Lavin Gets Commitment From NYC Prep Star

When former UCLA Head Coach Steve Lavin made his return this summer after a 7-year layoff, the doubters and skeptics criticized St. John’s for the hire. Lavin had been out of the coaching game since finishing 10-19 in 2002-03, and spent the past 7 seasons as an ESPN college basketball analyst.

This summer, he agreed to a 6-year deal worth at least $9 mill to take over a program that has been the doormat of the Big East for some time. Last week, Lav received a commitment from one of the top players in the 2011 class, Maurice Harkless.

Harkless is a tremendous coup for a program that has been criticized for losing local area kids, and his signing could open the floodgates for Lav and his staff.

Harkless is a 6-6 Ray Allen/Trevor Ariza hybrid, with serious hops. He has a poise and cool disposition on the court that would make John Wooden proud. He is a long, rangy defender with an exceptional ability to get to the rim. After turning out the St. John’s skills camp in June, Harkless became the top priority for Lav.

He has stardom written all over him, and may very well end up the best player that Lav has ever coached……

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LeBron Scrimmages At King’s Academy Bball Camp

Unfortunately there is no footage of LeBron getting dunked on.

After getting it cracking in Las Vegas a few weekends ago, King James and his “LeBrontourage” converged on So Cal, more specifically the campus of UCSD, for the annual “LeBron James King’s Academy” July 29-August 2.

Coincidentally there wasn’t nearly as much media attention focused on the camp for Boy & Girls ages 7-17, featuring the best player in the NBA along with legends like Romeo Travis & Dru Joyce (Bron’s old high school teammate & coach and stars of  ”More Than A Game”) offering instruction and skills training that only a back-to-back MVP can provide.

Apparently when LeBron is just trying to be a ballerific 25 year old and do it up in Vegas (at a profit) it’s a bigger deal then when he takes nearly a week out of his busy schedule to reach out and show some love to the kids.

Then again at damn $700 a camper (overnight) to be down with the King, LeBron’s love does cost a (few) thing(s). More video of the King’s Academy after the jump…

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Austin Rivers Will Be Nicer Than The Doc

At 6′4 and 190 pounds, Doc’s son is widely considered as the best lead guard in the nation.  He has had a meteoric rise to the top of this years class, and it likely he will attend Duke next season. Austin  has an endless arsenal of pull-up off the dribble moves going either way, superior handles and deep 3pt range.

He can play 1 or 2, has a tremendous basketball IQ and goes to the basket hard, intending to dunk on defenders.  His mid-range game is nice, and he has an array of floaters and runners that are very effective.

He dropped 42 on Brandon Knight and 45 on St.Benedicts Prep last season as a junior at Winter Park(Fla.) High School. The kid is a BEAST.

Video of Austin’s Pops, Doc Rivers, talking about his game after the jump…
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LOL! Kid In Dookie-Stained Undies Gets Beat Up

If the title alone doesn’t make you want to watch this video, then please refrain from visiting this blog until after Labor Day at the bare minimum. At first this fight is a little intense and dramatic, but leave it to the ever present video phone-ographer to not only capture all the action, but also provide some hilarious commentary.

Who doesn’t have a few dirt stains every so often? That’s why you have to roll with at least 2-ply or better and always remember to wipe front to back.

Sick Shot: Future Tar Heel’s Backwards 75-footer

Now what we have right here is P.J. Hairston, a shooting guard from Greensboro, NC and future UNC Tar Heel, making the incredible appear routine with this one-handed backwards 75-footer. Hairston hit the shot while messing around at the NBPA Top 100 Camp this past weekend. Hairston was also one of the most impressive players at the elite gathering, leading the camp in scoring with a wide array of bucketry.

Considered to be a strong candidate for the McDonald’s All-American game in 2011, Hairston now joins an elite group of professional and amateur ballers (as well as college football coaches) to hit amazing circus shots. He’ll probably get a courtesy hojo for this one once school gets back in session. Via The Dagger

Basketball Fail: Kid Needs More Than Just A Boost

This probably seemed like a good idea to “Jake” during the planning phase, but unfortunately the execution didn’t turn out as well. Nothing more embarrassing than falling on your butt and not even making the dunk. Geez.

In The Face: High School Edition

Dunk Score: 9.7

Now what we have right here is Pierre Warren, a senior guard at Marbury High School in Alabama, banging all over the life of some unsuspecting square. Warren is a beast and at only 6′1, has a boost that you can’t help but respect. Basketball is Warren’s 2nd sport as he is more known for his exploits on the football field, committing to Jacksonville State last month where he will join his older brother Wesley, who is also a member of the football team.

This video claims that this dunk is Warren’s last high school field goal and if so, he definitely went out on top. The dude he banged on was completely demoralized, and appears to fall on his face immediately after getting sharted on. Somebody please wipe that dude’s face asap.

You Go Girl: Ruth Lovelace Wins PSAL Championship

The Chaser would like to give a special “Unome” to New York’s Boys & Girls High school head coach Ruth Lovelace, who became the first woman to win the coveted PSAL Championship in boys basketball last Saturday at Madison Square Garden. The win marked Boys & Girls first PSAL Championship since 1979 and ended a drought in what was the school’s 3rd appearance in the finals in the last 4 years. Entering the title game against Cardozo, another legendary New York public school program, Boy & Girls overcame a 10-point deficit to secure Lovelace’s place in history.

Lovelace has been the coach at Boys & Girls since 1993, when she was given the position at only 24 years old. Although it took 17 years for Lovelace to win her first PSAL title, she has been successful in her coaching career, going to the playoffs in every season and gaining notoriety throughout the world thanks to various pieces done on interesting relationship between hard-nosed female coach and teenage boys. Whilst most dudes would look down on a female coach and treat her like Rhea Perlman got did in “Sunset Park,” Lovelace ain’t with all that and is notorious for her fiery coaching style in which she holds no punches.

In case you haven’t seen Lovelace in action, check out a video of her punking dudes after the jump…

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