It’s possible that no gathering of tennis players will ever feature as much star power as this one assembled by Nike on Monday in New York.
There are a combined 86 Major titles in this group, as Darren Rovell of ESPN pointed out.
The picture includes Serena Williams and her 21 Grand Slam titles, Roger Federer (17), Rafa Nadal (14), Pete Sampras (14), Andre Agassi (8), John McEnroe (7) and Maria Sharapova (5).
Former St. John’s coach Fran Fraschilla says the addition of Kassoum Yakwe to the Red Storm’s 2015 recruiting class could trigger a renaissance in St. John’s basketball.
“I think this is a new era for St. John’s,” Fraschilla, who was fired by St. John’s in 1998 and now works as an ESPN analyst, told The 4 Quarters Podcast on Monday. “The Big East is not what it used to be and it doesn’t have the prestige that it used to be but there’s still something magical about being a great college player and great college team in New York City. We haven’t seen one in quite some time, and I think this bodes well.”
By JOSH NEWMAN
The Canadian National Team’s loss is the University of Kentucky’s gain when it comes to freshman point guard Jamal Murray.
With Murray, an 18-year-old who exploded with Canada at the Pan American Games last month, not able to play for his country at the upcoming FIBA Americas Championships, attention now turns to his freshman season in Lexington. Slotted as the No. 6 pick by DraftExpress in the 2017 NBA Draft, big things are expected of Murray and at least one observer believes he will live up to the hype.
“Jamal really, between the Nike Hoop Summit where he scored 30 and the job he did in the Pan Am Games against grown men, I think that elevated himself even more in the eyes of people that follow the game, particularly NBA scouts,” ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla told SNY.tv on The 4 Quarters Podcast Monday afternoon. “I think right now, he’s headed toward the middle of the Lottery or higher.
“I think the kid’s gonna average 17 points a game. I think you’ll see scoring come from guys like Skal Labissiere and Jamal Murray, first and foremost, and everybody else is gonna play around those guys. He can shoot the ball, he’s deceptively athletic and quick, he gets fouled a lot, has good passing vision to play point, can play off the ball. I think the kid has a bright future.”
Adam Zagoria and Josh Newman are back
Kentucky will track 2017 guard Hamidou Diallo. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Under Armour)
NEW YORK — Hamidou Diallo got a call from Kentucky assistant Tony Barbee two weeks ago and the Wildcats plan to follow his progress going forward.
“I just recently heard from Kentucky,” the 6-foot-5 2017 shooting guard from Putnam (CT) Woodstock Academy and the NY Jayhawks AAU program told SNY.tv on Friday at the Under Armour Elite 24 Game. “He was like, they’re very interested in me, he was going to be watching me on television and he’s going to be up to my school in September, so it should be good.
“It made me feel good, it’s something I’ve been waiting for for a little while, so it’s been alright.”
Diallo said he hopes to get a Kentucky offer and then visit the school.
St. John’s and head coach Chris Mullin scored a huge commitment on Sunday when Kassoum Yakwe signed with the Red Storm and will enroll for the fall semester, choosing them over Oregon.
A source close to the situation says the school hopes the 6-foot-8 Yakwe out of Our Savior New American will enroll this week, but that his eligibility for the 2015-16 season is a “work in progress.”
Because he has graduated from high school, it remains to be seen whether or not he becomes a partial qualifier, meaning he might not play until the 2016-17 season.
The Bamako, Mali, native averaged 10 points and four rebounds per game last season playing high school ball at Our Savior New American.
“We are excited to welcome Kassoum to St. John’s University and our basketball program. He possesses tremendous athleticism, has good instincts and will be a defensive presence,” head coach Chris Mullin said. “Kassoum is humble and has an endearing personality which are important characteristics for team building. I look forward to working closely with him as he continues his basketball development.”
Rutgers scored a key commitment on Sunday when Kwe Parker pulled the trigger for the Scarlet Knights.
After months of contemplating on my college decision, I’ve chose to continue my basketball career with Coach Jordan at Rutgers University????⚫️
— Kwe Parker (@iJump_tooMuch) August 23, 2015
The 6-foot-2 2016 point guard from Wesleyan (N.C.) Christian also considered Wake Forest, Florida and Florida State.
“Kwe really likes Rutgers coaching staff,” Karolina Diamonds coach Kevin Graves told SNY.tv by phone. “He really likes Coach [Eddie] Jordan, he really likes Van Macon. They were in the process a long time recruiting Kwe.
