Maggie Blair has decided to play ball at Manhattan. Ill have more on this later.

UPDATE: I talked to the Briarcliff star. She said her decision boiled down to Manhattan or Division III powers Amherst or Williams. Obviously, for Blair the decision came between two very different choices. One, going the scholarship route, but playing at a much higher level. Or two, going to a superior academic school with a high level of basketball, but playing at a smaller level.

Blair told me she chose Manhattan for the basketball, but also because she felt it met her academic needs as well. Her two interests are business and engineering, and she said Manhattan offers both concentrations.

Surprisingly, Blair became just the first local player to commit to Manhattan, Iona or Fordham since Jenna Franciosa, who joined the Jaspers two years ago (although she has stopped playing basketball since then). It’s odd those local schools don’t recruit more local players.

The Metro Classic All-Star Game will be held at noon this Sunday at Island Garden in West Hempstead with the ‘Burbs (Westchester and Long Island) set to take on the ‘Boros (New York City). The boys game starts at 3:30. The games raise funds for a couple charities, the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Howie Frajberg Medical Research Foundation.

Three local girls made the team: Sophia Aleksandravicius, Holy Child; Shelby Sferra, Ursuilne; and Maggie Blair, Briarcliff. Also, another familiar player, Stefanie Dolson of Minisink Valley, is on the roster as well.

Tickets are $10 for one game or $15 for both.

A little news tonight: Sue Adams is back at White Plains.

Adams left in the spring after leading the Tigers to four straight Class AA championships. She hoped to spend more time with her family after juggling schedules to be with sons Ryan and Kyle and, last year, escaping when she could in-season to watch daughter Kim play at UPenn.

White Plains formed a committee to interview candidates and interviewed several beginning in September. The committee, which was led by legendary boys coach Spencer Mayfield and did not include Adams, decided it wasn’t satisfied with the candidates. Mayfield, in what he said was a “shot in the dark,” asked Adams if she would reconsider. “I didn’t think anybody would be better,” Mayfield told me.

Adams discussed the decision with her family before agreeing to return.

“I don’t think anybody ever wanted her to leave,” Mayfield said. “She did such a good job with the girls. She’s such a good role model.”

I’ll have more on this after I speak to Adams.

Here’s a few other recruiting updates. If you have others, shoot me an e-mail (jthomson@lohud.com) and let me know.

* UPDATE, 10/15, 11:42 p.m.: Kowgios’ list updated *

• UPDATE, 10/16, 10:18 p.m.: Felix list, Jessie Kavana updated *

  Committed
  — Sophia Aleksandravicius, Holy Child: Davidson
  — Shelby Sferra, Ursuline: Quinnipiac
  — Caitlynn Moran, John Jay-East Fishkill: Boston University (the alma mater!)
  — Alaina Walker, Albertus Magnus: St. Bonaventure

  Not committed
  — Bianca Kowgios, Maria Regina: has Division I interest (FDU, Bryant, Gonzaga, Vermont, Hofstra)
  — Maggie Blair, Briarcliff: Division I offers
  — Kim Dweck, Lourdes: Division I offers
  — Kara Tancredi, Beacon: has several Division II offers
  — Gillian Felix, Mahopac: four Division II offers, some Division I interest
  — Rachel Crittenden, Lourdes: Division II interest
  — Jessie Kavana, Mahopac: interest from Division I New Jersey Inst. of Technology; a couple D-IIs and several D-IIIs

  I’m still working on a few more. I’ll update when I come across the info.

I heard this morning that Sophia Aleksandravicius decided to commit to Davidson after her visit there earlier this week.

The 6-foot-4 senior from Holy Child will join one of the most successful programs in the Southern Conference. Last year the Wildcats were 19-11 and finished 13-5 in conference. They are 59-32 the last three years overall and 38-16 in conference. Not too shabby.

After I talk to Sophia I’ll pass along the details. Regardless, this is a pretty significant signing for someone who was a total unknown to most of us about 18 months ago.

There finally some news on the recruiting scene, as Ursuline senior Shelby Sferra has committed to Quinnipiac. The 6-foot Sferra (right) received about 15 offers, but narrowed it down to Quinnipiac and Manhattan. I hope to talk to her soon so I’ll let you know why Sferra ended up where she did.

One of the area’s other top post players may be closing in on a decision as well. Holy Child’s Sophia Aleksandravicius is headed to visit Davidson this week after visits to Holy Cross, Villanova, Boston College and Georgetown. The 6-foot-4 senior has seen about 30 schools, but appears to be very interested in Davidson.

Others:
— Lourdes’ Kim Dweck has garnered interested from a bunch of schools, and Robert Morris visited her at home in Westchester last week.
— Briarcliff’s Maggie Blair went on a visit to Manhattan but is still undecided
— Yes, she committed very early, but Albertus Magnus’ Alaina Walker hasn’t changed her mind…she’s still headed to St. Bonaventure