Words. High School Hoop

Since de-committing from Purdue earlier in the year, Class of 2013 star 6-9 forward Derek Willis (Bullitt East High School, Mt. Washington, Ky.) has become a hot recruiting commodity for some major DI programs. Kentucky, Louisville, and Indiana are reportedly in the mix along with the Boilermakers, who are still keeping themselves in the race.

Frida night at the King of the Bluegrass Tournament, Willis showed why he is so high on college wishlists. MORE >

Words. High School Hoop

On the high school level, even at its elite reaches, height is almost always the most valuable weapon and team and/or a player can posses. When the vast majority of high school basketball can by with 6-4 centers, the game changes when you come across true height – as in seven-footers. And when you get a seven-footer with coordination and basketball skills? Goodnight.

The crew at Bleacher Report has put together their 7 Best 7-Footers in High School Hoops. HighSchoolHoop.com readers should be very familiar with a bunch of these names. Check out their list here: MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Oak Ridge (NC) Military Academy senior forward Jacob Lawson is out for the rest of the season after tearing his Achilles tendon last week against De La Salle in the semifinals of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Missouri.

Lawson, a senior Purdue signee, underwent surgery last week and is expected to make a full recovery in five months. MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Indiana and coach Tom Crean recently got a big assurance that the long-term direction of its program is on the right path. The Hoosiers landed two commitments from two of the top players not only in the state, but in the country, from the Class of 2014.

Arsenal Tech High (Indianapolis, IN) freshman forward Trey Lyles and Bishop Luers (Fort Wayne, IN) freshman guard James Blackmon Jr. both verbally committed to the Hoosiers this month. MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Last month Oak Ridge (N.C.) Military Academy forward Jacob Lawson told us that, even though he wanted to take a few visits, his dad wanted him to decide on a college after the AAU season concluded “to get it out of the way.”

Looks like dad won out.

Lawson committed to Purdue this week, picking the Boilermakers over Alabama, Colorado, North Carolina State, Wake Forest, Syracuse, Seton Hall, Miami, West Virginia, Clemson and Mississippi State. MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Louisville coach Rick Pitino may be fighting for his professional life, but he still found time to make a key addition to his staff.

Shabaka Lands, who was hired as a special assistant to Pitino this week, won’t help the Cards win the Big East this season. But what’s that matter? He’s connected to Pike High (Ind.) star guard Marquis Teague, priority No. 1 for Pitino in the class of 2011. MORE >