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The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20130906002823/http://www.insidehoops.com:80/high-school.shtml
High school basketball player rankings, team rankings, and coverage of some top high school basketball event. plus features on top players and key high school basketball events. And talk high school hoops on our high school basketball forum
Pompano Beach Ely basketball star picks East Carolina (September 3, 2013): Lance Tejada III, a throwback, pass-first point guard for reigning Class 7A state champion Pompano Beach Blanche Ely, ended his recruitment with an oral commitment to East Carolina University during an official visit Saturday. With exceptional court vision, ability to finish at the rim and yo-yo like ball-handling which allows him to keep his dribble alive until a play develops, the four-star prospect appears poised to make an immediate impact for East Carolina head coach Jeff Lebo, a former point guard for legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith. “Coach Lebo is a great coach and great person,’’ Tejada said. Miami Herald
Wing Trevon Bluiett commits to UCLA (September 2, 2013): New UCLA coach Steve Alford has taken advantage of his Indiana ties and landed his first commitment of the Class of 2014 with top-50 wing Trevon Bluiett. "I loved the campus, and Coach Alford and his staff made me feel welcome and comfortable as soon as I stepped on campus," Bluiett told ESPN.com. The 6-foot-6 standout from Park Tudor High in Indianapolis took an official visit to UCLA this past weekend. He had already visited Xavier and Butler and was scheduled to visit Purdue this weekend. Arizona, Indiana and Michigan were also among his finalists. -- ESPN.com
Utah lands verbal commitment from 2014 forward Kyle Kuzma (August 30, 2013): Slowly but surely, Larry Krystkowiak’s Utah basketball program is taking steps back towards respectability. After winning just six games in his first season at the Pac-12 school, Krystkowiak’s team improved its win total by nine games in 2012-13 and reached the semifinals of the Pac-12 tournament. With rising sophomores Jordan Loveridge and Brandon Taylor being joined by a six-member recruiting class that includes junior guard Delon Wright, the hope is that the Utes can improve their standing within the conference (5-13 record last season) in 2013-14. -- NBC Sports
2014 forward Justin Tillman commits to attend VCU (August 30, 2013): With mainstay Juvonte Reddic and Florida State transfer Terrance Shannon both entering their senior seasons, VCU head coach Shaka Smart needed some additional bodies in the front court for the 2014 season and beyond. On Friday the Rams received a boost in that department, as 2014 forward Justin Tillman (Pershing HS, Detroit) verbally committed to attend the Atlantic 10 school. -- NBC Sports
Adonys Henriquez Decommits from Miami (August 29, 2013): On Wednesday afternoon, Miami lost one of their top recruits in the class of 2014, Adonys Henriquez. The 6-foot-6 shooting guard, and the number 46th player in the nation on ESPN out of Orlando Christian Prep (Fla.), opened up his recruiting once again to schools all across the nation, while also opening up options for Miami moving forward. -- ZagsBlog
Coach K Tells Myles Turner He’s One-and-Done (August 28, 2013): Given Duke’s reputation for keeping players in school for more than one year, it qualifies as news when Coach K tells someone he’s a one-and-done. Such is apparently the case with 6-foot-11 Texas big man Myles Turner, who wrote this in his USA Today blog: “I also like how Coach K talks to me. “He handles me like I’m a pro. He says things like: ‘Myles you’re a pro and you need to carry yourself that way. You don’t need to worry about all of this media, outside stuff you need to start training your mind now. Hopefully you’ll only be in college for a year and head off to the NBA because I can see you there.’ -- ZagsBlog
Pair of Ohio hoops showcases announced (August 28, 2013): Ohio event organizer Chas Wolfe is close to finalizing details for a pair of high school basketball showcase events slated for the 2013-14 season. The second annual Play 4 Cancer Shootout will be played Dec. 28 in Massillon. Highlights include a matchup between a pair of defending state champions in Bishop Watterson (Columbus) and Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland). See the complete lineup below. The third annual Dunk 4 Diabetes Shootout will be played Jan. 25-26, 2014 at Walsh University in North Canton. The tentative lineup for that event includes out-of-state powers Bishop Kearney (Rochester, N.Y.), Huntington Prep (W.Va.), La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) and Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.). -- MaxPreps
PG Emmanuel Mudiay commits to SMU August 24, 2013
Larry Brown scored the biggest victory in his tenure at SMU on Saturday, earning the commitment of the No. 2 point guard and No. 5 overall player in the ESPN 100, Emmanuel Mudiay (Prime Prep/Arlington, Texas). Mudiay picked SMU over Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky and Oklahoma State. He is the highest-rated player to ever choose the Mustangs... Mudiay is a big, physical guard with excellent vision and strong dribble-penetration skills. He has the potential to become a superior defender. -- RecruitingNation/ESPN.com
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PG Josh Perkins commits to Gonzaga August 24, 2013
Class of 2014 point guard Josh Perkins committed to Gonzaga on Saturday. Perkins, who is No. 24 in the ESPN 100 and the No. 6 point guard in the nation, chose the Bulldogs over UCLA and Minnesota. He joins shooting guard Silas Melson (Portland, Ore./Jefferson) in Gonzaga's 2014 class. -- ESPN.com
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PG Kaleb Joseph commits to Syracuse August 17, 2013
ESPN 100 point guard Kaleb Joseph (Nashua, N.H./Cushing Academy) made a verbal commitment to Syracuse on Saturday while on campus for an official visit. Joseph, ranked the No. 51 overall prospect and No. 10 point guard in the ESPN 100, has seen wide-ranging, high-major recruitment throughout the last year but trimmed his list to just Syracuse, Providence and West Virginia after the July evaluation period. He becomes the second elite prospect to commit to Syracuse in the Class of 2014, joining another New England prep school product in power forward Chris McCullough, a native of Bronx, N.Y., who attends Brewster Academy (N.H.) and is ranked No. 7 overall in the ESPN 100. -- RecruitingNation/ESPN.com
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PF Craig Victor commits to Arizona August 17, 2013
The Arizona Wildcats secured a verbal commitment from ESPN 100 power forward Craig Victor on Saturday afternoon. The 6-foot-7, 205-pound New Orleans native -- ranked No. 31 nationally in the Class of 2014, No. 1 in Louisiana and No. 5 at his position -- picked the Wildcats over LSU, Kansas and Oklahoma State. Victor made the announcement at his travel team's season-ending banquet. "For me, it was about going to a place that could develop me for the NBA," Victor said. "I also wanted a chance to win a national championship." -- RecruitingNation/ESPN.com
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2013 Elite 24 game is August 24 in Brooklyn August 2, 2013
The date of the 2013 Elite 24 hoops classic game is August 24, at 7pm ET. The Elite 24 game location is the Tobacco Warehouse near the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, New York City. More info: Elite 24 Hoops Classic
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Malik Newman solidifies top spot among the class of 2015 August 1, 2013
Back in early July, Malik Newman scored 40 points at the Nike Peach Jam in front of a who's who of college basketball coaches. He then said the following: “It makes me feel good, but I'm not sure if they're watching me or watching someone else. I just try to show them I can play and that I need a scholarship.” Here's a hint, Malik: if it's a coach at a powerhouse school, they're definitely watching you. Newman is the consensus No. 1 player in the class of 2015, and he constantly attracted a steady stream of big-time coaches to his games. Whether it was at the Peach Jam playing with the Jackson Tigers or in Dallas and Las Vegas playing with Mo Williams Elite, there was a crowd. -- CBS Sports
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2014 Spalding Hoophall Classic will be loaded with star power August 1, 2013
The nation's premier high school basketball showcase is getting close to finalizing another star-studded lineup. The 2014 Spalding Hoophall Classic – scheduled for Jan. 16-20 in Springfield, Mass. – has 37 boys and girls teams representing 16 states and Canada already on board. Organizers expect to add a couple more teams to that list. Pairings and times will be announced at a later date Fifteen of 247Sports.com's top 25 Class of 2014 prospects are expected to be on the rosters of participating teams. Center and No. 2 overall prospect Jahlil Okafor of Whitney Young (Chicago), No. 3 Emmanuel Mudiay of Prime Prep (Dallas), No. 6 Daniel Hamilton of St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), No. 7 Stanley Johnson of Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and No. 8 Chris McCullough of Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) will be among the star attractions in Springfield. -- MaxPreps
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Power Forward Gary Clark Visits N.C. State, Has Trips Planned August 1, 2013
Gary Clark, a 6-foot-7 power forward from Clayton (N.C.) High School, visited N.C. State Thursday and has several other visits planned. An underrated big man who can score inside and out, Clark averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds two years ago and was named to the Associated Press All-State team last season, according to HighSchoolOT.com. “He is a player who is very good but not a finished product,” Clayton coach Denny Medlin told SNY.tv. “Nobody knows what his ceiling is but he’s going to keep getting better, and he’s already very good.” -- ZagsBlog
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Shooting guard Phil Booth to Villanova July 30, 2013
Team Takeover shooting guard Phil Booth is off the board. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound Baltimore Mount St. Joseph guard picked Villanova over Georgetown, Indiana, Virginia and Temple, although he told SNY.tv Georgetown was second on his list. “I really like the coaching staff they have. Villanova has a great history of producing and developing guards,” Booth told SNY.tv Tuesday. “I thought it was the best chance for me to succeed over the first year as a player.” -- ZagsBlog
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2014 PG Shavar Newkirk commits to St. Joseph’s July 28, 2013
Phil Martelli landed a key part of his 2014 recruiting class last Friday when Shavar Newkirk, a 5-foot-10 point guard from Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, NY, committed to St. Joseph’s. Newkirk’s AAU program director Terrence “Munch” Williams had this to say of Newkirk’s decision to NYPost.com: "Great conference, Hall of Fame coach, close enough distance his family can come see him all the time, opportunity to play right away and play his natural position. He’s got a coach who extremely believes in him. He got everything he needed." -- NBC Sports
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Harry Giles, No. 1 freshman, will miss sophomore season July 27, 2013
MaxPreps' National Freshman of the Year will be denied winning similar sophomore honors. The Greensboro News-Record reported that Harry Giles underwent left knee surgery this week and will miss his sophomore year at Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.). Giles had injured his knee while playing for the USA basketball team during the FIBA Americas U16 Championships in Uruguay. The 6-foot-9, 210-pound small forward averaged 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds while leading his team to the NCISAA Class 3A state championship. -- Max Preps
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Summer Jam Notebook: Jalen Brunson pushing for five-star status July 20, 2013
After yet another impressive performance from point guard Jalen Brunson, I started to think about where the 2015 prospect ranks at his position. There are several quality floor generals in the junior class, so it was difficult. Brunson wasn't about to contribute any help, either. "It's not even my job," he said, smiling. "When I play, I feel like I'm the best. But, really, that's your guys' job." Overall, Brunson's stock has been steadily rising throughout the spring and summer, as the 6-foot-2 Stevenson (Ill.) product is stringing together stellar event after stellar event. At the Peach Jam last week, Brunson struggled in the first and last game, but had 44 combined points against Houston Hoops and Texas Titans. He continued his effort at the Under Armour/NY2LA Summer Jam on Wednesday and Thursday, showing composure and savvy in a couple of signature wins. -- CBS Sports
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Jaylen Brown stepping up July 20, 2013
Game Elite's Jaylen Brown recently earned the right to have five stars next to his name in the rankings, and he is showing why. Through two days of action at the Best of the South, he's simply been the best player in the gym. Brown, a Georgia native who attends perennial powerhouse Wheeler High School, had two strong performances on Friday. In an afternoon matchup against a local rival in the Southern Kings, Brown crossed the 20-point mark and made all the big plays down the stretch. A strong, athletic wing, Brown has a picture-perfect jumper and is not afraid to go inside to use his strength to finish over or through defenders. Friday night's matchup against Each One Teach One drew a number of college coaches, and Brown again put on a show against the depleted Nike EYBL champs. Alabama, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Maryland, N.C. State, VCU and many more have been on hand to see Brown and his Game Elite team this week. -- Rivals.com
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High school basketball recruiting July 10, 2013
As most of the sports world enters the dog days of summer, college basketball is getting ready to enter one of its most important three-week stretches of the year. In fact, outside of the actual season, July is the most important month for college coaches. The sort of impression coaches make on potential recruits over the next few weeks could have a major impact on the short-term future of their programs -- and of their own career. The July live period is three separate four-day periods over a three-week span. It stretches from 5 p.m. Wednesday to 5 p.m. Sunday. It used to be two separate 10-day periods, but the rules changed last year. During those days, coaches will travel the country watching prospects in all different high school classes. Some coaches will be tracking players to see who they should recruit and some will babysit players who already have committed. But many coaches just need to be in attendance and be seen by their targets. -- CBS Sports
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Ole Miss nabs commitment from forward Marcanvis Hymon July 10, 2013
While hundreds of players around the country will take the next three weeks to impress college coaches, Marcanvis Hymon won't have to be one of them. On the eve of the July recruiting period, Hymon decided to end his recruitment. He's headed to Ole Miss. Hymon, a 6-foot-8 forward from Whitehaven (Tenn.), is ranked No. 111 in the 247Sports Composite for the class of 2014 -- CBS Sports
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Some top class of 2014 high school basketball players July 10, 2013
Jahlil Okafor: Absolutely dominant inside force is coming off a terrific performance at the U19 World Championships... Tyus Jones: The best point guard in the country, Jones is looking to play in college with Okafor... Emmanuel Mudiay: Given his size and strength, Mudiay has the ability to be one of the tougher guard matchups in the class... Cliff Alexander: Just a beast of a post player, Alexander will team with Okafor to form a ridiculous inside duo for Mac Irvin Fire... Trey Lyles: A former Indiana commit, Lyles will attract the constant attention of Rick Pitino and John Calipari. -- CBS Sports
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Some top class of 2015 high school basketball players July 10, 2013
Malik Newman: He's essentially impossible to stop from scoring, as he can get into the lane at will and also run the show... Ivan Rabb: The next stud from the Oakland Soldiers' AAU program, Rabb is one of many dominant bigs in 2015... Stephen Zimmerman: Zimmerman staked his claim during the month of June, and the lefty big looks to continue his momentum... Ben Simmons: A native of Australia, Simmons plays his high school ball at Montverde in Florida and is surrounded by plenty of hype... Cheick Diallo: He's a force on the defensive end, with opponents intimidated to even attempt shots at the rim. Improving and active offensively. -- CBS Sports
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High school freshman D.J. Russell commits to Miami July 10, 2013
For most players getting ready to start their freshman year of high school, recruiting hasn't even begun. For D.J. Russell, his recruitment is already over. A 6-foot-6 small forward who will attend Jacksonville (Fla.) Arlington Country Day, Russell committed to Miami on Tuesday afternoon. The decision is an early one, but it's one that he says he was ready to make. "Their style fits me and I like how they let their wings and guards do what they do," Russell told Rivals.com. "I'm not worried about it being early. It's all about hard work on my end now." -- Rivals
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Dynamic guard Derrick Jones is exploding this summer July 9, 2013
He's a little on the spindly side. All arms, legs, elbows and wavy arm sleeves. Don't let that fool you. Derrick Jones is explosive, strong and has added a consistent jump shot to his game and is a defensive force. The 6-foot-6, 190-pound Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) junior shooting guard is rapidly being considered one of the best players in the country. He's backed it up by showing an explosive improvement this summer. He already has the attention of Philadelphia's venerable Big 5 (Temple, Villanova, St. Joseph's, Penn and La Salle), and now the big-times, like Kentucky coach John Calipari, are calling. -- Max Preps
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Aaron Gordon named MVP as USA wins U19 basketball crown July 9, 2013
Aaron Gordon added one final chapter to his glittering high school basketball career on Sunday when he was named MVP for the USA U19 team which defeated Serbia 82-68 to win the gold medal during the FIBA World Championships in Prague, Czech Republic. The 6-foot-8 University of Arizona-bound, former Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) superstar led the Americans in scoring (12.6) and rebounding (6.2) during the tournament and also averaged 2.0 steals while shooting a lofty 61.2 percent from the field, according to the USA Basketball website. -- Max Preps
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Report: 2014 point guard Casey Benson commits to Oregon July 8, 2013
With Johnathan Loyd heading into his senior season, the Oregon basketball program needed another point guard to go with Dominic Artis in 2014. With the commitment of Tempe, Ariz. (Corona Del Sol HS) product Casey Benson, the Ducks have their man. The news was first reported by Josh Gershon of Scout.com. The 6-3 Benson also held offers from schools such as Creighton, Nebraska, Stanford and Arizona State according to 247Sports.com. Named Gatorade State Player of the Year after his junior season, Benson led Corona Del Sol to a Division I state title with averages of 20.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game. In addition to his work on the floor, Benson also maintained a 3.93 GPA. -- NBC Sports
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Forward Rashed Anthony signs with Seton Hall July 8, 2013
Kevin Willard and Seton Hall inked a late 2013 commitment from Rasheed Anthony, a 6-foot-8 forward from Flora Macdonald Academy in Red Springs, NC. For much of his college recruitment, Anthony was considered a fringe BCS-level player, but teams came onto him late. The one team that was with him from nearly the beginning was Seton Hall, and that paid off for Kevin Willard. Anthony rounds out Seton Hall’s 2013 recruiting class to go along with in-state product Jaren Sina out of Gill Saint Bernard’s (Travis Berry is a projected walk-on from the Kent School (CT)). -- NBC Sports
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Buzz continues to grow for elite 2014 recruit Dante Exum July 6, 2013
This year’s crop of incoming freshmen is already receiving a tremendous amount of buzz. Between Kansas’ Andrew Wiggins, Duke’s Jabari Parker, Kentucky’s class that includes the Harrison twins and Julius Randle, and Arizona’s Aaron Gordon, there will be plenty of star power next season in the college ranks. But could another big name be joining them in college basketball this season? That appears to potentially be the case as Australia-native Dante Exum — son of former North Carolina alum and ’82 NCAA champion Cecil Exum — will graduate from his high school sometime this winter and could opt to join a program by January of 2014. A 6’6 point guard, Exum could technically enter the 2014 NBA Draft since he born in 1995 and lives outside the United States. Dante turns 18 on July 13th and according to a report from Adam Zagoria, he’s eyeing college in the United States before the draft. -- NBC Sports
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MaxPreps 2012-13 boys Team of the Year: Lone Peak basketball July 6, 2013
Utah teams win skiing or biking or soccer national championships. But basketball? Boys basketball? Not a chance. Never. Out of the realm of possibility. But Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) unquestionably earned the mythical national championship claim in 2012-13 by going 26-1, including a 6-1 record against teams that were ranked nationally at some point in the season. The Knights had wins over teams from nine states. The lone loss came in the final of the prestigious City of Palms Classic to Montverde Academy (Fla.) – the No. 1 team in MaxPreps Academy Top 10, a team not eligible for Xcellent 25 consideration. Among the biggest statements all season included an 84-46 thrashing of 22-3 Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.) in December, ending Chester's (Pa.) 61-game win streak at the City of Palms Classic and an 81-46 spanking of two-time defending California Division II state champ Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in January. -- MaxPreps
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2014 wing Vic Law becomes Chris Collins’ first commitment July 6, 2013
The Northwestern Wildcats have never reached the NCAA tournament. Losing Drew Crawford ten games into the 2012-13 season to a shoulder injury didn’t help matters, and in the end the school decided that it needed to make a coaching change. With former Duke assistant Chris Collins replacing Bill Carmody, many wondered when (or if) the Illinois native would be able to turn the program around and make history. Well, an important step in that direction was taken Thursday as 2014 small forward Vic Law announced his decision to commit to Northwestern. Law, who attends St. Rita High School in Chicago, is a four-star prospect rated in the Top 100 by many of the major scouting services. Law’s decision to commit to Northwestern is a big one for coach Collins and his staff, not only because of his talent (Law also boasts a 3.8 GPA according to the Chicago Tribune) but also because of the possibility of landing other area prospects down the line. -- NBC Sports
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6-10 forward Tristan Etienne verbally commits to attend Washington July 5, 2013
While July 4th is a national holiday, very rarely are there days off in the recruiting world. On Thursday, 6-10 forward Tristan Etienne has verbally committed to attend Washington. The news was first reported by Percy Allen of the Seattle Times. A native of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Etienne is the first commitment in the 2014 class for head coach Lorenzo Romar. “Growing up as a kid when I started watching the NCAA, Washington was a school that I took a liking to,” Etienne told Allen. “When I realized I had a chance to go D-1, it was the school I was shooting for and the school I was dreaming about. I’m just so happy I had the opportunity to go there and play.” Washington has just one senior in its front court rotation for the 2013-14 season, San Francisco transfer Perris Blackwell, but the Huskies can certainly use another body with Gilles Dierickx, Jernard Jarreau and Shawn Kemp Jr. rounding out the rotation. -- NBC Sports
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Malik Newman rises to top of Class of 2015 July 3, 2013
Last week, rising senior Jahlil Okafor was able to hold on to his No. 1 spot in the class of 2014 Rivals150. This week, we expand the class of 2015 rankings from a top 50 to a top 100, and there's a new No. 1 as Mississippi combo guard Malik Newman rises to the top from No. 3. When it comes to production, it's tough to beat the numbers Newman, a Jackson, Miss., native, has been putting up through the early part of the summer. The 6-foot-3 guard led Nike's prestigious Elite Youth Basketball League with 24.7 points per game, and he led USA Basketball's 16-and-under national team with 16.2 points per game as it won gold at the recent FIBA Americas tournament. Newman's production has been impressive, but it's about more than his scoring. It could be argued that Newman is the best pure scorer in the country. He scores with the jumper, he scores off the dribble, he scores in transition and he scores pretty much everywhere else. -- Rivals
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Malik Newman rises to top of Class of 2015 June 30, 2013
In the case of the boys basketball powerhouse at Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), the rich got richer this weekend with an assist from the NBA draft. Craig Victor of St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.), who is rated the No. 1 rising senior in his state, announced that he is transferring to Findlay Prep. He also considered Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.). The 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward told the New Orleans Times-Picayune that when former Findlay Prep star Anthony Bennett was chosen No. 1 in the NBA draft, "That really opened my eyes. They have been recruiting me for a long time. As I developed and my skills developed, more opportunities have come my way. I just want to thank God once again, because this was a great opportunity that came my way and I just took advantage of it." -- MaxPreps
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Five-star guard Brandone Francis commits to Florida June 28, 2013
Brandone Francis is off the board to Florida, sources told CBSSports.com. Francis, a 6-foot-4 guard from Arlington Country Day (Fla.), chose the Gators over Louisville, Cincinnati, Connecticut, Illinois and others. Francis emerged as one of the best guards in the class of 2014 during the spring. -- CBS Sports
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Top hoops prospect Malik Newman received 121 recruiting texts from coaches at once June 28, 2013
Ever wonder what would happen if you were a top-5 prep prospect and for some reason you were completely unreachable on the first day that coaches could contact you? Now we all know thanks to rising junior hoops superstar Malik Newman. Newman, the No. 3 overall prospect in the Class of 2015 Rivals 150, has played both of his first two scholastic seasons at Jackson (Miss.) Callaway High. He was out of the country on June 15, when the floodgates officially open and coaches can begin contacting prospective recruits at midnight. More specifically, Newman was competing with the rest of the U.S. U-16 national team in Uruguay at the FIBA America’s Championship, which he and his American counterparts won by epic proportions. In the process, Newman took home MVP honors and was recognized as the tournament’s breakout star. According to USA Today, when Newman returned two days later he immediately turned on his cell phone while his plane taxied toward the runway. It didn’t stop buzzing with incoming text messages for more than five minutes. "It was crazy," Newman told USA Today. "I've never gotten that many texts at one time." -- Yahoo
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JaQuan Lyle, nation's No. 26 high school basketball player, chooses Louisville June 27, 2013
One of the nation's premier rising senior guards committed to the University of Louisville basketball program today, it was reported in the Evansville Courier & Press. Six-foot-four combo guard JaQuan Lyle, who made his original announcement on Twitter, said he chose Louisville over Indiana, Florida and Tennessee. He is the No. 26 player in the Class of 2014, according to 247 Sports. Earlier the Cardinals had received commitments from No. 14 Shaqquan Aaron of Rainier Beach (Seattle) and No. 42 Quentin Snider of Butler (Louisville, Ky.). -- MaxPreps
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JaQuan Lyle commits to Louisville June 26, 2013
National champion Louisville secured a commitment from five-star guard JaQuan Lyle (Evansville, Ind./Bosse) on Wednesday, when the Class of 2014 standout announced he had chosen the Cardinals over Florida, Indiana and Tennessee. Lyle is ranked No. 22 overall in the ESPN 100, and his commitment moves Louisville to No. 3 in the 2014 recruiting class rankings. The combo guard averaged 27 points, 13 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game as a junior. "There was no point in waiting," Lyle said. "I wanted it over with so I could focus on my senior year." -- ESPN.com
Villanova's 2014 basketball recruiting class is off to a good start with a very local feel now that 6-7 wing Mikal Bridges has pledged to play for the 'Cats. The Malvern, PA native visited Villanova earlier this month, and had offers from Florida, Virginia Tech, Temple, La Salle and St. Joseph's along with Villanova. TheRecruitScoop's Alex Kline was the first to break news of the commitment. The Villanova program offered Bridges on June 4th, during an unofficial visit, but it is believed that he had a pre-existing relationship with new Villanova assistant Ashley Howard, from his time at Xavier. The consensus top-100 player has seen his stock rise on the Nike EYBL circuit earlier this Summer. -- VU Hoops
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Derrick Jones emerges as a five-star prospect in 2015 June 25, 2013
Most of the biggest stock-risers of the spring and early summer period were members of the class of 2014. Myles Turner emerged as one of the top five or 10 players in the entire country over the past few weeks, and he's not the only one. However, there's a 2015 prospect who has blossomed into a five-star prospect in nearly every ranking and service: Derrick Jones. The 6-foot-6 small forward from Archbishop Carroll (Pa.) was outstanding on the AAU circuit with We R 1, and he has been good in camp settings as well. “I'm coming out with energy every time,” Jones said. “I'm in the gym 24/7 working on my game. Getting my jump-shot better, getting my handling a lot better, getting my defense better.” -- CBS Sports
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2014 forward D.J. Foreman verbally commits to attend Rutgers June 25, 2013
After a rough couple of months, this past week has been a good (and much-needed) one for the Rutgers basketball program. Three days after guard Jerome Seagears decided to return to the school for his junior season after originally transferring to Auburn, Rutgers landed its first commitment in the 2014 class when 6-9 forward D.J. Foreman announced his decision to join the program. Foreman, a native of Spring Valley, N.Y., committed to Rutgers while on a visit to the school according to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv. Foreman, who attends Massanutten Military Academy in Virginia, also considered Minnesota, USC, Providence and Pittsburgh according to the report. -- NBC Sports
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2015 shooting guard Austin Grandstaff commits to Oklahoma State June 24, 2013
With its top three scorers from last season all deciding to return for the 2013-14 season, Oklahoma State’s offseason was already off to a good start. On Sunday evening things got even better for head coach Travis Ford and his staff, as 6-5 shooting guard Austin Grandstaff (Plano, Tex.) verbally committed to attend the school. Grandstaff, a member of the Class of 2015, announced his decision to attend Oklahoma State via Twitter. -- NBC Sports
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Hakim Saintil commits to South Alabama June 23, 2013
Highly recruited 2013 guard Hakim Saintil has committed to South Alabama, he announced via his Twitter account on Sunday morning. Saintil is a 5-foot-11 point guard hailing from Roselle Catholic High School in West Orange, NJ. There was speculation that Saintil may do a post-graduate year and reclassify to the 2014 class, but he became very comfortable with South Alabama and the direction of the program under first-year head coach Matt Graves. Saintil told Adama Zagoria, “I felt comfortable over there. They are like a family and with the new direction of the program it was hard for me not to go there.” -- NBC Sports
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Robert Johnson holds his own at NBPA Top 100 Camp June 22, 2013
Robert Johnson wasn’t the biggest name among guards heading into the NBPA Top 100 Camp, but the Virginia-native played well throughout the camp and will be a player to watch this summer when coaches are out in full force. In fact, Johnson currently isn’t rated in Rivals’ Top 150 for the class of 2014, but he was merely concerned with playing hard at the camp and not worried about rankings. “I’ve just tried to soak everything up, there’s a lot of good guards here so I’m just trying to go out and compete on every play,” Johnson told NBC Sports. “I’m not trying to prove anything, I’m just trying to go out there and compete and show that I’m as good as any guard that’s here.” -- NBC Sports
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Kelly Oubre stands out on his own at NBPA Top 100 Camp June 22, 2013
Kelly Oubre is one of the hottest names in recruiting circles as the small forward from Texas continues to play well going into summer. Although overshadowed a bit on the AAU circuit thanks to top-20 teammates Justin Jackson and Justise Winslow, Oubre had a chance to shine on his own at the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia, as he consistently was one of the top performers on his team. Oubre, ranked No. 27 in Rivals’ 2014 class, enjoyed the camp experience and made it a point to come out hard every time he stepped on the floor. “This camp has been great, if you look around you see all of these guys that have the potential to be great someday,” Oubre told NBC Sports. “If you want to stand out you have to do something different than all of these guys because they can all really play. You have to come out and play to the best of your ability, warm up hard and show out.” -- NBC Sports
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Rodney Purvis, Shaq Goodwin among 10 cuts for U19 men's team June 17, 2013
Memphis big man Shaq Goodwin and Connecticut transfer Rodney Purvis, who played last summer for the team that qualified the United States for the FIBA U19 World Championships, were the most notable players among the 10 cut after three days of trials at the U.S. Olympic Training Center. The omission of each player was slightly surprising, albeit for different reasons. Releasing Goodwin, who is 6-9, 245, along with Georgia Tech’s Robert Carter and Arizona’s Brandon Ashley left the team with only four true big men—plus versatile 6-8 Arizona recruit Aaron Gordon—with still 10 days before competition at the Worlds begins June 27 in Prague. Goodwin played with good energy and his customary upbeat attitude during the trials; he appeared unlikely to make the squad but keeping him around would have provided cover in case of injury to one of the other bigs. -- Sporting News
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Maryland lands another 2014 perimeter prospect in Jared Nickens June 17, 2013
Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon and his staff have locked up their backcourt of the future, adding a third prospect to the group on Sunday. According to multiple outlets 6-6 wing Jared Nickens has verbally committed to attend Maryland, joining 2014 prospects Romelo Trimble (point guard) and Dion Wiley (shooting guard). Nickens averaged 16 points and five rebounds per game at the Westtown School in Pennsylvania, and his ability to shoot from the perimeter gives the Terrapins another capable shooter in the 2014 class. Nickens also held offers from schools such as Dayton, Oklahoma, Oregon State, Providence, Rutgers, Seton Hall and Wake Forest. According to Jeff Ermann of InsideMDSports.com, Nickens scheduled visits to Dayton and Wake Forest before making the decision to commit to Maryland. -- NBC Sports
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Myles Turner elevates play at NBPA Top 100 Camp June 15, 2013
Myles Turner might not realize it quite yet, but the next few months he’s going to be a marked man among college coaches and his fellow players. That’s because Turner — currently rated as the No. 78 in Rivals’ 2014 national class — is rapidly ascending up the national rankings as phrases like, “top-ten prospect” and “best overall prospect in attendance” were thrown around by some when his name was brought up at the NBPA Top 100 Camp on the campus of the University of Virginia is Charlottesville, Virginia. At 6-11, the Texas-native possesses a unique skill level for a player his height. Turner can block shots and play on the interior using his advanced footwork, but he’s also just as comfortable stepping out and taking jumpers beyond the three-point line. -- NBC Sports
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Penn State picks up sought-after point guard Shep Garner June 15, 2013
It’s going to be a struggle for Penn State to gain any traction in a Big Ten that just keeps getting more and more loaded with every round of expansion and realignment, but the Nittany Lions just locked down 2014 point guard Shep Garner, and that should help. -- NBC Sports
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Ivan Rabb leads USA to finals of FIBA Americas U16 Championship June 14, 2013
The United States advanced to the gold medal game at the FIBA Americas U16 Championship for Men in Uruguay with a 93-64 win Friday over Puerto Rico. After outscoring its first three opponents in the event by an average margin of 64 points per game, the USA was down 18-17 with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter against Puerto Rico. But Ivan Rabb of Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) and tournament MVP candidate Malik Newman of Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) sparked the American squad to a decisive 21-0 run that began late in the opening quarter. -- MaxPreps
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Mississippi State lands two-sport athlete Elijah Staley June 14, 2013
It’s been a good week for Mississippi State on the recruiting front. Already having received verbal commitments from two members of the 2015 class in Joseph Struggs and Dante Scott, Mississippi State has landed 6-6 small forward Elijah Staley. Staley, who attends Wheeler HS in Marietta, Ga., announced his decision to the public via the new social media app Vine. Staley informed the coaches at Mississippi State (as well as his other two choices: Miami and Virginia) earlier this week. Highly regarded for his talent as a dual-threat quarterback, the left-handed Staley will play both sports in Starkville. The desire to play both sports in college was a sticking point for his original school of choice, as Staley de-committed from Vanderbilt in April after learning that he would not be allowed to do so there. -- NBC Sports
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Tulsa announces signing of 6-8 forward Terakeyi Edogi June 14, 2013
Tulsa added some depth to its front court on Thursday, as the school announced the signing of 6-8 forward Terakeyi “T.” Edogi. Edogi, a native of Surprise, Ariz., attended Westwind Prep last season. As a high school senior at Valley Vista High School Edogi was an honorable mention all-state selection, as he averaged 15.4 points, 14.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game. “TK is a big, athletic forward with a great motor,” Tulsa head coach Danny Manning said in the statement. “He plays with a lot of energy, is an active defender, and he will provide us more depth on the inside. He has developed immensely as a basketball player under coaches Kenny Mullins, Gabe Stevens and Adrion Orona. -- NBC Sports
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2013 edition of the NBPA Top 100 Camp June 13, 2013
The 2013 edition of the NBPA Top 100 Camp got off to a strong start on Thursday. Everywhere you turned there was plenty of talent on the floor of the John Paul Jones arena, located on the campus of the University of Virginia. Among the first-session standouts were Tyler Ulis, Isaiah Whitehead and many more. During the first session of games, the nation's No. 69 player in the class of 2014, Tyler Ulis, came out to play with a purpose. The 5-foot-9 floor general from Chicago Heights (Ill.) Marian Catholic has been generating momentum all spring after a terrific junior campaign. -- Rivals
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Rapper 50 Cent visits Christ the King boys basketball team June 13, 2013
There were rumblings throughout Christ the King on May 31 that a special visitor was coming in, and when he did right at the end of the school day, hysteria swept through the halls on the Middle Village high school. Rapper 50 Cent, a Queens native, stopped by to pay a visit to the Royals’ state Federation champion boys basketball team. Royals assistant coach Mark McCarroll and 50 Cent, whose real name is Curtis Jackson, grew up together and McCarroll asked the music star to spend some time with his players. “The school went into kind of like a frenzy, because he showed up just as the bell rang,” Christ the King head coach Joe Arbitello said. “People were hearing that 50 Cent was coming by and people got really excited.” -- NY Daily News
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Top-five sophomore Elijah Thomas primed for a big summer June 7, 2013
Elijah Thomas was one of the most dominant players during the Nike EYBL regular season, averaging 15.5 points and 6.8 rebounds to help lead a young Team Texas Elite team to the Peach Jam finals. And we found out after the fact that Thomas had a fractured finger for much of the spring -- and is now in much better shape, too. That could be bad news for opponents in the summer. “I think I'm the best in my class,” he said last weekend at the Pangos All-American Camp. “I've been putting in the work to make myself that name. I showed in EYBL. I've had the upper matchup in every game we played.” Thomas, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Prime Prep (Tex.), is the No. 5-ranked player in the class of 2015, according to the 247 Sports Composite. He's a force down low, capable of scoring in the paint in a variety of ways. Thomas is also athletic, and runs the floor well for someone his size. Moreover, he looks like he's slimmed down his body. -- CBS Sports
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Kansas State signee Neville Fincher fails to qualify academically June 6, 2013
At Hargrave Military Academy this winter 6-10 forward Neville Fincher averaged 12 points and eight rebounds per contest, and the New Jersey native had the talent needed to help out Kansas State in 2013-14. Unfortunately for both Fincher and head coach Bruce Weber, he has not qualified academically and therefore will not attend Kansas State in the fall. According to a story by Ken Corbitt of the Topeka Capital-Journal, it’s likely that Fincher will attend junior college in 2013-14. -- NBC Sports
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Five-star scorer Tyler Dorsey begins transition to the point June 6, 2013
It feels like Tyler Dorsey has been around forever. He has been a touted prospect since before he started high school, and that hasn't changed. Plus, he's still only a high school sophomore. And the 6-foot-5 Dorsey is attempting to state his case as the best point guard in the class of 2015. “This tournament starts off the summer,” he said last weekend at the Pangos All-American Camp in California. “I had to come out here and work hard and show what I've got, what I've worked on. And I think I've done pretty good so far.” Dorsey averaged more than 18 points through his first three games at the camp, showing off his terrific ability to get to the rim and score. He also knocked down eight of his 12 3-point attempts through the first two days. That performance came only a couple of weeks after his stellar four-game stint in the Nike EYBL, when he averaged 19.5 points in Dallas. -- CBS Sports
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Elijah Thomas a top prospect in class of 2015 June 6, 2013
As one of the top prospects in the class of 2015, five-star prospect Elijah Thomas is enjoying the experiences coming his way. Last weekend, the 6-foot-9 post player from Dallas (Texas) Prime Prep was in attendance at the Pangos All-American Camp and made the top 30 Cream of the Crop all-star game. "It's been very fun," said Thomas of his Pangos experience. "I've been able to play with my teammate Emmanuel Mudiay and meet a new people. It's been a fun experience." Big and skilled, Thomas has earned acclaim not because he's a deluxe athlete but because he knows how to play the game. He will score over either shoulder, has great hands and is a high-volume rebounder. Very personable, Thomas also has a good feel for what his best attributes are. -- Rivals
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Bishop Gorman, Mater Dei, Lone Peak to headline 2013 Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas June 6, 2013
After a successful inaugural run last December, the Tarkanian Classic is shaping up as a premier event nationally in 2013. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) – all 2012-13 state champs – are among the headliners already committed to play. The Classic will be held Dec. 18-21 at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas and include two 16-team divisions. National powerhouse Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) is also committed to participate in a prep school division. Tournament MVP and recent Pangos All-American Camp most outstanding player Stanley Johnson tallied 23 points and 12 rebounds in last year's final to lead Mater Dei past Bishop Gorman 76-60. -- Max Preps
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Marvin Bagley III is a seventh grader with scholarship offers June 5, 2013
Marvin Bagley III, a 6-foot-8 forward that hails from Phoenix, just picked up a scholarship offer from Arizona State, according to reports. It’s the second scholarship offer that Bagley has, as another in-state program, Northern Arizona, reportedly offered him as well. Let’s sidestep the whole ‘Are those really scholarship offers?‘ issue for a second and instead focus on the fact that Bagley still has a year left in middle school. Yup. He’s in 7th grade. He won’t graduate high school until 2018. And not only does he have scholarship offers from coaches that, more likely than not, will be coaching elsewhere by the time that he can finally go to college, he already has a mixtape. -- NBC Sports
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Trey Thompson commits to Arkansas May 27, 2013
Mike Anderson is doing his best to put up a fence around the state of Arkansas, as he has landed yet another talented recruit from the state. Trey Thompson, a 6-foot-10 center from Forrest City, committed to play for the Razorbacks last week. Thompson is a three-star recruit, according to Rivals, and was also considering Memphis, Mississippi State and Florida. It’s Anderson’s second commitment in the Class of 2014, as four-star point guard Anton Beard pledged to the program earlier this spring. Beard is also an Arkansas native, hailing from North Little Rock. -- NBC Sports
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Elite 2014 shooting guard Devin Booker draws significant attention May 25, 2013
As the EYBL nears the end of its regular season over Memorial Day weekend near Minneapolis, many of the top uncommitted players in the 2014 class are seeing their recruitments pick up before the summer months begin. One player drawing tons of attention is Alabama Challenge shooting guard Devin Booker. The 6-5 Booker is currently regarded as the No. 23 player in Rivals’ 2014 national rankings, and so far many of the top schools in the country have made the sweet-shooting guard a priority. “Every school that’s recruiting has offered me so far,” Booker said. “That includes Michigan, Michigan State, Missouri, Florida, Kentucky, Duke and North Carolina.” While Booker’s list of suitors is an impressive list, it’s been an adjustment to deal with the daily rigors of recruiting. -- NBC Sports
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Top Colorado hoops prospect Josh Perkins headed to Huntington Prep May 24, 2013
Colorado's burgeoning high school basketball scene took a bit of a hit Friday when star guard Josh Perkins of Regis Jesuit (Aurora) announced he will play at Huntington Prep (W.Va.) as a senior. Perkins, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound point guard ranked pegged the No. 22 prospect in the 2014 class by 247Sports.com, averaged 25.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game as a junior. Those gaudy numbers helped Regis Jesuit go 21-5 and earned him a spot on the MaxPreps Junior All-American Team. 247Sports national analyst Jerry Meyer believes UCLA is the team to beat in Perkins' recruitment. Baylor, Gonzaga, Kansas and USC are also in the mix. Both Perkins and Huntington Prep head coach Rob Fulford confirmed the move via Twitter on Friday. -- Max Preps
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SF Theo Pinson commits to UNC May 23, 2013
Greensboro native Theo Pinson, the No. 13 player in the ESPN 60, has chosen to stay in-state, as he committed to North Carolina on Wednesday afternoon. The 6-foot-5 small forward from Wesleyan Christian Academy picked the Tar Heels over Indiana after also seriously considering Louisville, Duke and Georgetown. "I really knew on Monday, but I had a good feeling on [last] Thursday that I was going to be a Tar Heel," Pinson said. A key member of Wesleyan's state championship team, Pinson averaged 13 points a game as a junior. With the commitment, Roy Williams has now secured pledges from three top-15 recruits as Pinson joins No. 12 prospect Joel Berry, the nation's No. 3 point guard, and No. 14 recruit Justin Jackson (No. 3 small forward) in the Tar Heels' 2014 class. -- ESPN.com
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Five-star junior Theo Pinson announces for North Carolina May 22, 2013
When we spoke with Theo Pinson in late April, he said he wanted to trim his list soon. And then suddenly last Saturday, reports surfaced that Pinson was cutting his list to five -- and ready to make a decision. That decision came on Wednesday afternoon: Pinson is headed to North Carolina. The 6-foot-5 wing from Wesleyan Christian Academy (NC) chose the Tar Heels over primary competition from Indiana, although Louisville, Georgetown and Duke were also in his final five. Being an in-state prospect, the pull to stay home was too strong for Pinson. He's only a short drive to Chapel Hill, and he took several unofficial visits to the Tar Heels' campus. With people constantly in his ear about playing for the home-state powerhouse, Pinson ultimately couldn't say no. -- CBS Sports
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Class of 2016 showing its promise May 20, 2013
Day two at the Southern Jam Fest was a good one. With eight floors underneath the roof of the Boo Williams Sportsplex and a schedule that played out well, there was never a shortage of action. Some under-the-radar guys stepped up, and it was a big day for the class of 2016 as Thon Maker and Edrice Adebayo were two of many who are generating plenty of early college interest. The early word on the class of 2016 has been that it is shaping up to be a good one. During several stops along the grassroots circuit over the past few months, the country's rising sophomore class has looked good. Saturday's action was more of the same as several 2016 kids stood out. Might as well start at the top with the 7-foot Maker of Boo Williams. The 16-year-old isn't just tall. He can run, he has ball skills, and he plays hard. He lacks strength, and that hurts him at times when he's trying to hold onto position in the post or make difficult catches, but he isn't soft and he fights back. On Saturday, Maker was a high-volume rebounder, he changed shots, he scored from the rim to the 3-point line, and he often took rebounds coast to coast. When the first round of stars gets handed out to the class of 2016 after the summer, Maker is a lock to start as a five-star. Arizona, Georgetown and Virginia have offered, while Kansas, Ohio State, Memphis, N.C. State and Miami were mentioned as showing early interest. -- Rivals
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2014 guard Brandone Francis continues to pick up offers May 17, 2013
Entering the spring evaluation period, Brandone Francis had some buzz but wasn't a household name by any stretch. After winning MVP honors at the Adidas Exclusive run in Dallas in April, though, Francis became one of the hottest recruits in the country. The 6-foot-5 guard vaulted to five-star status in the 247 Sports rankings, and his recruitment reflected the rise. Francis now has offers from Indiana, Florida, Washington, Connecticut, Miami, West Virginia, Cincinnati, Florida State, Minnesota, Illinois, St. John's, USC, Oklahoma State and South Carolina. Florida, Cincinnati, Connecticut and Florida State are coming at him the hardest. -- CBS Sports
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Xavier lands 6-8 forward Aleksandar Vezenkov May 17, 2013
A few days after landing a verbal commitment from 2014 point guard Edmond Sumner, the Xavier basketball program made an addition to its 2013 recruiting class on Thursday. 6-8 forward Aleksandar Vezenkov, a native of Bulgaria, will attend Xavier next season according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. Vezenkov played in 20 games this past season for Aris BC in Greece, averaging 14.3 minutes, 4.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per game. As a member of Bulgaria’s U18 team last summer Vezenkov led the team in scoring (16.7 ppg) during the U18 European Championships in August while also averaging nearly six rebounds per game. In what was a busy summer for the young forward, Vezenkov also helped Bulgaria’s U20 team gain promotion into Division A the month prior. -- NBC Sports
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Andrew Wiggins commitment gives Kansas best recruiting class ever under Bill Self May 16, 2013
The addition of top prospect Andrew Wiggins transforms the Jayhawk roster from one with more questions than answers to one that suddenly looks capable of big things. "I think Wiggins single-handedly vaults Kansas from a fringe top-25 team to a legitimate Final Four threat," CBSSports.com college basketball blogger Jeff Borzello told MaxPreps. "He's going to be a preseason All-American and possibly National Player of the Year. He will be the go-to guy immediately and could approach 18-20 points per game." Kansas head coach Bill Self has landed highly-touted recruits like Darrell Arthur, Mario Chalmers, Xavier Henry and Josh Selby during his time in Lawrence, but acknowledged Tuesday that the signing of Wiggins is special. "He brings athleticism, length, scoring ability and he's also an assassin, an alpha dog and we definitely need that when you have a whole bunch of young kids," Self said via the school's official athletic site. "I think he's going to be not just a good player, but have the chance to be a great one." -- Max Preps
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Kentucky HS star Dominique Hawkins picks... Kentucky April 10, 2013
For four weeks, Dominique Hawkins bit his tongue. The Madison Central point guard committed on Wednesday to play his college basketball at Kentucky, 29 days after John Calipari made him a scholarship offer and asked him to keep it under his hat until the Wildcats' 2013-14 roster was more settled... The 6-foot-1 point guard - a state champion with the Indians and Kentucky's Mr. Basketball - chose the Wildcats over Western Kentucky (his probable choice, he said, if Calipari hadn't offered a scholarship), Morehead State, Murray State, Purdue, South Carolina and Tennessee Tech, among others. -- Cats Illustrated/Rivals
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St. Benedict's Prep stops Findlay Prep streak in NHSI semifinals April 6, 2013
Academy Top 10 No. 3 St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) will meet No. 4 Montverde Academy (Fla.) in the finals of the National High School Invitational on Saturday after a pair of nail-biting Friday semifinal games. St. Benedict's Prep (32-1) ended the 54-game win streak of No. 1-ranked Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) in a 60-57 thriller, getting 19 points from Syracuse-bound senior Tyler Ennis and 14 more from super sophomore Isaiah Briscoe. St. Benedict's Prep led by eight points heading into the fourth quarter but looked like it would fall victim to another valiant comeback by star guard Nigel Williams-Goss and the Pilots (35-1), who took a 55-51 lead late in the contest. -- MaxPreps
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World awaits Andrew Wiggins's college decision April 2, 2013
Andrew Wiggins is used to facing full-court presses on the court, but, this week, he’s being blitzed off of it as well. Wiggins, the 18-year-old Vaughan native who is, by all accounts the best non-NBA player in the world, has not yet picked a college destination. Only Wiggins and one other player — out of 25 at the McDonald’s All-American game — remain undecided, which is why just about all of the other future stars on hand in Chicago this week are trying to get Wiggins to join forces with them next fall. Florida State, Kentucky, Kansas and North Carolina are the four schools still in the running. -- Toronto Sun
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Senior guard Stephen Clark scores 51 points in state-title victory March 11, 2013
Stephen Clark couldn't be happier today that he returned home to complete his spectacular high school basketball career. The 5-foot-11 senior guard was somewhat lost last spring when his long-time coach and friend, Terry Long, took another job. He first talked about graduating early and heading for college. Then, last fall he enrolled at Quest Prep in Las Vegas for a month before returning home for his final campaign at Douglass (Oklahoma City, Okla.). His many fans in the crowd of 7,000 were royally entertained on Saturday as they watched him overcome several injuries and pour in 51 points to spark the Trojans to a heart-stopping 82-80 victory over No. 1-ranked Roland for the Class 4A state championship. It enabled Douglass to share the state record of four consecutive titles with five other schools. -- Maxpreps
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Anders Broman reaches 5,000 career points in 101-83 win March 10, 2013
Minnesota career scoring leader Anders Broman reached another major milestone on Saturday when he tallied his 5,000th point while leading Lakeview Christian Academy (Duluth, Minn.) to a 101-83 victory over Fond du Lac Ojibwe Ojichida (Cloquet) in the Class A section quarterfinals. The 6-foot-2 senior guard, who finished with 49 points, told the Duluth News-Tribune, "This was special and it was nice to have all my family here, along with the great teammates and coaching staff that we have. This was an award for all of us. This was really a team accomplishment. I couldn't have done it without them." Anders, who now has 5,025 points, reached 5,000 on a 3-pointer following a pass from his brother, Bjorn, a 6-1 sophomore, who finished with 27 points. Trevontae Brown scored 41 points in a losing effort. -- Maxpreps
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St. Anthony suffers another rare loss March 9, 2013
Earlier this season St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) saw its 83-game win streak come to an end at the hands of St. Benedict's Prep (Newark). Saturday night at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River, another impressive streak came to an end as the Friars (28-2) – ranked No. 4 nationally by MaxPreps – saw hopes of a third-straight NJSIAA Tournament of Champions crown nixed by Roselle Catholic in a 48-44 Non-Public B title game loss. According to Patrick Villanova of The Jersey Journal via NJ.com, Temple-bound point guard Josh Brown paced St. Anthony with 21 points and 11 rebounds in a losing effort. The Friars trailed Roselle Catholic (23-5) – who received a team-high 14 points from Hakim Saintil – 22-14 at the half but fought back to tie the game at the end of the third quarter and eventually take the lead in the fourth. -- Maxpreps
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Hugo loses game by making shot in own basket at final second in Oklahoma March 8, 2013
What hurts more than losing a playoff basketball game on a last-second shot? How about losing a playoff basketball game when you make the ball in your own basket at the last second. According to newsok.com, one of the most bizarre ways to lose a basketball game happened in Yukon, Okla., Thursday night. And it spelled the end of the season for the team on the wrong end of the play. Hugo (Okla.) held a one-point lead over Millwood (Oklahoma City) with 2.9 seconds left in an OSSAA 3A playoff contest, and the inbounds pass to Hugo's Trey Johnson connected, giving him enough space and time to dribble out the clock and wrap up the playoff victory. All seemed well, but then Johnson did what nobody expected him to do: He shot a layup into his own basket at the buzzer. The game ended with Millwood taking the unfathomable triumph, 38-37. -- Maxpreps
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Xavier Rathan-Mayes explodes for 55 points March 3, 2013
When Naismith National Player of the Year Andrew Wiggins was hit hard on the nose on the game's fourth possession, nobody on the powerhouse Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) boys basketball team blinked. The Huntington Herald Dispatch reported that Wiggins was sidelined for precautionary reasons, but it mattered little because senior guard Xavier Rathan-Mayes stepped up immediately and led the Express to a lopsided 121-50 rout of Teays Valley Christian. The win gave the Express, ranked No. 6 in MaxPreps Academy top 10, a 29-3 record. Perhaps, because he was snubbed in selections for the McDonald's and Jordan Brand all-star games, Rathan-Mayes put on a clinic with a 55-point explosion, which included 23-of-35 shooting and eight 3-point baskets. The Florida State University recruit added seven rebounds and seven assists for good measure. -- Maxpreps
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Top 2013 high school basketbal prospect Andrew Wiggins still undecided Feb. 21, 2013
Andrew Wiggins of Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) is the top basketball player in the class of 2013. A remarkable feat, considering that until this past October he was a member of the class of 2014. After establishing himself as the top player in the class of 2014, the 6-foot-8, 200-pound small forward and native of Ontario, Canada, reclassified to become the top player in the class of 2013, immediately creating a frenzy among top college programs. This season Wiggins has done nothing to dissuade them, averaging nearly 24 points and 8 rebounds per game, including a 57-point performance in early February. -- Maxpreps
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Anders Broman scores 70 points for third game over 60 Feb. 19, 2013
Anders Broman poured in 70 points as Lakeview Christian Academy (Duluth, Minn.) raced past Cass Lake-Bena (Cass Lake, Minn.) 117-99, but it wasn't even his career high. The prolific 6-foot-2 senior guard had scored 71 points - No. 2 in Minnesota history - as a junior. Counting a 61-point game earlier this year, the remarkable teenager is the only player in state history to have three games of more than 60 points. He drilled 23-of-32 from the field, including 10 threes, and all 14 of his free throw attempts before sitting out the last six minutes. -- Maxpreps
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2013 McDonald's All-American game player rosters announced Feb. 14, 2013
The 2013 McDonald's All-American Basketball Game location is the United Center in Chicago, Illinois. The date of the 2013 McDonald's All-American game is April 3. Player rosters were announced today.
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Morgan Park stuns No. 2-ranked Simeon basketball team Feb. 13, 2013
The No. 2-ranked boys basketball team in the nation was handed a stunning upset loss Wednesday. Top-seeded Simeon (Chicago) was nipped by sixth-seeded Morgan Park (Chicago), 54-53, during the Chicago Public Schools League Tournament semifinals at Chicago State University. Simeon, which is No. 2 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, lost for just the third time in 25 outings. The Chicago Tribune reported that Morgan Park won with a balanced attack, led by Kyle Davis with 15 points. But close behind were Markee Williams with 12 and Billy Garrett Jr. with 11. -- Maxpreps
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2013 Jordan Brand Classic player rosters announced Feb. 12, 2013
The 2013 Jordan Brand Classic location is the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The date of the 2013 Jordan Brand Classic is April 13, 2013. Player rosters were announced today.
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Findlay Prep, Germantown extend long winning streaks Feb. 10, 2013
Two boys basketball powerhouses in different parts of the country extended long winning streaks during the past week. In the West, powerhouse Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) whipped Planet Athlete Sports Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.) 109-65 for its 46th consecutive victory. UNLV signee Christian Wood set the pace with 28 points, six rebounds, four blocks and three assists, while Nigel Williams-Goss contributed 16 points and an impressive 16 assists for the 27-0 Pilots. *Meanwhile, Midwest power Germantown (Wis.) ran its winning streak to 49 games with an 80-48 victory over Hartford (Wis.). -- Maxpreps
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Nebraska power knocks off Oak Hill Academy Feb. 9, 2013
Normally a team from Nebraska beating storied Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) would be considered an epic upset in the world of high school basketball. But Omaha Central emerging with a 70-63 win over Steve Smith's Warriors on Saturday night at the Heartland Hoops Classic in Grand Island, Neb., wasn't all that shocking (see recap from Omaha World Herald). That speaks volumes about the incredible success the Eagles have experienced in recent years under head coach Eric Behrens. Behind 20 points from Louisville-bound senior big man Akoy Agau, Omaha Central improved to 19-4 on the season against a schedule that included three games at the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Florida. The Eagles were ranked No. 24 nationally in the preseason by MaxPreps and have achieved a level of national notoriety unheard of for teams from the Cornhusker State. -- Maxpreps
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Andrew Wiggins, Julius Randle haven't committed to a college yet Feb. 8, 2013
The spring signing period is a little more than two months away and begins on April 17. As it stands, those schools in search of well-known talent have limited options, as only nine members of the current 2013 Rivals150 remain open.
Of the group, there are four five-star prospects, led by the nation's top two players, Andrew Wiggins and Julius Randle... Andrew Wiggins: The nation's top player continues to be in a holding pattern and has only taken an official visit to Florida State, where both his father and mother were star athletes. Wiggins maintains that he will visit Kansas, Kentucky and North Carolina after his senior season ends, but has yet to set up any trips. There has been a growing sentiment that Leonard Hamilton's Seminoles have a leg up, and until Wiggins sets up and takes other visits, it is hard not to consider Florida State as the team to beat... Julius Randle: A broken foot cost Randle the vast majority of his senior season, but it certainly hasn't hurt his recruitment. Randle recently completed a trip to N.C. State and he's got official visits coming to Texas and Kansas the next two weekends. Having already visited Florida and Kentucky in the fall, Randle is likely the closest to making a decision of any of the four remaining five-star prospects. Randle has been consistent in telling Rivals.com that he would like to end his recruitment about the time his high school finishes its season. He's played his recruitment close to the vest, but the Longhorns have consistently been considered at or near the top behind the scenes. More recently, the Kentucky buzz has started to turn up again and Randle himself called his visit to Raleigh his best. -- Rivals
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Andrew Wiggins responds to SI article with 57 points Feb. 7, 2013
Huntington Prep (W.Va.) senior star Andrew Wiggins was the subject of a Sports Illustrated piece by Pete Thamel that dropped Thursday. It wasn't exactly a glowing depiction of the Canadian phenom – MaxPreps.com's top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2013. Thamel detailed the failures of recent basketball imports from Canada, highlighted his relationship with controversial Toronto hoops coach/handler Ro Russell, hit on his father's past substance abuse issues and raised questions about his motivation. Wiggins responded Thursday night with a career high 57 points to go along with 13 rebounds and four blocked shots in a 111-59 win over the Marietta (Ohio) College junior varsity squad. "After that article dropped, I knew I had to respond," Wiggins told Zac Jackson of Fox Sports Ohio. "That was the best way to respond." -- Maxpreps
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No. 17 basketball player Jermaine Lawrence picks Cincinnati Feb. 4, 2013
Jermaine Lawrence, the No. 17-ranked high school basketball player in the country according to MaxPreps, celebrated his 18th birthday on Sunday by committing to the University of Cincinnati, according to Cincinnati.com. The 6-foot-8, 210-pound senior forward is averaging 19 points, seven rebounds, six assists and three blocks over the past four games for Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.) after recovering from surgery for a torn tendon in his right (shooting) hand. Last year he averaged 23 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots in nine games after transferring to his current school. -- Maxpreps
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Trojans trying to keep Yancy-Harris Feb. 2, 2013
Since firing Kevin O'Neill and handing over the reins of the program to assistant coach Bob Cantu, the Trojans have been working to keep a hold of the 6-foot-4 point guard from Richardson (Texas) Berkner. According to sources close to the situation, everybody from Cantu to athletic director Pat Haden has been involved with keeping Harris, and other recruits, up to date on the Trojans. However, Yancy-Harris has asked for a release, and the Trojans will cooperate with him. For now, he's been granted a bit of a "partial release" for lack of a better description. The Trojans would like him to see who is hired, but in the meantime they are allowing Yancy-Harris and his family to reach out to other programs and explore the No. 109 player in the class of 2013's options. Programs that would like to recruit Yancy-Harris have been asked to reach out to Haden and USC so that they can know who is contacting the point guard and keep things on the level. So far, Connecticut, Texas, Texas A&M;, Auburn, San Diego State, Virginia and TCU are among the programs to reach out. -- Rivals
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Orr stuns No. 3 Whitney Young at buzzer Feb. 2, 2013
Seven days ago, Whitney Young (Chicago) was ranked No. 1 nationally heading into a showdown with Windy City rival Simeon. The Dolphins lost that contest, dropping to No. 3 in this week's Xcellent 25, but remained in national championship contention. Jamal McDowell's heroics helped Orr add to Whitney Young's misery Friday night, not only making national title hopes a long shot, but also costing them the Chicago Public League Red-West title. -- Maxpreps
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Jabari Parker is big-time Feb. 1, 2013
Chicago (Ill.) Simeon High senior Jabari Parker is extremely talented at basketball. This is not news. He has been the top ranked recruit in the Class of 2013 for just about as long as anyone has bothered ranking the Class of 2013, right up until Huntington (W.V.) Prep senior Andrew Wiggins reclassified into the Class of 2013 this fall and stole his thunder. Even if Wiggins stole a bit of the gloss from Parker’s spotlight, he didn’t do anything to diminish the Chicago native’s sublime skill set, which Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski fully intends to exploit come fall 2013. -- Prep Rally / Yahoo
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Northland league streak hits 100 games Jan. 31, 2013
High school basketball's most visible winning streak belongs to two-time defending Xcellent 25 national champion St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), which has won 83 games in a row. But Northland (Columbus, Ohio) has put together a streak that rivals that of St. Anthony – 100 consecutive City League victories dating back to the 2006-07 season. The Vikings reached the century mark last Friday following a 65-45 win over Centennial. They upped the number to 101 Tuesday night against Columbus East. -- Maxpreps
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California high school basketball teams to play outdoors at Venice Beach Jan. 29, 2013
Venice Beach is known as one of Southern California's more colorful areas, complete with artists and performers of all kinds, scantily-clad bodybuilders and, of course, a thriving streetball scene immortalized in the movie White Man Can't Jump. Saturday it will be home to another oddity when Oakwood (North Hollywood) takes on Pacifica Christian (Santa Monica) in a sanctioned Liberty League boys basketball contest played outdoors on the world famous courts. Oakwood athletic director Eric Walter is responsible for the unique matchup. Search engine research turned up little to nothing in the way of sanctioned high school games being played outdoors in the past. -- Maxpreps
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Some top high school basketball teams in country Jan. 28, 2013
Per MaxPreps, some top teams are: Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), 17-1, Simeon (Chicago), 18-2, Whitney Young (Chicago), 18-2, St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), 15-0, Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.), 23-0.
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St. Anthony wins New York tournament; winning streak reaches 81 Jan. 28, 2013
The rebuilt St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) boys basketball team, boasting an air-tight defense, refuses to lose. Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley's Friars posted their 81st consecutive victory by beating Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) 52-45 to win the championship in the SNY Invitational at City College of New York. Hallice Cooke scored a game-high 22 points - including six 3-pointers - to earn MVP honors. -- MaxPreps
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Smoky popcorn machine clears the gym at Valley High Jan. 27, 2013
Halftime lasted an extra 20 minutes on Friday during a boys basketball game in Iowa. Host Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa) was leading Dowling (West Des Moines, Iowa) 33-27 at the halftime break when fire alarms suddenly went off. The Des Moines Register reported that the crowd, estimated at 2,700, had to be completely evacuated due to clouds of smoke created by the malfunction of a popcorn machine that turned caramel corn to charcoal. The newspaper added that Valley also had an overheated machine that caused a problem during a girls game in 1992 and a boys game in 1993. After delays, both games were completed. -- MaxPreps
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South Grand Prairie upsets No. 4 DeSoto basketball Jan. 25, 2013
South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas) has been on the cusp of breaking into the national rankings since December of 2011. The Warriors went 35-3 a year ago and entered Friday with a 27-2 mark, but were still looking for that signature win that would put the program over the top. Thanks to a 47-45 victory over District 5A-7 rival and national No. 4 DeSoto (Texas), South Grand Prairie may finally have secured that key victory. The Warriors received 15 points from Virginia Tech-bound senior Ben Emelogu and outscored 25-2 DeSoto 15-5 in the final eight minutes. Rick Curry, a 6-foot-9, 255-pound junior, added 10 points for SGP. -- MaxPreps
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WE'RE BACK! HIGH SCHOOL UPDATES EVERY OTHER DAY RETURNED JANUARY 27, 2013
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Power forward Jarrell Martin headed to LSU Nov. 1, 2012
LSU secured its most important commitment of the year Thursday when senior power forward Jarrell Martin (Baton Rouge, La./Madison Prep) chose Johnny Jones' Tigers over Alabama, Texas A&M;, Oklahoma State and St. John's. "I talked with a lot of my coaches and family members," Martin said. "We all had time to talk about it, and we came to the agreement that LSU would be a perfect place." ... On the court, Martin is a mixture of size, athletic ability and explosion. In a short time, he garnered a reputation as one of the best rebounders in the country. His combination of work on the glass and play on the perimeter is one of the reasons he compares favorably to Washington Wizards forward Chris Singleton. -- ESPN.com
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Baylor lands top-40 center Dominic Woodson Nov. 1, 2012
Dominic Woodson, a top-40 prospect from Huntington Prep in West Virginia, will play college basketball at Baylor, Scout.com reported on Thursday. Woodson, 6-9 center, picked Baylor over N.C. State. But the Wolfpack also reportedly are the only team left in the pursuit of 6-9 center BeeJay Anya of DeMatha Catholic in Hyattsville, Md. Anya had cut his list down to Indiana and N.C. State, but multiple reports this week indicated the Hoosiers withdrew to focus on their pursuit of top-10 big man Noah Vonleh. -- Sporting News
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Small forward Troy Williams commits to Indiana Oct. 29, 2012
ESPN 100 small forward Troy Williams committed to Indiana on Sunday over offers from North Carolina, Louisville, Arkansas, Alabama and Ohio State. The 6-foot-7 Williams (Hampton, Va./Oak Hill Academy) is the 32nd-ranked player overall and the ninth-ranked small forward. He played AAU ball for his uncle and coach, Boo Williams... Williams is an elite recruit with matching athletic ability. He is a terror for opponents in the open court where he provides highlight finishes. Williams has done a great job of improving his shooting, ballhandling and passing as well, and his game is well on its way to being more complete and productive in a number of areas. -- ESPN.com
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Small forward Troy Williams commits to Indiana Oct. 29, 2012
ESPN 100 small forward Troy Williams committed to Indiana on Sunday over offers from North Carolina, Louisville, Arkansas, Alabama and Ohio State. The 6-foot-7 Williams (Hampton, Va./Oak Hill Academy) is the 32nd-ranked player overall and the ninth-ranked small forward. He played AAU ball for his uncle and coach, Boo Williams... Williams is an elite recruit with matching athletic ability. He is a terror for opponents in the open court where he provides highlight finishes. Williams has done a great job of improving his shooting, ballhandling and passing as well, and his game is well on its way to being more complete and productive in a number of areas. -- ESPN.com
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Star Andrew Wiggins is reclassifying into his original 2013 class Oct. 25, 2012
Andrew Wiggins, the nation's top basketball player in the Class of 2014, is reclassifying into his original 2013 class. The move by Wiggins, a native of Thornhill, Ontario, comes with a new ranking -- No. 1 prospect in the senior class. Huntington (W. Va.) Prep coach Rob Fulford confirmed Wiggins and his family decided Thursday to announce the decision. The 6-foot-7 small forward was the best prospect at last summer's LeBron James Skills Academy and was the clear-cut choice for the top spot in 2014. Wiggins moving to No. 1 in 2013 means senior small forward Jabari Parker of Chicago Simeon moves to the No. 2 slot. -- ESPN.com
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Power forward Johnathan Williams III is headed to Missouri Oct. 18, 2012
ESPN 100 power forward Johnathan Williams III is headed to Missouri. Williams picked the Tigers over Tennessee, Michigan State, George Mason and Georgetown on Thursday. The Memphis (Tenn.) Southwind senior is the No. 35 overall prospect in the ESPN 100. A 6-foot-8 lefty, Williams was a reserve forward for USA Basketball's U-17 world championship team this past summer. -- ESPN.com
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SF Wayne Selden picks Kansas Oct. 15, 2012
It took only one official visit for ESPN 100 small forward Wayne Selden to find the right spot to play college basketball. The nation's No. 14 overall recruit in the Class of 2013 committed to Kansas on Monday. After attending Late Night in the Phog -- Kansas' Midnight Madness celebration -- over the weekend, Selden knew Kansas was where he wanted to be and chose the Jayhawks over Syracuse, Florida, Missouri and UCLA... Scouting reports say he is also a good passer with terrific vision and unselfishness. In addition, his long-range jumper is now a weapon and no longer a weakness. Whether it's a drive, post up or an offensive rebound, when he gets near the basket, he can physically punish opponents. -- ESPN.com
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SG Xavier Rathan-Mayes picks FSU Oct. 14, 2012
Florida State procured a commitment from Xavier Rathan-Mayes (Scarborough, Ontario/Huntington Prep), the nation's No. 24 senior in the ESPN 100, on Saturday night. The Canadian shooting guard committed to the Seminoles over Illinois and Connecticut. The Seminoles have ties to Mayes, whose father, Tharon Mayes, starred for Florida State from 1987-90. Rathan-Mayes is in his second season at Huntington (W. Va.) Prep, one of the nation's top prep squads. As a junior, Rathan-Mayes averaged 14.6 points, 4.5 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 44 percent from 3-point range. -- ESPN.com
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Guard/forward James young chooses Kentucky Oct. 12, 2012
The Kentucky Wildcats are on the verge of a historic recruiting class. James Young, rated No. 5 overall in the ESPN 100, committed to Kentucky on Thursday, choosing the Wildcats over Michigan State, Syracuse and Kansas. Young, a 6-foot-6 guard/forward from Rochester, Mich., was named to The Detroit News Dream Team last season after averaging 25.1 points, 10.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. "Kentucky has always been my dream school," said Young, who made his announcement while pulling out a "Kentucky Bound" blue T-shirt with his last name on it. "Once I went up there to visit, I just fell in love with the place." -- ESPN.com
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Star senior HS forward Jabari Parker narrows college list to 5 July 19, 2012
Simeon Career Academy (Chicago) forward Jabari Parker, the nation's No. 1-ranked senior, cut his list to five schools on Friday, and it includes BYU, Duke, Florida, Michigan State and Stanford. Parker originally released a list of 10 schools he was considering in July, and it included DePaul, Georgetown, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina. Of that list, Georgetown and Kentucky did not make in-home visits. Connecticut wasn't on his first list but was also allowed a home visit. Parker will now set up official visits to all five schools and is expected to commit in November. He's scheduled to visit Duke on Oct. 27 and Florida on Nov. 2. -- Reported by Scott Powers of ESPNChicago.com
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Top senior Jabari Parker to sit rest of July July 19, 2012
Chicago Simeon Career Academy forward Jabari Parker, the nation's No. 1-ranked senior, has a fracture in his right foot, his father said Thursday. Parker injured his foot while playing for Team USA in the FIBA U17 World Championship tournament in Lithuania. He played sparingly throughout most of the tournament and sat out one game. Parker had an MRI taken on the foot in Chicago on Wednesday. -- Reported by ESPN Chicago
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Tyus Jones and top prep center Jahlil Okafor say they want to play college ball together July 16, 2012
Last summer, Apple Valley point guard Tyus Jones and fellow class of 2014 blue-chipper Jahlil Okafor flirted with the idea of playing basketball together in college. This summer, they say they're serious about making that happen. How serious? They're basically saying it's going to happen, that it's just a matter of finding the right fit for both. The list of programs offering the two high school juniors-to-be scholarships is six deep right now: Duke, Michigan State, Ohio State, Arizona, Baylor and, yes, Minnesota. "We're most definitely excited to do it," said Jones, who won a gold medal with Okafor and Team USA on July 8 at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Lithuania. "We're very serious about doing it and think it's going to happen." -- St. Paul Pioneer Press
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Karl Towns gets time against Team USA July 16, 2012
John Calipari’s Dominican national team ended its summer run with a 113-59 loss to the United States last night in Las Vegas. But the lopsided defeat was just the next step in UK’s recruitment of 2015 superstar Karl Towns. Towns, a 6-10 center ranked No. 1 in his class by ESPN, entered the game in the fourth quarter and promptly knocked down a three-pointer over former Cat Anthony Davis. Towns finished with three points, two rebounds, one assist and one blocked shot. But it was the experience — not the stat line — that mattered. He spent much of the fourth quarter matched up with Davis, the No. 1 pick in last month’s NBA Draft. Following the game, Towns tweeted pictures of himself with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant and Tyson Chandler. The Daily’s Dan Wolken said the high school star was wearing University of Kentucky basketball shorts on his way out of the gym. By the end of the night he was trending on Twitter. -- Kentucky Herald-Header
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L.A. teen hoops star makes cameo in new Nike TV ad July 13, 2012
It seems unlikely that he received any monetary benefit from it, but a California teenage basketball player has suddenly found himself as a local star thanks to a cameo in a glossy new Nike ad. As noted by the Los Angeles Times, Pasadena (Calif.) Maranatha High rising senior Jeremy Major is getting some -- pardon the pun -- major attention after he served as the vertical leap demonstrator in a new television ad for Nike's Nike+ training technology.
The high school hoopster -- who averaged 26 points per game for an impressive 21-6 2011-12 Minutemen squad as a junior -- is featured putting a Nike+ chip in his shoe and then testing his vertical leap, which checks in at an impressive 31.9 inches. His name then flashes across the screen with his result, which the Nike+ technology automatically transmits to his iPhone (or at least that's how it's supposed to work). -- Reported by Cameron Smith of Prep Rally
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SMU, Larry Brown Land a Coveted 7-Footer July 11, 2012
In what could be considered a recruiting coup, Larry Brown and his SMU staff landed a commitment from talented New York City 7-1 Jordan Dickerson (IMG Academy) earlier today. Dickerson reportedly had scholarship offers from Auburn, South Carolina, Dayton, DePaul, South Florida, VCU and Providence, with solid interest from a host of other schools. -- Reported by High School Hoop
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Possible Andrew Wiggins college destinations July 10, 2012
The top basketball player in the 2014 class shooting guard Andrew Wiggins, listed the North Carolina Tar Heels along with Duke, Syracuse, Florida State and Kentucky as his top five. The 6’7”, 205 lbs swingman out of Canada can do it all on the court. Capable of playing the two, three or four spots at a high level. Very talented and athletic some call him the best high school basketball talent in North America (wouldn’t that mean the world? just saying). Wiggins is a physical freak who runs the floor like a point guard, can lead the break with very good ball handling skills, is great in isolation and can create for himself and teammates in the half court. He possesses skills that rival and in some scouts minds trumps that of Jabari Parker. -- Reported by KeepinItHeel.com
Forward Robert Carter commits to Georgia Tech Nov. 12, 2011
Paul Biancardi of ESPN reports: Robert Carter, ranked No. 21 in the ESPNU 100 for 2012, has decided to play at Georgia Tech for new coach Brian Gregory. Carter (Snellville, Ga./Shiloh), a 6-foot-8 forward who wanted to stay close to home, had Florida, Georgia and Georgia Tech as his finalists. "I have a big family -- six sisters and one brother -- and my entire family is in the state of Georgia. My heart just felt Georgia Tech was right for me," Carter said.
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Point guard Dominic Artis decommits from UCLA Oct. 6, 2011
Sporting News reports: UCLA is hoping 6-8 point guard Kyle Anderson can have a major impact on the Bruins when he arrives in the fall of 2012, but it looks like he’s already had an effect on their recruiting class. Point guard Dominic Artis, who committed to UCLA in July, announced Wednesday he is reopening his commitment – roughly two weeks after Anderson made his decision to join the Bruins. "We just felt like he made kind of a quick decision," Derrick Artis, Dominic’s uncle and summer coach with the Oakland Soldiers, told Scout.com. "He committed before July was over and we just want to make sure we're doing the right thing. We still love UCLA and they're still at the head of his list."
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SG Archie Goodwin commits to Kentucky Sept 20, 2011
CBS Sports reports: Goodwin, a 6-foot-5 guard from Sylvan Hills (Ark.), might be the best scoring guard in the country. He attacks the rim with reckless abandon whenever there is an opening, and he knows how to finish with authority. Goodwin is very difficult to stop off the dribble, and his first step is one of the best. He should fit perfectly into Kentucky’s offensive system, which allows for creativity off the bounce. The Wildcats were often considered a favorite for Goodwin, although the in-state Razorbacks put a lot of their eggs in his basket. In the end, the allure of going to Lexington outweighed the nostalgia of staying at home.
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Marcus Smart and Phil Forte commit to OSU Sept 11, 2011
ESPN reports: It took more than 18 months of recruiting by Oklahoma State coach Travis Ford, but on Friday, the work paid off. During their visits to Stillwater, Okla., shooting guards Marcus Smart and Phil Forte -- teammates at Flower Mound (Texas) -- Smart committed to play for the Cowboys. "Me and Phil, we're going to Oklahoma State," Smart said. "We had a feeling, me and Phil, that we wanted to play together. Then bam, this was the right place for us." Smart, 6-3 and 200 pounds, is a five-star prospect and the No. 11 overall prospect in the class of 2012, while Forte, 5-10 and 175 pounds, is the No. 46 shooting guard... Smart and Forte combined to go 90-14 in three years of high school ball, including a state championship and two final fours.
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Maryland gets commitment from forward Jake Layman Sept 7, 2011
CBS Sports reports: Only two weeks after getting a commitment from top-25 big man Shaq Cleare, the Terrapins nabbed a pledge on Monday night from Jake Layman. A source confirmed the news to CBSSports.com. Layman, a 6-foot-8 forward from King Philip Regional (Mass.), was one of the biggest rising stars on the spring and summer AAU circuit. He is a versatile frontcourt player who runs the floor well and shoots it well from 3-point range. Defensively, his length and lateral movement make him perfect to put at the top of a zone or press. Layman checked in at No. 57 in CBSSports.com’s Top 100. In addition to Cleare and Layman, Maryland also holds a commitment from Virginia native Seth Allen.
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Jevon Thomas decommits from St. John’s July 24, 2011
TheRecruitScoop reports: Jevon Thomas, a 2012 6-foot-0 in-state point guard, has decided to re-open his commitment from St. John’s. “I’m decommitting from St. John’s,” he stated by phone on Saturday afternoon. “I think I rushed into my decision way to early. I want to see more options and go from there.” Thomas will still consider the Johnnies. “I will explore other options,” he said. “At the same time, I have high interest in them and still have a great relationship with the staff.” The talented, quick and crafty guard from Our Savior New American came to a decision on Friday night that he wanted to explore other options. Thomas committed to the Red Storm in October of 2010 after being recruited by assistant Tony Chiles.
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Shabazz Muhammad may be top HS player in class of 2012 July 24, 2011
The Sporting News reports: He is ranked No. 1 in the 2012 class by Scout.com, Rivals.com, so he didn’t need to play to burnish his reputation. But the toughness he demonstrated was all the proof anyone would need that the 15 colleges closely pursuing him—including Duke, Kentucky, Kansas, UNLV and the presumptive favorite, UCLA —were wise to be spending Saturday afternoon at Rancho High’s North gym. Oh, but there was more. During the 16-minute second half of Dream Vision’s 75-65 victory over Double Pump Elite, Muhammad scored 26 of his 32 points. He scored in every way conceivable, including two ridiculous dunks that brought the large crowd of spectators—and a few of the coaches—out of their seats. “This is my last AAU tournament, so I want to make it a good one,” Muhammad said. “I wanted to play today. I wanted to come in first place in our pool. We’re in the best pool, and we’re 3-0, so I’m really happy about that.” Muhammad is a 6-6, 202-pound shooting guard who plays for Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas.
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2013 NY Gauchos duo Dayshon Smith and Josh James gaining interest July 17, 2011
TheRecruitScoop reports: The New York Gauchos have always been known for producing talented guards, including Kemba Walker, Omar Calhoun and Jevon Thomas. Their class of 2013 is no exception as it is full of talented guards. Most notably Dayshon Smith and Josh James are two notable rising juniors. Smith, a 2012 5-foot-11 combo guard who will reclassify to 2013 is on the move. After Rice High School closed down following the school year, the talented guard decided to transfer to St. Benedict’s Prep in New Jersey. “I’m leaving Rice and reclassifying,” he stated. “I’m heading to St. Benedict’s because of head coach Mark Taylor and his coaching philosophy. He is a good coach.” A good shooter who can put the ball on the floor has great speed. He shows the ability to pass and make plays when it counts. While his pull-up jumper from beyond the arm needs work, a crucial key to Smith gaining college interest is his size. Right now, he is extremely lanky and skinny. Never the less, he has improved a fair amount and plays with a chip on his shoulder at all times.
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Champions crowned at NY2LA Sports Summer Jam July 17, 2011
National Hoops Report reports: The SYF Players avenged a pool play loss to Dream Vision Friday night in the NY2LA Sports Summer Jam 17-and-under Platinum championship with a 72-67 victory behind a balanced attack. Led by five-star big man Mitch McGary’s 25 points, SYF also got big contributions from Michigan-bound Glenn Robinson III, Jeremiah Jones and Markus Crider. However, it was 6-foot-3 guard Adonis Filer who was at the head of their attack. Filer scored 14 points and handed out nine assists, and has been a driving force behind SYF’s success on the club circuit this Spring and Summer. He has gone from the defensive stopper, and garbage man on offense he was a couple years ago to a high major combo guard prospect who will reclassify next year at Brewster... Shabazz Muhammad led all scorers with 42 points, and led a spirited second half rally by abusing whichever defender SYF put on him in the post. He also dropped in a pair of three-pointers in the second half and spent plenty of time at the free-throw line. Winston Shepard, the leading scorer of Dream Vision’s hotly contested semifinal win over Mo-Kan (17 points), added 15 in the finals.
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Gabe York, top-100 guard from California, commits to Arizona July 11, 2011
Sporting News reports: Arizona landed its second top-100 college basketball recruit for the 2012 class when 6-2 guard Gabe York of Lutheran High in Orange, Calif., committed Sunday to the Wildcats. "I just feel like it’s going to be a really great fit," York told Scout.com. "The main reason I picked Arizona is because it’s close to home and, thinking about it, I really want to be close to my mom, and all my other family members can come watch me." York is Scout’s No. 62 prospect in the rising senior class. The Wildcats already landed 6-9 center Grant Jerrett of LaVerne (Calif.) Lutheran, who committed last November.
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Anthony Bennett Fiesting on the Competition July 5, 2011
TheRecruitScoop reports: In a short span of time this spring, Anthony Bennett has spring-boarded himself into the driver’s seat as one of the top-ten players nationally. The talented forward moved up in the national rankings to seventh in the class of 2012 and has seen his recruitment blow up. None of this would be possible, however, without AAU basketball. During the high school season, Bennett played his first season at national powerhouse Findlay Prep of Nevada. The squad finished 28-4 against a top notch schedule. However, he suffered an injury and missed significant time during the season. Once AAU and the Nike EYBL came around, he and his U17 CIA Bounce squad turned it up a notch. “We finished first in our pool for the EYBL,” stated the Canadian forward. “The best part is I’m playing with no injuries so that allows me to go hard all the time.”
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Chris Baldwin Emerging to Top of the Pack in 2015 July 4, 2011
TheRecruitScoop reports: As the class of 2015 makes their way into the world of high school basketball, rising freshmen are starting to make a name for themselves. One player in particular is Chris Baldwin. A 6-foot-7 combo forward who will attend Hillside Academy in Massachusetts, Baldwins is striving to have a big summer with Expressions Elite. As colleges already know of his name, the New England area rising star has unlimited potential. The combo forward can score with ease in the paint and has a mid-range game, as well, making him versatile at his height. With the ability to grab rebounds and push the ball up court for fast break points, Baldwin shows how elite he is with the ability to play all five positions on the court. Along with that, he can handle the ball that will control during the up tempo paces of offenses and in crunch time. At this point, the 2015 star lacks endurance and isn’t the best defender when he is beat off the dribble. In a way, Chris Baldwin compares to the likes of 2012 star Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony/NJ Playaz, who is ranked nationally in the top five.
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Chance Murray’s Game Taking Him Places July 3, 2011
TheRecruitScoop reports: When a player on the west coast breaks out, they become nationally known from coast to coast. Although this has not happened to young Chance Murray yet, his game is going to take him to that next level. A 6-foot-3 combo guard from California, Murray attends Price in Los Angeles and plays AAU ball with Team Rockfish. The 2013 star in the making is already a known entity out in Hollywood but may become famous within the next year. With an all around game, Murray can defend, score, rebound, and play the point. A true combo guard who has great handle, IQ and a good feel for the game and players around him, Murray has one specific strength that stands out about him. ”Playing off of the pick and roll is my biggest strength,” he said. As Murray can shoot the ball extremely well, he is a true threat. However, he is susceptible to himself. His major weakness is his lack of aggression on the court at times, as well as lacking energy throughout an entire game. He could go extremely far, but his determination and desire to play will only take him so far when it comes down to it.
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IS8 touranment 2011 highlights May 21, 2011
The IS8 basketball tournament is the top NYC high school tournament. Here's a video mix from the 2011 edition:
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Canadian forward Nick Madray Like Syracuse, Boston College June 22, 2011
TheRecruitScoop reports: While most American basketball fans have not heard the name Nick Madray before they will soon get to know him. He is a 6-foot-9 sophomore forward who plays in Canada at Stephen Lewis Secondary School. Madray runs with CIA Bounce of the AAU Circuit and is one of many Canadians in the program who is being recruited by the Boston College staff. Madray has a very European style game. A very versatile and long player, he can shoot the ball well who has three-point range and can hit open mid-range jumpers. Along with that, the rising junior can take it to the basket and finish at the rim well.
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Five-star big man Robert Carter rises up rankings June 22, 2011
CBS Sports reports: In a class filled with high-quality big men, Robert Carter might have a leg up on everyone in one area: post play. Simply put, Carter might be the best back-to-the-basket scorer in the country. The 6-foot-7 power forward from Thomasville (Ga.) made it clear at the NBPA Top 100 camp that he wasn’t backing down from anyone. “I’m trying to prove that I want to be the best guy, not just one of the best big guys,” Carter said. “I want to show people what I can do.” While smaller than most of the other five-star big men, Carter has a great jump hook and very good fundamentals around the basket. He is strong enough to bull through defenders and finish at the rim, while also possessing the touch to knock down face-up jumpers from the arc. Carter has tremendous hands and knows how to create space and make himself available on the block.
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Jordan Goodman and D.C. Assault fought hard, but All-Ohio Red emerged victorious in Akron April 26, 2011
Daniel Poneman of FiveStarBasketball reports: The All-Ohio Red basketball club added a 17U tournament title to its resumé this weekend, cruising past D.C. Assault, 74-66, on Sunday to win the King James Shooting Stars Classic. And they did it in an old-fashioned way: with a balanced, team effort. Six-foot-eight center Elijah Macon, once committed to West Virginia, held down the paint all weekend, while Kenny Kaminski, a 6-7 Michigan State recruit from Medina, Ohio may look like a banger too, but lit up opponents from the perimeter. Jalen Robinson, a 6-7 forward, used his athleticism and versatility to create matchup problems. While that frontcourt was certainly imposing, the guards made All-Ohio Red go. Terry Rozier looked unguardable at times, even getting the best of highly regarded D.C. Assault point guard Nate Britt in the title game. And Jordan Potts, at 5-11, clearly showed himself to be the team's on- and off-court leader while also knocking down big shot after big shot. The most impressive individual performance of the title game came from the losing team, though. Jordan Goodman a 6-8 forward who has committed to Rutgers, poured in 28 points for D.C. Assault. Goodman threw down a number of thundering dunks in the title game, and had everyone in the gym on the edge of their seat whenever he got the ball.
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USA overcomes triple-double from Bismack Biyombo to win 2011 Hoop Summit April 10, 2011
In the 2011 Nike Hoop Summit game, the USA Basketball Junior National Select Team’s depth and defense helped it withstand the first triple-double in Nike Hoop Summit history as the Americas rolled to a 92-80 win over the World Select Team Saturday night in front of a national television audience and a Rose Garden crowd of 8,955 in Portland, Ore. While four U.S. players scored in double-digits and all 10 USA team members put points on the board, Bismack Biyombo (Fuenlabrada, Spain and DR Congo) tallied 12 points, 11 rebounds and a Nike Hoop Summit record 10 blocked shots for the first triple-double in the game’s history. Read the Nike Hoops Summit game recap.
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Austin Rivers named Naismith high school player of the year March 10, 2011
Boston.com reports: The accolades keep pouring in for Doc Rivers' son Austin Rivers. Austin Rivers was named the Naismith High school basketball player of the year today, another highlight in a stellar prep career for the Winter Park (Fla.) guard. He's already committed to playing for Duke. Last week, he scored 25 points and nabbed 11 rebounds en route to the Florida Class 6A title. He averaged 29.2 points per game his senior year, according to USA Basketball.
In annual Summit game, USA edges World team April 10, 2010
The annual Nike Hoop Summit took place Saturday. The game features a USA team against a world select team. And in the 2010 edition, the USA pulled out a tight 101-97 victory. Harrison Barnes scored 27, Jared Sullinger 22 in the win. In the loss, Enes Kanter had 34 points, 13 rebounds for the World team. Click the link and read about it.
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Jordan New York regional game rosters March 23, 2010
The 2010 Jordan Classic New York regional game rosters were announced today.
Like the international game, the NY regional game is good to watch and somewhat important, but the big event of the day is the national game. Info for that big game is already on our Jordan page.
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Former NYC high school, Seton Hall player Robert Mitchell in serious trouble March 18, 2010
New York Daily News reports: As former Seton Hall basketball player Robert Mitchell spent Wednesday night in a New Jersey jail cell awaiting arraignment today on charges of kidnapping, robbery, burglary and weapons offenses, coaches from New York's basketball community wondered how things went so wrong so fast for the 23-year-old player from Brooklyn. Rodney Houston, a longtime AAU coach, said the "Stix" Mitchell who has been accused of robbing eight people at gunpoint doesn't sound like the high school freshman he met almost a decade ago at Grand Street Campus.
New York Daily News reports: Mitchell's high school career was erratic. He left Grand Street Campus to attend Genesis One Christian School in Mississippi before transferring to Notre Dame Prep, a private school in Fitchburg, Mass., where he helped coach Bill Barton win the national prep school championship.
NYC: Kevin Punter propels Selesian to CHSAA Class B championship title March 6, 2010
New York Daily News reports: His first shot bounced high off the rim, careened off the backboard and landed out of bounds. His second shot came up short. His third? That was a layup, although it was the only bucket he would score in the first half. But Kevin Punter wasn't about to stop. Salesian's junior swingman scored just two points in the first half of Friday night's CHSAA Class B championship game, but he rebounded from that performance with a stunning second half. Punter scored 18 points after halftime - 10 in the fourth quarter - as the Eagles came from behind to down Blessed Sacrament, 58-49, at Fordham University's Rose Hill Gym.
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All-American Patric Young hoping to make impact at Florida Feb. 23, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Providence High School (Jacksonville, Fla.) forward Patric Young shares a popular theory about the selection process for the McDonald’s All-American game. “It’s very political,” said Young, a Florida signee. “It has a lot to do with where you’re going (to college). I know a few guys that should’ve made the game. But hey, I’m just happy that I made it.” Young, a 6-9 forward who is considered one of the best defensive post players in the country, was named to the McDonald’s All-American roster earlier this month. After putting up 15 points and 12 rebounds per game at Paxon H.S. (Jacksonville) as a junior, this season he has been good for 14 and 14 a night.
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Jordan All-Americans revealed Feb. 18, 2010
The 2010 Jordan Classic players list has been revealed. Check out which players made the cut and more info on this year's game, which will take place April 17 in New York City's Madison Square Garden.
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Ryan Harrow responds to McDonald’s All-American snub Feb. 17, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Ryan Harrow is beginning to sense a pattern. Last week, after the selections for the 2010 McDonald’s All-American Game were announced live on ESPNU, Harrow — a senior point guard at Walton H.S. in Marietta, Ga. — once again found himself on the outside looking in as he was denied a career-defining opportunity. General consensus among several media and HSH readers was that Harrow was the biggest McD’s snub out of anybody. “I found out that I didn’t make it about a week before it was announced,” said Harrow, ranked No. 26 in the HSH national Top 50. “Players were getting their letters and I didn’t get one. It really hurt me because I put in the work to make it and I played well in front of the guys that vote on the team… It just really hurt.”
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Terrence Jones will decide this spring Feb. 12, 2010
HighSchoolHoop reports: Jefferson (Portland, Ore.) forward Terrence Jones isn’t just holding out on picking a college because he doesn’t know where he wants to go. That’s only part of it. The other reason is because he wants his teammates to get the exposure they’ll need to land scholarships. “It’s only right,” said Jones, ranked No. 31 in the HSH national top 50. “Coaches may like what they see while they’re coming to look at me. We all help each other out like that.”
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McDonalds All-Americans revealed Feb. 11, 2010
The 2010 McDonalds All-Americans list has been revealed. Check out which players made the cut and more info on this year's game, which will take place March 31 in Columbus, Ohio.
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Rivers beats Knight in head-to-head ESPN2 matchup Feb. 8, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Few matchups between hyped-up high schools stars actually live up to the excitement that it builds, but when Winter Park (Fla.) combo guard Austin Rivers tangled with Pine Crest (Fla.) point guard Brandon Knight this past Friday on ESPN2, the performances trumped the hype. In the end, Rivers had the better supporting cast as Winter Park outlasted Pine Crest, 87-76, at Florida Atlantic University. Knight, ranked No. 2 in the HSH national top 50, pumped in 48 points in the loss, while Rivers, ranked No. 5, dropped 42 points.
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Terrence Ross leaving Montrose Feb. 4, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Nearly a month ago, Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) swingman Terrence Ross de-committed from Maryland. Now he’s leaving Montrose. “I’m not going to talk about it other than to say that Terrence has withdrawn from Montrose,” head coach Stu Vetter told the Washington Post. “It was a parental decision, and we wish him well.”
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Josh Selby goes for 41, sets two more visits Feb. 1, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Four days ago, Lake Clifton-Eastern (Baltimore, Md.) star point guard Josh Selby lit up City High for 41 points in a 69-61 win... Selby, who is ranked No. 7 in the HSH national top 50, visited Arizona earlier in January and he’s scheduled to visit Kentucky on March 7.
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TaShawn Mabry eclipses Phil Ford’s scoring record Jan. 29, 2010
High School Hoop reports: In four years at Rocky Mount (N.C.) High School, TaShawn Mabry has drained plenty of three-pointers and put up more than his share of 30-point games. But what made Mabry’s three from the right wing during the third quarter of Tuesday’s game against Northern Nash special was that it allowed him to bypass former Rocky Mount legend Phil Ford on the school’s all-time scoring list. Mabry finished with 31 points in the blowout win, giving him a career total of 2,102.
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“The next John Wall” (Rodney Purvis) switching AAU teams Jan. 27, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Upper Room Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) point guard Rodney Purvis has decided to switch from the CP3 All-Stars AAU to the Boo Williams Summer League for the upcoming AAU season, because BWSL is allowing him to run the point exclusively. “At this point, I want to concentrate on being a point guard full-time,” said Purvis, who will run with the 16-and-under team. “I just think it’s important for me to continue to develop.”
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Injury updates on Michael Gilchrist, Ryan Harrow Jan. 12, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Ryan Harrow will sit out of Walton’s next three or four games while he recovers. Meanwhile, St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) swingman Michael Gilchrist, the #3 player in the nation, injured his knee during last week’s win over Union. Gilchrist’s mother Cindy told us that he was “good.”
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Jared Sullinger, Tony Mitchell live up to the hype Jan. 12, 2010
ESPN (Reggie Rankin) reports that power forward Jared Sullinger continues to impress and is possibly the best post player in the 2010 class. And that Tony Mitchell is one of the elite forwards in his class.
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Roscoe Smith Commits to UConn Jan. 11, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Back in November, we got up with Roscoe Smith to talk about his list of UConn, Duke and Georgetown, and this past Friday, the 6-foot-8 senior from Baltimore (who currently attends Oak Hill Academy) made his decision: He’s heading to Storrs. Back in October when he attended UConn’s First Night celebration as part of an official visit, Smith shed some light on why he might choose the Huskies: “The main [thing] about UConn is coach Jim Calhoun, his work, the past, and also the legacy of the players who played here, like Rudy Gay and Ben Gordon. I can do it all. Right now, [UConn coaches] are telling me, if I do come to UConn, the world is mine.”
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DeShaun Thomas drops career-high Jan. 6, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Bishop Luers (Ind.) forward DeShaun Thomas lit up Southside High for a career-high 52 points last Saturday in a 110-94 win. Thomas’ previous career-high was 46, which he had managed twice.
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Terps land Howard; Ross moving on? Jan. 4, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Just days after Montrose Christian (Md.) senior shooting guard Terrence Ross de-committed from Maryland, the Terps got a commitment from Oak Hill Academy (Va.) shooting guard Pe’Shon Howard, also a senior. Howard, who is averaging 15 points, seven assists and five rebounds for the Warriors, picked the Terps over UCLA, Georgia Tech, South Florida, Virginia and Northwestern. We were the first to report that, despite him continuing to list Maryland as a possible destination, Ross would not end up in College Park.
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Josh Selby nocthes triple-double, sets up visits Jan. 4, 2010
High School Hoop reports: Lake Clifton-Eastern (Md.) star Josh Selby managed the first triple-double of his career in a 100-44 romping of Connexions last week. Selby scored 46 points, dished out 16 assists and grabbed 12 rebounds in the IAABO/290 Holiday Mixer... Selby’s recruitment is beginning to pick up similar heat as he prepares for an official visit to Arizona this weekend... After that, Selby will head to Kansas on Feb. 13, and to Kentucky on March 7. In addition to Arizona, Kansas and Kentucky, Selby is considering Syracuse and Indiana.
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Terrence Ross de-commits from Maryland Dec. 31, 2009
High School Hoop reports: On New Year’s Eve, Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) coach Stu Vetter confirmed with the Baltimore Sun that Class of 2010 shooting guard Terrence Ross did indeed de-commit from Maryland this week. “He has reopened his recruitment,” Vetter told the paper. “He’s going to reopen it for a limited number of schools — no more than four or five. Maryland is still very strong in the picture. He just felt that he wanted to open it up and make sure he was making an informed decision. And that’s pretty much it.”.
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Reggie Bullock impresses at GlaxoSmithKline Invitational Dec. 31, 2009
High School Hoop reports: Flu and all, Walton High School (Marietta, Ga.) guard Ryan Harrow managed 35 points in the quarterfinal round of the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational against Millbrook H.S., and the buzz around the gym at Broughton High School on Tuesday was what he would do for an encore against Kinston and North Carolina signee Reggie Bullock, the No. 11 prospect in the HSH Top 50. Though he was visibly sluggish again, Harrow, an NC State signee (26th, HSH Top 50), scored 18 in the first quarter, capped off by crossing up his defender and draining a three from the left corner.
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Austin Rivers takes City of Palms MVP despite loss Dec. 29, 2009
High School Hoop reports: A few weeks ago Winter Park (Fla.) point guard Austin Rivers told us that he wanted to focus less on where’s he’s going to college (between Florida, who he’s committed to, and Duke, who he’s allowing to recruit him anyway) and more on winning and improving. After dropping 45 points to get his team to the City of Palms Classic title game, Rivers and the Wildcats fell to Paterson Catholic (N.J.), 62-54, on Dec. 23 in the holiday tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.
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James McAdoo wins USA Basketball award Dec. 22, 2009
High School Hoop reports: After helping Team USA claim the gold medal in the FIBA Americas U16 Championship this past summer, Norfolk Christian High (Va.) forward James McAdoo was named the 2009 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. McAdoo, 16, is the youngest player ever to win the award. “When they told me that I won the award I was kinda shocked,” McAdoo said. “It’s a great honor. I got a nice plaque with the team’s picture on it and a really nice crystal ball. It’s real nice! This is probably the biggest award I’ve received so far.”
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Jared Sullinger rocks No. 1 Findlay Prep Dec. 18, 2009
High School Hoop reports: Jared Sullinger swished two clutch free throws with four seconds left in regulation to help Northland (Ohio) knock off No. 1-ranked Findlay Prep (Nev.), 53-52, Thursday night at the Rike Center in Westerville, Ohio. The game was televised nationally on ESPN, and Sullinger, an Ohio State signee, seized the opportunity to show why he’s rated fourth in the HSH Top 50, dropping 32 points and snatching 17 rebounds.
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P.J. Hairston drops 53 on the road Dec. 11, 2009
High School Hoop reports: Back in October, Dudley High (N.C.) star P.J. Hairston told us that one of his main individual goals this season was to be “more dominant in every aspect.” If his game earlier this week at Southern Durham H.S. was any indication, it may be time to set a new goal. Hairston, a North Carolina commit, dropped 53 points in a 112-64 win. He went 8-of-10 from the three-point line and had six dunks.
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Class of 2011 star Brad Beal picks Florida Nov. 30, 2009
CBS Sports reports: Monday morning, Florida landed one of, if not the best, shooting guard in the Class of 2011. Beal, ranked No. 10 overall in the Class of 2011, chose Florida, according to Scout.com, over Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.
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Tobias Harris commits to Tennessee Nov. 19, 2009
CBS Sports reports: Tobias Harris, as expected, committed to Tennessee on Thursday.
"I really have a great relationship with Coach [Bruce] Pearl and his assistant coach [Tony] Jones," Harris said. "It's just a family atmosphere down there. I got along with the players real well, and it's just a great opportunity and fit for me."
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Harrison Barnes will attend North Carolina Nov. 17, 2009
HighSchoolHoop reports: Ridgeway High (Tenn.) forward Tarik Black ended his recruitment Monday night when he picked Memphis over Florida, Marquette and Alabama. Black is the Tigers’ second commitment in as many days. Wheeler High (Ga.) guard Jelan Kendrick also committed to Memphis this past weekend.
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Harrison Barnes will attend North Carolina Nov. 14, 2009
HighSchoolHoop reports: You could almost hear the collective sigh from thousands of fans across the country when Ames High (Iowa) star Harrison Barnes, HighSchoolHoop’s top-rated prospect, said live on ESPNU, “Today I am proud to announce that the school that I will attend in the fall of 2010 will be the coach that I am going to Skype… Coach Roy Williams…” Even the losers — Duke, Iowa State, Oklahoma, UCLA and Kansas — had to have some degree of relief from finally knowing. “I just felt that, not only is Coach Williams so good at instructing the game,” said Barnes, “I felt that I had developed a great relationship with the players, and I’m just so anxious to play with them.”
ESPN.com reports: According to ESPN Scouts Inc., Barnes is a good athlete with deceptive speed and quickness off the dribble. He's likely to play either the No. 2 or No. 3 spot. His offensive game is polished, with a deadly midrange jumper and step-back fall-away jumper. Overall, on the offensive end, Barnes isn't flashy, but his efficiency and production are high-level. He's also expected to be a defensive boost.
Will Barton to attend Memphis Nov. 13, 2009
ESPN.com reports: On Friday, the Tigers signed shooting guard Will Barton (Baltimore/Brewster Academy), the nation's No. 5 prospect. Barton had been committed to the Tigers since the summer, but made it official by signing a national letter of intent. Barton is the headliner of a Tigers class that is among the nation's finest. The group also includes Barton's brother, Antonio, (Baltimore/Notre Dame Prep); ESPNU 100 point guard Joe Jackson (Memphis/White Station); shooting guard Chris Crawford (Memphis/Sheffield); and 6-foot-8 forward Hippolyte Tsafack (Charlottesville, Va./The Miller School) who committed earlier this week.
Jared Sullinger signs with Ohio State Nov. 11, 2009
ESPN News Services reports: Jared Sullinger, the No. 2 player on the ESPNU 100 recruiting list, signed with Ohio State on Wednesday, becoming the most decorated recruit to sign with the Buckeyes since Greg Oden in 2006. Sullinger (Columbus, Ohio/Northland) had been verbally committed to the Buckeyes since 2007 but made it official by inking a national letter of intent. Sullinger is the headliner of an Ohio State class that ESPN.com ranks as the nation's best. The group includes four ESPNU 100 prospects and six players overall. Sullinger is joined by top-100 recruits SF DeShaun Thomas (Fort Wayne, Ind./Bishop Luers), SG Jordan Sibert (Princeton, Ohio) and SG Lenzelle Smith (Zion, Ill.) as well as PG Aaron Craft (Findlay, Ohio/Liberty Benton) and SF J.D. Weatherspoon (Columbus, Ohio/Northland).
Baylor signs elite PF Perry Jones Nov. 11, 2009
ESPN News Services reports: Perry Jones, the No. 3 player in the ESPNU 100 who has been committed to playing for Baylor since 2007, made it official when he signed a letter of intent with the Bears on Wednesday, the first day of the basketball early signing period... As a junior last season at Duncanville (Texas) High School, Jones averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds. Jones was named UIL District 7-5A Co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2008-09 and Duncanville was ranked among the top 10 teams in the nation last season. He is the highest-ranked recruit in program history and Drew's fourth consensus top-50 recruit in seven seasons at Baylor.
Big-man Josh Smith verbally commits to UCLA Bruins Nov. 10, 2009
ESPN.com reports: Josh Smith, the top-ranked center in the ESPNU 100 who couldn't make a layup as a fifth grader, told ESPN.com on Tuesday he's headed to UCLA. Smith, the 6-foot-10, 270-pound post of Kentwood High in Covington, Wash., chose the Bruins over Pac-10 rival Washington... Last season he was a first-team All-State after averaging 26.7 points as Kentwood (19-7) tied for the league title with Federal Way (Tacoma) but fell 51-41 in the 4A West Central District tournament to Kentridge (Kent). The point total was Kentwood's lowest of the season, but Smith recorded 18 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks.
James McAdoo commits to North Carolina Sept. 8, 2009
The Summer's big all-star game is a wrap August 21, 2009
The 2009 Elite 24 Hoops Classic is in the books, and InsideHoops.com has the best recap you'll find anywhere. Check it out.
Virginia Star Says UNC Rumors are “Crazy” June 30, 2009
HighSchoolHoop reports: When Norfolk Christian School (Va.) forward James McAdoo led the United States to a 101-87 win over host country Argentina in the gold-medal game of the FIBA Americas U-16 Championships, he got a glimpse of what he’d be in for once he chooses one of the big time schools that are courting him. The arena, which seated 3,000, was standing room only, and the vicious crowd did everything it could to make it uncomfortable for Team USA. “That crowd was crazy!” says McAdoo, a rising junior who is rated the No. 20 prospect in the HighSchoolHoop top 50. “They were hostile no matter who we played because they didn’t want us to win. The only people rooting for us were on the bench. I’m sure that’s how it will be on the road in college sometimes. That will be fun.”
Tony Mitchell no longer a wildcat June 30, 2009
BasketballRecruting/Rivals reports: Three-star prospect Tony Mitchell's stock is on the rise, but unfortunately for Kansas State, it doesn't look like the small forward is going to be a Wildcat.
Lance Stephenson commits to Cincinnati June 30, 2009
SNY.TV reports: At long last, the Lance Stephenson sweepstakes is over, and the talented Lincoln High School player is headed to Cincinnati of the Big East. The story was first reported by SNY.tv on Tuesday morning and confirmed later Tuesday by a press release from the Cincinnati athletic department. "We are very excited about Lance's decision to become a Bearcat," head coach Mick Cronin said. "Lance has terrific talent as a basketball player and is also a fierce competitor on the court. His desire to win will help us compete for a Big East Championship.
JOHN WALL TO KENTUCKY May 19, 2009
Slam Magazine is reporting that a source says John Wall will commit to Kentucky. More tomorrow.
JOHN WALL CUTS LIST TO TWO May 14, 2009
High School Hoop reports: The folks at Kentucky can take a huge sigh of relief. The Wildcats remain on John Wall’s list of potential destinations, which has been cut from seven schools all the way down to two according to a number of sources. And while those in Lexington continue to cross their fingers, the people at the University of Miami have to be pumping their fist that they snuck in at the last minute to be the other school still alive.
JEREMY TYLER ROAD TO EUROPE PROGRESSING May 11, 2009
The New York Times (Pete Thamel) reports: The first formal step for the basketball prodigy Jeremy Tyler to find a place to play in Europe next season begins this weekend. Tyler, a 6-foot-11 center from San Diego, announced last month that he would skip his senior year of high school to play professionally overseas. Sonny Vaccaro, who is advising Tyler, will fly to Athens on Sunday for meetings with Greece’s top basketball teams, Olympiacos and Panathinaikos. Vaccaro said the talks would be the first formal discussions about where Tyler would play, but interest remains from clubs in Italy, Spain and Israel. It had been thought that Tyler would play in Spain, but Greece has become a top option.
April 24, 2009: Yahoo (Dan Wetzel) reports: Jeremy Tyler has decided to forgo his senior year of high school and turn pro. Yes, high school. This isn’t some sign of the sporting apocalypse or a teenager with an overvalued sense of worth. It’s a daring, trailblazing yet well-thought-out move that challenges the bizarre way America develops amateur basketball players. Tyler is an agile 6-11, 260-pound San Diego native, the nation’s top player in the junior class who already committed to the University of Louisville. He’s as close to a can’t-miss NBA prospect as there is; a tantalizing mix of size, speed and smarts. Scouts project him to be the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft, when he’s eligible under the NBA’s age requirements... Instead Jeremy and his father, James, who owns his own home improvement company and is about to open a family restaurant, surveyed the traditional route, decided it made little sense, and went looking for a new plan. They called retired sneaker executive and hoops dealmaker Sonny Vaccaro and plotted a course for Europe... Over the next couple of weeks the Tylers said they will hire a financial planner and professional sports agent and pursue early feelers from professional teams in Spain, Italy and Israel. Jeremy Tyler is likely to receive a contract worth at least a few hundred thousand dollars a year and could sign endorsement contracts worth at least that.
March 8, 2009: Talented big man DeMarcus Cousins commits to Memphis -- Fox Sports (Jeff Goodman) reports: Talented 6-foot-11 senior big man DeMarcus Cousins committed to Memphis while on an unofficial visit this weekend.
Cousins will join Memphis signee Xavier Henry to give the Tigers one of the most talented classes in the nation. Memphis has also signed Nolan Dennis and junior college players Will Coleman and Darnell Dodson.
SI.com (Seth Davis) reports: Cousins, a 6-foot-10 center from LeFlore High School in Mobile who is considered the top big man in the country, averaged 26 points, 12 rebounds and 6.7 blocked shots this season.
January 22, 2009: ESPN Rise reports: It was a big week for 6-foot-9 Derrick Favors from South Atlanta (Atlanta), and in the aftermath he has been selected as the ESPN RISE National Boys Basketball Player of the Week... East Region Region Boys' Basketball Player of the Week
Lamont Jones (Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va.)... Southeast Region Boys' Basketball Player of the Week
Derrick Favors (South Atlanta, Atlanta)... Midwest Region Boys' Basketball Player of the Week
Jared Sullinger (Northland, Columbus, Ohio)... Southwest Region Boys' Basketball Player of the Week
Justin Nahle (Americas, El Paso, Texas)... West Region Boys' Basketball Player of the Week
Derrick Williams (La Mirada, Calif.).
January 15, 2009: The AP reports: Derrick Favors, one of the nation's top high school basketball prospects, announced Wednesday he will play at Georgia Tech next season. The 6-foot-9 center picked the Yellow Jackets over Georgia and North Carolina State, though his decision won't be official until the next signing period in April.
August 24, 2008: The Elite 24 all-star game is a wrap, and Skip to My Lou/Blue Team, coached by Detroit Piston’s Chauncey Billups, defeated The Goat squad coached by playground legend and former pro-basketball player Kenny Anderson 135 to 121. Shooting guard Dominic Cheek (23 points) and point guard John Wall (10 points) stood out on the winning team garnering co-MVP titles; shooting guard Lance Stephenson (29 points) and point guard Maalik Wayns (10 points) were co-MVPs for The Goat/White Team. The Goat’s Lance Stephenson was the game’s high scorer with 29 points. Click the link for several features on the game.
August 22, 2008: Check a new Chauncey Billups interview where the NBA star talks quickly about his high school basketball days.
August 1, 2008: High School Hoop reports: "Georgia Tech signed their back court of the future recently with commitments from 2009 players, 6-1 point guard Mfon Udofia of Miller Grove HS (GA) and 6-4 shooting guard Glen Rice Jr. from Walton HS (GA)."
Apr. 13, 2008: InsideHoops will provide full coverage of the 2008 Jordan All-American Classic. Check this page and our Jordan page regularly all week.
Apr. 12, 2008: The Nike Hoops Summit is in the books. Fueled by seven points from Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall H.S./ North Hollywood, Calif.), the USA posted an 11-0 run over the first four minutes of the third quarter to open a comfortable 54-42 lead and then rolled on to a comfortable 98-78 victory over the World Select Team in the 11th Nike Hoop Summit held Saturday at the Rose Garden in Portland, Ore. The USA's 20-point margin of victory tied the game's record for victory margin. The 20 point differential has also been equaled on two other occasions, 100-80 in 2007 and 99-79 in the 2004 game. Read.
Feb. 24, 2008: Initial info for the 2008 Nike Hoop Summit is up.
Oak Hill, Patterson School register routs in Hickory -- ESPN/Scouts Inc (Bob Gibbons) reports: Two nationally-ranked basketball powerhouses most definitely proved themselves last night, crushing their overmatched opponents in what was billed as National Basketball Night in Hickory. The No. 1-rated prep school Patterson School (Lenoir, N.C.) continued its undefeated streak (22-0) with an event-opening 111-56 trouncing of newly-formed Charlotte Technical School (Charlotte, N.C.). In the second game ESPN's current No. 11-rated Oak Hill Academy Warriors (18-3) gave Coach Steve Smith career victory 702 while cruising to a 90-63 win over undersized, but scrappy host team Hickory High. Unsigned 6-3 senior second guard Varez Ward led Patterson's very balanced offensive attack with 18 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Arkansas signee and our pick as the nation's best post-graduate player, 6-1 PG Courtney Fortson, again played a masterful game, leading his team with 8 assists, 6 steals and 16 points in only 18 minutes of playing time.
Jan. 10, 2008
We have posted 2008 Prime Time Shootout info. And here's what the organizers say: The February 2008 event will feature 16 of the top 25 teams in the country, including Oak Hill Academy where high school and college phenom and NBA star Carmelo Anthony excelled during his high school career. Oak Hill Academy finished the 2007 season ranked #1 in the United States by USA Today and annually draws a large crowd and media presence wherever they travel. Their #1 ranking will be highly contested in 2008 by some of New Jersey’s finest basketball programs, namely, St. Anthony’s, St. Patrick’s and St. Benedict’s, all of whom will be playing at Rutgers University on Friday, February 8th, 2008. For four days, the Prime Time Shootout will draw over 30,000 spectators to the Pavilion on the campus of Villanova, to the RAC on the campus of Rutgers and to the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton, N.J. The annual event attracts top print, broadcast, and web-based media. Negotiations are being completed to include live broadcast coverage by ESPN and Comcast (CN-8) of as many as five (5) PrimeTime Shootout match-ups for the 2008 event.
Dec. 24 High School Basketball News
High School Hoop reports: The championship game of the Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic in Davenport, Fla., pitted two of California’s top teams and most talented players against each other: Compton’s Dominguez H.S., led by junior small forward Jordan Hamilton, against L.A.’s Fairfax H.S., led by junior big man Renardo Sidney. Coming off a performance earlier in the tournament where he dominated sophomore sensation Jeremy Tyler (San Diego H.S.), Sidney was looking equally unstoppable in the ‘chip. Going into the fourth quarter he’d put up 22 points and 12 rebounds. But early in the quarter, Sidney picked up two technical fouls (the second was very questionable according to many observers) and was ejected.
Dec. 23 High School Basketball News
ESPN.com reports: After a few recruiting losses, chalk up a big victory for the Illinois basketball program. Next season, Illini coach Bruce Weber will be welcoming heralded Kentucky transfer Alex Legion to Champaign, according to a published report. Legion chose Illinois over Notre Dame.
Dec. 22
Rivals (Justin Young) reports: The City of Palms closed out with a pair of amazing performances from two of the best guards in the tournament and St. Benedict's did something that no team from New Jersey has ever done. The nation's No. 1 team won the entire tournament... ive-star senior Samardo Samuels was named tournament Most Valuable Player after his 20 point (7-16 FG, 6-8 FT) performance in the championship game. Guards Tamir Jackson and Scott Machado both scored 12 points in the game. Junior big man Greg Echenique ripped down 17 amazing rebounds and super sophomore Tristan Thompson came off the bench and had a brilliant performance. The 6-foot-8 spider like big man scored 12 points on five of five shooting and a pair of free throws and grabbed five rebounds.
Grassroots Ballin reports: Class of 2009 Standout Kenny Boynton scored a tournament record 61 points in his team’s morning victory over Dunbar, FL.
Rivals (Jerry Meyer) reports: Jordan Hamilton was the man of the night and fellow Southern Californian Renardo Sidney was awful good as well. Due largely to their efforts the championship game of the Amare Stoudemire Invitational Classic will be the battle of Los Angeles... On the game Hamilton scored 25 points on 9 of 20 shooting, 4 of 10 from three and 3 of 4 from the line to go along with eight rebounds, two blocks, one steal and zero turnovers... A 2009 five-star prospect, Hamilton is down to Texas, Connecticut, Syracuse, California and USC. He had these comments about his favorite school Texas.
Dec. 21
Grassroots Ballin reports: Renardo Sidney helped his team to a blowout victory at the Amare Stoudmire tournament in FL last night. This game was hyped up to be a huge match up with Renardo Sidney (2009) vs. Jeremy Tyler (2010), but it didn’t get a chance to live up to it. Renardo Sidney scored 32 points, 9 rebounds, 2 blocks and 2 assists in the win and Jeremy Tyler finished with 0 points.
Dec. 16 High School Basketball News
GrassRoots Ballin reports: On Saturday night Benedictine,VA pulled a big upset of Oak Hill,VA 73 to 72. This game was close throughout with each making little runs that each other answered. This game matched up UNC signee Ed Davis against another elite prospect from the class of 2008 in Arizona signee Brandon Jennings. Each player stepped up in this game to lead there teams in scoring with Davis finishing with 25 points and Jennings a game high 40 points.
Dec. 14 High School Basketball News
Scout.com reports: Michael Snaer, the 6-4 junior shooting guard from Moreno Valley (Calif.) Rancho Verde, is a the #64-ranked player in the national class of 2009 and one of the best guards in the west for 2009.
CSTV reports: Freshman forward Clayton Vette of Waverly/Waverly-Shell Rock, Iowa, is transfering from Iowa State. He was named Iowa Mr. Basketball as a high school senior last season. Freshman guard Marcus Brister of Dallas-God's Academy, Tex., had also recently announced he was leaving the Cyclones.
Rivals.com reports: Two of the best seniors in the Ocean View Tournament of Champions traded buckets on Wednesday night and put a stamp on the event in dramatic fashion... For starters, Klay Thompson isn't just good. He's really good and he is getting better and better. Every year there are a handful of players that seem to enter the college level on the up swing. Thompson is looking like one of those guys... Thompson scored 38 points (13-19 FG, 7-8 FT) and never once took a bad shot or seemed rattled by the intensity of a close game... After scoring a career high 38 points on Tuesday night, Demar Derozan came back out for his encore on Wednesday. Derozan scored 25 points (11-16 FG, 3-3 FT), collected seven rebounds, grabbed five steals and had three steals against Bakersfield... Playing in his first game of the season, unsigned big man Edgar Garibay scored 18 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and blocked four shots for Compton.
Dec. 10 High School Basketball News
The New York Daily News (Dick Weiss) reports: Is Derrick Caracter really worth all the trouble he has caused? Louisville’s 6-8 sophomore may be a talent - maybe even a future pro - but he can’t seem to abide by Rick Pitino’s simple team rules. Pitino suspended Caracter - the former St. Pat’s of Elizabeth and Notre Dame, Mass. Prep star- indefinitely for a curfew violation yesterday. Caracter, who will move out of the dormitory where he lives with rest of the team, has had a series of run-ins with Pitino since he arrived on campus last season. He was sent home to Scotch Plains, N.J. briefly almost a year ago. The team, not Pitino, decided on the suspension, according to the coach. Pitino said he wanted to suspend Caracter - who is second on the team in scoring (13.4 ppg) and averages 7.4 rpg- before last Saturday’s loss to Dayton, but gave in to players’ requests to play him.
Rivals.com reports: It's been a roller coaster year for five-star 2009 prospect DeMarcus Cousins after being ruled ineligible at Clay-Chalkville High School and then being on again off again at LeFlore High School after moving to Mobile, Ala. It does look like it is on again, however, as Cousins, a 6-foot-9, 250-pound power forward is expected to play Tuesday night for LeFlore.
Rivals.com reports: Four-star 2009 prospect Jon Hood is off to a strong start for his undefeated Madisonville (Ky.) North Hopkins team, and coaches are watching.
Dec. 8 High School Basketball News
GrassRootsBallin reports that in the 2K Sports All-American Shootout, American Christian, (PA) detroyed IMG Academy, (FL), Lincoln, (NY) destroyed St. Xavier, (KY) in a 56 to 36 blowout, Lincoln's Lance Stephenson missed the game, and later on Tyreke Evans scored 46 (18-of-27) with 6 steals, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 blocks. And Lamont Jones had 33 points. Jared Swopshire had 33 with 12 rebounds.
Dec. 7 High School Basketball News
Scout.com reports: Jeff Reynolds’ Air Force Falcons won a recruiting battle with Hawaii recently and added power forward Sam Schaffer to their current 2008 recruiting class. The 6-foot-9 Oregon City (Ore.) High product visited Hawaii but was excited about the prospects of playing for the Falcons according to his father, Jay Schaffer.
NY Daily News reports: Villanova freshman guard Malcolm Grant from Brooklyn Robeson wanted to play for Jay Wright so badly he was willing to do a fifth year at the Winchendon School in Massachusetts. He stuck by his commitment even after high-profile recruits Corey Fisher of St. Pat’s and Corey Stokes of St. Benedict signed, knowing they would both bite into his playing time. But, as we are quickly discovering, the fearless Grant may be more prepared to make a big impact than those two former high school stars form North Jersey at this point. He certainly made one Thursday night when he poured in 13 of his 18 points in the final three minutes as the seemingly lethargic 25th-ranked ‘Cats (6-1) stormed back from a 21-point deficit in the final 8:45 to defeat LSU, 68-67, in the feature game of the Big Est-SEC invitational down at the Wachovia Center in Philly.
CSTV reports: 6-5 guard Chris Turner of Humble-Christian Life, Tex., has committed to Oregon State.
Rivals.com reports: The top prospect in the class of 2009 Renardo Sidney is off to a blazing start for his new high school, and Los Angeles Fairfax head coach Harvey Kitani couldn't be happier about the way Sidney is fitting in with his new team.
Dec. 6 High School Basketball News
Brandon Jennings, of Oak Hill Academy, had 45 points Wednesday in a blowout win over Booker T. Washington, according to GrassRootsBallin.
Rivals.com reports: After being a dominant force on the travel circuit in the spring, 2009 five-star prospect Reeves Nelson saw limited action in the summer with an inflamed foot tendon.
Dec. 5, 2007
HighSchoolHoop reports: 6-9 PF Derrick Favors went ballistic last night in South Atlanta’s 80-48 win, recording a triple-double with 24 points, 18 rebounds and 10 blocks and 4 steals against North Clayton. Justin Young of Georgia Hoops noted that one scout said that Favors is more skilled than Dwight Howard was at his age.
Dec. 3, 2007
The 2008 PrimeTime Shootout is February 1 at Villanova University, Feb. 8 at Rutgers University, Feb. 9 somewhere in Trenton, NJ, and Feb. 10 also somewhere in Trenton. Here's the official announcement: The February 2008 event will feature 16 of the top 25 teams in the country, including Oak Hill Academy where high school and college phenom and NBA star Carmelo Anthony excelled during his high school career. Oak Hill Academy finished the 2007 season ranked #1 in the United States by USA Today and annually draws a large crowd and media presence wherever they travel. Their #1 ranking will be highly contested in 2008 by some of New Jersey's finest basketball programs, namely, St. Anthony's, St. Patrick's and St. Benedict's, all of whom will be playing at Rutgers University on Friday, February 8th, 2008.
Dec. 2, 2007
HssMTV reports: On Day 2 of the National Prep Showcase at Apex Academy we got a chance to check out some of the top prep players and teams in the land. We covered 3 of the 5 games today and here are the players that caught our eye. Tyreke Evans 6’6 Guard (American Christian)-Evans burned Summit for 50 points and 15 rebounds in his teams route. The scoring is something that we have grown accustom to with Tyreke, but the maturity of his overall game is very noticeable. Evans has packed muscle unto his frame, doesn’t seem to take many difficult shots and really worked hard on defense while also chasing down loose balls. This effort sparked his teammates and propelled the Eagles to a lopsided victory. His scoring came of long strokes (6 treys), slicing drives and moving without the rock. Evans also turned many of his offensive rebounds into buckets.
August 25, 2007
Elite 24 Hoops Classic -- The second annual Elite 24 Hoops Classic went down outdoors at Rucker Park. The All-Star game features 24 of the best high school basketball players in the country. Naturally, InsideHoops.com was in the house. Check the full preview, and full recap.
April 21, 2007
Jordan Classic -- The 2007 Jordan Classic basketball game took place Saturday April 21 in Madison Square Garden. It was a fun show. Team Yellow, who got 16 points from both Eric Gordan and Kyle Singler, beat Team Royal, who got 20 points from Donte Greene and 17 points from Jerryd Bayless. The final score was 127-119, Yellow victorious. More on the Jordan Classic.
April 7, 2007
Nike Hoop Summit -- The USA Basketball Junior National Select Team, featuring American high school basketball star players, went on a 16-0 run in the opening five minutes of the second quarter, relying on opportunistic scoring and strong interior defense, to build a comfortable 40-13 lead, and from that point cruised to an easy 100-80 victory over the World Select Team in the 10th Nike Hoop Summit held Saturday at the FedExForum in Memphis, Tenn. The 20-point margin of victory, which equals the previous record (99-79) set in the 2004 game that was played in San Antonio, Texas, enabled the USA to win its sixth straight Nike Hoop Summit and build an 8-2 lead in the series. In victory, USA Basketball reached the 100 point mark for the third consecutive game and its fifth in the last seven. Even though the Junior National Select Team placed five players in double figures, led by guard O.J. Mayo's (Huntington H.S./Huntington, WV) team-high 20 points, the storyline of the game wasn't necessarily offense, but defense. Full Nike Hoop Summit details.
August 28, 2006
Elite 24 Hoops Classic -- The first-ever annual Elite 24 Hoops Classic, featuring 24 of the best high school basketball players in the country, will take place Friday, September 1 at Harlem's Rucker Park in New York City. The 2006 Elite 24 Hoops Classic will feature the best high school players regardless of class. There are several high school all-star games that feature seniors but no one else. The July sneaker-sponsored high school camps feature the best players, but they all happen at the same time so the players are divided up between the three camps. The goal of the Elite 24 is to bring them all together for one game, and not in a gym but outside in the most famous basketball court in the country. Kevin Love, Bill Walker, Tyreke Evans, Brandon Jennings, Michael Beasley, Derrick Rose, Lance Stephenson and 16 other players will take court.
May 10, 2006
King James Shooting Stars Classic -- The King James Shooting Stars Classic, featuring high school basketball stars, took place last week, and InsideHoops.com's main man Santosh was in the house to tell you about an amazing O.J. Mayo-Tyreke Evans battle that went down.
April 22, 2006
Paul Harris interview and profile -- Interview, profile and analysis of Paul Harris, one of the country's top high school basketball players. Harris is a guard, yet built like a power forward. Story by Patrick Stevens.
April 9, 2006
Roundball Classic -- The 2006 Roundball Classic was April 9th in Chicago. Greg Oden and Daequan Cook rocked the house. InsideHoops.com was there and presents a full recap.
Malcolm Pope Interview [High School Players] Meet this Blair Academy (NJ) point guard. [Oct 4]
Taj Gibson Interview [High School] InsideHoops.com talks with a California forward who put up 21 points, 15 rebounds and nine blocks per game last season. [Aug 16]
Greg Oden Interview [High School] A talk with the best high school big man in the country, from the Reebok ABCD camp. [July 8]
InsideHoops.com Class of 2007 High School Player Rankings:
Updated May 1, 2006
1) O.J. Mayo (6-5, G) - North Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio
2) Bill Walker (6-5, SF) - North Hill, Cincinnati, Ohio
3) Michael Beasley (6-8, PF) - Pendleton HS, Bradenton, Florida
InsideHoops.com Class of 2006 High School Player Rankings:
Updated May 1, 2006
1) Greg Oden (7-0, 240, C) - Indianapolis, Indiana (Lawrence North HS)
2) Kevin Durant (6-9, 205, F) - Maryland (Montrose Christian)
3) Brandan Wright (6-9, 200, F) - Tennessee (Brentwood Academy)
4) Chase Budinger (6-7, 190, F) - Carlsbad, California (La Costa Canyon)
5) Wayne Ellington (6-4, 185, G) - Merion Station, Pennsylvania (Episcopal Academy)
6) Demond Carter (5-10, 165, PG) - Reserve Christian School (Reserve, LA)
7) Thaddeus Young (6-8, 205, F) - Memphis, Tennessee (Mitchell Road)
8) Paul Harris (6-4, 215, G) - Niagara Falls, New York (Niagara Falls)
9) Derrick Caracter (6-8, 275, F) - Elizabeth, New Jersey (St. Patrick's)
10) Vernon Macklin (6-10, 190, F) - Portsmouth, Virginia (I.C. Norcom)
11) Tywon Lawson (6-0, 180, G) - Forestville, Maryland (Oak Hill Academy)
12) Spencer Hawes (6-10, 220, C) - Seattle, Washington (Seattle Prep)
13) Jonathan Kreft (7-0, 240, PF) - Stoneman Douglas High School (Parkland, FL)
14) DeShawn Sims (6-7, 225, SF) - Pershing High School (Detroit, MI)
15) Duke Crews (6-7, 225, SF) - Bethel High School (Hampton, VA)
InsideHoops.com Class of 2005 High School Player Rankings:
Updated May 2, 2005
1) Gerald Green - 6'8" SF Gulf Shores Academy, TX
2) Martell Webster - 6'8" SG Seattle Prep School, WA
3) Tyler Hansbrough - 6'9" PF Poplar Bluff H.S. MO
4) Monta Ellis - 6'4" SG Lanier H.S., MS
5) Andray Blatche - 6'11" C Heninger H.S., NY
6) Louis Williams - 6'1" PG South Gwinnett High School, GA
7) Richard Hendrix - 6'8" PF Athens H.S., AL
8) Keith Brumbaugh - 6'8" SF Deland H.S., FL
9) Micah Downs - 6'8" SF Juanita H.S., WA
10) Shawne Williams
Class of 2007: #1 OJ Mayo
The best recruiting classes for the 2005-06 season - In no particular order: Duke, Louisville, North Carolina, Alabama, Washington, LSU, Memphis, Mississippi, Oklahoma State
InsideHoops.com High School Basketball State Rankings
Updated Dec. 6, 2004
Factoring in the last 15 years of top teams each state has produced:
Boys Teams: #1 California, #2 New York, #3 Texas, #4 Illinois, #5 Virginia, #6 Pennsylvania, #7 Michigan, #8 Florida, #9 Ohio, #10 Indiana ...
Honorable Mention: North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky.
Girls Teams: #1 California, #2 Texas, #3 Tennessee, #4 New York, #5 Illinois.
Derby Festival Basketball Classic [High School] The second-oldest continuously-held high school all-star game keeps on rocking with tons of great players. [Apr 12]
High School: Rob Thomas rising [High School] Rob Thomas is a high school basketball player making big noise. Learn about him. [Jan 16]
Catholic Schools vs. Public Schools [NYC / High School] The Big Apple Basketball tournament in New York City featured a weekend of top Catholic School teams facing some top Public School teams. [Dec 16]
CSG National Prep Showcase [High School] The CSG National Prep Showcase featured plenty of high school players headed to top college programs. [Nov 12]
Gerald Green Has Arrived [High School] The stock of high school basketball star Gerald Green has shot through the roof. Learn about him. [Nov 9]
Apple vs. Empire Showcase Games [Showcase Games] The Apple vs Empire Showcase Games featured many of New York's best basketball players. [Nov 5]
Corey Fisher: The Next Telfair? [High School] New York high school guard Corey Fisher is in the spotlight. The kid's a star. This feature includes an interview. [Oct 12]
Junior Phenom Camp [Youth Hoops] The adidas Junior Phenom Camp, featuring the top sixth, seventh and eighth grade basketball players in the country, took place earlier this month in San
Diego. [Aug 30]
AAU Playaz Ball [AAU Basketball] This weekend
at the annual Playaz Ball tournament The Tim Thomas Playaz Basketball Clubs captured
two of the three division championships. [July 20]
ABCD Camp Seniors
All-Star Game [High School Basketball] Exclusive
InsideHoops.com recap for the 2004 ABCD basketball camp rising seniors all-star
game, featuring Gerald Green, Tasmin Mitchell, Brandon Rush and others. [July
19]
2004 ABCD Camp
Highlights [High School Basketball] Check
out the top ten highlights ofthe 2004 ABCD basketball camp, which happens yearly
and is for some of the best high school basketball players in the nation. [July
16]
ABCD Underclassmen
All-Star Game [High School Basketball] Exclusive
InsideHoops.com recap for the 2004 ABCD basketball camp underclassmen all-star
game, featuring O.J. Mayo, Derrick Caracter and other stars. [July 16]
Nyan Boateng Interview [High School] An exclusive InsideHoops.com
update on the 17 year-old superfreak in NYC with a 45-inch vertical leap who carried
his football team to a 10-0 season while helping S. Telfair win NYC's PSAL basketball
championship. [July 2]
Dorell Wright
on the rise [High School] High school baller
Dorell Wright has been turning heads, perhaps enough to jump straight to the pros.
Learn about him. [May 6]
Bill
Barton Interview [Prep Basketball] Notre
Dame Prep in Massachusetts is one of the best prep schools in the nation. Coach
Bill Barton has a knack for taking kids and raising their basketball abilities
in extremely noticible fashion. Read about his team and some key players. [Mar.
9]
2004 National Prep
Invitational Tournament [High School]Results,
interviews with Will Harris, Charles Burgess, Joshua Thomas, Vincent Banks, Joe
McCray, Cheyenne Moore and Dorell Wright. The event was at University of Rhode Island. [Feb 16]
Josh Smith Interview [High School] In an exclusive
interview with InsideHoops.com, high school basketball star Josh Smith reveals
his current thoughts on skipping college and going straight to the NBA. [Feb 9]
Jamal Dart Interview [High School] This 6-3
prep guard does all the dirty work. [Feb 9]
Shawn James Interview [High School] A prep telephone
pole with big wingspan. [Feb 3]
Kojo Mensah Interview [High School] Prep guard does it all
on offense and defense. [Feb 3]
ABCD
Camp 2003 Wrapup
InsideHoops.com comments on the week, and especially the all-star game. [Jul.
13, 2003]
Global Games 2003
International high school basketball tournament. Some of the best American high
school basketball players faced off against some of the best international players
(country vs. country) in a week-long tournament. Also see game
recaps.
High School Basketball
News
Random high school basketball news articles from around the web. Not very organized
but worth glancing at to scan for interesting headlines.
