November 2015 | Page 27 of 28 | Zagsblog
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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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Friday / November 22.
  • ToroArnaldo Toro, a 6-foot-9 2016 power forward from St. Benedict’s Prep, enjoyed his official visit to Kansas State over the weekend.

    “It was good, their facilities were tough,” he said. “That’s the biggest thing I like.

    “Their team is always about family and they’re always together. They treat my family with respect.”

    Kansas State over the weekend also got a commitment from 6-10 American Heritage (FL) power forward James Love.

    Toro, a native of Puerto Rico, is down to George Washington, St. Joe’s and Kansas State and has now visited all three schools.  He will head back to GW this coming weekend for an unofficial visit.

    EAWYYNOHRJBNZGO.20150708132027North Carolina is ranked No. 1 in The Associated Press Preseason Top 25 poll for the ninth time, the most of any school in history.

    The Tar Heels received 35 first-place votes from the 65-member national media panel. Kentucky is ranked second with 10 first-place votes, followed by Maryland, which had 14 first-place votes, and Kansas, which was No. 1 on five ballots.

    Carolina, which features four projected 2016 NBA Draft picks according to DraftExpress.com, was last ranked No. 1 in 2011-12.

    “I do feel like we’re going to be a good basketball team,” said head coach Roy Williams. “I’m excited for our kids, because this is one of the best groups that I’ve ever worked with. We made a nice run last year but were disappointed with the way it ended. Hopefully we will use that as fuel to be the best team we can be this year. There are so many good teams, I don’t see how anybody could pick just one to be No. 1 at this point of the season. But it’s certainly nice to be one of those teams under consideration.”

    MonkMalik Monk took an official visit to Arkansas over the weekend for the last of his scheduled officials.

    The 6-foot-3 guard out of Bentonville (AR) was on hand for the school’s Red-White Game and took in practice, as shown in this picture from Arkansas beat writer Andrew Hutchinson.

    Monk has now taken officials to Oregon, Kansas, Kentucky and Arkansas, but his decision is widely expected to come down to Kentucky and Arkansas.

    Monk and fellow guard De’Aaron Fox have discussed pairing up in college, and Fox has been open about his admiration for Kentucky’s ability to play multiple elite guards together, such as Eric Bledsoe and John Wall. This year the Wildcats feature Tyler Ulis, Isaiah Briscoe and Jamal Murray, all projected future pros.

    Monk and Fox are projected as Top 10 picks in the 2017 NBA Draft by DraftExpress.com.

    cr45dwxwuaaq4tmAs we reported last week, Seton Hall is attempting to land a “Fab Five” of its own from the New Jersey area.

    The Pirates on Sunday hosted the Sports U Team Izod Class of 2018 quintet of Jahvon Quinerly, Luther Muhammad, Atiba Taylor, Louis King and Naz Reid.

    The players visited Seton Hall one day after sophomore guard Isaiah Whitehead went for 40 points in an 84-79 exhibition win over Baruch College.

    “We didn’t really get to talk to the players but we said what’s up to them,” said Quinerly, a 6-foot point guard told SNY.tv.

    Asked what the message from coach Kevin Willard and his staff was, Quinerly said: “Basically that they want us all to stay home, get an education and they would like to build a team around us five.”

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    Jarrett Allen, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Austin (TX) St. Stephen’s Episcopal, enjoyed his official visit to Houston and will next trip to Kentucky in two weeks.

    “It was good, I had a lot of fun and learned a lot about the school,” Allen told SNY.tv of Houston, which he visited instead of Kentucky as originally planned.

    “I really liked the feel of the school community wise, the coaching staff, and the new facilities that they are building.”

    CSu1dVGW4AAyEenBam Adebayo Tweeted that he had a “sensational experience” on his official visit to N.C. State this weekend.

    He also Retweeted a picture of himself with a fan and an Instagram of himself at the football game, a 56-41 loss to Clemson.

    “It was exciting,” Eric Peartree, Adebayo’s mentor, told Scout.com. “I think he had a great time. It was electric, with Clemson in town and just being able for him to interact with the fanbase. Bam’s mom was able to come for the weekend and so overall it was a great experience.

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