N.C. State fans apparently shouldn't worry that failing to secure South Atlanta High power forward Derrick Favors will have any effect on the Wolfpack's recruitment of John Wall.
Recruiting analysts Dave Telep of scout.com and Bob Gibbons of All-Star Sports said Wednesday that Derrick Favors' commitment to Georgia Tech wouldn't influence the decision of Raleigh Word of God point guard standout Wall.
Word of God coach Levi Beckwith confirmed that notion Thursday.
Raleigh Word of God will play in the 2009 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions tournament on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
The Rams are at home tonight against Waccamaw Academy and leave for Missouri on Wednesday.
Word of God opens against Springfield (Mo.) Glendale.
Word of God is led by point guard John Wall, the top-ranked point guard in the country, and junior forward C.J. Leslie, who is committed to N.C. State.
N.C. State coach Sidney Lowe, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and former Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher attended during the four days of the GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Basketball Tournament at Broughton’s Holliday Gymnasium, which wrapped up Tuesday night.
Krzyzewski, who made his first and only appearance Tuesday night, brought an entourage with him, and signed autographs in between the Ravenscroft-Centennial final and the Word of God-Christ final.
Arden (N.C.) Christ School remained undefeated by beating Raleigh Word of God 76-73 in the finals of the GlaxoSmithKline Invitational on Tuesday night at Broughton.
Wall wins dunk contest, but Word of God falls again
Raleigh Word of God lost to Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Patrick 77-69 in the second round of the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., on Saturday.
Word of God’s John Wall, the top-ranked point guard in the country, had 21 points, but had seven turnovers and was not creditted with any assists. N.C. State junior recruit C.J. Leslie led the Rams with 20 points and eight rebounds.
St. Patrick’s Dexter Strickland, a University of North Carolina recruit, did not play in the game. Strickland served a suspension for disciplinary reasons not related to basketball, coach Kevin Boyle told the Fort Myers newspaper.
Sophomores Michael Gilchrist and Derrick Jordan scored 30 points and 27 points in the win.
Word of God had opened the tournament by defeating Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage 63-61 in the opening round. Wall scored 15 points and had nine assists and eight turnovers. Leslie had 11 points and 7 rebounds.
Plantation star Kenny Boynton, a Florida recruit, 19 points.
Raleigh Word of God will face a strong field this week in the City of Palms basketball tournament in Fort Myers, Fla.
Word of God, which is led by point guard John Wall, opens against Plantation (Fla.) American Heritage on Thursday.
If the Rams win, they will play Elizabeth (N.J.) St. Benedict’s on Saturday at 9:15 p.m.
The field also includes Duncanville, Texas and Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei, which No. 1 in the country in different rankings.
Word of God athletics director says John Wall and C.J. Leslie are held out for disciplinary reasons.
GSK Invitational is loaded this year.
