It remains to be seen if the Brooklyn Nets will be any good, but Brooklyn figures to be chock full of strong college basketball games next season.
Beginning in November, the new Barclays Center will host some of the most storied programs in college hoops, including Kentucky, UCLA, Indiana, Maryland, Georgetown, Michigan, St. John’s, Notre Dame and West Virginia. (See below for the schedule.).
Many of the top freshman in college basketball will be on display, too. (more…)
Indiana has landed a commitment from 2013 shooting guard Stanford Robinson of Paul VI of Fairfax, Va.
The 6-foot-4, 185-pound left-hander reportedly chose the Hoosiers over Maryland, Texas and Villanova.
“He felt very strong about the opportunity he had to play for coach (Tom) Crean,” Paul VI coach Glen Farello told the Herald Times.
“There was a lot of comfort level there with him and his staff and everything about Indiana basketball. There’s a lot to like obviously, and Stan just felt very (more…)
Men’s college basketball coaches make slightly less on average than their football brethren, with an average salary of $1.4 million among coaches at public universities who made the NCAA tournament. Kentucky’s John Calipari led the list at $5 million, followed by Louisville’s Rick Pitino at $3.9 million, Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski at $4.7 million, Florida’s Billy Donovan at $3.6 million and Kansas’ Bill Self at $3.4 million.
Those numbers, however, don’t always show the whole picture. For example, a Duke University federal tax return filed for 2010-11 shows Krzyzewski made $8.9 million when bonuses, incentives, retirement/deferred compensation and non-taxable benefits are included.
Women’s college basketball coaches have also seen salaries rise in recent years, with the top five all receiving more than $1 million per year. Prior to retiring, Pat Summitt led the list at $2 million. UConn’s Geno Auriemma becomes the highest-paid women’s college basketball coach at $1.6 million. Baylor’s Kim Mulkey, Rutgers’ C. Vivian Stringer and Texas’ Gail Goestenkors (who has since resigned) follow at $1.1 million each.
With the NCAA late signing period coming to an end Wednesday, it appears that Devonta Pollard and Chris Obekpa will remain on the board.
Neither has surfaced to say they have signed a Letter of Intent and getting quality information on either player is tantamount to prying secrets out of North Korea.
Multiple sources told SNY.tv that the 6-foot-9 Obekpa is leaning toward Cincinnati but it is still possible he could take other visits, too. He also lists Providence, DePaul, Oregon, St. John’s and UConn. (more…)
Former Temple guard Aaron Brown has committed to Southern Miss.
The 6-foot-5 Hackensack, N.J., native will have two years of eligibility left after sitting next season.
“I think it was the best opportunity for me after sitting out my year,” the former St. Benedict’s Prep guard told SNY.tv by phone following his visit to Southern Miss. “I want to take the year off to get better physically and skill-wise.” (more…)
Former Iona shooting guard Kyle Smyth has committed to Seton Hall and expects to be eligible for the 2012-13 season.
“I decided to make things official and commit to Seton Hall,” the 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard from Don Bosco Prep told SNY.tv by phone.
Smyth, who averaged 5.7 points and 2.0 rebounds last season for the Gaels, picked Seton Hall over Boston College after visiting a week and a half ago.
This will be his fifth year after redshirting as a freshman and he expects to be eligible right away, along with fellow transfers Gene Teague and Brian Oliver.
“By all accounts, I’m going to be eligible,” he said. (more…)
Washington, D.C. will host the 2013 East Regional and New York City won’t.
There had been talk of the Barclays Center in Brooklyn hosting the event, but the NCAA instead announced Wednesday that Georgetown University will host the event at the Verizon Center March 28 and 30.
“In 2009, when the committee selected hosts for the 75th tournament, there was a concerted effort to include cities with a rich history to help mark that milestone,” said Mark Lewis, the (more…)
PHILLY — Amile Jefferson kept his college decision a secret from virtually everybody up until the time he announced Tuesday afternoon in the gym at Philadelphia Friends’ Central.
Even his mother.
“No, he wouldn’t tell me,” Quetta Jefferson told SNY.tv with a smile. “I asked him, he wouldn’t tell me.” (more…)
With all the college players transferring, here’s an early stab at a list of some of the players on the move and the landing spots they’re targeting or have already hit.
If you have additional information on transfers, please email me at zagoria@hotmail.com and I will update this going forward.
Chip Armelin, G, Minnesota (Transferred to Southern Miss)
J.J. Avila, G, Navy (Transferred to Richmond)
Gilvydas Biruta, F, Rutgers (Transferred to Rhode Island: Story here)
Perris Blackwell, F, San Francisco (Transferred to Washington)
Michael Bradley, F/C, UConn (Transferred to Western Kentucky) (more…)
Hofstra head coach Mo Cassara continues to build his 2012 recruiting class with the signing of Darren Payen, a 6-foot-8 power forward from Hamden Hall (Conn.).
Payen also considered Rhode Island, Vermont, Northeastern, and St. Bonaventure.
“I picked Hofstra because it was the best fit for me,” Payen told SNY.tv. “It has a good combination of academics, location and it’s a mid-sized school so it’s not too big.
“And from the additions they’ve made to their team, their basketball program should make a jump in these next couple years.” (more…)
Maryland freshman Ashton Pankey is transferring due to family reasons.
Pankey, a 6-foot-9 redshirt freshman forward from the Bronx, N.Y., told head coach Mark Turgeon he needed to find a school closer to home in order to aid his family.
He is considering St. John’s, Iona and Fordham, sources told SNY.tv.
“My mom is the rock in my life and I promised her I would take care of her like she did for me,” Pankey said. “Therefore, I am choosing to put my family first and look for a school closer to home. (more…)
“Adam Zagoria sees the story behind the daily happenings.”
~ St. Anthony Coach Bob Hurley
Zagoria covers the New York Knicks and Big East hoops for NBA.com and SNY.tv. He also appears as a Big East Basketball Insider on SNY and 1050 ESPN Radio.
He is an award-winning journalist whose articles have appeared in ESPN The Magazine, SLAM, SI and Basketball Times.
