January 2010

MERNAGH’S QUICK HITTERS IN THE BIG EAST

by RAY MERNAGH

Rutgers got their first Big East win over Notre Dame yesterday but that still hasn’t stopped rumors about the RU job opening up after this season and potential replacement candidates. There’s been a lot of names thrown out as possible replacements for Fred Hill should he be shown the door.

The folks I’ve talked to have consistently brought up one name for the Rutgers job should it come open: Dave Leitao. Leitao had enough success at DePaul, in Conference USA at the time, to parlay it into the Virginia job that Tony Bennett now inhabits. Another thing I’ve heard is that should Fred Hill be replaced, he’ll land comfortably at a position in a lower level conference.

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COREY EDWARDS SEEING BIG EAST INTEREST

Christ the King junior guard hopes to play college basketball in Big East

by MATT WHITFIELD

Saturday at the Newark Invitational at the Prudential Center saw some exciting basketball action. Near the top of the list was Christ the King’s 75-72 overtime win over St. Peter’s Prep.

Scoring five of Christ the King’s 10 overtime points was junior point guard Corey Edwards, who finished with 14 in the game. Edwards showed his ability to drive past defenders and find the open man or draw contact going to the rim. On Saturday, 12 of his 14 points came from the foul line. Edwards flashes the ‘NYC’ handle and has no problem going left or right with the ball in his hands.

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BIG EAST RECRUITING UPDATE: MARQUETTE

Verbal Commitment Alert: Devonte ‘D.J.’ Newbill, 6’4 G, Strawberry Mansion HS of Philadelphia (PA).

Another Guard Commits to MU (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel) as D.J. Newbill joins Vander Blue, Reggie Smith and Jamail Jones in the 2010 Marquette recruiting class for coach Buzz Williams and staff.

The mid-year transfer of Jerrone Maymon has given the Golden Eagle staff a little room to work with and they capitalized by adding one of the top unsigned guards in the Northeast. Earlier this month Newbill rang up 64 points in Mansion’s 105-14 win over visiting W.B. Saul. Newbill broke Maureen Rice’s single game scoring record (which was 63) at Strawberry Mansion by shooting 24-for-30 from the floor and 16-for-17 at the line. His by-quarter breakdown, according to the Philadelphia Daily News was 14-18-15-17. The record came on a layup.

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THOUGHTS ON UCONN/MARQUETTE

by RAY MERNAGH

I guess it’s called resolve, what this Marquette team has shown. Take today’s game at UConn for example.
 
I counted four seperate times that the Golden Eagles attacked the rim and got fouled with no call.
 
Then in the second half, Lazar Hayward got his fourth and fifth fouls on ridiculous whistles.

 
 
Down three after Jerome Dyson hit a deep three-pointer at the end of the shot clock, Darius Johnson-Odom got Dyson up in the air beyond the arc and was fouled. Hitting late FT’s has been the achilles heel for Marquette all season and DJO stepped up and nailed all 3 of them to tie the score.
 
After a UConn miss, Marquette called two timeouts back-to-back before setting up their last-second strategy (obviously get the ball to Johnson-Odom). UConn did a fantastic job of denying Johnson-Odom the ball and Jimmy Butler was out top with the ball and the clock running down. Butler took his man off the dribble before fading to avoid the help-side block and hit a remarkably clutch shot with a little over 2 seconds to play.
 
 
Marquette gets huge win after UConn’s inbounds pass is intercepted and moves to 13-8 overall and now 4-5 in the Big East for Marquette with games against DePaul, Providence and USF coming next. UConn is now 13-8 and 3-5 with Louisville, DePaul and Syracuse next. 
 
DePaul up 13 on Syracuse early and WVU came from behind to beat Louisville 77-74. Georgetown is up 12 on Duke in a big out of conference tilt in the second half.

PITT GAMER THAN THE JOHNNIES, 63-53

by RAY MERNAGH

DJ Kennedy hoped to make his homecoming special.

Come into town, do what he normally does (score, pass, rebound and defend) and get out with a St. John’s victory over his hometown Pittsburgh.

His Red Storm went into halftime with a four-point lead (28-24) that saw both teams struggle to shoot the ball. Kennedy had 5 points at the half.

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RAY MERNAGH’S AROUND THE BIG EAST (1/28/2010)

by RAY MERNAGH

Marquette bounced back from the loss at DePaul to play Syracuse tough on the road before losing and the blew Rutgers out at home. The Golden Eagles have had an unbelievable amount of tight games go against them, mostly due to poor foul shooting in the clutch –not to mention some incredibly unlucky bounces– that have coach Buzz Williams googling magic pills (to no avail).

But think about where the Golden Eagles might be without the play of three guys on the perimeter: Darius Johnson-Odom, Dwight Buycks and Mo Acker. Last summer and fall it looked like the roster, after Lazar Hayward and Jimmy Butler, was full of question marks. Johnson-Odom (DJO) and Buykes were junior college All-Americas, while Acker wasn’t even with the team for a period.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (1/28/2010)

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Providence stunned UConn, riding high off their recent win over then-No. 1 Texas last weekend, 81-66 last night to headline the Big East action. Villanova set a new mark for the best start in school history as Scottie Reynolds closes in on an impressive individual accomplishment. Tonight, two games on the schedule as Pitt hosts St. John’s and USF welcomes in Seton Hall.

Briefly, in other news, Rutgers could be headed to matching DePaul’s mark for conference futility, but the Blue Demons, twice, might stand in their way. At Louisville, Terrence Jennings is slowly beginning to show his coach that the big line-up Rick Pitino was hoping for this year could become reality.

Also, it might be another month and a half away, but our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big east fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Read on below for all of today’s News & Notes…

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PROVIDENCE REBOUND: IT’S CALLED COACHING

by RAY MERNAGH

Coaching is often a lot of different things.

At times it’s propping your team up.

Staying positive.

Providence coach Keno Davis told Kevin McNamara of the Providence Journal the following for a piece that ran on Sunday, January 17th, about the talent level on his team: “I like everything I see with our team,” said Davis. “I like our talent, I like how guys are improving. We’re getting better. For our senior’s sake, I hope we’re where we need to be by the time we get to Madison Square Garden.”

Davis’ quote, if you really study it, seems to be saying — yeah, we can be good and I like our effort for the most part, but there’s a lot of work our young guys, the guys with all that talent that have no clue how all this works, need to do for us to reach our potential. Davis was pointing out that things, especially in the Big East, can go south quickly. Lose focus for a few minutes and the script can get flipped.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (1/27/2010)

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A couple games on the Big East schedule Tuesday night and the drama was taken out of them early as WVU led Depaul 20-4 early and Marquette was up 25-7 over Rutgers. The Mountaineers and Golden Eagles cruised to victory without much of a fight, well, DePaul did get a little feisty, from the opposition.

Tonight, two more games, with UConn trying to avoid a letdown when they travel to Providence. Jim Calhoun will miss his third straight game for medical reasons. The Friars try to put the collapse of Saturday night behind them against a team they have had recent success against. Also, Notre Dame travels to Philly to take on Villanova.

In other Big East news, Syracuse is off to a great start, but still keying on one game at a time. Pitt’s guards have been logging a lot of minutes and Jamie Dixon hopes to use his bench more, find more interior production and hope that leads to some open three’s.

We also have several recruiting updates we found across the web of interest to Big East fans, including Jabarie Hinds, Josh and Devin Langford, Desmond Hubert and Jamal Lewis.

Also, it might be another month and a half away, but our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big east fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Read on below for all of today’s News & Notes…

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CLASS OF 2012 INTRO: JARMAL REID

by RAY MERNAGH

This 6-foot-7 sophomore out of Columbia High School in Decatur (GA) is a physical kid (230 lbs) who also can finesse you. He’s a wing and knocked down open shots all night against Oak Hill from beyond the arc –off the catch, off the bounce, in transition etc– every way possible. He also drove the ball very well and beat his man up in the mid-range and post area.

Jarmal Reid might be, no, check that, is the best scorer from the wing that I saw on Saturday. He’s already physically imposing as a sophomore and, as his body tightens will be even better.

Strong player — think former UConn player Denham Brown with a much more diverse skill set, maybe a modern day, bigger (albeit at this point poor man’s) Adrian Dantley. This kid is a major, major scoring talent. He was the most impressive player on a team that features a top-100 Big Ten recruit in Jershon Cobb (2010 Northwestern commit who was terrific himself).

Reid was defended most of the time by a ready to play Roscoe Smith and managed to play him to a standstill both ways. It was a fun match up pitting Smith’s high-wire game against Reid’s old-school take advantage of any inch you give me game. Reid even threw one of Smith’s shots back at him.

Asked after the game about colleges Reid mentioned VCU first and some others. There’s plenty of time for Reid to develop a list of schools interested in him and very soon the list will get very long. Reid is a talent who will expand his potential collegiate horizons exponentially this AAU season.

BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (1/26/2010)

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One of the most traditional and storied Big East rivalries was renewed last night and for the first time in 20 years both teams came in with top 10 rankings. Georgetown and Syracuse met in the Carrier Dome before a Big Monday TV audience and 26,000+ fans. The Hoyas got off to a hot start, but it was Syracuse that ran away from them in the end.

Two games on the schedule tonight in the Big East out in the Midwest as WVU travels to DePaul and Marquette hosts Rutgers.

In other conference news and notes, UConn looks to keep their momentum rolling and their recruiting efforts in line with Jim Calhoun on his indefinite medical leave. West Virginia, like Marquette, will be getting a late season freshman addition to the line-up next week. Providence looks to rebound from their devastating loss over the weekend. Pittsburgh hopes to get Ashton Gibbs shooting at a high clip once again and improve their defensive efforts. Also, a recruiting update on Aaron Cosby, a 2011 guard several Big East programs are taking note of.

Also, it might be another month and a half away, but our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big east fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online

Read on below for all of today’s News & Notes…

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SLEEPERS WAKING UP: QEA’S JUVONTE REDDIC & CHARLES MCKINNEY

by RAY MERNAGH

Quality Education Academy (NC) is so stacked another scout and I were trying to figure out how many juniors they had that should be high-major players — we settled on at least four and possibly five.

Everybody is aware of Quincy Miller, the 2011, 6-foot-9 hybrid forward. Miller, who was fabulous in scoring 36 points in a Saturday win over OSNA in the Primetime Shootout, will probably end up at Kentucky according to the latest rumor on the street, continuing the recruiting dominance Calipari started with the 2009 class that brought in Wall, Cousins and Bledsoe plus others. If any coach is in position to do that it’s most certainly Cal in his current position at Kentucky.

But I want to focus on QEA’s most underrated prospects, senior big Juvonte Reddic (6’10″) and junior guard Charles McKinney (6’4″). Both are surprisingly under-recruited right now but I’ll be shocked if things stay that way.

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GETTING TO THE POINT: INTRODUCING JEVON THOMAS (2013)

by RAY MERNAGH

Our Savior New American School is probably a big man or two short right now for the schedule they play and it showed against Quality Education Academy’s roster full of D-1 level recruits. The final was 76-52 for the school from North Carolina.

One spot Our Savior is set at is point guard, where a freshman from New York by the name of Jevon Thomas appears to be a mainstay for the next four years or so.

I can hear your sigh’s — a freshman? Isn’t that a bit young to start publicizing/hyping/touting a kid? Probably so, but don’t blame me, blame the basketball gods, because this kid has everything a great point guard needs (and some other skills that just can’t be taught). He threw 4 or 5 no look passes that hit his teammates right in the hands before they — or any of the highly skilled QEA players — realized the opening through which he passed the ball even existed. He’s a special, special player.

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NBE BIG EAST POWER POLL (1/25/2010) AND NOTEBOOK

The Big East Conference, Basketball’s Best (ESPN.com) according to Dickie V. Of course, we all knew that and that is why we are here, trying to keep up on everything that is happening in this conference that NEVER has a dull moment.

With all the stories on the site since Friday, mostly covering the weekend’s Primetime Shootout in Morgantown, it made sense to combine this week’s Power Poll with today’s version of the Big East News & Notes.

Here is this week’s Big East Power Poll results (1st Place Votes in Parenthesis):

1) Villanova (11): 176 points.
2) Syracuse: 165 points.
3) West Virginia: 149 points.
4) Georgetown: 146 points.
5) Pittsburgh: 127 points.
6) Connecticut: 123 points.
7) Notre Dame: 105 points.
8} Seton Hall: 98 points.
9) Louisville: 97 points.
10) Cincinnati: 77 points.
11) St. John’s: 56 points.
12) Marquette: 55 points.
13) South Florida: 45 points.
14) Providence: 44 points.
15) DePaul: 20 points.
16) Rutgers: 13 points.

NBE’s Big East Player of the Week: Dominique Jones, South Florida

NBE’s Big East Freshman of the Week: Vincent Council, Providence

Read on below for today’s News & Notes in the Big East as we review Sunday’s action as well as the links previewing tonight’s Big Monday match-up…

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ROSCOE SMITH SHINES IN OAK HILL WIN; TALKS UCONN

Recent Husky verbal for 2010 Roscoe Smith likes win over Texas and talks about Jim Calhoun

by RAY MERNAGH

Roscoe Smith had just completed a fine night of basketball, finishing with 16 points on a mixed array of dunks, a mid-range runner or two and some three’s in Oak Hill’s 63-56 win over Columbia (GA) Saturday night in the Primetime Shootout at the Coliseum in Morgantown (WV) when I asked him about the Connecticut victory earlier in the day against #1 ranked Texas. Smith, an elite and athletic small forward (he’s listed at 6’8″ but might be an inch taller) who was named Co-MVP of the victory along with teammate Doron Lamb, smiled bright when I hit him with the question.

“Unfortunately I didn’t watch the game because I was getting ready for this game,” said Smith, “but I called coach Sellers (UConn assistant Patrick) and congratulated him on a great win over the #1 ranked team in the NCAA and that it was going to really represent a great win for the UConn Huskies down the road. They were very excited obviously.”

I asked Smith about Jim Calhoun and he replied that, “everyone says that coach Calhoun is okay he just has some high blood pressure because of the difficult losses they’ve had but he will be back, hopefully soon.”

Smith has been chided by some for his inconsistency in the past but he brought nothing but energy last night and quite frankly, he, Juwan Staten (Dayton) and Pe’Shon Howard (Maryland) were the reasons Oak Hill won the game. Smith defended a really good sophomore (Columbia’s 6’6″ Jarmal Reid, who we’ll tell you more about in the next day or so) in what was the most entertaining matchup/battle of the 16-hour day to watch.

Smith showed exactly why UConn coveted him so much — he has a chance to be really special at the Big East level with his motor, athleticism, size and skill set.

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

==================================================================
See the Big East stars of today at this year’s conference tournament and our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big east fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online
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NEXT AT GUARD U, MAALIK WAYNS CONTRIBUTING NOW

Villanova freshman guard Wayns off to a good start in college career for Jay Wright

By Matt Whitfield

Since arriving at Villanova, Jay Wright has implemented a system that attracts high quality guards. Everyone remembers the four-guard attack and with players like Kyle Lowery, Randy Foye, Allan Ray and Mike Nardi and the tradition continues now with Scottie Reynolds and Corey Fisher spearheading the Wildcats attack.

A player expected to continue the tradition is Maalik Wayans, a freshman point guard from Philadelphia’s Roman Catholic High School. Wayns, a McDonald’s All American in high school, is making his impact felt early at the college level. Wayns was a priority target of Big East rivals such as Pittsburgh and West Virginia, but knew where he wanted to go and committed early in the process to ‘Nova when the Wildcats offered a scholarship in his sophomore year of high school.

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JERMAINE SANDERS A HOT 2011 BIG EAST PROSPECT

by RAY MERNAGH

Jermaine Sanders scored 15 points for the Rice Raiders (NYC) in their win over Westchester (CA) Saturday night at the Prime Time Shootout.

Sanders is a 6-foot-5 swing man/small forward that can simply score the ball in a lot of different ways. Against Westchester, he was deadly from beyond the three-point line. He’s also a solidly built kid who should continue to get stronger and shows the ability to share the ball and defend within a team concept.

Apparently Big East coaches, and others, really like his game and potential for growth. Sanders has had a fantastic season thus far for the Raiders as Rice plays it’s normally top-flight schedule.

Sanders rattled off a list of “Villanova, St. John’s, Virginia Tech, Pitt and Miami.”

When I asked if those were all offers he replied “yes, all offers.”

Sanders plays AAU with New Heights and Kimani Young confirmed in a text that “Nova, St. John’s, Pitt, Miami, Virginia Tech and others have offered.”

Look for Sanders to stock to continue to rise as his junior season continues, but there can no longer be any doubt that this kid is a high-major talent.

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

==================================================================
See the Big East stars of today at this year’s conference tournament and our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big east fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online
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RUTGERS TAKES ANOTHER ON THE CHIN IN LOSS TO HOYAS

Scarlet Knights yet to get off the mat in Big East play, 0-7

by RON BAILEY

January 24, 2010 – Another game, another loss, that’s how many likely see the Rutgers 88-63 road setback to Georgetown in D.C. yesterday (Saturday), one in which the Scarlet Knights fell down 17 at halftime, and trailed by as much as 33 at two points in the second half.

Often misleading, but not in this case, the stats tell much, as Rutgers shot only 34.5% from three point land (10-29) and 42.1% overall, while also being out-rebounded by 10 (34-24). The team scored over four points under its season average of 67.6, while allowing Georgetown to drop greater than 18 more points than Scarlet Knights opponents have to date.

Adding insult to injury, the team’s leading scorer, sophomore guard Mike Rosario struggled mightily, and Rutgers recently lost it’s second highest scorer, Gregory Echenique, to transfer. Standing 9-10 and posting an o-fer in Big East play (0-7), times are hard in middle Jersey.

Fred Hill works from the sideline in Rutgers' 88-63 loss at Georgetown Saturday. Under Hill, the Scarlet Knights are 8-51 in Big East action.

During post game pressers, the head Scarlet Knight, Fred Hill acknowledged the struggles his team faced against Georgetown (15-3, 6-2) and generally, but took an interesting tack: He believes losses such as this one to Georgetown is more desirable than an eight or 10 point setback in which Rutgers changes it’s focus to shorten the game.

“We’re not going to change the way we play” said the emballted coach Hill, before later noting “We’re not going to go backwards, we’re going to go forward. We want to run up and down the floor and play quick”.

If he feels the pressure for ‘W’s’ Hill is not altering his focus to accommodate it; in his estimation, the 25 point defeat is a learning experience.

Want to hear more of Hill’s comments? See the audio below.

Fred Hill Post Game Presser, Part I
Fred Hill Post Game Presser, Part II

The scarlet Knights travel to Marquette for a Tuesday tilt with the Golden Eagles, while Georgetown travels to upsate New York for a highly anticipated Big Monday showdown with Syracuse Monday night.

*********Follow NBE Sports on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NBESports*****

==================================================================
It might be two months away, but our 2010 Big East Tournament & Tickets page has the links needed for Big East basketball fans to purchase tickets to any or all of the 2010 Big East Tournament sessions. The Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden is an event Big east fans must experience when they have the opportunity and here is your chance to get your tickets early before they become harder, and more expensive, to find. Stub Hub and the Big East conference have teamed up to provide fans with quality tickets and you can get tickets to ANY Big East conference or non-league game by following this link: StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online
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GOT JACK? LOTS OF SCHOOLS HOPE TO

by RAY MERNAGH

It was a battle between NYC (Rice) and LA (Westchester) at the Prime Time Shootout in Morgantown (WV) Saturday night…but Westchester didn’t have Jack, as in Rice’s 2010 power forward Kadeem Jack (31 points) so it really wasn’t a battle at all.

Final score was Rice 62 Westchester 46. Jack’s teammate, 2011 guard/forward Jermaine Sanders was the outside answer to Jack’s inside play, hitting several three-pointers. Jack talked about his college options after the game with NBE.

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JOSH SELBY TALKS ‘MELO & RECRUITING LIST

by RAM MERNAGH

Josh Selby was explosive in the open court, but couldn’t break free much of the night thanks to a still undefeated Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh, PA) High School’s changing defenses. The USA Today top-25 ranked team out of Pittsburgh handled Selby’s Lake Clifton squad with textbook passing, crisp half court offense, a ballistic assault on the offensive boards and big games from Wagner commit Evan Pierce (16 points with three 3′s) and D-1 football prospect Paul Lang (20 points and a ton of boards). The final was 54-46 Mt. Lebo and afterwards Selby, who scored 20 points but only shot 1-9 from deep, talked about his future.

“Arizona, Kansas, Kentucky, Indiana, UConn and Syracuse,” Selby replied when asked for his list of schools he’s considering Saturday night.

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