Harry Giles had eight points and eight rebounds against Japan, and the United States’ U 17 at the FIBA World Championships advanced to face China in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
They will square off against the Philadelphia All-Stars, headlined by a player some call the most exciting player in his class, Derrick Jones. High-scoring guard Levan Alston and recent St. Joe’s commits Lamarr Kimble and Chris Clover will also appear for the Philadelphia All-Stars.
Josh Jackson led six players in double-figures with 16 points as Team USA shook off an ugly start to steamroll the Phillippines, 124-64, in their final game of group play at the U17 World Championships.
lass of 2016 forward Harry Giles led the charge for the Americans, scoring a team-high 14 points and also tallying six steals as he led the charge as the head of the full court pressure for the United States.
On Wednesday, Michigan State held their first practice in pads. They also had an impressive group of recruits on campus including LB Anthony McKee of Walnut Hills High school in Columbus, Ohio.
Isaiah Briscoe is now down to five schools, and says he won’t sign until the spring signing period. The 6-foot-3 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic point guard told The Basketball Diary on Sunday he is now considering Arizona, Rutgers, Seton Hall, St. John’s and Villanova.
Tyus Battle (Gill St. Bernard’s School/Edison, N.J.) participated in the 2013 USA U16 training camp but was cut after only three days. Last Tuesday, things were different and his chance finally came, as he was named to the 2014 USA Basketball U17 World Championship Team.
According to Jones, he would like to knock out a couple of visits during the month of August — he just isn’t sure where yet. Schools under consideration include Kentucky, Syracuse, Villanova, Indiana, Connecticut and SMU.
Jake Pickard, a 6-foot-6, 230-pound defensive end/tight end from Milburn. N.J., on Thursday gave Wisconsin an oral commitment for its 2015 freshman class.