Pope John head coach Jason Hasson knows the basketball talent he has in big man Moustapha Diagne. The 6-foot-8 center is a blue chip player without question thanks to his defensive playmaking abilities and offensive skill set. Sunday in No. 3 Pope John’s 65-52 win over No. 9 Gill St. Bernard’s at The New Year’s Jump-Off, Diagne’s arsenal and game-changing ability was on full display as he finished with 21 points on nine field goals including a corner 3. “Anytime you get him one-on-one on the block he’s either going to score or get fouled,” Hasson said.
» Diagne’s 21 points fuel No. 3 Pope John’s win over No. 9 Gill St. Bernard’s
The Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Oklahoma City Thunder engineered a multi-faceted six-player trade Monday night, sources told ESPN.com. As part of the deal, Dion Waiters will go to the Thunder, J.R. Smith and Iman Shumpert would go to the Cavs and three players with nonguaranteed contracts — Alex Kirk and Lou Amundson from the Cavs and Lance Thomas from the Thunder — would go to the Knicks. As part of the deal, the Thunder are sending a protected future first-round pick to the Cavs and the Cavs are sending their 2019 second-round pick to the Knicks, sources said.
» Former Syracuse star Dion Waiters dealt in multi-team trade
Syracuse big man Dajuan Coleman won’t play at all this season after undergoing knee surgery a year ago and will redshirt this season. “He’s had some soreness and stiffness the last couple practices,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said, according to Syracuse.com. “He’s not going to play this year.” The 6-foot-10 sophomore will redshirt this season.
» Syracuse’s Dajuan Coleman Won’t Play This Season
In the nightcap of Sunday’s New Year’s Jump-Off St. Benedict’s arrived at Paterson Eastside and ran away with a 65-46 victory thanks to a rollicking fourth quarter. In the final period St. Benedict’s outscored Paterson Eastside 21-5. On the night St. Benedict’s was led by Trevon Duval’s 18 points as nine players scored. St. Benedict’s held Paterson Eastside to just five fourth quarter points and 18 second half points after the Ghosts scored 26 in the first half as the score was 29-26 in favor of St. Benedict’s at the half.
» Highlights and photos from St. Benedict’s 65-46 win over Paterson Eastside
After the Mad Ants’ 111-91 win over Erie at Memorial Coliseum, two men in Syracuse garb waited near the tunnel that leads to Fort Wayne’s locker room, hoping to see former Orange star C.J. Fair up close and personal. Fair had already showed them plenty on the court Saturday night, registering 21 points and four steals off the bench. His athleticism has always been a major plus, but to play in the NBA he’ll need to polish off his shooting stroke and ball skills, as well as his man-to-man defense. Those areas seem to be where Fair has progressed.
» Mad Ants benefit from play of CJ Fair
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