http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20090409/SPORTS03/904090471/1002/SPORTS
High school star DeMarcus Cousins is in, UK veteran Michael Porter is out and high school signee Daniel Orton appears to be on the fence as Calipari reshapes his roster.
Meanwhile, Calipari has begun to piece together his first UK staff with parts from his last one at Memphis -- assistant coaches Orlando Antigua and John Robic and director of basketball operations Rod Strickland.
UK's latest roster addition is Cousins, a 6-foot-9 McDonald's All American from Mobile, Ala., who is following Calipari to Kentucky after initially committing to him at Memphis.
Cousins committed Tuesday night and can sign a letter of intent as early as Wednesday.
The first significant subtraction of the Calipari era is Porter, who started all 36 games at point guard last season but has elected to forego his senior season in order to focus on his new family. Porter and his wife, Bryana, are expecting their first child in July.
Orton, for now, is in limbo.
The 6-10 center from Oklahoma City, who signed with UK under former coach Billy Gillispie, told Scout.com yesterday that he asked for a release from his letter of intent with UK, but he said he "might be going back to Kentucky."
Orton's father, Larry, told Lexington television station WKYT that his son has not asked for a release.
Neither Larry Orton nor Daniel Orton could be reached for comment yesterday.
Regardless of what happens with Orton, more roster moves could be coming.
Nolan Dennis, a 6-4 shooting guard from North Richland Hills, Texas, signed with Memphis in the fall but now is exploring other options, including UK.
His mother, Carol, told The Courier-Journal that Nolan Dennis also signed a document allowing him to void the letter of intent if Calipari took another job. The family called Memphis yesterday, Carol Dennis said, and requested the release.
"We told them we wanted it first thing in the morning," she said.
Like Orton, Dennis -- a top-50 national prospect -- will play in Louisville's WazooSports.com Derby Festival Classic this weekend. Dennis doesn't have a new list of schools, but his mother indicated that UK is a contender.
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"He loves Coach Calipari," she said. "Definitely, he was the main reason he was going (to Memphis). He idolizes him. (Calipari) will make him such a better player."
If UK hopes to add any other recruits it first must create roster space.
If Orton sticks with UK and Cousins enrolls, the Wildcats would have 14 scholarship players next season, one more than the NCAA limit.
Despite that numbers crunch, Porter's father, Gary, said that his son didn't feel pressured to leave the team.
"There was never any sense of that," Gary Porter said Tuesday night. "The first thing I asked him was, 'Were you asked to leave?' and he said no."
In a UK release yesterday, Porter said the decision had been "weighing on my shoulders for a while."
"I love basketball and will miss it a lot, but I think it's the best thing for me and my family at this stage of my life," he said.
Almost immediately after Porter stepped aside, Cousins stepped in.
The post player from LeFlore High School is ranked No. 2 nationally by Rivals. He averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds as a senior, according to the Mobile Press-Register.
"He's a special, special player," said Otis Hughley, Cousins' high school coach. "He's an unbelievable passer. In high school he was by far the best player in the gym. When he gets to (UK), the competition in practice will make him a better player."
Cousins has not yet qualified for freshman eligibility. He has a 3.4 grade-point average, Hughley said, but has yet to take either the SAT or the ACT.
If Cousins gets his way, UK will be in an even tighter scholarship squeeze.
Cousins told Rivals that he's working to recruit point guard John Wall, Rivals' No. 1 player in the class, and swingman Xavier Henry -- another Memphis signee and Rivals' No. 3 player -- to follow him to UK.
Cousins, Wall and Henry are playing Saturday for the USA Basketball Men's Junior Select team in the Nike Hoop Summit at Portland, Ore.
While UK's roster remains in flux, Calipari's coaching staff is rounding into form.
With Antigua, Robic and Strickland on board, there's at least one more position to fill. UK spokesman DeWayne Peevy said staff roles have not yet been assigned and that Calipari could hire a third assistant, or move Strickland into an assistant's role and fill the director of basketball operations position.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Angels' Pitcher dies in car wreck
http://www.myfoxla.com/dpp/news/local/Angels_Pitcher_Dies_In_Three_Car_Crash_20090409
Fullerton (myFOXla.com) - Three people were killed today, including Los Angeles pitcher Nick Adenhart and a fourth person was critically injured in a three-vehicle crash blamed on a motorist who ran a red light at a Fullerton intersection, authorities said.
The accident occurred at East Orangethorpe Avenue and South Lemon Street around 12:20 a.m., said Fullerton police Lt. Doug Cave.
Cave said two of the vehicles -- one traveling on Lemon, the other on Orangethorpe -- crashed in the intersection.
"From preliminary information, it appears that one of those vehicles ran a red light," Cave said.
One vehicle, a silver Mitsubishi, slammed into a light pole, an On Scene Video camera crew reported. A male and female in the car were declared dead at the scene, Fullerton police Lt. Craig Brower said. Their names were not immediately released.
Two others riding in the Mitsubishi suffered critical injuries and were taken to UC Irvine Medical Center, where one of them later died, Brower said.
The male driver of the other vehicle, a minivan, fled on foot following the crash but was apprehended by police and taken into custody a short time later on suspicion of hit-and-run, Brower said. A passenger who remained in the minivan suffered minor injuries, he added.
A third vehicle, which was stopped in the intersection, was also struck in the accident but sustained only minor damage, and its driver was not hurt, Cave said.
"The entire area leading up to Orangethorpe and Lemon will be closed through the morning hours, likely through the morning commute," Cave said.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Jordan, Stockton and Robinson all make Hall of Fame
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4045879
Michael Jordan was elected to the class of 2009 on Monday, set for induction in Septemeber with his Dream Team teammates David Robinson and John Stockton. Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer are also part of a class announced in Detroit, site of the men's Final Four. Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
I don't like being up here for the Hall of Fame because at that time your basketball career is completely over," Jordan said. "I was hoping this day would be 20 more years, or actually go in when I'm dead and gone."
Jordan's Hall of Fame selection was a slam dunk after he retired as perhaps the greatest player in history. And he gave much of the credit Monday to his college coach.
"There's no way you guys would have got a chance to see Michael Jordan play without Dean Smith," he said.
His soaring dunks, Nike commercials and "Air Jordan" nickname helped stamp him as one the most recognizable athletes around the world. He finished a 15-year career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards with 32,292 points -- the third-highest total in league history, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His final career average of 30.12 goes down as the best, just ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.07.
[+] EnlargeJeff Haynes/Getty Images
David Robinson's 14-year career included two NBA titles, an MVP season, a rookie of the year award, 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title and two Olympic gold medals.
"Simply the greatest to ever play the game of basketball. He is the one player that each young person in this league should emulate and aspire to become. His work ethic, drive, skill level and competitive spirit were unmatched," Jordan's former Bulls teammate and now team GM, John Paxson said.
Jordan was a five-time NBA MVP, won six championships with the Bulls and another in college with North Carolina. The Tar Heels play Michigan State in the national championship game Monday night.
Jordan will root on the Tar Heels, but had no plans to give them a pep talk.
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams was an assistant with Carolina on that 1982 championship team and was at Monday's induction, where Ty Lawson won the Bob Cousy award as the nation's top point guard.
Jordan retired twice during his career. He first came back to the Bulls in 1994 and won three more championships before retiring again in 1998, then had an ill-fated two-year stint with the Washington Wizards before calling it quits for good in 2003. He's now managing partner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
On Monday, he joked that when he saw Stockton and Robinson he was ready to put his shorts on again.
"I always want to be able to have you thinking I can always go back and play the game of basketball and put your shorts on," Jordan said. "Hall of Fame to me is like, OK, it's over and done with."
George Frey/AFP/Getty Images
Jazz greats John Stockton and Jerry Sloan will be inducted together during September's ceremony in Springfield, Mass.
Jordan won two of his titles in the 1990s against Sloan, Stockton and the Jazz. Stockton spent his entire career with Utah and finished with 19,711 points, and holds NBA records 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals. He also holds NBA records for most assists in a season (1,164 in 1990-91) and highest assist average in a season (14.5 in 1989-90).
"Growing up I never thought about the Hall of Fame," Stockton said. "All I wanted was a chance to go to college."
Utah took Stockton in the first round of the 1984 draft, using the No. 16 pick on a relatively unknown player from Gonzaga who became one of the top point guards.
"I haven't given this much thought over the course of a lifetime," he said. "I'm not sure it quite strikes home until you're standing here."
Robinson, who earned the nickname "The Admiral" from his college career at Navy, joined Stockton and Jordan as members of the NBA's 50th anniversary team.
He had a stellar 14-year career with the San Antonio Spurs that included two NBA championships, an MVP season, a rookie of the year award, 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title and two Olympic gold medals. Unlike Jordan's inability to stay home after his final shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Robinson was content to retire after winning a second title with the Spurs in 2003.
"If I had to pick one night in my career, it would probably be walking off the court as a champion and knowing that was going to be my last memory of basketball," Robinson said.
Sloan, who did not attend the ceremony, is the longest tenured head coach in major league sports with a single franchise. Sloan is the only NBA coach to win more than 1,000 games with a single team and has the Jazz in seventh place in the Western Conference going into Monday night's games.
[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Mel Evans
C. Vivian Stringer has led three separate teams to the Final Four in her 38-year career and has an 825-280 mark spanning four decades.
"I've been very lucky to have such great players, especially John, who is very deserving of this honor," Sloan said. "I've also been fortunate to be with such a tremendous organization for the past 20-plus years and am extremely grateful to the [Larry H.] Miller family for all of their support."
Sloan was missed on Monday by Stockton.
"He's not only a coach and a mentor, but a friend," Stockton said. "I enjoy him very much. The honor to share it with him, terrific."
Stringer has led three separate schools to the Final Four in her 38-year career and has an 825-280 mark spanning four decades. She trails only Pat Summitt and Jody Conradt on the career wins list, and guided Rutgers to its fifth straight regional semifinals trip this season.
"My knees are weak, and to think I would be standing here with these great, great, men of basketball," Stringer said. "It's not ever about me. It's about the players who all make it happen."
Stringer got her start in 1973 at Cheyney State, where Hall of Famer John Chaney was the men's coach, and took the school to the Final Four in 1982. She also took Iowa to the Final Four, the only women's coach to take three teams there.
"I am very happy and elated that she was selected to the Hall of Fame this year," Chaney said. "I would think not many, if any, Division II school has its former men's and women's coaches in the Hall of Fame."
Michael Jordan was elected to the class of 2009 on Monday, set for induction in Septemeber with his Dream Team teammates David Robinson and John Stockton. Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer are also part of a class announced in Detroit, site of the men's Final Four. Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
I don't like being up here for the Hall of Fame because at that time your basketball career is completely over," Jordan said. "I was hoping this day would be 20 more years, or actually go in when I'm dead and gone."
Jordan's Hall of Fame selection was a slam dunk after he retired as perhaps the greatest player in history. And he gave much of the credit Monday to his college coach.
"There's no way you guys would have got a chance to see Michael Jordan play without Dean Smith," he said.
His soaring dunks, Nike commercials and "Air Jordan" nickname helped stamp him as one the most recognizable athletes around the world. He finished a 15-year career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards with 32,292 points -- the third-highest total in league history, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His final career average of 30.12 goes down as the best, just ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.07.
[+] EnlargeJeff Haynes/Getty Images
David Robinson's 14-year career included two NBA titles, an MVP season, a rookie of the year award, 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title and two Olympic gold medals.
"Simply the greatest to ever play the game of basketball. He is the one player that each young person in this league should emulate and aspire to become. His work ethic, drive, skill level and competitive spirit were unmatched," Jordan's former Bulls teammate and now team GM, John Paxson said.
Jordan was a five-time NBA MVP, won six championships with the Bulls and another in college with North Carolina. The Tar Heels play Michigan State in the national championship game Monday night.
Jordan will root on the Tar Heels, but had no plans to give them a pep talk.
Tar Heels coach Roy Williams was an assistant with Carolina on that 1982 championship team and was at Monday's induction, where Ty Lawson won the Bob Cousy award as the nation's top point guard.
Jordan retired twice during his career. He first came back to the Bulls in 1994 and won three more championships before retiring again in 1998, then had an ill-fated two-year stint with the Washington Wizards before calling it quits for good in 2003. He's now managing partner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
On Monday, he joked that when he saw Stockton and Robinson he was ready to put his shorts on again.
"I always want to be able to have you thinking I can always go back and play the game of basketball and put your shorts on," Jordan said. "Hall of Fame to me is like, OK, it's over and done with."
George Frey/AFP/Getty Images
Jazz greats John Stockton and Jerry Sloan will be inducted together during September's ceremony in Springfield, Mass.
Jordan won two of his titles in the 1990s against Sloan, Stockton and the Jazz. Stockton spent his entire career with Utah and finished with 19,711 points, and holds NBA records 15,806 assists and 3,265 steals. He also holds NBA records for most assists in a season (1,164 in 1990-91) and highest assist average in a season (14.5 in 1989-90).
"Growing up I never thought about the Hall of Fame," Stockton said. "All I wanted was a chance to go to college."
Utah took Stockton in the first round of the 1984 draft, using the No. 16 pick on a relatively unknown player from Gonzaga who became one of the top point guards.
"I haven't given this much thought over the course of a lifetime," he said. "I'm not sure it quite strikes home until you're standing here."
Robinson, who earned the nickname "The Admiral" from his college career at Navy, joined Stockton and Jordan as members of the NBA's 50th anniversary team.
He had a stellar 14-year career with the San Antonio Spurs that included two NBA championships, an MVP season, a rookie of the year award, 10 All-Star selections, a scoring title and two Olympic gold medals. Unlike Jordan's inability to stay home after his final shot in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA Finals, Robinson was content to retire after winning a second title with the Spurs in 2003.
"If I had to pick one night in my career, it would probably be walking off the court as a champion and knowing that was going to be my last memory of basketball," Robinson said.
Sloan, who did not attend the ceremony, is the longest tenured head coach in major league sports with a single franchise. Sloan is the only NBA coach to win more than 1,000 games with a single team and has the Jazz in seventh place in the Western Conference going into Monday night's games.
[+] EnlargeAP Photo/Mel Evans
C. Vivian Stringer has led three separate teams to the Final Four in her 38-year career and has an 825-280 mark spanning four decades.
"I've been very lucky to have such great players, especially John, who is very deserving of this honor," Sloan said. "I've also been fortunate to be with such a tremendous organization for the past 20-plus years and am extremely grateful to the [Larry H.] Miller family for all of their support."
Sloan was missed on Monday by Stockton.
"He's not only a coach and a mentor, but a friend," Stockton said. "I enjoy him very much. The honor to share it with him, terrific."
Stringer has led three separate schools to the Final Four in her 38-year career and has an 825-280 mark spanning four decades. She trails only Pat Summitt and Jody Conradt on the career wins list, and guided Rutgers to its fifth straight regional semifinals trip this season.
"My knees are weak, and to think I would be standing here with these great, great, men of basketball," Stringer said. "It's not ever about me. It's about the players who all make it happen."
Stringer got her start in 1973 at Cheyney State, where Hall of Famer John Chaney was the men's coach, and took the school to the Final Four in 1982. She also took Iowa to the Final Four, the only women's coach to take three teams there.
"I am very happy and elated that she was selected to the Hall of Fame this year," Chaney said. "I would think not many, if any, Division II school has its former men's and women's coaches in the Hall of Fame."
UNC wins 5th title
http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-04-07-voa5.cfm
In front of a tournament record crowd, the favored University of North Carolina has claimed the men's national collegiate basketball title.
North Carolina, which was making its record 18th appearance at the Final Four, started Monday night's title game in high gear. Unfazed by the wildly partisan Michigan State crowd, the Tar Heels hit six of their first seven shots and jumped out to a 17-7 lead. The 72,922 fans set a new record for the tournament championship game.
Michigan State helped by turning the ball over 14 times in the first half. North Carolina Coach Roy Williams gave credit to his defense and Ty Lawson's record eight steals.
"Down the stretch this year, we've been pretty doggone good," he said. "And, Ty was a huge part of that tonight. When he is really active, it is the front line of our defense and he is fantastic."
North Carolina continued to dominate, getting 17 points from Wayne Ellington to go up by as much as 24 points before ending the first half, with a 55-34 lead. The team's offensive explosion broke the old NCAA record of 53 points in a half. Michigan State's Travis Walton talks about falling behind early.
In front of a tournament record crowd, the favored University of North Carolina has claimed the men's national collegiate basketball title.
North Carolina, which was making its record 18th appearance at the Final Four, started Monday night's title game in high gear. Unfazed by the wildly partisan Michigan State crowd, the Tar Heels hit six of their first seven shots and jumped out to a 17-7 lead. The 72,922 fans set a new record for the tournament championship game.
Michigan State helped by turning the ball over 14 times in the first half. North Carolina Coach Roy Williams gave credit to his defense and Ty Lawson's record eight steals.
"Down the stretch this year, we've been pretty doggone good," he said. "And, Ty was a huge part of that tonight. When he is really active, it is the front line of our defense and he is fantastic."
North Carolina continued to dominate, getting 17 points from Wayne Ellington to go up by as much as 24 points before ending the first half, with a 55-34 lead. The team's offensive explosion broke the old NCAA record of 53 points in a half. Michigan State's Travis Walton talks about falling behind early.
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