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.
Kadeem Jack is a hot commodity right now, so hot that the North Carolina Tar Heels have come calling and Jack is interested.
The 6-foot-9 senior forward out of Manhattan Rice High School is planning a visit to North Carolina sometime soon although no date has been set.
“They called me a few times,” said Rice High School coach Maurice Hicks, who will soon become the Director of Basketball Operations at St. John’s. “[Assistant] coach [Steve] Robinson has called.
“Kadeem has contacted them. I think there could be a visit coming up in the near future.”
Hicks didn’t rule out the possibility that Jack could even end up committing to the Heels if he were to visit.
“He’s the type of kid, he’ll probably wind up doing that,” Hicks said. “If he goes down there for a visit, he’ll probably go.”
Damian Leslie, Jack’s mentor, echoed Jack’s interest in the Tar Heels.
“I’m pretty sure it sounds like a promising situation,”Leslie said of North Carolina. “I don’t think he would turn that one down. It sounds more like he would visit though.”
The Tar Heels will lose 6-10 twinsTravis and David Wear to transfer, Deon Thompson to graduation and Ed Davis to the NBA. Even with the return of 7-foot Tyler Zeller and 6-10 John Henson, they are in need of some size.
Jack, who averaged 16.9 points and dropped 24 points and 20 rebounds on Villanova-bound forward JayVaughn Pinkston and Bishop Loughlin in January, has become an attractive option late in the game for the Heels.
“Now North Carolina is calling and they’re showing interest,” Hicks said of Jack.
Jack initially held offers from Arizona, Arkansas, UConn, Miami and St. John’s, but opted instead to attend South Kent (Conn.), a prep school that has taken on several New York high school players in recent years.
Yet since ZAGSBLOG first reported Jack’s decision to go the prep route, North Carolina, Memphis and Texas have become involved.
“He has two more official visits,” Leslie said. “They have to be chosen wisely.”
(Photo courtesy Daily News)
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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.
Kadeem Jack is a hot commodity right now, so hot that the North Carolina Tar Heels have come calling and Jack is interested.
The 6-foot-9 senior forward out of Manhattan Rice High School is planning a visit to North Carolina sometime soon although no date has been set.
“They called me a few times,” said Rice High School coach Maurice Hicks, who will soon become the Director of Basketball Operations at St. John’s. “[Assistant] coach [Steve] Robinson has called.
“Kadeem has contacted them. I think there could be a visit coming up in the near future.”
Hicks didn’t rule out the possibility that Jack could even end up committing to the Heels if he were to visit.
“He’s the type of kid, he’ll probably wind up doing that,” Hicks said. “If he goes down there for a visit, he’ll probably go.”
Damian Leslie, Jack’s mentor, echoed Jack’s interest in the Tar Heels.
“I’m pretty sure it sounds like a promising situation,” Leslie said of North Carolina. “I don’t think he would turn that one down. It sounds more like he would visit though.”
The Tar Heels will lose 6-10 twins Travis and David Wear to transfer, Deon Thompson to graduation and Ed Davis to the NBA. Even with the return of 7-foot Tyler Zeller and 6-10 John Henson, they are in need of some size.
Jack, who averaged 16.9 points and dropped 24 points and 20 rebounds on Villanova-bound forward JayVaughn Pinkston and Bishop Loughlin in January, has become an attractive option late in the game for the Heels.
“Now North Carolina is calling and they’re showing interest,” Hicks said of Jack.
Jack initially held offers from Arizona, Arkansas, UConn, Miami and St. John’s, but opted instead to attend South Kent (Conn.), a prep school that has taken on several New York high school players in recent years.
Yet since ZAGSBLOG first reported Jack’s decision to go the prep route, North Carolina, Memphis and Texas have become involved.
“He has two more official visits,” Leslie said. “They have to be chosen wisely.”
(Photo courtesy Daily News)
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter
