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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.
  • Alex Rice, the 6-foot-2 Class of 2019 shooting guard and son of Monmouth coach King Rice, will transfer to Mater Dei next year following the closing of St. Anthony’s.

    “I really get along with the coaching staff,” Alex Rice said.

    Rice averaged 10 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists last season under Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley at St. Anthony’s. He will join six returners at Mater Dei, which went 25-4 last season, winning back-to-back Shore Conference championships.

    “I am excited that Alexander Rice will attend Mater Dei Prep,” Mater Dei head coach Ben Gamble, Hurley’s longtime former lieutenant at St. Anthony’s, told ZAGSBLOG.

    “The resurgence of the program and adding a very good young player with a high IQ will make us a state contender. Alexander will join a returning backcourt of Kenny Jones, Kyle Cardeci and Yasin Prelaw. It’s a great problem to have. He also arrives as an Honor Student.”

    Following recent terrorist incidents in Egypt, John Calipari initially had concerns about coaching the USA Basketball U19 team there next month but now says he’s comfortable with the security setup in Cairo.

    “If I wasn’t comfortable I wouldn’t go,” Calipari said Tuesday on a conference call about the 2017 FIBA U19 World Cup for Men, slated for July 1-9. “I’m very comfortable walking through the way we’ve done this. I’m very comfortable that we’re going to be fine.”

    There have been several terrorist incidents in Egypt in recent months, including an ISIS attack in late May outside of Cairo that killed at least 29 Coptic Christians, including 10 children. The attack was the fourth to target Egypt’s Christian community since December.

    The Knicks on Monday worked out  Duke sophomore shooting guard Luke Kennard, per a source.

    The 6-foot-6 Kennard is a natural scorer who averaged 19.5 points and 5.1 rebounds last season at Duke. During his high school career at Franklin (Ohio), Kennard passed LeBron James on the Ohio High School Athletic Association career scoring list.

    “Luke’s skill set is such a perfect fit for the way the NBA game has evolved and we’re all excited to see him flourish at the next level,” Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said when he made his decision to go pro. “He is a wonderful person who will immediately be an asset to an NBA team.”

    LaVall Jordan has been named the new head coach at Butler, the school announced Monday night. He will be introduced during a press conference on Wednesday.

    ZAGSBLOG reported earlier Monday that Jordan would be named the next coach.

    The deal is for six years, a source close to the situation told ZAGSBLOG.

    “LaVall is a tremendous coach who exemplifies The Butler Way,” said AD Barry Collier, who as the team’s head coach first recruited Jordan to Butler in 1997. “He has played a major role in successful programs that have competed at the highest levels. LaVall also has a deep appreciation for our university and this program, and will recruit and develop young men who will represent Butler well. We are thrilled to welcome LaVall, Destinee, and their three beautiful daughters back to Butler.”

    By JAKE WEINGARTEN

    Former international swingman Terrance Ferguson is expected to have a workout with the Nets on Sunday, per Mike Scotto of Basketball Insiders.

    The Nets hold the Nos. 22 and 27 picks in the the June 22nd NBA draft.

    The 6-foot-7 Ferguson is currently projected to go at No. 23 to the Toronto Raptors, per DraftExpress.com.

    Ferguson has worked out for the Los Angeles Lakers (pick No. 28), Indiana Pacers (18), Chicago Bulls (16) and Denver Nuggets (13) and still has visits with the Charlotte Hornets (11), Miami Heat (14), Detroit Pistons (12) and Milwaukee Bucks (17) in addition to the Nets, per The Oregonian.

    Ferguson averaged 4.6 points, 1.2 rebounds and 15.2 minutes while shooting 38 percent from the field and 31 percent from three-point range last season for the Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League in Australia.

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