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.
A defiant Rick Pitino says resigning as the head basketball coach at Louisville wouldn’t accomplish anything.
“I don’t know what resigning would accomplish,” Pitino told host Terry Meiners on WHAS-840 in Louisville this week. “I think that’s the cowardly way out … What does it do for the program if the head coach just runs away?”
By the end of the interview, Pitino had conceded that he would resign if that’s what Louisville President James Ramsey wanted.
“If I get the feeling that he wants [me to resign], I’d pack my bags and leave,” the Hall of Fame coach said.
In a matter of days, 6-foot-7 combo forward Leroy Butts’ Division-I profile has skyrocketed. Since de-comitting from Rhode Island due to academic issues, the Elev8 Prep post-grad is entertaining interest from Louisville, Memphis, Boston College, Ole Miss, and a bevy of others.
“Louisville, Memphis, I would say those are the main schools I’ve heard the most from right now,” said Elev8 head coach Chad Myers, whose squad features high-end Division-I talent with Cal-signee Tyson Jolly and Ole Miss-bound guard Donte Fitzpatrick.
“I think he definitely is a high-major player,” Myers said. “Being a fifth-year player, he’s a little bit older, so he wants to go to the right fit where he’s got a chance to contribute right away. We’ve had calls from all over. Big East, ACC, all down the board. I think right now it’s just too early to tell.”
Following a busy week in which college basketball practices began across the country, many top recruits will hit the road for visits this weekend.
Here’s a rundown that will be updated over the weekend. For more detail on any player, click the embedded link near their name:
**Kentucky hosts 6-foot-10 power forward Edrice “Bam” Adebayo of High Point Christian (N.C.). Adebayo recently visited Auburn and is also being courted by N.C. State, but Kentucky coach John Calipari has visited him twice at High Point Christian as he attempts to replenish his front court going forward. Adebayo is the projected No. 9 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.
**Kansas has a big weekend for Late Night in the Phog, hosting 6-10 Oak Hill Academy (VA) power forward Harry Giles, 6-5 Cypress Lakes (TX) point guard De’Aaron Fox, 6-3 Bentonville (AR) combo guard Malik Monk and 6-10 DeSoto (TX) big man Marques Bolden. They also host the 2017 duo of Michael Porter Jr. and Trae Young, who are discussing a package. Giles, Monk and Fox all projected Top 10 picks in the 2017 NBA Draft (with Giles at No. 1). All three will also visit Kentucky next weekend for Big Blue Madness, and Fox has said he wouldn’t mind playing with Monk at the next level.
**Florida State has a huge weekend, hosting 6-10 Miami (FL) Borland power forward Dewan Huell, who is also considering Miami and South Carolina, as well as 6-10 center Udoka Azubuike, 6-4 point guard Trent Forrest and committed 6-10 small forward Jonathan Isaac — all on officials. C.J. Walker, a 6-foot point guard from Indianapolis (IN) Arsenal Tech, visits Saturday on an unofficial for the football game with Miami.
**South Carolina hosts Columbia (S.C.) point guard Seventh Woods, who is also considering North Carolina and Georgetown.
**Kansas State hosts 6-9 Oak Hill Academy (VA) power forward Khadim Sy. He will visit Georgia Tech next weekend, Virginia Tech the weekend of Oct. 23 and possibly Miami Oct. 30. Sy is also considering Purdue.
The Bryce Aiken Sweepstakes is over and he’s headed to Harvard.
In the end, the 5-foot-11 point guard from the PSA Cardinals and Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick chose the Crimson over in-state Seton Hall and glamorous Miami because of the allure of an Ivy League education.
“It’s the No. 1 school in the world,” Aiken previously told SNY.tv. “The term ‘student-athlete’ is thrown out there a lot nowadays and most basketball players aren’t looking for academics and take high-academic schools for granted. Coach [Tommy] Amaker believes that I can take their program to the next level and I will play immediately.”
