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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.
  • ARDSLEY, NY - May 23: Under Armour Association session three at the House of Sports in Ardsley New York. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Under Armour)

    John Calipari visited Bam Adebayo on Monday. (Photo by Kelly Kline/Under Armour)

    Kentucky coach John Calipari appears to be stepping up his pursuit of Bam Adebayo.

    Calipari will meet Tuesday with Adebayo’s mother and will then come see the 6-foot-10 Adebayo for a second time at High Point (N.C.) Christian Academy, High Point Christian coach Brandon Clifford told SNY.tv. The Kentucky coach visited Adebayo a week ago.

    “His message was pretty simple,” Clifford said after the first visit. “Mainly about how he and UK could get Bam to where he ultimately wants to be. That along with the types of things that come with being a part of the Kentucky program.”

    4_2917411De’Aaron Fox, the No. 1 point guard in the Class of 2016, enjoyed his official visit to LSU over the weekend and will host Kentucky coach John Calipari Monday night for an in-home visit before taking his next official to Louisville this coming weekend.

    “Coach [Johnny] Jones and [David] Patrick made us feel like we were right at home, they were real welcoming,” Cypress Lakes (TX) coach Emmanuel Olatunbosun said Monday by phone. “We got a good feeling when we got there.”

    Thanks in large part to Patrick, LSU has a loaded freshman class highlighted by potential No. 1 draft pick Ben Simmons along with guards Brandon Sampson and Antonio Blakeney. Now they’re looking to add Fox to their 2016 class.

    MITCH-LIGHTFOOT-150708-PROMitch Lightfoot, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound 2016 forward from Gilbert (Ariz.) Christian High, took an official visit to Kansas this weekend.

    “It went very well,” he said. “I had a great time at Kansas.

    “I like the tradition and how they use their big guys. They would use me as a stretch 4 that would really help their team with the losses of Perry [Ellis], Jamari [Traylor] and Hunter [Mickelson].”

    A onetime New Mexico commit, Lightfoot has now visited Kansas, Utah and Stanford with John’s (Oct. 2-4) and Arizona (Oct. 10) up next. St. John’s coach Chris Mullin had a home visit with Lightfoot on the eve of the Kansas trip.

    4_3732597Travis Atson, a 6-foot-5, 200-pound small forward from Notre Dame Prep (MA) and the PSA Cardinals, committed to Tulsa on Sunday following a visit there.

    Ranked the No. 44 small forward in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com, he also considered DePaul and UCSB.

    “It was where I belong,” the Brooklyn native told SNY.tv. “I felt so comfortable and a part of the family as soon as I got there. They accepted me right into their family and I feel like their style of play fits me perfect and it’s exactly how I want to play.

    “Also coach [Frank] Haith and his staff have an amazing resume.”

    Atson left defending New York State Federation champion Christ the King after the 2013-14 season and spent last year at South Kent (CT) before transferring to Notre Dame Prep this season.

    -9Pa3Npv_400x400Justice Kithcart, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound combo guard from Team Loaded and Lynchburg (VA) Virginia Episcopal School, committed to Pittsburgh on Sunday.

    Ranked the No. 15 combo guard in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com, he also strongly considered TCU and Memphis.

    “The entire coaching staff was great,” James Kithcart, the player’s father, said. “Justice wanted to play for a great coach [in Jamie Dixon] and assistant Coach Brandin Knight was a great point guard. His story sold Justice.

    4_3721433Mario Kegler, a 6-foot-7 small forward from Oak Hill Academy (Va.), enjoyed his weekend official to Arizona State and won’t visit Penn State next weekend.

    “The visit was great,” Omhar Carter, Kegler’s guardian and AAU coach,  told SNY.tv. “Coach [Bobby] Hurley is a true visionary. He will be in line to be a future Hall of Fame coach.”

    Asked what role he would play at ASU, Carter said, “He would play the 2 and the 3 spot. They would need him to score.

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