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.
Wall Charged with Misdemeanor; Baskin Visiting Manhattan
John Wall, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2009, has been charged with breaking and entering by Raleigh police, according to WRAL in Raleigh.
Authorities said Wall, 18, was charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering in connection with an April 27 break-in at an unoccupied home in Raleigh.
An officer saw Wall leaving from the rear of the house and detained him, police said. There was no forced entry and nothing was taken from the house, police said.
The home in question is vacant and for sale, meaning Wall and his friends could have just been guilty of hanging out in a spot where they were not allowed.
“I wouldn’t jump to conclusions,” Dave Telep of Scout told WRAL. “It’s a misdemeanor. It could be nothing more than a mistake.
“I think John is a good kid. It doesn’t feel right,” Telep added.
The 6-foot-4 Wall is due to cut his list any day. He currently lists Baylor, Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Miami and N.C. State.
It remains unclear how this latest charge will impact Wall’s recruitment, Will Duke or Kentucky back off? Will Coach K decide he can’t get such a player, no matter how talented, into Duke? Will John Calipari have a hard time explaining to his boosters and administration why he went so hard after a young man who has been charged with a crime? Or will the whole thing prove to be much ado about nothing?
BASKIN VISITING MANHATTANTevin Baskin, 6-foot-7 senior forward from Trinity (Conn.) Catholic, says he will visit Manhattan in the next week and is also planning several other visits.
“I’m still hearing from Providence. Missouri and Georgia Southern are showing interest,” he wrote in a text. “I’m going to wait it out and see what happens and what offers come in and I’ll make a decision based on where and who I feel comfortable with.”
Last season, Baskin averaged 20.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.1 blocks for Trinity Catholic, which finished 24-4 and lost to Crosby, 82-79, in the state championship game despite 35 points and 12 rebounds from Baskin.
Last summer, Baskin averaged about 15 points and eight rebounds for the New York Gauchos. They captured two tournaments in New York and made the final of the national AAU 17-and-under championship, losing to Team Breakdown of Florida, 77-60. That squad features Kenny Boynton and Brandon Knight.
Adam Zagoria is a Basketball Insider who covers basketball at all levels. A contributor to The New York Times and SportsNet New York (SNY), he is also the author of two books and is an award-winning journalist and filmmaker. His articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, Sheridan Hoops, Basketball Times and in newspapers nationwide. He also won an Emmy award for his work on the SNY mini-documentary on Syracuse guard Tyus Battle.
A veteran Ultimate Frisbee player, he has competed in numerous National and World Championships and, perhaps more importantly, his teams won the Westchester Summer League (WSL) championships in 2011 and 2013.
He lives in Manhattan with his wife and children.
John Wall, the No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2009, has been charged with breaking and entering by Raleigh police, according to WRAL in Raleigh.
Authorities said Wall, 18, was charged with misdemeanor breaking and entering in connection with an April 27 break-in at an unoccupied home in Raleigh.
An officer saw Wall leaving from the rear of the house and detained him, police said. There was no forced entry and nothing was taken from the house, police said.
The home in question is vacant and for sale, meaning Wall and his friends could have just been guilty of hanging out in a spot where they were not allowed.
“I wouldn’t jump to conclusions,” Dave Telep of Scout told WRAL. “It’s a misdemeanor. It could be nothing more than a mistake.
“I think John is a good kid. It doesn’t feel right,” Telep added.
The 6-foot-4 Wall is due to cut his list any day. He currently lists Baylor, Duke, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Memphis, Miami and N.C. State.
It remains unclear how this latest charge will impact Wall’s recruitment, Will Duke or Kentucky back off? Will Coach K decide he can’t get such a player, no matter how talented, into Duke? Will John Calipari have a hard time explaining to his boosters and administration why he went so hard after a young man who has been charged with a crime? Or will the whole thing prove to be much ado about nothing?
BASKIN VISITING MANHATTAN
Tevin Baskin, 6-foot-7 senior forward from Trinity (Conn.) Catholic, says he will visit Manhattan in the next week and is also planning several other visits.
“I’m still hearing from Providence. Missouri and Georgia Southern are showing interest,” he wrote in a text. “I’m going to wait it out and see what happens and what offers come in and I’ll make a decision based on where and who I feel comfortable with.”
Last season, Baskin averaged 20.4 points, 8.0 rebounds and 3.1 blocks for Trinity Catholic, which finished 24-4 and lost to Crosby, 82-79, in the state championship game despite 35 points and 12 rebounds from Baskin.
Last summer, Baskin averaged about 15 points and eight rebounds for the New York Gauchos. They captured two tournaments in New York and made the final of the national AAU 17-and-under championship, losing to Team Breakdown of Florida, 77-60. That squad features Kenny Boynton and Brandon Knight.
