ZAGSBLOG

RU Class in Top 30; '09 Targets

With the addition of St. Benedict's big man Greg Echenique to the Rutgers recruiting haul for 2008, Rivals recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer says Rutgers may now be in the Top 30 nationally with this recruiting class.

**Oklahaoma State big man Ibrahima Thomas, a former teammate of RU center Hamady N'Diaye, was also recently on campus.

**As for 2009, look for Rutgers to focus on Plainfield combo guard Isaiah Epps, Paterson Catholic forward Fuquan Edwin and Half Hollows Hills West swing Tobias Harris, as well as St. Anthony transfers Devon Collier and Ashton Pankey.

Calhoun Has Skin Cancer

UConn coach Jim Calhoun held a press conference today to announce that he had a recurrence of skin cancer in his upper right neck, according to the Hartford Courant. He will undergo radiation treatments in June.

Calhoun was diagnosed with prostate cancer Jan. 31, 2003. After the surgery, doctors said there were no signs that the disease had spread. He returned to coach the Huskies Feb. 22 that year.

Gaddy De-Commits from 'Zona; Negedu Leaning to Memphis?

Yet another prospect has de-committed from Arizona.

Abdul Gaddy, a Top 20 point guard, said he has de-committed due to wholesale changes on Lute Olson's staff, according to the Arizona Daily Star. Gaddy had been especially close with former assistants Josh Pastner and Miles Simon.

"There's just a lot of change going on," Gaddy told the newspaper. "I don't really know the coaching staff. I know Lute Olson, but when I committed, I committed to Lute Olson, Kevin O'Neill, Josh Pastner and Miles Simon. I had a relationship with that coaching staff."

Gaddy's de-commitment follows that of Emmanuel Negedu of Brewster Academy. Negedu, a 6-7, 230-pound forward originally from Nigeria, has since scheduled visits to Indiana (June 3); Georgia Tech (June 8); Tennessee (June 10); and Memphis (June 12).

We hear that the Arizona staff has "blessed" Negedu to Memphis if that's what he wants. Pastner, now at Memphis, had initally tried to persuade Negedu to stay at Arizona, but the player didn't want that. We're hearing he will likely end up at Memphis.

Thomas Looking at RU?

Various sources say that Ibrahima Thomas, a 6-foot-11, 238-pound freshman center from Oklahoma State, recently visited the Rutgers campus.

It remains unclear if Thomas is simply visiting Hamady N'Diaye, his friend and former teammate at Stoneridge Prep (Calif.), or if Thomas is considering transferring to Rutgers. Thomas and N'Diaye are both natives of Senegal.

Former Stoneridge program director Mike Mahoney said he did not have a current cell phone number for Thomas.

Thomas started 27 of 33 games last season for Oklahoma State, averaging 6.0 points and 4.1 rebounds.

He was originally recruited by by Auburn, USC, Valparaiso, Ball State, Fresno State and Rutgers.

Lance Down to 3?

Lance Stephenson has cut his list of potential schools down to three, according to a report in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

The newspaper reports that the 6-foot-5 Stephenson of Brooklyn Lincoln is down to USC, UCLA and Kansas, although no quotes are in the story.

Stephenson has visited USC and UCLA, as well as Louisville, Seton Hall, Arkansas and Indiana. He had planned to visit Kansas for the Jayhawk Invitational and play with Derrick Favors and the Atlanta Celtics, but he did not end up making the trip.

Lance "Stretch" Stephenson was not immediately available by phone, but he previously said he and his son could make a decision by September.

"I would say by late September, or just before the season starts," he said. "Hopefully he has everything straight by the time the season started."

Kilpatrick Still Waiting

Sean Kilpatrick of White Plains has not yet committed to St. John's, desipte a report indicating he had earlier this week.

"There was a misunderstanding and we're still deciding," said Gerard Jones, Kilpatrick's advisor and the older brother of West Virginia commit Kevin Jones.

The 6-3 Kilpatrick, who averaged 25 points and 7 rebounds last season, earlier told ZAGSBLOG that St. John's was his No. 1 choice. He is also considering Kansas State, Cincinnati, Kentucky and UMasss.

Riek Won't Compete in Orlando; Hopes to Get Drafted

John Riek will not participate in games at the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp but his advisor believes Riek may still hear his name called by Commissioner David Stern at the NBA Draft on June 26.

Read the full story here.

RU Extends Fred Hill

See what one great recruiting class can do?

In the wake of Fred Hill's massive recruiting haul for next season, school officials extended his contract for two years through the 2012-13 season.

Introduced in March 2006, Hill, 48, initially signed a five-year contract worth $500,000 annually counting base salary and other considerations, and the current contract maintains his salary.

"I am extremely pleased with the progress that our men's basketball program has made under the leadership of Fred Hill," Rutgers AD Bob Mulcahy said. "His unwavering commitment to Rutgers and his relentless pursuit of excellence have established a foundation for future success.

"Freddie's passion for Rutgers University, his student-athletes, and the state of New Jersey is genuine and tangible. I am very proud to re-affirm our commitment to him. We look forward to the realization of the goals he has set forth for this program," Mulcahy added.

Doug Collins to the Bulls; Derrick Rose Next?

The big news in the basketball world today is that former Chicago Bulls coach Doug Collins appears headed back to the team he began his head coaching career with.

As soon as Collins completes his broadcasting duties with TNT, he will take over the reins. It has been 20 years since Collins, one of the top basketball minds in the game, coached Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in the early years of their NBA careers, before the duo combined to win six NBA titles under Zenmaster Phil Jackson.

"I have spoken with Bulls management recently about their head coaching vacancy and will resume conversations after the conclusion of my work for TNT in the Western Conference finals," Collins said in a statement from Los Angeles, where he was to work Game 5 of the Spurs-Lakers series. "There is no agreement in place."

Now the question is, Will Collins and the Bulls select Memphis point guard and Chicago native Derrick Rose with the No. 1 pick in the June 26 NBA Draft?

"It would mean a lot," Rose told ESPN's Andy Katz Thursday on ESPNU. "That's a dream come true if I am No. 1. But if not, I'm just happy to be in the NBA."

Wright Has Offers

One of the top New York-area prospects in the Class of 2009 is Mount Vernon shooting guard Sherrod Wright.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Wright is the next up in a line of recruits to come out of the storied program that lately has included Rutgers freshman Mike Coburn and Rutgers transfer Jonathan Mitchell, as well as West Virginia commit Kevin Jones. He is the No. 27 SG in the Class of 2009 and ranked No. 101 in the Rivals 150.

Mount Vernon coach Bob Cimmino says Xavier, Georgia Tech and Virginia are "working the hardest" to land Wright, with all three schools having offered.

Columbia, Wake Forest, Providence and South Carolina are also in the mix, with the latter two not having offered as of yet. None of the local schools -- Rutgers, Seton Hall or St. John's -- are pushing very hard, the coach said.