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: Jaylen Brown Cuts Kansas, Michigan Only Adidas School Left; UCLA, Michigan State, Iona Add Pledges; Duke Checks In With Rawle Alkins
Jaylen Brown has cut Kansas from his list, leaving four schools with Michigan the only Adidas school remaining
The news was first reported by Matt Scott of TheShiver.com.
The 6-foot-7 wing from Marietta (GA) Wheeler is now down to Michigan, Kentucky, North Carolina and Cal, with the latter three all being Nike schools. Brown has previously said he would prefer to play for an Adidas school.
He recently had high praise for both Michigan and Kentucky, as we noted here.
Brown is projected as the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
UCLA ADDS BIG MANUCLA added a 2016 big man on Thursday when Ike Anigbogu of Corona (Calif.) Centennial committed.
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Anigbogu is UCLA’s third commit in 2016, following five-star guard Lonzo Ball and three-star guard Kobe Paras.
He is ranked as the No. 18 center in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com and the No. 11 player in the state of California.
Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, UC Irvine and Vanderbilt also offered him, according to OCRegister.com.
Assistant coach David Grace gets the assist on the big man.
MICHIGAN STATE ADDS POWER FORWARD WARDMichigan State on Wednesday received a pledge from Nick Ward, a 6-9 2016 power forward from Gahanna (OH) Lincoln.
He also reportedly considered Ohio State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa State.
“Thank you to all the coaches who have recruited me, however I have decided to commit to The Michigan State University. #Spartandog,” Ward wrote on Twitter.
The four-star prospect is ranked the No. 52 overall prospect and No. 11 power forward in the nation by 247Sports.com.
IONA PICKS UP SHOOTER PROCTORIona on Thursday picked up a commitment from 6-3 2015 shooting guard Jahaad Proctor of Harrisburg (PA) High.
A former Holy Cross signee, Proctor also had offers from Robert Morris, Quinnipiac and Manhattan.
Proctor finished his Harrisburg career with a school-record 1,689 points. He also owns the program’s single-season scoring record (24.4 ppg) and the school’s single-game scoring mark (42 points).
“I committed to Iona because I felt it was the best decision for me,” Proctor told SNY.tv. “After speaking with the coaches, I got a gut feeling that Iona was the best place for me to advance my basketball career. I think their style of play caters to how I play and how I want to play. They have lead the NCAA in 3-point shooting and scoring and with my shooting ability I think I fit right along with the players and style. The coaching staff was great and I connected with them immediately as well.”
Proctor also told CityofBasketballLove.com that he found out three months ago he’s the father of a five-month-old daughter named Jolene.
“When I found out, it was like ‘wow, are you serious?” he told the site. “Wow, wow. I couldn’t stop saying ‘wow’ the whole day.”
“Now I have more motivation,” he added. “I was very motivated going into college and everything, but now I have someone to live for, prove everything to.”
Iona also recently landed 6-8 Wake Forest transfer Aaron Rountree.DUKE CALLS ALKINS
Duke assistant Jon Scheyer called Christ the King head coach Joe Arbitello Thursday on 2016 shooting guard Rawle Alkins.
Alkins’ recruitment has exploded in recent weeks and this week he added offers from Georgetown and Wake Forest with interest from North Carolina.
(Photo: Daniel Zampogna, PennLive.com)
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.
Jaylen Brown has cut Kansas from his list, leaving four schools with Michigan the only Adidas school remaining
The news was first reported by Matt Scott of TheShiver.com.
The 6-foot-7 wing from Marietta (GA) Wheeler is now down to Michigan, Kentucky, North Carolina and Cal, with the latter three all being Nike schools. Brown has previously said he would prefer to play for an Adidas school.
He recently had high praise for both Michigan and Kentucky, as we noted here.
Brown is projected as the No. 2 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
UCLA ADDS BIG MAN
UCLA added a 2016 big man on Thursday when Ike Anigbogu of Corona (Calif.) Centennial committed.
The 6-foot-9, 235-pound Anigbogu is UCLA’s third commit in 2016, following five-star guard Lonzo Ball and three-star guard Kobe Paras.
He is ranked as the No. 18 center in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com and the No. 11 player in the state of California.
Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, UC Irvine and Vanderbilt also offered him, according to OCRegister.com.
Assistant coach David Grace gets the assist on the big man.
MICHIGAN STATE ADDS POWER FORWARD WARD
Michigan State on Wednesday received a pledge from Nick Ward, a 6-9 2016 power forward from Gahanna (OH) Lincoln.
He also reportedly considered Ohio State, Wisconsin, Indiana and Iowa State.
“Thank you to all the coaches who have recruited me, however I have decided to commit to The Michigan State University. #Spartandog,” Ward wrote on Twitter.
The four-star prospect is ranked the No. 52 overall prospect and No. 11 power forward in the nation by 247Sports.com.
IONA PICKS UP SHOOTER PROCTOR
Iona on Thursday picked up a commitment from 6-3 2015 shooting guard Jahaad Proctor of Harrisburg (PA) High.
A former Holy Cross signee, Proctor also had offers from Robert Morris, Quinnipiac and Manhattan.
Proctor finished his Harrisburg career with a school-record 1,689 points. He also owns the program’s single-season scoring record (24.4 ppg) and the school’s single-game scoring mark (42 points).
“I committed to Iona because I felt it was the best decision for me,” Proctor told SNY.tv. “After speaking with the coaches, I got a gut feeling that Iona was the best place for me to advance my basketball career. I think their style of play caters to how I play and how I want to play. They have lead the NCAA in 3-point shooting and scoring and with my shooting ability I think I fit right along with the players and style. The coaching staff was great and I connected with them immediately as well.”
Proctor also told CityofBasketballLove.com that he found out three months ago he’s the father of a five-month-old daughter named Jolene.
“When I found out, it was like ‘wow, are you serious?” he told the site. “Wow, wow. I couldn’t stop saying ‘wow’ the whole day.”
“Now I have more motivation,” he added. “I was very motivated going into college and everything, but now I have someone to live for, prove everything to.”
Iona also recently landed 6-8 Wake Forest transfer Aaron Rountree.
DUKE CALLS ALKINS
Duke assistant Jon Scheyer called Christ the King head coach Joe Arbitello Thursday on 2016 shooting guard Rawle Alkins.
Alkins’ recruitment has exploded in recent weeks and this week he added offers from Georgetown and Wake Forest with interest from North Carolina.
(Photo: Daniel Zampogna, PennLive.com)
