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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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    • Kentucky, Recruiting


    4_9478941    Hot on the heels of their victory over defending national champion Duke on Tuesday night in Chicago, Kentucky got even more good news on Wednesday.

    Malik Monk has committed to Kentucky and will sign his National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, giving the Wildcats the No. 1-ranked recruiting class, according to Scout.com.

    The 6-foot-3 Monk out of Bentonville (AR) considered several other schools, but in-state Arkansas was the main challenger.

    Monk joins fellow point guard De’Aaron Fox along with big men Bam Adebayo, Sacha Killeya-Jones and Wenyen Gabriel in Kentucky’s class.

    Kentucky now has three projected Top 10 picks in the 2017 NBA Draft according to DraftExpress.com in No. 4 Fox, No. 7 Monk and No. 10 Adebayo.

    Meantime, Kentucky point guards Tyler Ulis, Isaiah Briscoe and Jamal Murray could all depart for the NBA, paving the way for Fox and Monk to take over in 2016-17. Murray is projected as the No. 6 pick by DraftExpress.com and Briscoe at No. 18.

    Kentucky will also likely return guards Mychal Mulder, Charles Matthews and Dominique Hawkins.

    Fox recently talked to Jonathan Givony of DraftExpress.com about teaming up with Monk.

    “Oh yeah I do [think we could play together], we’ve talked about it,” Fox said at the recent USA Basketball mini-camp in Colorado. “We were in the Bahamas together. We were there for a couple days together. We talked about the recruiting process. It’s not set in stone that we’ll go to the same school but it’s a possibility.”

    Articles, Miami

    CGauL6iUcAAgVJtVermont Academy guard Bruce Brown is headed to warmer weather.

    The 6-foot-4 Brown announced for Miami over Indiana on Wednesday on ESPN. Ranked the No. 6 shooting guard in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com, he previously cut Xavier, UMass and Purdue from his list.

    “I will be attending the University of Miami,” Brown told ESPN’s Adam Finkelstein.

    Brown said Miami had texted him every day since his sophomore season. He figures to get significant playing time beginning next season when guards Sheldon McClellan and Angel Rodriguez depart.

    “They run pick-and-rolls, I love pick-and-rolls,” Brown said. “They pressure the ball and also Angel and Sheldon are leaving.”

    Duke, Kentucky

    Nov 17, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Jamal Murray (23) moves past Duke Blue Devils guard Matt Jones (13) during the second half at the United Center. Kentucky won 74-63. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

    Jamal Murray was one of three Kentucky point guards in double-digits in the win over Duke. Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

    By RYAN FISH

    CHICAGO — Before Tuesday’s primetime matchup between Duke and Kentucky at the State Farm Champions Classic, someone in the United Center media room asked ESPN college basketball analyst Jay Williams if Kentucky’s seemingly crowded backcourt would hurt the team by forcing it to pass the ball too much.

    Williams smirked and shook his head.

    “I think [Coach] Cal’s had point guards like that before,” he said. “The issue [for Kentucky won’t be], ‘Am I passing too much?’ but ‘When do I need to be assertive offensively?’”

    The Wildcats’ guards certainly figured that part out on Tuesday night.

    Tyler Ulis, Jamal Murray and Isaiah Briscoe took their turns being assertive on offense, combining for 46 points, 12 rebounds and 12 assists along with eight steals as Kentucky topped defending NCAA champion Duke, 74-63. The backcourt’s balanced effort stood out as one of the more striking takeaways from the game, as the guards moved the ball effectively, scored often and only committed four turnovers between them.

    Articles, Kansas, Michigan State

    Nov 17, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Michigan State Spartans guard Denzel Valentine (45) shoots the ball against Kansas Jayhawks forward Jamari Traylor (31) during the first half at the United Center. Michigan State defeats Kansas 79-73. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

    Denzel Valentine went for a triple-double against Kansas. Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

    By RYAN FISH

    CHICAGO— Michigan State made sure Valentine’s Day came about three months early on Tuesday night.

    Denzel Valentine, the Spartans’ senior star, became the fourth player in program history to record a triple-double to boost No. 13 Michigan State to a 79-73 victory over No. 4 Kansas in the second game of the State Farm Champions Classic.

    Valentine had 29 points, 12 rebounds, 12 assists and only a single turnover to lead the Spartans to a comeback after trailing by 11 with 9:21 remaining. Magic Johnson is the only other Michigan State player to record a triple-double against Kansas.

    Magic called Valentine to congratulate him and asked him what his favorite part of the triple-double was. Valentine told him, “Assists.”

    “It was Magic, what else are you supposed to say?” Valentine said.

    Articles, Duke, Kentucky

    Nov 17, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Kentucky Wildcats guard Tyler Ulis (3) grabs a rebound during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

    Kentucky guard Tyler Ulis (3) grabs a rebound during the first half against Duke at the United Center.  Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

    By RYAN FISH 

    CHICAGO — Duke and Kentucky seemed destined to meet last April in the NCAA Championship game. But while the Blue Devils went the distance and cut down the nets for the fifth time in school history, Kentucky was taken out by Wisconsin in the national semifinals.

    In the first real test of the 2015-16 season, the Wildcats proved to be up to the challenge.

    No. 2 Kentucky topped No. 5 Duke 74-63 in the first game of the State Farm Champions Classic Tuesday night at the United Center. Kentucky’s guards were the difference, as Tyler Ulis, Jamal Murray and Isaiah Briscoe combined for 46 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds in front of more than 60 NBA personnel.

    “If you have good guards, you have a chance to win, and Kentucky has three point guards,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski told reporters.

    Arizona State, Recruiting

    Thon MakerThon Maker has set his first official visit for Arizona State in late January, his guardian told Scout.com.

    “We are looking to visit Arizona State for their game against Oregon,” Ed Smith told Scout. “We play against Prolific in Napa and we’ll go from there and visit Arizona State at that time. I think that’s around the 29th.”

    On Thursday, Maker listed Arizona State, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Notre Dame and St. John’s as the schools recruiting him the hardest.

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