N.C. State’s Braxton Beverly talks denied eligibility
By SEAN BOCK N.C. State guard Braxton Beverly
Despite some sloppy play at key moments, Roger Federer overcame Juan Martin del Potro to win his hometown Swiss Indoors title for the eighth time on Sunday.
No. 1 Federer topped No. 4 del Potro, 6-7(5), 6-4, 6-3, to win his seventh title of 2017, the most of any player on the ATP Tour.
In those seven finals, he has beaten arch-rival Rafael Nadal three times and del Potro, Stan Wawrinka, Alexander Zverev and Marin Cilic once apiece. Federer hasn’t had to play former world No. 1s Novak Djokovic or Andy Murray in any final this year as both have missed a lot of time with injuries.
“Congratulations to Juan Martin on a wonderful tournament yourself,” Federer told del Potro, who is healthy again after being sidelined for several years with wrist injuries. “You’ve been on a great run since the US Open and before. So I’m very happy to see you playing so well again and playing every week. That’s something I would like to be able do again. It’s going to be difficult for me, but congratulations.”
Hometown glory for the eighth time ?@rogerfederer defeats Juan Martin del Potro 6-7(5) 6-4 6-3 to win title No.8 in Basel!#SwissIndoors pic.twitter.com/K7K7eq11bQ
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 29, 2017
Federer has now won the Halle (Germany) title nine times, and Wimbledon and Basel eight times.
“Congratulations, Roger, you have been playing great tennis this year,” del Potro said on court. “You are in fantastic shape, it’s unbelievable. I would love to be at your age in the same form, but I don’t think so.”
With the win, Federer moved past Djokovic – who is currently out of action due to an elbow injury – as the player to have won the most prize money in his career.
Jared Rhoden, the 6-foot-6, 205-pound shooting guard from Our Saviour Lutheran (NY) School and the NY Lightning, committed to Seton Hall on Saturday evening, he told ZAGSBLOG.
Rhoden also considered Saint Louis, Penn State and Wichita State. He was coming off an official to Penn State last weekend and previously visited Saint Louis (Sept. 29), Wichita State (Oct. 6) and Seton Hall (Oct. 13).
“I chose Seton Hall because they had best balance in what I was looking for as a student-athlete,” he said. “I would be able to play in the Big East Conference against the best talent in the country as well as with my fellow teammates who would get me better.
“Seton Hall also has an amazing business school which is something I’ve always wanted to major in. Seton Hall in all just felt like home. My relationship with coach [Shaheen] Holloway and coach [Kevin] Willard was natural as well as my relationship with the players. Also being able to stay home and play in front of my family almost every game was important as well.”
Adam Zagoria of zagsblog.com and Josh Newman
Dana Dingle is well acquainted with Seton Hall’s recruiting process.
The former UMass guard who played on John Calipari’s 1996 Final Four team is now the director of the Nike-sponsored NY Lightning on the EYBL circuit.
He coached current Seton Hall senior forward Angel Delgado, and more recently coached Seton Hall commit Anthony Nelson.
Another one of his players, 6-foot-6 Our Savior Lutheran shooting guard Jared Rhoden, will announce his college choice on Saturday. He’s down to a Final Four of Seton Hall, Penn State, Wichita State and Saint Louis.
Maryland has done fairly well in recruiting
