The 4 Quarters Podcast: Kyle Tucker, Billy McKnight, D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera and recruiting
Adam Zagoria and Josh Newman deliver an
Adam Zagoria and Josh Newman deliver an
Photo by Kelly Kline/Under Armour
Chris Mullin officially signed the first player of his 2016-17 recruiting class as guard Shamorie Ponds inked a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for St. John’s University next season.
The 6-foot-1, southpaw from Brooklyn, N.Y., is a consensus four-star prospect, who ranks No. 41 on the ESPN 100 list and No. 42 by Rivals for the Class of 2016.
“We are thrilled to welcome Shamorie to St. John’s University and our basketball family,” said Mullin. “His commitment to St. John’s has set the tone for the future of our program as we strive to keep New York’s top talent home.”
At this stage, Rutgers and St. John’s have a lot in common.
Both are 2-0 on the season.
Both were picked to finish last in their respective conferences — Rutgers in the Big Ten and St. John’s in the Big East.
And both are now coached by legendary former alums who went on to play in the NBA and then were welcomed back by their alma maters as potential saviors.
The ugliness of the Internet was on display Wednesday soon after Malik Monk announced he would become the latest probable one-and-done player to head to Kentucky. The 6-foot-3 lead guard is an Arkansas native and the fact that he picked SEC rival Kentucky over Arkansas didn’t go over well with some. Arkansas native and Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis chimed in with this Tweet:
I didn't need Kentucky to make it to the NBA but thats none of my business?☕️
— Bobby BP Portis (@BPortistime) November 18, 2015
Meantime, somebody (presumably angry Arkansas fans) messed with Marcus Monk’s Wikipedia page, writing, “Just leave Arkansas now, traitor.”
Miami scored its second huge commitment of the day when Dewan Huell picked the Hurricanes over South Carolina.
The 6-foot-10 Huell is ranked the No. 7 power forward in the Class of 2016 by 247Sports.com. He joined shooting guard Bruce Brown of Vermont Academy, who committed to Miami over Indiana Wednesday morning. Miami also has a pledge from Oak Hill Academy (VA) big man Rodney Miller.
“It’s been real hard, but I feel so much better. I can go to sleep knowing where I’m going to college,” Huell told the Sun-Sentinel. “[Miami’s] been recruiting me since I was a freshman. They know me. I’ve been their No. 1 target since then. It’s right here at home where my family and friends can see me play. … I’m happy to be here. I’m blessed.”
Every year I try to compile a list of some of the most high-profile high school hoops tourneys. These events feature some of the top recruits and coaches in the nation and are great stops to see future college standouts.
Here is a preliminary list; click on the name of the event for schedule and details. If your event doesn’t have a website, pull it together and get one up.
If I’ve missed anything, shoot me a note on Twitter with the tourney info and link.
NATIONAL PREP SHOWCASE, Nov. 20-22, Albertus Magnus College, New Haven, CT
MARSHALL COUNTY HOOPFEST, Dec. 3-5, Benton, KY
BIG APPLE HIGH SCHOOL CHALLENGE, Dec. 6, New York, NY
