] how they approached me and everything. So I guess I’m still thinking about it. Not really too sure yet. So just kind of laying low. I’ve got a lot of time to decide, probably by the end of the year I’ll be deciding whether I’ll be going or whether I’ll be staying because I still don’t know whether I’ll go 2015 or ’16 yet, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be going 2016 due just to grades and stuff, get my schooling done fully.”

    Articles

    Cal could land a package deal of big men Ivan Rabb and Caleb Swanigan by the end of the weekend.

    15 hsum practice rabb 800Both players could announce this weekend at the Nike Hoop Summit, with Swanigan having said he will announce Saturday. The game is set for 3 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

    Needless to say, the addition of the two big men would be huge for head coach Cuonzo Martin and assistant Yanni Hufnagel. Rabb is the projected No. 8 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com, and Swanigan also has pro potential.

    We previously reported here that sources indicated the 6-foot-10 Rabb would pick his hometown school of Cal over Arizona.

    “I know people are questioning why I would go to Cal, but you have to see past that and see the potential on the team,” Rabb told USA Basketball on Thursday. “I see how much better they got from last year to this year. I just see the energy and they’re hungry.”

    Articles

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    Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep point guard Derryck Thornton is “50-50” on reclassing to 2015 from 2016 and is considering playing for Louisville and Duke next season, his father told SNY.tv on Thursday.

    The news was first reported by Scout.com.

    Louisville coach Rick Pitino, who needs a point guard for next season, met Thursday with Thornton and his father, Tank Thornton.

    “He wants Derryck to come in and thinks he’s the best point guard in high school,” Tank Thornton told SNY.tv by phone. “He feels like with his instruction, he could win a national championship. He’s the right kind of point guard, right kind of player. He feels like Derryck, with the guys he’s got coming in, they would compete for a national championship.”

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