Real Scout News & Notes (Stith, Sean Johnson, deans, and more)

Written BY: Nathan Blue

Nobody knows where Lance Stephenson is going, but I guess somebody saying he was going to Kansas was a little pre-mature. It seems as though SJU and ther abundance of guards are a big turnoff. Oh yeah, Sean Johnson is taking an official visit to A-10 finalist Duquense today and will be back on saturday.


*Speaking of St. John's and guards. I had the chance to coach 5'8 Malik Stith (pictured) as a sophomore. He is a very tough kid, maybe the tough NYC kid. I had the chance to watch him play in May of 2008 at bob gibbons. There he was pretty much the same, a good ball handler, excellent defender, and knows how to get things done. SJU does need a quality back-up pg and stith will be that player. I'm really wondering when will Norm bring in some solid Bigs to compete in the Big East? But hey who am I?


*Former St. Dominic's Star and Long Island Player of the Year 6'5 Markeys Deans, has spent his last two years at Howard CC in Texas. Deans had a solid 14ppg and 8rpg this past season, which attracted many division 1 interest. After a brief commitment to LIU, Deans decided to sign with Central Connecticut of the same conference. Deans was expected at LIU to fill the role of graduating senior 6'5 Ronald Manguilt (Nephew of "The Goat")


*Isiah Stokley a 6'2 combo Guard from Thomas Edison told me he's deciding between many juco's including South Plains TX, West Texas, or the possibility of prep school.


*Ethan Telfair brother of Sebastian Telfair will be attending Lincoln High School...surprised? Ethan will be a frosh varsity player next year for the 4-time defending champions. Expect Telfair to be one of the top frosh in the city next season.


*Kevin Parrom is down to Pitt & Arizona. Parrom will be taking a visit to Zona this weekend.


*Jamel Fuentes 2009 PG Xaverian High School, is a full qualifier but lacks serious interest. Being skipped, Fuentes will do a Post Graduate year at Winchendon Prep. Fuentes is similar in game to Former Xaverian pg and Providence College commit Vincent Council.


*Rashawn Stores 5'9 2009 PG All Hallows is pretty much in the same boat. After a good season, his interest was pretty low, and a dead April Period hurt him big time. Stores told me, he took a visit to Notre Dame Prep in Fitchburg Mass. My guess is, that's where he will be in sept 2009.

*Brooklyn's Marvin Roberts 6'4 sf is de-committed from Cal State Fullerton has committed to Isiah Thomas Florida International University Basketball team. Roberts a known player in NYC Hoops cirlces, was this years Junior College Leading scorer at Redlands Community College with a 30.1ppg

Gauchos take King James title

Brian Snow
Special to Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting

AKRON, Ohio – It was a banner weekend for the New York Gauchos at the King James Shooting Stars Classic. The program brought home two championships, including a surprising upset of All-Ohio Red behind the scoring of Doron Lamb (pictured).

Lamb is one of the top scorers in his class. Gauchos get their revenge

At the end of last summer the New York Gauchos saw a lot of All-Ohio Red. All-Ohio beat them in the Final Four of the Super Showcase, and then blew the Gauchos out again a few days later in the finals of AAU nationals. However in Akron, the Gauchos got their revenge to win a big time national tournament.

Knowing that they couldn't match up with the Gauchos man-to-man, All-Ohio started off in a 2-3 zone, and that allowed Doron Lamb to get going in a big way. The scoring machine from Brooklyn simply took over the first half. First it was Lamb from three, then off the bounce, then he scored in transition, and he even hit the glass and scored on second chance points. More than anything though, Lamb simply made big shots.

All-Ohio made it a point to close out to Lamb out of the zone, but it didn't matter. With his quick release, Lamb was able to get his shot off and it seemed that every time he launched, the shot was going in.

While Lamb was hitting for the Gauchos, Jared Sullinger was doing everything he could to keep All-Ohio in the game. The five-star post presence showed how dominant he could be all game long. In the first half he struggled from the field, but when he missed Sullinger would simply go get his miss and convert off the glass.

Despite the strong effort from Sullinger, All-Ohio trailed by five at the half. Due to the fact that they lacked energy and were trailing, All-Ohio decided to go to a man-to-man defense in the second half.

That meant that defensive specialist Aaron Craft would match up with Lamb. Craft did a good job on Lamb, though he still scored seven points in the second half, but that let Jason Morris get going. Known as a great athlete, Morris did more than just dunk. He hit a pair of threes, converted at the foul line, and showed off a decent mid-range jump shot. Whenever things would get close, Morris would answer with a big play.

Along with Morris, Derrick Wilson stepped up in the second half. The stocky floor general made driving layups, hit floaters, and did a solid job of defending All-Ohio point guard Juwan Staten .

With Craft struggling from the field, and Staten facing a tough defender in Wilson, All-Ohio needed either Adreian Payne or J.D. Weatherspoon to take some pressure off of Sullinger, but it didn't happen. Payne didn't score and only pulled in one rebound while Weatherspoon only scored four points and pulled down three boards.

Jared Sullinger had 24 points and 20 rebounds in the loss to the Gauchos. Sullinger was his usual dominant self with 24 points and 20 rebounds, but it simply wasn't enough. Lamb scored 23 and Morris added 12 to give the Gauchos a big 66-60 win.

Notable performances

The Family 16 and under squad boasts a pair of big time prospects. One is big man Amir Williams and the other is scoring dynamo Carlton Brundidge . Against the Southern Kings, Brundidge was an absolute beast. The burly scoring guard put his team on his back in the second half and kept them in the game. He is at his best going to the rim and finishing through contact, but Brundidge also was hitting threes and scoring in the mid-range. As his decision making improves he will be a big time offensive force.

While Brundidge starred for The Family, Williams had to do battle with the highly touted 2010 prospect Tony Parker . Parker was a beast on the boards. He used his strength to root out Williams, and corralled several key offensive rebounds when the game got close late in the second half. Parker didn't score much, but it was his work on the offensive and defensive boards that proved to be a key difference in the game.

Along with the solid board work from Parker, the Southern Kings got huge efforts from Shannon Scott and Julian Royal . Scott scored 22 points, and seemingly couldn't miss from the outside. Beyond that he was a true floor general who did a good job of running the show. Royal scored inside and outside to finish with 20 points.

Another 2011 guard who made an impression was Quinn Cook . In his team's losing effort to Spiece Indy Fastbreak, Cook was a star. While he possesses solid point guard skills, Cook can absolutely light up the scoreboard. He shot the ball well, and also scored at will going to the rim to give D.C. Assault an opportunity to win the game. Overall Cook was nearly impossible to stop off the bounce with his combination of savvy and quickness.

So far this spring Michael Chandler has been excellent, and while he was good against D.C. Assault, he wasn't up to his usual standards. Chandler did score down low when given the chance, but he wasn't as aggressive at times as he could have been.


School Lists

Brundidge noted offers from Michigan as well as Michigan State. Also he has heard from Iowa and Xavier.

Lamb said he has offers from Kansas, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, Marquette, St. John's, and Arizona.

Weatherspoon has offers from Xavier, Dayton, Maryland, and Purdue. Also he is getting significant interest from Ohio State, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Penn State.

Championships
17 and under: New York Gauchos defeated All-Ohio Red
16 and under: Team Takeover defeated Georgia Southern Kings
15 and under: New York Gauchos defeated Wisconsin

Story on rivals.com
Photo courtesy of w3.nbebasketball.com

Stephenson rumors re-heat

Written BY: Bruce Pascoe
Azstarnet.com

So is Lance Stephenson really interested in Arizona? Nearly two weeks after the speculation arose that Book Richardson would go after him, Adam Zagoria has a report that indicates the interest may be mutual in his posting today (thanks for the link Portland), now that the Henrys are headed to Kansas and Stephenson has not committed to the Jayhawks.

I called Stephenson’s high school and traveling team coach, Dwayne “Tiny” Morton about this again this afternoon, and he said the same thing he did nine days earlier.

“I don’t have a clue,” he said.

Although Book Richardson coached Stephenson on a 2007 USA Basketball youth team in 2007 and knows Stephenson well (seems like Book knows everyone in NYC who ever held a basketball), there’s no telling what chance Richardson has of landing him.

Morton, who also knows Richardson well, said today that he has not talked with Richardson about Stephenson.

Of course, it is possible that Richardson is talking to others around Stephenson. Another person close to this situation told me today it is “tough to tell” what is really going on with the talented wing player, so it may be that nobody really knows what will happen until the ink is dry on his letter-of-intent.

Picture Courtesy of insidethegames.net
Story can be found @ http://regulus2.azstarnet.com/blogs/pascoe/14549/

Highlights of Big Apple Sports College Exposure 2009

Pictured: Isiah Stokey

Written BY: Thomas "Tippy" Mcternan
Director of Big Apple Sports

More than 100 college coaches from around the country descended on South Shore HS in Brooklyn last week for the 13th Annual Big Apple Sports college exposure event. Some 120 aspiring college players participated in the event, displaying their talent and skills across the three courts on which simultaneous games were conducted.

During the event the college coaches submitted ballots of their top five players to participate in the All-Star Game held at the end of the afternoon. The top vote-getters were Javier McKenzie, a 6-4 swingman from Food & Finance HS, and Isiah Stokley, a 6-3 combo guard from Thomas Edison HS. McKenzie, who averaged 21.3 points and 12.5 rebounds this past season, already has accepted a full scholarship from Florida-Jacksonville. Stokley led Edison to the PSAL "AA" quarterfinals with averages of 25.4 points, 10.9 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

Others selected for All-Star honors were: Dwight Gist (6-0 point guard from Brooklyn Collegiate), Travon Smith (6-3 wing from Anacostia DC), Chad Dillard (a 6-4 forward from Rochester Gates Chili), James Wolf (6-4 forward from Francis Lewis), Jamal Williams (6-3 wing from Pacific), Corey Staley (a 5-10 combo guard from Sheepshead Bay), Devon Walls (6-7 forward from Abraham Lincoln), Dyrek Jones (6-6 forward from Bedford Academy), Chris Ansomwire (6-9 forward from Harcum JC) and Reggie Baptiste (6-6 forward from Fashion Institute).

For more information and to view a video clip of showing all participants, visit our web site:
http://www.eteamz.com/bigapplesports

Picture courtesy of fiveborosports.com

T.Ross goes to Maryland, Pitnio & Real Scout Family Workout Highlights

Guard Ross commits to Maryland for 2010

Sports Digest
April 25, 2009

Maryland landed its second commitment of the 2010 class, and it was a significant one. Montrose Christian shooting guard Terrence Ross, a four-star prospect, pledged to the Terps after reportedly having been recruited by Louisville, Georgetown, Villanova and others. Ross, the No. 31 player in the 2010 class according to Rivals.com, is from Portland, Ore. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound player transferred to Montrose before this season. He was Montrose's second-leading scorer at about 15 points a game. Ross joins Terrell Stoglin, a point guard at Santa Rita High in Tucson, Ariz., in Maryland's 2010 recruiting class. MATT BRACKEN


Louisville:An equipment manager's estranged wife was charged with trying to extort coach Rick Pitino, at first demanding cars and tuition for her children, then later asking for $10 million, according to a federal complaint filed Friday. Karen Cunagin Sypher, who also is accused of lying to the FBI in the case, did not enter a plea at a court appearance Friday and was released on her own recognizance.

Real Scout News & Notes (UNC backcourt goes pro, Harkless Video and other news)

Pictured: Ty Lawson (UNC Tarheels)



Written By: Nathan Blue

National Champion University of North Carolina Tar Heels lost two stars to the NBA Draft on Thursday. Ty Lawson (16.6ppg, 6.6apg, 2.1spg) and Wayne Ellington (15.8ppg, 4.9rpg, 2.7apg) have both officially entered the 2009 NBA Draft.

Lawson is projected by some mock draft websites as a top 10 selection, while Ellington is figured to go in the top 20.

Villanova's Scottie Reynolds (15.2ppg 3.4apg) and Duke's Gerald Henderson have chosen to test the NBA Waters this yr. While these players made huge decisions in the last couple of days. The biggest announcement of Pro vs Senior yr, was made. Davidson SG Stephen Curry (28.6ppg, 5.5apg, 4.4rpg) is projected to be a top 5 pick, if he's capable of running the pg slot.

Expect some teams to hesitate if he doesn't impress in ball handling category, but the numbers don't lie, steph curry is the goods.

Greivis Vasquez from Maryland went pro which is understandable but Ater Majok 6'10 redshirt at Uconn went pro too.
Speaking of Uconn Basketball, assistant Coach Andre Leflour and SJU asst. Freddy Quarterbaulm were the only two asst coaches on hand Wednesday to watch SF Maurice Harkless 6'7 15yrs old (Soph) and his Forest Hills Team Workout.

Both left very impressed with the sophs Harkless, Shawn Branch, and Nick Padgett. Frosh Rudy Collins was one of the most physical players in the gym and will have schools on him, when his academics get in order. Check the Harkless Video below from last week, excuses the curses in the song, Drake is on fire, and 50 is 50.lol

Basketball Prospect Leaving High School to Play in Europe

Written By PETE THAMEL
NYTimes

SAN DIEGO — Jeremy Tyler, a 6-foot-11 high school junior whom some consider the best American big man since Greg Oden, says he will be taking a new path to the N.B.A. He has left San Diego High School and said this week that he would skip his senior year to play professionally in Europe.

Tyler, 17, would become the first United States-born player to leave high school early to play professionally overseas. He is expected to return in two years, when he is projected to be a top pick, if not the No. 1 pick, in the 2011 N.B.A. draft.

Tyler, who had orally committed to play for Rick Pitino at Louisville, has yet to sign with an agent or a professional team. His likely destination is Spain, though teams from other European leagues have shown interest. A spokesman for Louisville said the university could not comment about Tyler.

“Nowadays people look to college for more off-the-court stuff versus being in the gym and getting better,” Tyler said. “If you’re really focused on getting better, you go play pro somewhere. Pro guys will get you way better than playing against college guys.”

His decision is perhaps the most important one since Kevin Garnett jumped straight to the N.B.A. from high school in 1995. Garnett was the No. 5 pick in the N.B.A. draft and ushered in a generation of preps-to-pros stars like Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwight Howard. A minimum-age rule passed for the 2006 draft cut off that route, essentially forcing players to spend at least one year in college.

But Brandon Jennings, a point guard from Los Angeles, became the first player to graduate from high school, skip college and play professionally in Europe. (Whether Jennings would have qualified academically to play at Arizona, where he had signed a letter of intent, is unknown.) He is in his first season with Lottomatica Virtus Roma in Italy and is projected as a high pick in the N.B.A. draft in June.

Tyler took Jennings’s path and added a compelling twist, perhaps opening the door for other elite high school basketball players to follow.

Sonny Vaccaro, a former sneaker company executive, orchestrated Jennings’s move and has guided Tyler and his family through the process.

“It’s significant because it shows the curiosity for the American player just refusing to accept what he’s told he has to do,” Vaccaro said. “We’re getting closer to the European reality of a professional at a young age. Basically, Jeremy Tyler is saying, ‘Why do I have to go to high school?’ ”

Vaccaro said he was unsure how much money Tyler would make, though it will most likely be less than the $1.2 million Jennings made in a combination of salary and endorsements this season. Vaccaro said Tyler would make a six-figure salary, noting that the economic crisis in Europe could hurt his earnings.

Vaccaro made his name by signing Michael Jordan to Nike in the mid-1980s and has advised numerous elite players over the years. “I believe he’ll be a 10-time All-Star with his ability,” Vaccaro said of Tyler.

For now, Tyler said he was working out eight to nine hours a day at local gyms and schools and spending two and a half hours a day to get his high school diploma online. He said he had his “ups and downs” in the classroom but was on track to qualify academically to play in college.

Tyler said his game stagnated by playing high school basketball here and he was frustrated by the rules of the California Interscholastic Federation and the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

He averaged 28.7 points during a tumultuous junior season in which his team went 15-11. Two of his coaches were fired in part because of their roles in trying to recruit three star players to complement Tyler. Kenny Roy, the former head coach, denied any wrongdoing.

But the three transfers were ruled ineligible, leaving Tyler the centerpiece of a team whose next biggest player was 6-2.

“It was boring and I wasn’t getting better,” Tyler said. “Each game was the same thing. I was getting triple-teamed and getting hacked. After each game I’d have scratches and bruises up and down my arms from getting triple-teamed. It just wasn’t for me.”

Spain is the most likely option for him because of the structure of its basketball league. Vaccaro said Tyler could shuttle between his professional team and its development squad for 18-year-olds. So if Tyler, who turns 18 in June, struggles early against professional men, he will be able to play and practice with the younger team.

Tyler, who was raised primarily by his father, James, and his uncle, Maurice, will move to Europe with his older brother, James. A rotation of relatives plans to visit. Tyler’s father said he had reservations at first about sending his son overseas, knowing there would be a strong reaction in the community.

“You know what? It’s just a job,” the elder James Tyler said. “He gets a chance to work the job of his dreams and have fun doing it. There’s kids leaving to go to Iraq at age 18. They took a job to serve their country. He’s going to play ball.”

Along the way, Tyler may just become a trailblazer for other high school basketball prodigies.

“This is what I want to do,” he said. “It will help

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/23/sports/ncaabasketball/23prospect.html?_r=1&hp

Real Scout News & Rumors

My phone is ringing off the hook at the possibility of Manhattan College Head Coach Barry "Slice" Rohrssen (pictured) taking a big paying assistant coach job with John Calipari at Kentucky. One college assistant told me "Its basically a done deal." Rohrssen is one of NY's best coaches and was a major recruiter for Pitt. Expect to hear more on this topic in the next few days.

*I'm going to try and come out with the RealScout.net 2009, 2010,2011, and 2012 rankings. I will be using common sense, such as academic situation (are you eligible will you ever be?), how the player projects at the next level (6'0 shooting guards better learn to run that pg slot), and my honest assessment of the top players. Should be real interesting. Give me a day or so. Until then check out these links below.

*Christ the King High School College workout today at 3:15 (Sean Johnson 2009, Maurice Barrows 2010, Corey Edwards 2011) and Forest Hills High School open workout for D1, D2, and D3 coaches is Wednesday at 6pm (Maurice Harkless 2011, Sonny Kadisha 2010, Nick Padgett 2011)

*Terrell Vinson to UMass

http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/04/21/vinson-to-umass/

Lawal looks to 'see where I might fit in'

Associated Press
ATLANTA -- Georgia Tech sophomore Gani Lawal will make himself available for the NBA draft but is protecting his option of continuing his college career.

Lawal said Monday he will enter his name in the NBA draft. The 6-foot-9 forward said he will not hire an agent. He has until June 15 to remove his name from the draft and protect his eligibility at Georgia Tech.

Lawal said his plan is to "go through the interview and workout process and see where I might fit in."

Lawal scored 15.1 points per game and led the Yellow Jackets with 9.5 rebounds per game, the second-highest average in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Mo-Mo to USC & Famous to S. Florida

Arizona Wildcats Basketball: UA loses second recruit

By Bruce Pascoe
Arizona Daily Star

Arizona basketball recruiting target Jarrid Famous (pictured) committed to South Florida today, just a day after visiting Tucson, according to his junior college coach.

It was the second straight day the Wildcats lost a potential recruit, after Oak Hill Academy guard Lamont “MoMo” Jones signed with USC on Sunday.

Famous was scheduled to announce his decision on Wednesday but Westchester assistant coach Tyrone Mushatt said schedules changed Monday when head coach Winston Nicholas died, and that Famous committed to the Bulls. Nicholas has been battling cancer, according to SNY.tv.

Mushatt declined additional comment because of time pressure, but told Rivals.com that Famous has a grandmother and two uncles living near the South Florida campus in Tampa.

"Jarrid has family in Florida and he feels comfortable there,” Mushatt told NYCHoops.net, a Rivals.com site. “He especially likes the coaching staff at South Florida. They made him feel at home.”

Missouri was also a finalist for Famous, while Pittsburgh had also been pursuing him this spring.

Earlier Monday, staffers at Oak Hill Academy confirmed that Jones signed his letter-of-intent with USC while at home in New York over the weekend. The Los Angeles Times reported Sunday, with an unnamed source, that the Trojans had secured the combo guard.

Curry: Should he stay or should he go?

By Fran Fraschilla
ESPN.com

Stephen Curry has a very difficult decision to make in the next week: stay at Davidson for his senior year or declare for the NBA draft and enjoy all the rewards that come with being a lock lottery selection and a 21-year-old NBA rookie.

I always have felt that a college player whose stock is lottery-pick high and who is physically and mentally ready should take the money and run to the league.

In many ways, Curry is ready for the next step in his career. He already is one of college basketball's most prolific scorers ever at 2,635 points and counting, and there are not 15 better pure shooters in the NBA right now. In addition, he has physically matured over three seasons (although he definitely can get stronger), and given his NBA pedigree, he might be as prepared for the jump as anyone in the draft this side of Blake Griffin.

So, what should Curry do? I think he should stay at Davidson for his senior year.

First of all, Curry has the unique opportunity to build a legacy very few college players in the history of the game could ever achieve. Were he to stay, by the time his career at Davidson was over, he likely would be the NCAA's second-leading scorer of all time, behind only the legendary "Pistol" Pete Maravich. And as inconceivable as it sounds, he could make a run at the all-time record of 3,667 points by averaging 29.5 points per game over 35 games. It's not beyond his reach.

Curry already is a rock star and ubiquitous in college basketball circles. In fact, after a brilliant sophomore season that included an incredible NCAA tournament performance that led to Davidson's Elite Eight run, CBS and ESPN turned him into a national celebrity, and Curry made himself a walking billboard for one of the great private liberal arts institutions in the country.

If he stays for his senior year, Curry will be college basketball's most recognizable player to start the season and a favorite for the numerous national player of the year awards that are handed out. He also will almost certainly earn even more All-America honors. These are things few could have imagined four years ago when he was a scrawny 5-foot-11 junior at Charlotte Christian -- and things one cannot put a price tag on.

Secondly, while this should be a historically weak draft, it also is guard heavy, and Curry's status will be at the whim of NBA teams deciding from among him, James Harden (Arizona State), Patty Mills (Saint Mary's), Tyreke Evans (Memphis), Ricky Rubio (Spain), Gerald Henderson (Duke), Brandon Jennings (Italy), Ty Lawson (North Carolina), Jonny Flynn (Syracuse) and Eric Maynor (VCU).

Next year's NBA draft, like this year's, will lack the depth of star-quality freshmen like Derrick Rose, O.J. Mayo, Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Kevin Durant. Barring an injury, Curry's stock will remain high and could go up next year, especially if his game continues to improve and evolve.

In fact, the beauty of Curry is that as prolific a scorer as he has been, he still can get better. He can get stronger and become a better defender and decision-maker. He plays for a coach, Bob McKillop, who has given him the green light over three years not just to shoot any time he wants, but also to grow as a complete offensive player. It's hard to imagine that, as cerebral a player as Curry is, his game won't continue to improve.

In addition to his great shooting range and quick release, Curry proved to have great court vision and passing acumen in averaging about six assists a game this past season. And as the team's primarily ball handler, he had to constantly factor in whether a tough, contested shot he took was a higher percentage play than passing to open but less talented teammates. It might be nit-picking, but he did turn the ball over 126 times this past season. He will be better prepared to handle the ball this next season and grow as a multidimensional player.

Curry's teammates should be better prepared for his play-making and passing as well. Coming off what McKillop jokingly told me recently was a down season (only 27 wins!), the Wildcats would return five of their top seven players (with Curry) and would bring in one of Davidson's best recruiting classes. The hope is that 6-foot-9 sophomore Frank Ben-Ezi, who was a highly coveted recruit a year ago, recovers from offseason knee surgery after an injury in the Southern Conference tournament.

In addition, the SoCon tourney has just been moved to Charlotte for 2010, I assume in anticipation of the huge draw Curry and his Davidson teammates could be. So the deck is stacked for Curry to make more history in the postseason next year if he stays.

So far, Curry has resisted the opportunity to play in the NBA in order (in my opinion) to be a better player when he gets there. The financial pull and the pressure from family and friends that often factor into the decisions of many college stars aren't there for him. He has a unique family support system that includes his father, Dell, who spent 16 years as a player in the NBA.

When Curry does get to the league, he'll find out what his dad and others have told him all along. The innocence of Davidson basketball will be over, and his business career as a professional player in a cold, harsh world will begin. There will be no more "D-Block," the crazy student section screaming for him at Wildcats home games. Gone will be the solitude of a student on a campus with 1,700 fellow students who treat him like the guy who goes to soccer games and helps with freshman orientation.

The NBA, while in many ways a glamorous life and the dream of young college stars, will be about the bottom line: winning and losing. If you can help a team win, you play. If you can't, you don't. The amount of games Curry plays as a rookie, if he plays, will feel like four college seasons. And his college roommates and best friends will give way to room service at 3 a.m. in Minneapolis.

Look, Curry is going to the NBA -- whether it's this year or the next. But just in the past week or two, we've already seen five almost-surefire lottery picks say no to this year's draft (Ed Davis, Greg Monroe, Willie Warren, Al-Farouq Aminu, Cole Aldrich).

It's selfish of me to say this, but I -- along with countless other college basketball fans -- would love for there to be one more addition to that list.

Photo by Sarah Davis (A.P.)

Real Scout.net Today's Top Links

Gary Williams Vists Lance in Home; Calipari, Self meet with henry, and Kevin Parrom gets Xavier release (Zgasblog.net)

http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/04/19/gary-williams-visits-lance-in-home/

Pitino extortion attempt investigated

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=4080340

REAL DEAL IN THE ROCK : April ban changes recruiting game

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/257612/

AAU Basketball: Pitt recruit has plans for future (Isiah Epps)

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09109/963945-361.stm

Saturday's News From Jordan Brand

Pictured: Sean Johnson (Christ the King HS) Jordan Regional Game

The "Best" 24 players in the nation, not including Lance Stephenson. Spent Saturday night throwing no-look passes and some mean slams on 33rd and Madison at the 2009 Jordan Brand Classic at Madison Square Garden. While, I didn't attend the game, I was able to watch all of it on TV. Here are some of the random thoughts I had during the game. Also, here are some links to websites that covered the event fully.

*Derrick Favors, Avery Bradley, Renardo Sidney, and Demarcus Cousins wont be in college too long.

*Politics is crazy! These guys showed a ESPN Rise Top 10 2009 players Rankings and went extra hard to not put Lance Stephenson on it. I guess Maturity was there reason for not putting him on the list, and not his affiliation with Under Armor. Later in the game one announcer started talking about Xavier Henry scenarios and mentioned Lance by accident, and once he started talking about stephenson he couldn't stop. The talkative announcer said something along the lines of "Have you ever seen Lance play, he's special?" Of course, fearing for his job, the other announcer stayed mute and started talking about a golf promo.lol

*Wally Judge was the most aggressive player in the game, and looks like a Josh Howard (Mavs) type of player. Coach Martin at K-State promoted Beasley and Billy Walker and like some college coaches his style benefits future pros. This kids got NBA Written on his forehead.

*Marcus Jordan (son of MJ) said "He's never wore another pair of sneakers in his life besides Jordans." That's crazy, but hey why not wear your family sneaks if they're the dopest out and you aren't paying for it.

*Speaking of kicks, my little homie has Demarcus Cousins Sneakers & Derrick Favors Sneakers. They must have tossed them into the crowd or something because, they both wear size 16 and I'll be looking at them later on today.lol

* Shouts to my man Russ for getting that MVP of the Regional Game, Omari for doing his thing thing, and Kev for Opening up his recruitment (I don't blame ya kid), and shouts to Durand going out shooting, and a big BOO to Mo-Mo for turning his swag off, and trying to look like a passing pg.

Click below for the other links involving the Jordan Brand Classic 2009

Mount Vernon's Wright to Chase NCAA Glare http://lohud.com/article/20090418/SPORTS02/904180352/-1/SPORTS

Smith Leaves Lasting Impression at Jordan Classic

http://www.fiveborosports.com/ssp/news?news_id=2350

Rice Star Durand Scott enjoys Jordan Classic

http://www.fiveborosports.com/ssp/news?news_id=2349

Jordan Brand Classic Notebook: Spellman will go prep

http://www.fiveborosports.com/ssp/news?news_id=2345

Ex- Rice Mates Cook up victory

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high_school/2009/04/19/2009-04-19_exrice_mates_durand_scott_and_lamont_jones_cook_up_victory.html

John Henson Jordan Brand Classic Diary 1,2, and 3

http://slamonline.com/online/college-hs/high-school/2009/04/john-henson-jordan-brand-classic-diary-3/

Big Men Shine in Jordan Brand Classic

http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/basketball/boys/news/story?id=4080678

Jordan Brand Classic Notes From Zags

http://www.zagsblog.com/2009/04/18/smith-triche-named-co-mvps-of-regional-game/

Picture courtesy of Fiveborosports.com

LeBron sizzles, Pistons fizzle

Written By Patrick McManamon for Ohio.com
Beacon Journal sports columnist

CLEVELAND: LeBron James took the ball with two seconds left in the first half.

He dribbled twice near the left sideline.

Six feet inside the half-court line, he launched off his right foot and when he landed, he kept right on running as the ball sailed toward the basket.

When it hit the backboard and went in, no time was left on the clock and James had followed a 41-foot 3-pointer right to the crowd.

The fans at Quicken Loans Arena went bonkers.

James stood, arms folded and stared at them.

At that point in the playoff opener against the Detroit Pistons, the Cavs led 57-45. And it almost seemed like the Pistons had to ask themselves: ''What in the heck are we supposed to do with this guy?''

It's not an unusual question.

Every team in the league must ask the same thing. But in Game One of the opening playoff series, the Pistons could do nothing with him.

''It's hard when LeBron gets going early,'' Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey said. ''That's their leader. He led them today.''

It was an MVP game from the league's MVP.

James finished with 38 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

But most amazing was that James was on the court for just about 41 minutes and had zero turnovers and seven assists.

''It doesn't really amaze us anymore,'' Cavs guard Mo Williams said.

It should.

Because of James, the Pistons lost by 18 in a game when they shot 46 percent and turned the ball over only seven times.

Williams did not shoot well, and the Cavs' second-leading scorer was Joe Smith, who played very well off the bench.

With all that, the Cavs won 102-84.

James? Sensational in a very business-like, efficient, workmanlike way.

''His pacing offensively was very good,'' Cavs coach Mike Brown said.

And Raphael's brush strokes are pretty good, too.

James took over the game and said simply: ''We're not losing today.'' The end result: An offensive performance from the Cavs that featured 24 assists and the ridiculously low total of four turnovers — quite a change from previous Cavs teams.

The Pistons had no answer for him, all day long.

The 3-pointer sent the crowd into a tizzy at the half, and he started the second half with a 12-foot runner that made the lead 14.

With James on the bench, the Pistons made a run in the fourth quarter to cut the Cavs' lead to eight.

James returned and immediately set up a Williams 3-pointer, then followed with a layup off a pick-and-roll. That started a 13-2 run that put the Pistons away.

The most demoralizing of James' many plays was the shot that Cavs radio voice Joe Tait called a 41-foot layup.

''Oh man,'' Stuckey said, shaking his head. ''It is what it is. He made it.''

James said he called glass — ''after I hit it.''

''You know, we had a 20 [second timeout] left,'' Brown deadpanned. ''And that's a play we had drawn up a couple days ago. I yell . . . '20, 20, 20.' LeBron ignores me, takes two dribbles and makes it off the backboard.

''He didn't have to call it because we'd been practicing that exact same play.''

And even though it looked like James knew it was going in all the way, he said he didn't.

''I was going to chase it until it went in the hoop, though,'' he said. ''Think I helped it. I gave a shot, chased it down and made sure it wasn't going to come out of the rim.''

A freak shot? Doubtful.

With a smile, James said his range is ''pretty much unlimited'' — something everyone saw on 60 Minutes when he made an underhand shot from past halfcourt.

Still . . . three hours before the game, there was one basketball bouncing at Quicken Loans Arena, and one player shooting it.

At that time, James was practicing with assistant coach Chris Jent, leaving nothing to chance.

''The playoffs,'' he said, ''are a different level of basketball.''

The conventional wisdom coming into the series was that the Cavs should handle the Pistons without trouble.

The Pistons are a veteran team, and they hung in for part of a half.

But any time things got even close to dicey, James made a basket or a pass or did something to make sure there was really nothing to worry about.

James treated the fans to a game that was kind of like a day in the recliner with a favorite movie on the TV: Relax, sit back and enjoy.

As one of the homemade signs at Quicken Loans Arena read: One down, 15 to go.

Real Scout Express wins in IS8

After losing last week by the score of 98-68 against a loaded NYC Finest Team. Real Scout Express was back to Normal as they beat East Orange Express 82-39. Real Scout Express was led by SF Maurice Harkless 6'7 Soph. (2011) 26pts 14 rebs and pg Jamel Fuentes 6'2 Jr. (2010) who had 14pts and 8 stls.

Everybody played a good game for Real Scout Express as the roaster was loaded SG Andre Armstrong 6'2 sr (2009), PF Charles Williams 6'9 JR (2010), SG Rudy Collins 6'3 FR (2012), SG Dominic Murray 6'2 Sr (2009), SF Allson Reynolds 6'7 Jr (2010), SF Kendell Craig 6'6 Jr (2010), SF Alex Hall 6'4 Sr (2009) and PG Nick Padgett 5'11 Soph. (2011).

Sneaker of the Week "Air Jordan 11"

Written by: Nicekicks.com

The legendary Air Jordan 11 was first released for for 1995-96 season. The Air Jordan 11 are the most famous and most popular model of the Air Jordan line.

Jordan was back for real and he led the Bulls to yet another NBA victory. He also became the second man to ever win Most Valuable Player awards for the regular season, All-Star Game and NBA Finals in the same season.

Jordan averaged 30.4 points per game and scored 40 or more points in nine games while wearing the Air Jordan 11’s. What a come back!

If Jordan was back, so was Tinker Hatfield. A terrific design with a new patent leather and the return of the clear rubber sole made the Air Jordan 11 the most appreciated Air Jordan model ever released.

But when the design stunned everyone, the durability and quality was disappointing. Again the clear rubber soles easily yellowed and the patent leather also tended to crack up and/or easily get scratched. Top design - lacking quality.

With the Air Jordan 11 we also saw the return of low-tops. Something that would follow the Air Jordan’s all the way to the Jordan 21s (though skipping the OG Jordan 12’s).

Back to the banning days Michael was fined $5,000 per game during the semifinals in 1995 for wearing the white/black-dk concord ones. He wore them twice and this was looked upon as uniform violation as the rest of the Bulls wore entirely black shoes. (This kind of brings back memories from when the Air Jordan 1’s were banned from the NBA.)

Being fined two games was enough though and the next game he wore Anfernee Hardaway’s shoes.But did Nike enjoy MJ not wearing Air Jordans?

Probably not as he got the “SpaceJams” for the remaining games. The same shoes that could also be seen in the movie Space Jam.

When the Jordan 11s were retroed in 2000-2001 they would prove to become the retro that sold in the highest quantity ever and also the fastest selling Air Jordan’s of all time. The Jordan 11s were retroed in 15 colorways and sold out in every colorway!

FiveboroSports.com All Borough Teams

Written By Nathan Blue (RealScout.net Editor)

In their first year as a group, Fiveborosports.com has established themselves as the best website in the nyc area for high school hoops. The great pictures, stories, and so-so preview predictions.lol Have made them a must read for the daily hoop junkie.

Throughout the 2008/09 high school season posted 60-80 stories from "The Boro". Zach, Theo, Damien, Dylan, and the rest of the guys and girls at fiveborosports.com congrats on some good writing and pictures, from "The Real Scout".

Fiveborosports.com All Borough Teams:http://fiveborosports.com/ssp/all-city

Flynn hires agent, commits to NBA

ESPN.com news services

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse point guard Jonny Flynn turned pro and signed with an agent, ending his college career after two seasons and taking a top player off the Orange for the second straight year.

Jim Boeheim has gotten used to turning over talent.

"I've known pretty much for a while," Boeheim said Thursday. "He's had a tremendous career here, and I think he's going to be a tremendous player at the next level. We hate to lose him, but the opportunity that he has and will take advantage of I think is tremendous. It's a lot of money and it's hard to not take. He's been great for us and we wish him nothing but the best."

Flynn, who was not available for comment, signed with Leon Rose's Creative Artists Agency Sports.

The NBA draft will be held June 25 and the Orange's Paul Harris and Eric Devendorf also are planning to declare for the draft but have not said whether they will hire agents. Underclassmen have until April 26 to declare. If they do not hire an agent, they have until June 15 to withdraw and retain their college eligibility.

Most mock drafts show Flynn being selected in the top half of the 30-pick first round.

A year ago, 6-foot-11 Donte Greene left the Orange after one season and was selected 28th in the draft. He averaged 3.8 points per game for the Sacramento Kings, with only four starts.

"I lost a kid last year that didn't benefit. He had a bad year, didn't play. It didn't help him," Boeheim said. "You can't really tell where you're going to go in the draft, and you can't tell if it's going to be a good decision until later down the road, so it's really hard to counsel somebody."

The departure of Flynn doesn't figure to be a huge blow to the Orange's hopes for next season. Syracuse has two point guards to replace him -- Scoop Jardine, who sat out 2008-09 with a leg injury, and newcomer Brandon Triche.

"We recruited a point guard because we knew Jonny could go, so we ended up getting a great point guard. We're very happy with the kid we got," Boeheim said of Triche, a star in high school in upstate New York and the son of one of Boeheim's former players.

The 6-foot Flynn's stock soared after his performance in the Big East tournament. Despite Syracuse's loss to Louisville in the title game, Flynn was named tournament MVP, only the fourth time a player from the losing team received the award.

Still, before the NCAA tournament Flynn said he planned to return for his junior year, and that would have been a huge boon for next season. He averaged a team-leading 17 points a game and finished the season with 254 assists, the second-most for a sophomore in school history, behind only the 289 by Sherman Douglas in 1986-87.

Boeheim encouraged Flynn to investigate his pro possibilities and now loses a standout player for the second straight year.

"We'll move on. We've got some guys coming back," Boeheim said. "If we kept everybody, we'd be pretty good, but we knew we were going to lose a couple guys."

"We all think it would be better if kids either went, like [Cleveland Cavaliers star] LeBron James, right out of high school or, if you go to college, stay two or three years like they do in baseball and football. You end up gaining more," Boeheim said. "It would be better for the player, better for the NBA and it would be better for college, but I don't think we'll get there."

Boeheim has seen a lot in his 33 years as head coach of the Orange, and after being an assistant on the U.S. Olympic team that won gold in Beijing last year, he knows what Flynn will be facing.

"I don't think college kids realize how tough the NBA is," Boeheim said. "There are guys that don't play in the NBA that were first-team, All-Big East first-team, All-Big Ten. I've got Jonny Flynn, who's a great guard, but when I got back from coaching Chris Paul [in the Olympics], I'm going like, 'You're not that good.' "

Even if Devendorf and Harris also leave, Syracuse returns a solid nucleus in center Arinze Onuaku, power forward Rick Jackson, and shooting guard Andy Rautins.

Wesley Johnson, who also sat out last season after transferring from Iowa State, already has played two seasons of Big Ten basketball, averaging more than 12 points a game for the Cyclones.

"We've got five guys back that played a lot ... and then we had a kid sitting out who's probably better than anybody we've got, so we're OK for next year," Boeheim said. "With Jonny Flynn, we'd probably be in the top five or six teams, but without him we drop down a little bit."

Top 25 Area Prospects at Boo Williams (Regardless of Class)

Pictured: Dion Waiters (Syracuse Committ)

Written By: Nathan Blue (Realscout.net)

I had the chance to watch dozens of games this weekend at the Boo Williams Tournament in Hampton, Virginia. Here are the Top 25 Players RealScout.net's Nathan Blue observed in the Best AAU Event of the Early Spring.

*All Players from NY, NJ, and PA

Alphabetical Order

Name Height AAU Team Division Grade

Jordan Allen 6'5 Playaz Club 16s (Soph.)

Kyle Anderson 6'5 Playaz Club 16s (Frosh)

Isiah Battle 6'2 Playaz Club 17s (Jr.)

Aaron Brown 6'5 Metro Hawks 17s (Jr.)

Taran Buie 6'1 Albany City Rocks 17s (Jr.)

Omar Calhoun 6'4 NY Gauchos 15s (Frosh)

Myles Davis 6'2 Playaz Club 16s (Soph.)

Fuquan Edwin 6'5 Playaz Club 17s (Jr.)

Isiah Epps 6'2 Playaz Club 17s (Jr.)

Mike Gilchrist 6'7 Team Final 17s (Soph.)

Maurice Harkless 6'7 LI Lightning 16s (Soph.)

Tobias Harris 6'7 Albany City Rocks 17s (Jr.)

Desmond Hubert 6'9 Playaz Club 16s (Soph.)

Sidiki Johnson 6'7 LI Lightning 16s (Soph.)

Markus Kennedy 6'8 Team Final 17s (Jr.)

Doron Lamb 6'4 NY Gauchos 17s (Jr.)

Myles Mack 5'10 Playaz Club 16s (Soph.)

Angel Nunez 6'7 NY Gauchos 16s (Soph.)

Will Regan 6'9 Albany City Rocks 17s (Jr.)

Shane Southwell 6'6 NY Gauchos 17s (Jr.)

Dashawn Suber 5'11 NY Gauchos 15s (Frosh)

Mike Taylor 6'2 Metro Hawks 16s (Soph.)

Shaquille Thomas 6'7 Metro Hawks 17s (Jr.)

Dion Waiters 6'3 Team Final 17s (Jr.)

Lebrent Walker 6'1 LI Lightning 15s (Frosh)

Picture Courtesy of rivals.com

UTEP basketball freshman Blaise Ffrench to transfer

By Jay Koester / El Paso Times

Blaise Ffrench, a freshman guard on the UTEP basketball team, has decided to transfer to another school, UTEP announced Monday.
"Blaise is looking to get closer to home," UTEP coach Tony Barbee said. "We wish him the best with whatever he decides to do."

A native of Queens, N.Y., Ffrench played in 26 games for the Miners this season and totaled eight points, six rebounds and 11 assists.

Real Scout Family in the News

Written by: Nathan Blue

Real Scout's Maurice Harkless (Pictured) 6'7 SOPH Forest Hills H.S. has been talked about on some of the Nations top websites. Following the Path of other great players from the Real Scout Umbrella Charlie Villanueva (NBA- Milwaukee Bucks), Curtis Stinson (Iowa State), Donnie McGrath (Providence), Afam Muojeke (Wyoming), Melquan Bolding (Duquense) and former Laker, Nuggets, Cavs, and Miami heat guard Smush Parker.

Harkless torched Lebron James "Southern Kings AAU Team for 33pts in Boo Williams and his dominating performance has scouts wondering just how good will Harkless really be?

Harkless was also named Third Team All City by the NY Post. Click on the stories below and see look at what scouts and the media have to say about Real Scout's Maurice Harkless, Sonny Kadisha 6'4 Jr Forest Hills, and Mike Poole 6'5 Jr. St. Benedicts NJ.

Mike Poole & Maurice Harkless

http://w3.nbebasketball.com/index.php/hoop-group-elite-top-100-ny-review/

Maurice Harkless

http://sports.yahoo.com/top/news?slug=rivals-289815&prov=rivals&type=lgns

Sonny Kadisha

http://www.fiveborosports.com/ssp/news?news_id=2249

Davis says he's not yet ready for NBA

Associated Press

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- North Carolina freshman forward Ed Davis says he will return to the team for the 2009-2010 season.

Davis made the announcement on Sunday. In a statement issued by the school, the 6-foot-10 native of Richmond, Va., said he would like to play in the NBA, but that he and his family don't think he is ready to take that step.

Davis also said he was glad to get the decision behind him so he can focus on the remainder of the school year and get ready for next season.

He averaged 8.2 points and 5.5 rebounds in North Carolina's six NCAA tournament wins. Davis led the Tar Heels with 65 blocked shots.

In the 89-72 championship game victory over Michigan State, Davis scored 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds.

Holiday to enter NBA draft

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- UCLA guard Jrue Holiday plans to enter the NBA draft, but he won't hire an agent and is leaving open the option of returning for his sophomore season.

Holiday averaged 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals starting all 35 games for the Bruins this season. He averaged 27.1 minutes and was on the Pac-10 all-freshman team.

Holiday announced the move Thursday on campus, saying he spoke to his parents and Coach Ben Howland before deciding it was in his best interest "to test the waters."

Howland endorsed Holiday's decision, saying,

"There's no question that Jrue is a first-round NBA draft pick." The Bruins finished 26-9, losing to Villanova in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Big Apple Sports College Exposure 2009

(Former Junior College All-American Steve Francis)

Written By: Thomas "Tippy" Mcternan

The 13th Annual Big Apple Sports College Exposure 2009 will be held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at South Shore HS, at 6565 Flatlands Avenue in Brooklyn, New York.

Registration will begin at 10:00 a.m. with the first games scheduled to tip-off at 11:15 a.m. This event is limited to 120 participants and is invitation-only, with no charge for the accepted participants. All participants must be graduating high school seniors, high school graduates, GED recipients, or older students with junior college eligiblity.

The 2008 event was witnessed by over 100 coaches and scouts from schools and scouting services across the country, including Texas, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Maryland and Florida.

All those who wish to be considered for the 2009 College Exposure Games must fill out the registration form and mail it to the address shown at the bottom of the form.

College Coaches interested in attending this event should e-mail Tom McTernan or call Bryan Griffith at (347) 350-5804.

Cousins Chooses Wildcats

By Chris Lawlor
ESPNRISE.com

DeMarcus Cousins, the No. 4-rated player in the ESPNU 100, will follow recently hired coach John Calipari to Kentucky, his high school coach told ESPN.com on Tuesday.

"He told me tonight he's going to Kentucky," said Otis Hughley of LeFlore High School in Mobile, Ala. "He didn't say much after [John] Calipari left Memphis and, I told him I was there for advice and counsel, whatever he needed."

Cousins, a McDonald's All-American who is headed to Portland, Ore., on Wednesday to compete for the 2009 USA Men's Junior National Select Team at the 12th annual Nike Hoop Summit, committed to Memphis during the season but never signed a binding national letter-of-intent. As a junior, he verbally committed to the University of Alabama-Birmingham but withdrew his pledge in favor of Memphis.

The 6-foot-10 post player averaged 29 points and 12 rebounds to help LeFlore, No. 27 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 rankings, reach Alabama's Class 5A semifinals, where it was upset by Parker (Birmingham).

Last week, Cousins contributed 14 points and eight rebounds as the East squad won the McDonald's All-American Game 113-110 in Coral Gables, Fla. Prior to the game he spoke about reopening his recruiting in the wake of Calipari's departure from Memphis. He said he was dreading it but conceded, "it's a learning experience."

This time Cousins conferred with family members on Monday and decided to follow Calipari to his new digs in Lexington, Ky.

"I'm happy he made a decision quickly and didn't allow it to drag out," said Hughley, who will accompany Cousins to Portland for Saturday's game against a World Select Team at the Rose Garden.

OU's Griffin entering NBA draft

Associated Press

NORMAN, Okla. -- Once Blake Griffin stopped and really thought about his future, it didn't take long for him to reach a decision. Griffin announced Tuesday that he will give up his final two years of eligibility and head to the NBA after a sophomore season in which he was honored as college basketball's top player.

It was a choice coach Jeff Capel called a "no-brainer," with Griffin establishing himself as a likely candidate to be the No. 1 overall pick in the draft this June. "I felt in my mind from the time that I actually thought about it that this would be the right decision," said Griffin, wearing a black suit, a grey shirt and a tie.

"I remember talking to Coach Capel last year after I made my decision of coming back and he said I had the chance to be in this position and I should take it. "This has been a dream for me. It has been a dream for a lot of guys. I was really comfortable with the decision this time around."

Griffin helped the Sooners win 30 games in a season for only the fifth time in school history, shattering the school records for double-doubles and rebounds along the way. He said it was now time to take his game to the next level. "It's tough to walk away from something like this but at the same time, it's a big opportunity and I felt like I was ready for it this year," Griffin said.

After declaring last year he would stay at Oklahoma for at least one more season, Griffin said he wanted to be able to contribute immediately in the NBA before he would turn pro.

For him to feel like he was "100 percent sure" that he was ready, he said he'd probably have to be in line to be the No. 1 pick in the draft. Griffin couldn't have done much more to make his case for that spot.

He was honored by The Associated Press and several other groups as college basketball's player of the year after leading the nation with 30 double-doubles and 14.4 rebounds per game while also averaging a Big 12-best 22.7 points. In the NCAA tournament, he was even better -- averaging 28.5 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Sooners to the regional finals, where they lost to eventual national champion North Carolina.

Blair declaring for NBA draft

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH -- All-America center DeJuan Blair of Pitt will declare for the NBA draft but has not yet hired an agent, leaving the possibility he could return for his junior season. Blair is currently projected as a mid- to late first-round pick, but his status could change once he goes through the NBA's various pre-draft workouts.

If he doesn't hire an agent, Blair would have until June 15 to withdraw his name from the June 25 draft. Pittsburgh attorney James Cook issued a press release Wednesday saying he will advise Blair in the pre-draft process, before Blair picks an agent.

Among Cook's former or current clients are Memphis assistant Orlando Antigua, a former Pitt assistant coach, and boxer Roy Jones Jr. "We are confident that he will make the city of Pittsburgh proud and enjoy a long NBA career," Cook said in the statement. Pitt officials did not immediately comment on Cook's statement, but Blair and Pitt coach Jamie Dixon called a 4 p.m. news conference to discuss Blair's status.

Dixon apparently is planning as if he won't have Blair on his team next season. This past season, Blair helped Pitt to its first No. 1 national ranking, its first No. 1 seeding in the NCAA tournament and its first trip to the NCAA round of eight in 35 years.

"I think he's an NBA player," Dixon said of Blair, who grew up about a half-mile from Pitt's campus. "I told him that from the time we recruited him. I've always had a higher opinion of him than most scouting services and coaches and most media observers.

I always thought of him as an NBA player." Dixon and Blair met several times this week to discuss his status, and the coach passed on information he received from NBA general managers. Blair is an in-between size for an NBA inside player at 6-foot-7 and 260 pounds, but is an instinctive rebounder -- he easily led major college players in offensive rebounding -- and he was not overmatched physically even against centers who were seven or eight inches taller.

Among the college season's signature moments was when the muscular Blair flipped UConn's 7-foot-3 Hasheem Thabeet over his shoulder and to the court as the two contested a rebound. "His size is not a hindrance in my mind," Dixon said. "It was just something he would overcome, as he had in high school and then college."

Blair averaged 15.7 points and 12.3 rebounds this season and was the Big East co-player of the year with Thabeet, and became the first AP first-team All-American at Pitt since the 1950s.

Pitt finished 31-5, losing only to fellow Big East teams: Villanova twice, plus Louisville, Providence and West Virginia. Pitt was a basket away from advancing to the Final Four for the first time since 1941 until Scottie Reynolds' driving layup with a half-second remaining gave Villanova a 78-76 victory in the East Regional final.

City players without scholarships in limbo as NCAA rules end April live recruiting period

Written By Ian Begley AND Ebenezer Samuel
NY DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITERS

Under new NCAA guidelines, unsigned high school seniors like Tyreak Johnson (14), Rasheem King (20) and Isiah Stokley (10) can no longer spend April playing in front of college coaches.

The clock is ticking, and Rasheem King knows it.

The 6-4, 180-pound senior from Xaverian is chasing a Division I basketball scholarship, but like many unsigned seniors, he's struggling to generate interest because of the NCAA 's new recruiting calendar.

In previous years, King and others would spend April traveling to grassroots tournaments around the nation, playing before top college coaches in hopes of securing scholarship offers.

But the NCAA voted to cancel this year's spring "live period," essentially banning Div. I college coaches from attending April events. The next live evaluation period won't occur until July, well after the spring signing period (April 15-May 20).

That's left the city's many uncommitted players frustrated. Some, like CHSAA Player of the Year Sean Johnson, are weighing options, and others, like Molloy's Russ Smith , have elected to attend prep school this fall.

But there are many like King, whose ability places them right on the cusp of a Div. I scholarship. King led the Clippers to the CHSAA ‘AA'Intersectional quarterfinals and grabbed all-league first team honors. Yet less than three months before graduation, his college plans remain murky.

"It seems like I don't have any options," he says. "I ain't going to lie. I am upset."

The NCAA says it had its reasons for ending April's live period. According to an e-mail from spokesperson Jennifer Kearns , the NCAA hopes to address the "significant amount of class time missed by prospective student athletes ... to accommodate travel to and from events." Kearns adds that the decision was backed by the National Association of Basketball Coaches .

None of that helps uncommitted seniors. While a few in the hoops community agree that the NCAA has academics in mind, many believe the rule erases a key chance for players to earn Div. I scholarships.

In past seasons, prospects used April tourneys to springboard from anonymity to Div. I hoops. College programs gave scholarships to top-tier prospects during the high school season and simply tracked the performance of lower-level players.

When the April tourneys began, college coaches with open scholarships canvassed the nation, filling roster holes, waiting for seniors to prove themselves. Two years ago, former Providence assistant Steve DeMeo traveled to tourneys in Texas , Ohio and Rhode Island .

"You had a chance to see everyone in one place," says DeMeo, now an assistant at Central Florida. "Hundreds (of players)."

Now coaches watch only a few players at a time during high school workouts. With colleges tightening recruiting budgets, some coaches are less interested in researching unsigned, unknown seniors.

Last season, most of the city's top players made college commitments long before April. But that was a banner season for city hoops. This season, the Big Apple seems full of mid-major talents, and most players are still searching for scholarships.

"Last year's class was very deep," says Billy Turnage, the coach of Wings Academy. "This year's class has more mid-majors."

According to scouting analyst Dave Telep, it's those players who will struggle to draw late attention under the new recruiting restrictions.

"It's the opportunities for mid-major kids that are lost," Telep says.

"Who's going to a workout at Forest Hills High School or Edison ?" asks one Colonial Athletic Association assistant. "The way things are, you have to know the kids you're going after by now."

That leaves King and many others in a bind. Rice's Jonathan Williams has collected Div. II offers, but his mother Lorraine says he'd hoped for more. "He wants to go to a Division I school," she says.

Edison's Isiah Stokley has drawn interest from a handful of schools, but he has no offers. He plans to spend April mailing out highlight tapes.

Stokley believes he could have helped himself more if he'd had this month to impress colleges. "I think about (college) every day," he says.

"But what can I do?"

The NCAA claims it wants to eliminate athletes'over-reliance on one month in their pursuit of a college scholarship.

Kearns says the NCAA has watched April for quite some time, and it's struggled to decide how to handle the month. In 2006, officials
increased the month's evaluation time from two weekends to three, before slashing the period entirely this year.

The NCAA maintains that travel tourneys had come to dominate April in recent years. Some players missed classes to head to tournaments on Thursdays or Fridays, then returned to the city tired on Mondays.

"I would love to know the percentage of kids who come from an AAU trip who show up to school on Monday," says Jefferson HS coach Lawrence Pollard . "These kids ... jump right into AAU, and academics take a backseat. At the end of the day, I understand what the NCAA is doing."

The rule, however, won't preclude players from attending April tourneys. Grassroots events such as the King James Shooting Stars Classic in Akron , Ohio, and the Houston Kingwood Classic will go on without Div. I coaches. "Kids want to play," Xaverian coach Jack Alesi says. "They have to play to get better."

Additionally, some players still hope make names for themselves at grassroots tournaments. AAU coaches and prep school coaches will still be in attendance, and college coaches may call them for advice. One AAU coach says he fielded a plethora of calls following a recent New Jersey tournament.

"You have to trust the people around you more," says DeMeo.

Coaches also will deal with the situation. Some say they may rely more on internet reports. And as the CAA assistant says, coaches must "pound the pavement," likely watching more high school games during the season.

"It's hard to get out during the school year ... we're in our seasons," adds Xavier University assistant Emanuel Richardson . "But you have to put yourself in the best position possible."

That's what many uncommitted seniors are working to do, too. Many are pursuing scholarships using outlets outside of travel tournaments. Some, like Stokley, are focusing on grades. In the end, everyone expects to adapt.

"The NCAA made the rule," says Wings Academy coach Billy Turnage . "We just have to follow it."

Michael Jordan's son picks Cent. Fla.

Written By: Ebenezer Samuel
NY DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Michael Jordan 's son will play basketball in Conference USA . Marcus Jordan , the youngest son of his Airness, committed to play for the University of Central Florida Monday.

The 6-3 senior guard led Whitney Young (Ill.) High School to an Illinois state title and will play in the Jordan All-American Classic at the Garden on April 18. His older brother Jeffrey just completed his sophomore season at the University of Illinois.

Photo Courtesy of Suntimes.com

Whispers: UK recruiting dominoes set to fall?

Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst

Cousins, who has expressed loyalty to coach John Calipari , has not signed a letter of intent and was only verbally committed to the Calipari-led Memphis program.

DeMarcus Cousins is one of the top targets for the new Kentucky staff. The odds are very strong that Cousins will announce his intention to follow Calipari to Kentucky prior to the beginning of the spring signing period on April 15.

The Kentucky staff hopes a Cousins commitment will help lure No. 1-ranked prospect John Wall to the Bluegrass State as well. Before Calipari's move to Kentucky, Wall was leaning toward playing with Cousins at Memphis.

Kentucky has some formidable competition, however, for Wall. Duke has gained significant ground lately in its recruitment of Wall, and now it looks like national champion North Carolina will throw its hat in the ring. Wall told Rivals.com during halftime of the NCAA tournament championship game on Monday that he and UNC coach Roy Williams are planning to meet and that he would consider playing for the Tar Heels.

Also, don't be surprised if four-star shooting guard Nolan Dennis , who also had signed with Memphis, ends up at Kentucky. The main question in this situation is whether there is a scholarship available for Dennis at Kentucky.

Either way, there will be a major shakeup in the Kentucky roster. Jodie Meeks has already declared his intentions to test the NBA waters. Patrick Patterson might soon follow. There are also a number of potential Kentucky transfer scenarios floating around.

OUTSIDE THE BOX

An unexpected name popped up Monday night as a new Kentucky recruit. Although still technically a USC commitment, top-30 prospect Solomon Hill is considering other options prior to the spring signing period.

Hill, who was formerly committed to Lute Olson at Arizona, is open to pitches from both new Arizona coach Sean Miller and Calipari.

Hill's father, Solomon Crawford, told the "Arizona Daily Star" that he would be talking to Miller this week. And then Hill confirmed with Rivals.com on Monday that he was scheduled to speak with Calipari that night. Hill considered the Billy Gillispie-led Kentucky program before committing to USC last winter. A forward with exceptional ball-handling skills, Hill is very intrigued with playing in the dribble drive offense at tradition-rich Kentucky.

MORE KENTUCKY/MEMPHIS INTRIGUE

The race could be heating up for Memphis White Station guard Joe Jackson. Scooter Owens, the travel team coach of five-star prospect Latavious Williams , told Rivals.com on Monday that the new Kentucky staff had been in touch with Williams and wanted him to come to Lexington.

The only catch, though, was that Pastner was the contact person, and hours later he was named coach of Memphis.

Look for Memphis now to make a concerted effort to catch up with Georgetown in the pursuit of Williams. One big advantage for Memphis is that Williams likes the school's proximity to his hometown in Mississippi.

And what about the Class of 2010? Five-star prospect Joe Jackson of Memphis White Station was considered a lock for Memphis before Calipari's departure. Now, according to Jackson's travel team coach Eric Robinson, Arkansas and Marquette are coming on strong along with Tennessee and Ole Miss. Robinson also noted that Calipari has contacted Jackson and expressed his interest in recruiting him to Kentucky.

Expect the Tennessee staff to be at White Station High School at noon Thursday when the April contact period kicks in. Also, expect Pastner to go to great lengths to keep the city's best prospect at home. Jackson's recruitment is gearing up to be an epic in-state battle between Tennessee coach Bruce Pearl and Pastner.

X-FACTOR

Kansas appears to be in the driver's seat to land former Memphis signee Xavier Henry . Throughout his recruitment, Henry was thought to be a lock for Kansas. When his brother, C.J. Henry , wound up on the Memphis roster after a stint playing minor league baseball, Xavier opted for Memphis over Kansas. The irony? C.J. originally committed to Kansas before being drafted by the New York Yankees out of high school.

If C.J., who was redshirted this season after suffering an injury early in the year, wins an appeal with the NCAA to be immediately eligible if he transfers, look for the Henry brothers to be in a Kansas uniform next year. If C.J. doesn't win the appeal, Xavier will have to decide between joining C.J. in Memphis and playing for first-year coach Josh Pastner or playing for Kansas without C.J. by his side.

What doesn't look like an option at this point is either prospect playing for Kentucky.

C.J. and Xavier's father Carl Henry, who played at Kansas, had this to say to JayhawkSlant.com over the weekend:

"Kansas is where Xavier wants to be. It's the school he's always wanted to attend. When Xavier picked Memphis he did it so he could play with his brother. He decided to attend Memphis because of family."

Both C.J. and Xavier received releases from their Letters of Intent to Memphis, so now a new round of recruiting is set to begin.

Marcus Jordan is headed to UCF. RISING STARS TO UCF

Travel team teammates Marcus Jordan and Nik Garcia of the Rising Stars will join up again next year at the collegiate level with Central Florida. Both are wing prospects with complementary skills. Jordan, the son of Michael Jordan, is an explosive slasher with a strong first step. Garcia is a deadly shooter with length. Look for both prospects to make an impact in Conference USA.

FREE THROWS

Four-star point guard Eric Bledsoe retook his ACT last weekend in hopes of raising his score to a qualifying standard. Presently he is working with a top four of Alabama, Cincinnati, Florida and Kentucky.

Five-star prospect and 2010 Tennessee commitment Josh Selby will transfer from Hyattsville (Md.) DeMatha and join forces with 2010 five-star prospect Will Barton at Baltimore (Md.) Lake Clifton High School next year.

Birmingham (Ala.) Central Park High School is known for producing big-time talent and the school has a couple of rising sophomores who already have the attention of college coaches. Last week Florida coach Billy Donovan checked in on 7-foot center Obij Aget and 6-8 power forward Hanner Perea . Arkansas is expected this week. Alabama, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oregon and Tennessee were all in attendance at Central Park's final home game of the season. The duo will split time on the travel team circuit between the Birmingham Wildcats and Indiana Elite.

Real Scout Weekend "AAU Regionals & IS8 Top Players" Part II (Final Part)

Pictured: Jabari Hinds

Written By Nathan Blue (RealScout.net Editor)

I had the chance to closely Evaluate Eighteen of New York's Top Prospects at the AAU Regionals Qualifying at the Island Garden and one IS8 basketball tournament Game in Jamaica Queens..

This is Part II of Realscout.net's Evaluation of the 16under, 15under AAU Regionals, and a brief stop at IS8 on Sunday Morning.


RealScout.net 2011 Weekend Standouts

PG-Jabari Hinds 6'2 Mt. Vernon (Westchester Hawks 16s)- Jabari Hinds is the best sophomore in New York and this weekend's performance showed me the gap between hinds and all the others. While, most are steady figuring out how to play this game, Jabari has all the cheat codes and is levels ahead. Hinds has guns and missles, while the rest of this class is armed with sunflower seeds. Nuff said.

SG- Jose Rodriguez 6'2 St. Raymond's (NY Gauchos16s)- Rodriguez shot the ball very well this weekend. One of the Gauchos main scoring threats, Rodriguez is a D1 prospect.

C- Joey De La Rosa 6'9 St. Raymond's (NY Gauchos 16s)- A developing Big man, Joey D will be a big time recruit, if he continues to develop.

PG-Devaughn Reid 6'1 Rice (NY Gauchos 16s)- I actually like Devaughn's game a lot. The forgotten man on the NY Gauchos, Reid made things happen for the choz. Getting into the lane, playing solid defense and playing team basketball. Sounds kind of boring but, being a leader is extremely natural to this kid and that's a quality most don't have.

PF- Richard Council 6'5 Rice (NY Gauchos 16s)- I haven't seen him play much since frosh yr at rice, where he was unstoppable in the paint on offense and defense. This weekend Council was pretty much the same, just a tap bit stronger. Somebody to keep an eye on down the road.


RealScout.net 2012 Weekend Standouts

SG- Lebrent Walker 6'1 Bayside (LI Lightning 15s)- Walker had his best AAU weekend in recent memory. Walker's pull-up jumper was on this weekend in AAU Regionals and he scored his usual in IS8 Friday night.

SF- Daniel Dingle 6'5 St. Raymond's (LI Lightning 15s)- One of my favorite players, Dingle played the point forward slot all weekend. Giving his full effort, though Dingle couldn't stop his team from being upset in the semis, along with Walker, Thaddeus Hall, and Okorro. Dingle is the quiet leader for the AAU Defending National Champions.


RealScout.net 2013 Weekend Standouts

PF- Jordan Washington 6'7 Middle School (2 the rack 16s)- IS8 is where boys become men. Jordan Washington is the best 8th grade big man in the country. The Samardo Samuels of his class, Washington did his double double thing this weekend, but lost to a good New Rochelle team. Nothing flashy from the Queens 8th grader, just hard work and a lot of elbows.

UNC Tar Heels rout Michigan State to win NCAA Tournament

BY Roger Rubin
NY DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

DETROIT - North Carolina brought the college basketball season full circle Monday night. The Tar Heels were the unanimous No.1 choice in both polls when the season began. And after dismantling Michigan State Monday night they were again No.1.

As it was in November, this is indisputable.

North Carolina never trailed, opening a huge early lead and maintaining a margin of at least 13 points for the entire second half as it rolled to an 89-72 victory at Ford Field for its fifth national championship and first since 2005.

"There's something that's just right about it," said Tyler Hansbrough, one of the nets draped around his neck. "We were at the top when it started and we're at the top when it ends? Pretty great."

It looked like a hostile environment with more than two-thirds of the NCAA Tournament-record crowd of 72,922 pulling for the Spartans. After watching the Tar Heels dominate their team, 50,000-plus never sounded so quiet.

The victory completed an awesome tournament run for the Heels. North Carolina (34-4) won all six of its games by 12 points or more, a feat accomplished only by Indiana in 1981. The Tar Heels never really got a scare.

"We won some great games in this tournament, but this is the one you want," Hansbrough said. "We had our doubters ... but there's nothing anyone can say to take away from this."

North Carolina's fifth title ties it with Indiana for third on the all-time list. Only UCLA (11) and Kentucky (seven) have won more crowns. The win should also wash away any remaining bitterness from its season-ending debacle against Kansas at last year's Final Four.

"We've been working so hard and pushing since we fell short last year," said Wayne Ellington, who had 19 points, including 17 on 7-for-9 shooting in the first half when the game was decided. "I wanted to redeem myself for that. I think we all did."

Monday night's triumph gave several Tar Heels a fitting ending to great careers. Hansbrough, winner of nearly every individual award he was eligible for, no longer will be ridiculed for not winning a title. Lawson and Ellington were rewarded for foregoing the NBA draft to seek the national championship that had eluded them. Each described his move as "the best decision of my life."

And Danny Green, the senior from North Babylon, L.I., and Manhasset's St. Mary's High, got the storybook ending he hoped to share with his father. Danny Green Sr. was arrested in a drug sting and served 22 months in prison, missing most of his son's college career. He was there to share his son's finest basketball moment.

"Having my father here means a whole lot to me," Green said before racing off the court and into the crowd to find him.

Michigan State (31-7) carried the feel-good story line of the tournament to its final day. But the Spartans were not able to accomplish their goal of winning a title and maybe, at least briefly, easing the pain for an economically ravaged city and state. They committed 14 of their 20 turnovers in the first half.

Lawson had 21 points and an NCAA Tournament-record eight steals, Hansbrough had 18 points and Ed Davis came off the bench to add 11 points and eight rebounds. For Michigan State, Goran Suton had 17 points and Kalin Lucas scored 14.

The Spartans had vowed that Monday night would look nothing like the teams' regular-season meeting on Dec.3, when UNC rolled to a 98-63 win in the same building. They were right: it looked worse.

North Carolina led by 10 after only four minutes and had the Spartans in a 20-point hole midway through the first half. Carolina scored on 12 of its first 14 possessions and the margin got as big as 24 points before the Tar Heels went to halftime up 55-34.

"It was a blur, those first five minutes when they jumped on us so fast," the Spartans' Travis Walton said. "North Carolina is an excellent team. They have no weaknesses ... they have like five-six NBA players."

The only part of the night that belonged to Michigan State was the introductions. With the Lansing campus just 92 miles away, Spartans fans turned out in droves. More than two-thirds of the record crowd came to support the "home" team. The noise when State was introduced was nearly deafening.

Lucas said Sunday that North Carolina would need a "a great opening five minutes" to take the crowd out of the equation. That's exactly what the Tar Heels laid on them. When Hansbrough made a pair of free throws with 9:44 before halftime, it capped a 10-0 run that made it 34-11. There was barely a peep from the throng after that.

"We made a whole lot of shots," Ellington said. "We quieted them down and then we took care of business."