USA Basketball hires Grant Hill to replace Colangelo as boss

Hall of Famer Grant Hill will succeed Jerry Colangelo as the managing director of the U.S. men’s national team, USA Basketball’s board of directors announced Saturday.

Colangelo, 81, has held the position since 2005 and is retiring after the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

Hill, 48, played 18 seasons in the NBA and was a member of the gold medalwinning U.S. squad — dubbed Dream Team II — at the 1996 Summer Games in Atlanta.

“It is a tremendous honor to serve as managing director of USA Basketball’s Men’s National Team. I am looking forward to working with the USA Basketball staff and Board of Directors to lead this organization so uniquely positioned for continued growth and for developing and promoting our top talent in events around the world,” Hill said in a news release.

“As a member of the 1996 Dream Team, I know the thrill and responsibility it is to represent our country. I am confident USA Basketball will continue to showcase the top talent and highest character players in our country.”

Hill played for five USA Basketball teams, winning two gold medals and one bronze while compiling a 26-1 overall record. He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2018.

Hill was drafted No. 3 overall by Detroit in 1994 after winning back-toback NCAA titles at Duke. The 1994-95 NBA co-Rookie of the Year and seven-time All-Star played 1,026 games with the Pistons, Orlando Magic, Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers.

“We are very excited that Grant Hill will join USA Basketball as our USA Men’s National Team managing director. Grant is a proven leader of consequence and character who will continue to help us achieve on our twin goals of winning international competitions and representing our country with honor,” USA Basketball board of directors chair Martin Dempsey said. “In making this announcement, I also want to emphasize how much everyone associated with USA Basketball appreciates Jerry Colangelo for everything he did for USA Basketball over the past 15 years.”

The U.S. men’s team compiled a 97-4 record under Colangelo’s direction, capturing Olympic gold medals in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

Golf

SPIETH TIED FOR LEAD IN TEXAS>> Jordan Spieth shot a 5-under 67 to move into a tie for the lead heading into the final round of the Valero Texas Open.

Spieth and Englishman Matt Wallace are at 12 under after each player birdied their final two holes of the day. Wallace also posted a 67, and Charley Hoffman is alone in third at 10 under after shooting a 65.

Hoffman was seven shots back after a bogey at No. 4, but he finished up with six birdies and sank a five-foot eagle putt at the 14th. He won here five years ago.

Three consecutive bogeys early on the back nine sent second-round leader Cameron Tringale to a 1-over 73 that put him at 8 under for the tournament. India’s Anirban Lahiri is at 7 under after a 69.

Tom Hoge finished with five birdies and moved up 26 spots on the leaderboard with a third-round 66. He is in a group of four players at 6 under that includes Lucas Glover (70), Gary Woodland (67) and Matt Kuchar (70). TAVATANAKI GRABS 5-SHOT LPGA LEAD >> Patty Tavatanakit opened a fivestroke lead on another hot and windy afternoon at the ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, all but crushing her challengers’ hopes with a striking combination of power and touch.

A stroke ahead after each of the first two rounds at Mission Hills, the 21-yearold Thai player shot a 5-under 67 in 100-degree heat Saturday to reach 14-under 202 in the first major championship of the year.

Tavatanakit matched the tournament 54-hole record set by Pernilla Lindberg in her 2018 victory. Dottie Pepper set the overall mark of 19 under in 1999.

Defending champion Mirim Lee and Ally Ewing were second at 9 under in the event being played without spectators for the second time in seven months.

Tavatanakit crushed drives — hitting a 337yarder on the par-5 11th — while trying to become the sixth straight international winner in the tournament celebrating its 50th edition.

Tennis

BARTY PICKS UP ANOTHER TITLE >> No. 1-ranked Ash Barty won her second successive Miami Open championship Saturday by beating No. 8-seeded Bianca Andreescu, who was injured when she fell and retired trailing in the second set.

Andreescu, crying and shaking her head, conceded while behind 6-3, 4-0.

She stumbled and went sprawling two games earlier when she turned her foot awkwardly while hitting a forehand. During the ensuing changeover, a trainer taped her foot, but she played only five more points before retiring.

The 20-year-old Canadian has been plagued by injuries, and the tournament was her first in the U.S. since she won the 2019 U.S. Open. The coronavirus pandemic also curtailed her schedule.

Barty was the 2019 Miami champion. The tournament was canceled last year because of the pandemic.

Five other women have won consecutive Miami titles: Stefanie Graf, Monica Seles, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario, Venus Williams and Serena Williams.