Associated Press
DURHAM ó Duke has signed Miles Plumlee, a 6-foot-10 forward who had committed to Stanford.
Plumlee received his release from the school after Trent Johnson left to coach at LSU, and Duke completed paperwork to make Plumleeís addition official Thursday.
He averaged 15.8 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game last season for Christ School in Arden, which is south of Asheville. Heíll join Elliot Williams and Olek Czyz as freshmen this fall and provides the Blue Devils with some needed size up front.
iWe are fortunate to land a player of Milesí caliber this late in the recruiting process,î Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said. iHe is a versatile player that continues to grow and mature physically. Miles gives us another skilled big man that can be an impact player of both ends of the floor.î
Originally from Warsaw, Ind., Plumlee started prep school at Christ School in 2006. He guided the Greenies to a pair of NCISAA state championships and a 63-6 record in two seasons.
His younger brother Mason, a top prospect who is currently a junior, already has committed to play for Duke.
NORTH CAROLINA
CHAPEL HILL ó North Carolina reserve Mike Copeland, an alum of Reynolds High in Winston-Salem, will need surgery after injuring his knee during a pickup basketball game last week.
The senior forward suffered a torn right anterior cruciate ligament. The surgery is scheduled to take place next month once swelling goes down. Recovery time is typically six to eight months.
Copeland scored 30 points in 25 games last season for the Tar Heels.
WEST VIRGINIA
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. ó West Virginia officials said coach Bob Huggins was taken to a hospital in Charlotte for precautionary reasons after he tripped on an airport tarmac and hit his head on the pavement Thursday.
Athletic director Ed Pastilong said Huggins had a bump on his head.
Pastilong said Huggins and other athletic department staff members flew to Charlotte on Thursday morning for a Mountaineer Athletic Club event. After Huggins got off the plane, he was checking his cell phone messages when he tripped over a cone on the tarmac.
TENNESSEE
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. ó Junior college point guard Bobby Maze has signed to play at Tennessee.
Tennessee was looking for immediate help after announcing that point guard Ramar Smith would not return to play for the Vols. The teamís only other point guard with significant playing experience, Jordan Howell, is graduating.
iTheyíve called me ëthe solutioní here, so you do the equation: What better place could I be,î Maze told The Knoxville News Sentinel.
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Maze transferred from Oklahoma last year to Hutchinson Community College, where he averaged 20.7 points, 6.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. He said he has some classwork to complete in order to gain full eligibility.
He visited Cincinnati last weekend and was originally scheduled to visit Kentucky this weekend.