June 2010

DEJUAN MARRERO & A.J. HAMMONS ARE NEXT SPIECE INDY HEAT PLAYERS TO WATCH

2012 duo are hot commodities already among college coaches as July evaluation period readies to begin

BY JEFF BORZELLO

When watching Spiece Indy Heat on the AAU circuit over the past couple of years, most eyeballs were on top-five 2011 prospect Marquis Teague. If not, many were watching Purdue-commit Raphael Davis. However, it was hard not to notice the high-energy forward on the wing or the space-eating big man down low.

Now, those two players – 6-foot-5 DeJuan Marrero and 6-foot-10 A.J. Hammons – have built a reputation for themselves, becoming highly-touted rising juniors in their own right.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Marrero and Hammons as Speice Indy Heat AAU coach Jared Quarles talks about the recruiting interest the pair has generated so far. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers and detailed below is our coverage schedule for the next month.

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ENIEL POLYNICE DISCUSSES SETON HALL TRANSFER

by ALEX SCHWARTZ

1 Last Chance 2 Dance was important factor in Polynice’s decision to join Big East program over other options

by Alex Schwartz

Seton Hall added a vital addition for the upcoming season when Ole Miss transfer Eniel Polynice signed with the Pirates. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound wing/guard had originally declared for the NBA Draft but opted to instead continue his basketball career at another school. He will have one year of eligibility left and will be able to play immediately, as he has already graduated.

“I just thought going to Seton Hall was the right fit and I thought the program was real good so I was interested in it,” Polynice said.

Asked how he decided on the Big East school, Polynice remarked, “The coaching staff was great, the area was great, and I just fell in love with everything at Seton Hall and I just wanted it to be my new home.”

Polynice, who averaged 8.8 points and 3.9 assists in 24.9 minutes per game last year, had a number of programs on his trail.

“There were a lot of schools, I just wanted to go where the best fit was, where me and my family thought was the right fit, and that was Seton Hall.”

Polynice said that he chose to leave Ole Miss for his final year of eligibility to pursue a graduate program that the school did not have. He will be in a strategic communications program at Seton Hall.

While he just signed his papers today and is not exactly sure of the process, Polynice does not anticipate that there will be any issue with him suiting up and playing for the Pirates this year.

“I don’t think [there will] be any issues at all because I have my degree and I still have another year to play basketball,” Polynice said. “I should be okay, I already graduated and I’m trying to pursue grad school and play basketball for another year.”

On what he brings to the table for Seton Hall and new Head Coach Kevin Willard, Polynice said, “Hopefully just come over and be a playmaker and help the team win games and hopefully we can get to the NCAA Tournament.”

Polynice will be one of a handful of seniors on the SHU roster and discussed how his experience will help him lead in the locker room.

“My leadership, I’m just gonna bring just [the mindset of] a very tough player that wants to win, all about wins, just wanna get to the NCAA Tournament.”

“I just wanna say thank you to the coaching staff at Seton Hall Hall for giving me a chance,” Polynice added before getting off the phone.

As thankful as Eniel Polynice is about the staff giving him a chance, Willard and Co. are likely equally as thankful to have a chance to coach him.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/30/2010)

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Once again there are plenty of comings and going in the Big East…but most of the news today centers around the announcement of two incoming transfers to the programs at Seton Hall and Marquette. SHU adds a player likely available this season for one year and MU adds a former prep All-American that will have to sit out one seasona and have three years of eligibility left.

Elsewhere, Rutgers continues to bring in talent for unofficial visits and one NYC star guard is in the midst of a trio of Big East trips this week. 2010 prospect Chris Hill hopes to be fully eligibile by the end of summer for the fall and is in the midst of his own trio of Big East visits. New Depaul coach Oliver Purnell seems to be doing what it takes to make progress in the local talent base of Chicago. Highly touted 2011 big man Anthony Davis narrows his list and Louisville adds three coaches to their staff, one of which will be tasked with landing players of Davis’ stature as they battle in-state rival UK on the recruiting front. Also a story below on incoming UConn guard Shabazz Napier and his road to becoming a 2010 recruit for the Huskies.

Read on below for all of the latest News & Notes around the Big East basketball conference. Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

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CHRIS HILL TAKING VISITS FOR 2010

Currently on official visit to Seton Hall, Hill has upcoming visits planned in Big East, C-USA as well

BY JEFF BORZELLO

Amare Stoudemire is one of the most sought-after free agents in the NBA this summer, but he might not even have the most important destination decision in his own family.

That honor could go to his cousin, unsigned 2010 prospect Chris Hill, a 6-foot-8 swingman from Christian Faith Center Academy (N.C.).

Although Stoudemire went straight to the NBA and therefore never went through the recruitment process, he is consistently helping Hill.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Hill as he talks about qualifying for 2010, his current visit and those upcoming in the next week and a half. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers and detailed below is our coverage schedule for the next month.

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WVU ADDS FORMER ACC COMMIT TO COMPLETE 2010 CLASS

**original report by Bryan Messerly found at MSNsportsNET.com**

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Kevin Noreen, who was named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball for 2010, has signed a grant-in-aid to attend West Virginia University in 2010-11 and play basketball for the Mountaineers, coach Bob Huggins announced today.

“We are really excited about getting a player of Kevin’s caliber this late in the process,” says Huggins. “Kevin is a multi-skilled player who will fit in our system extremely well. With our abundance of physical low post players, Kevin’s skill set should prove very valuable for our team’s future.”

Noreen is a 6-foot-10, 220-pound forward from Minneapolis, where he attended Minnesota Transitions Charter School. As a senior, he averaged 38.6 points, 16.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 3.9 steals and 3.2 blocks per game for coach John Sherman.

Noreen guided his team to the 2010 Class A state championship, scoring 24 points with 15 rebounds and nine blocks against Sebeka in the state title contest. For his efforts, he was named to the all-state tournament team. He also had games of 22 points, 22 rebounds against Cass Lake-Bena and 17 points and 11 rebounds against Rushford-Peterson during the state playoffs.

He is the all-time scoring leader in Minnesota high school history, scoring 4,086 career points. As a senior, Noreen had 14 games of more than 40 points, including seven when he scored 50 or more points. He had 1,205 points last year, his third straight 1,000-point season.

Noreen earned first team all-state honors as a senior and second-team honors as a junior. As a senior, he was named the Minneapolis Star-Tribune Player of the Year.

As a junior, Noreen averaged 32.8 points, 12.4 rebounds, 5.5 steals and 4.8 assists while shooting 66 percent from the field. He played AAU basketball for the Minnesota Pump N Run.

Noreen joins Noah Cottrill (Logan High, Logan, W.Va.), David Nyarsuk (Mountain State Academy, Beckley, W.Va., native of Juba, Sudan) and Darrious Curry (Stratford High, Houston, Texas) as signees for the 2010-11 season.

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NBE Notes: Noreen was recruited by Providence, Washington State, Duquesne and others after he was released from a signed National Letter-of-Intent at Boston College in April after Al Skinner was fired.

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MERNAGH: SOME THOUGHTS BEFORE THE ‘LIVE’ PERIOD

by RAY MERNAGH

I’ve been laid up a little lately but I should be good to go by July 5/6 for the beginning of the “live” recruiting period. We — NBE — will have guys all over the place and maybe even a few surprises. The tentative travel schedule for me is Indianapolis, Chicago and Milwaukee in the first ten days. The last ten day period is in flux but I know I will finish it with five days at the AAU Nationals and Super Showcase in Orlando, Florida. I always enjoy being out when the coaches are out and hopefully it will lead to some good stuff for you guys to read.

Speaking of coaches, the piece I just recently did on Pittsburgh assistant Brandin Knight (linked here) was kind of a literary experiment on my part. I decided to do it entirely without quotes. I did an extensive Q&A with Knight for the July issue of Pittsburgh Sports Report but didn’t feel comfortable using those answers for my piece due to some contextual issues. Rest assured though, everything I wrote in the piece was informed and you’ll see that when PSR runs the Q&A in the next few days. I guess I need to give BKnight a shout out as well because he was terrific with his answers and as soon as PSR runs it online we will link to it here. (Just as an aside, one of our goals here at NBE is that you won’t find 30/60/90 or even 180 day old quotes in the pieces we post — if we don’t have something new to write about we won’t re-post something old and present it as new because, well, that’s whack).

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MERNAGH: FAMILY TIES ARE MANY FOR BRANDIN KNIGHT

br RAY MERNAGH

Pittsburgh assistant Brandin Knight has always had great people surrounding him.

It started long before Seton Hall Prep, where Knight excelled as a high school point guard, paving the way for him to be an instrumental piece in a hoops revival at Pitt (member of the NBE All-Time Top 50 Big East Players) that he remains a big part of to this day. At both stops as a player, Knight made connections with people that still resonate. Pittsburgh police officers, secretaries, street vendors, businessmen, ushers and professors are a cross-section of folks that have expressed their love for Knight to me out of the blue. High school players and parents that Knights recruited over the last few years gush when his name comes up.

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JUNE 28 RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (FREE PREVIEW)

Aaron Cosby commits to SHU and updates on Jarrod Davis and Michael Carey as their lists expand

BY JEFF BORZELLO

After making an immediate impact in the class of 2010, new Seton Hall coach Kevin Willard picked up his first 2011 commitment on Sunday, as Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.) guard Aaron Cosby chose the Pirates.

“They have been recruiting me the hardest over the past couple months,” Cosby said on Sunday. “My family and I had a stronger comfort level with the staff and the 2011 class will be a big class for that program, and they see me stepping in and playing right away.”

Cosby, a 6-foot-3 point guard originally from Kentucky, took a visit to the South Orange, N.J. campus this weekend and came away impressed.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/28/2010)

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There are plenty of comings and goings around the Big East from the last couple days to get caught up on. Rutgers has a player transfer from the program and a 2011 commitment from Fred Hill’s tenure re-open his recruitment. On the other hand, Mike Rice has been quite busy hosting a bunch of unofficial visitors from the NYC area and those visits continue today. Also, the Scarlet Knights have an in on a possible transfer that would be immediately eligible to help next season in a position of dire need for RU.

Speaking of immediately eligible transfers, Louisville looks to have added one that will give their perimeter offense a boost. The Cards and Providence also have made staff additions. Seton Hall picks up a verbal commitment from a 2011 guard prospect. Cincinnati hopes for a big season from Yancy Gates and in preparation of Pitt’s 2010-2011 season, the Panthers get an early start to the campaign with an overseas trip ready to begin in a month. The Panthers also got good news with two recruits being eligible to enroll and make the trip with the Panthers. Pitt also had a player leave their program in the alst week as well.

Read on below for all of the latest News & Notes around the Big East basketball conference. Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

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VISIT TO DUKE IMPRESSES MALCOLM GILBERT

Over the last week and a half Malcolm Gilbert has completed a whirlwind tour of three college campuses for unofficial visits. The 6-foot-11 center of out Academy of the New Church in Bryn Athyn (PA) has stopped by to check out Pittsburgh, Ohio State and just returned home last night from a trip to see Duke.

NBE’s Matt Whitfield was able to touch base earlier to day and get Gilbert’s impressions of his trip to Duke, if he has a top five list of schools and what is next up for his recruitment.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read what Gilbert thought of his trip to Duke and more. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers and detailed below is our coverage schedule for the next month.

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CLASS OF 2012 INTRO: DEMARQUISE JOHNSON

‘Que Score’ on the rise in the 2012 national rankings

BY JEFF BORZELLO

When ESPN came out with its class of 2012 rankings early last week, there weren’t too many unknowns. One name, however, seemed to surprise several people: Demarquise Johnson.

“People were shocked when he was ranked by ESPN, even I was really surprised by that,” said Clint Parks, Johnson’s AAU coach with Team Eleate. “I mean, some of my friends in coaching texted me when the rankings came out; people were like, oh wow. We told them Que could play, but people would brush us off. A ranking doesn’t make you a player, but . . .”

Johnson, a 6-foot-5 ½, 175 lb. shooting guard from Westwind Prep (Ariz.), does not have much national publicity, but he is starting to garner attention after playing well at the NIKE Hoop Jamboree, Jayhawk Invitational and the Kansas Elite Camp this spring.

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BIG EAST NEWS & NOTES (6/25/2010)

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Eleven former Big East players (12 if you count Derrick Caracter) were selected last night in the 2010 NBA Draft. Four conference alums went in the 1st round with Wesley Johnson and Greg Monroe being selected in the lottery. The full rundown of the draft and reaction from around the league can be found below.

Yesterday was also a busy day as the Big East released the 2010-2011 season home and away match-ups. With each tam playing an 18-game schedule, each team plays 12 teams once and then a home and home series with three other league teams to comprise their 18-game league slate. The home and away match-ups for all 16 teams, which revealed the home and home pairings, were released by the conference yesterday.

In other news around the league, there is an opening on the Cincinnati staff as Mick Cronin loses an assistant, UConn should be announcing their new staff members any moment, a Louisville recruiting update, a look at Bernard Sullivan and Pitt’s Dante Taylor is hoping for a big year and thwo of Pitt’s three incoming frosh are enrolled in school and the third should be eligible come August.

Read on below for all of the latest News & Notes around the Big East basketball conference. Sports fans should also visit StubHub.com – The Safe Way to Buy & Sell Tickets Online for tickets to any NCAA event or NBA, MLB, NHL game or UFC, WWE or concert tickets at an arena near you this spring.

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JUNE 24 RECRUITING NOTEBOOK

The July recruiting period is quickly approaching and earlier today NBE caught up with 2011 big man prospect Joey Delarosa to get an update on his recruitment and summer plans, which might include a couple visits to check out Big East programs. we also continued to check in on prospects in the class of 2012 and see what colleges have called on them. The last week and a half has been busy for 2012 prospects as coaches are allowed to call prospects in the rising junior class once per month over the next year and the first contact was allowed back on June 15th. Today we were able to find the latest on Nick Stauskas, who had an impressive NBPA Top 100 camp performance, and Anrio Adams, who was equally impressive when NBE saw him earlier this spring on the AAU circuit.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read news and notes on Delarosa, Stauskas and Adams. Also, any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage is available to subscribers and detailed below is our coverage schedule for the next month.

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BIG EAST ANNOUNCES 2010-11 MEN’S BASKETBALL MATCH-UPS

story originally appears at www.bigeast.org

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The BIG EAST Conference has announced the league opponents and game sites for its men’s basketball teams for the 2010-11 season.

In 2010-11, the BIG EAST will play an 18-game conference schedule, allowing teams to face 12 opponents once and three opponents twice. It will mark the fourth year of the 18-game schedule, which began in the 2007-08 season. All 144 regular-season conference games will again be televised, either by CBS Sports, the ESPN family of networks or ESPN Regional Television.

In 2009-10, the BIG EAST tied its own NCAA record by placing eight schools into the NCAA Championship. West Virginia advanced to the Final Four. It was the third time in the last five seasons that eight BIG EAST teams received NCAA bids.

The decisions regarding repeat opponents are based on natural interest, geography, rivalries, television contractual obligations and competitive balance.

The full 2010-11 conference schedule will be announced at a later date.

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NERLENS NOEL UPATE: BIG MAN PROSPECT SWITCHING SCHOOLS, CLASS

Noel helps young BABC team to impressive EYBL finish and 16-U Rumble in the Bronx title this spring

With college coaches now able to call prospects in the class of 2012 once per month over the next year, beginning on 6/15, recruiting updates on rising juniors have been plentiful (see below for more). One player who has been tremendously impressive on every stop this spring has been Nerlens Noel, a 6-foot-9 center from Everett (MA).

Despite a leg injury that Noel was still recovering from earlier this spring he has been a key performer on the AAU circuit with a very exciting BABC club. The group of youngsters from New England finished 8-6 in the Nike EYBL and qualified for July’s Peach Jam, despite being one of the youngest teams in the 42-team field. Noel and his teammates followed that up with an impressive run through the 16-U field at the Rumble in the Bronx two weeks ago. Yesterday, NBE caught up with Noel to see how things are progressing off the court in his recruitment and learned a few other interesting bits of information of the already highly-sought big man.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Noel’s recruitment and plans for the future, and any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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JUNE 23 RECRUITING NOTEBOOK (FREE PREVIEW)

As the pages in our June calendar continue to disappear, we get closer and closer to the busy month of July. NBE continues to fine-tune our coverage schedule and here is a look at where we will be during the first 10-day open evaluation period:

July 5 – 7: Lebron James Skilly Academy, Akron (OH)
July 6 – 7: Hoop Group Elite camp, Reading (PA)
July 6 – 8: Adidas Invitational (Formerly It Takes 5ive, Indianapolis (IN)
July 8 – 9: King City Classic, Cleveland (OH)
July 9 – 11: King James Summer Showcase, Chicago (IL)
July 10: BasketBull First Eight, Springfield (MA)
July 11 – 12: Hall of Fame National Invitational, Springfield (MA)
July 12 – 15: Nike EYBL Peach Jam, North Augusta (SC)
July 12 – 15: NY2LA Summer Jam, Milwaukee (WI)

So, do not miss your chance to sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

We have been running a series of Recruiting Notebooks over the past week and here is another as we catch up with Jervon Pressley, Eric Katenda and Elijah Macon to hear the latest on their recruiting before the crazy month of July begins.

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2011 PROSPECT TYLER HARRIS IS NOT JUST TOBIAS’ BROTHER ANYMORE

Tyler Harris in midst of four visits his week as recruiting accelerates rapidly, according to his father

BY JEFF BORZELLO

When former top-10 recruit and Tennessee signee Tobias Harris is your older brother, it is often difficult to follow in his footsteps. As a result, 2011 prospect Tyler Harris was often simply known as “Tobias’ brother.”

However, with his play on the AAU circuit so far this season, he is starting to build his own reputation.

“He’s right on schedule like Tobias,” said their father, Torrel Harris. “The difference between Tobias and Tyler is that Tobias is physically stronger. Tyler is growing so fast and his eating habits are starting to get better. Tobias, for two years, ate no junk, just good food. For Tyler, six months ago, his dinner was cookies and milk.

“Within the last three months, he’s realizing ‘this is my time now,’ and he’s eating three good meals, taking vitamins, working out three times a day. Once Tyler gets his strength, he’s going to be a major, major problem.”

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Harris’ visits and recruitment, and any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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MALCOLM GILBERT VISITS BIG 10, BIG EAST SCHOOLS

Fast-rising 2011 big man helps East Coast Elite to Rumble title, takes visits

Malcolm Gilbert was a key performer recently as East Coast Elite surprised the field at the Rumble in the Bronx to take the 17-U title at the annual showdown played at Fordham University. Gilbert teammed with 2011 Pitt commit Jaylen Bond and uncommitted 2011 guard A.J. English and others to turn back Connecticut Basketball Club in the championship contest.

While Gilbert did not score in the event’s finale, his defense against highly touted 2012 big man Andre Drummond gave onlookers a glimpse of why he is a coveted prospect in the 2011 recruiting class. Gilbert blocked five of Drummond’s shots and was a big reason the 6-foot-10 CT prep star spent mush of the game out on the perimeter and finished five fo 17 from the field.

Since the Rumble in the Bronx, Gilbert told NBE he took a vist to Pittsburgh last Thursday, Ohio State yesterday (Monday) and expects to visit Duke in the coming week.

You can log-in or sign up for NBE Premium access by SUBSCRIBING (HERE) for as low as $2.08 a month with our annual introductory membership to read more on Gilbert’s visits and recruitment, and any of our Premium Content Articles & Event Coverage.

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MAURICE HARKLESS TO RE-OPEN RECRUITMENT

BY JEFF BORZELLO

Ever since Connecticut was accused of several violations in late May by the NCAA, questions have swirled around regarding Maurice Harkless’ commitment to the Huskies.

On Monday, the 6-foot-6 rising senior from Queens, N.Y., officially decided to decommit and open up his recruitment.

“He really saw that he didn’t get a chance to explore all his options,” said Nate Blue, an advisor to Harkless. “We believe the investigation is bogus, so that had no bearing. He just wanted to open up some options.”

As recently as a week ago, Blue said he still expected Harkless to end up in Storrs, but the forward’s plans clearly changed.

Since Harkless announced his decommitment, Blue said he has received about 16 phone calls from schools in the Big East, ACC, Big Ten, Conference-USA and Pac-10. Blue added that Connecticut is still under consideration.

Don’t expect a quick decision the second time around from Harkless, either; the future South Kent Prep (Conn.) product is going to take his time.

“He just turned 17 years old,” Blue said. “He could be 6-10 in a month; who knows? But he’s going to play hard like he’s been doing this spring, and he’s going to take his visits.”

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TAYLOR KING LEAVES VILLANOVA BASKETBALL TEAM

story originally appears at www.villanova.com

VILLANOVA, Pa. – Villanova forward Taylor King (Huntington Beach, Cal./Santa Ana Mater Dei H.S.) has voluntarily withdrawn from the men’s basketball team. He plans to remain at Villanova to focus his efforts on completing his degree requirements.

King transferred to Villanova in the summer of 2008 after one year at Duke University. The former McDonald’s All-American sat out the 2008-09 campaign as a transfer student and then appeared in 32 games for the Wildcats in 2009-10, averaging 7.4 points, 5.3 rebounds and 19.0 minutes per game. He recorded a season-high 20 points and nine rebounds in Villanova’s 97-89 victory over Saint Joseph’s on Dec. 9.

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