LeBron’s son plots course for future, declares for draft
Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, announced Friday that he will declare for the 2024 NBA draft. He’ll also enter the transfer portal while maintaining his NCAA eligibility.
“I’ve had a year with some ups and downs but all added to growth for me as a man, student and athlete,” he posted on his Instagram account.
James played 25 games this season for USC, averaging 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists.
“Thank you to USC for an amazing Freshman year, and as always thankful for my family, friends, doctors, athletic trainers and fans for their support,” he said in his social media post.
By not signing with an agent, James maintains the option to rescind both decisions and remain at USC for another season.
Reports about James entering the portal surfaced Wednesday, but LeBron James said they were premature.
“Bronny is his own man and he has some tough decisions to make and when he’s ready to make those decisions, he’ll let us all know,” LeBron James said after the Lakers played Toronto on Wednesday. “But as his family, we’re going to support whatever he does.”
More college basketball
Miami hired Toledo women’s basketball coach Tricia Cullop as the replacement for Katie Meier. Cullop wo 353 games in 16 seasons at Toledo, going 86-17 the past three seasons. Meier retired last month, ending a 19year stint with the Hurricanes.
Skiing
Skiing power couple Mikaela Shiffrin and Aleksander Aamodt Kilde announced in Innisbruck, Austria, that they’re engaged to be married. Shiffrin, a twotime Olympic champion who has won a record 97 World Cup races, holds her ring up to the camera in one of several photos they posted on their social media accounts.
• Aamodt Kilde, 31, is a former overall World Cup champion and two-time Olympic medalist. Kilde, a native of Norway, had his season end in January when he sustained injuries in a crash during a downhill race in Wengen, Switzerland.
Pro football
Pro Bowl defensive end Derrick Brown agreed to a four-year, $96 million extension with the Carolina Panthers that includes $63.1 million in guaranteed money. Brown, a first-round pick in 2000 out of Auburn, is coming off a year in which he set an NFL record for tackles by a defensive lineman.
• Chiefs defensive end Mike Danna has agreed on a three-year, $24 million deal to remain in Kansas City, a person familiar with the contract told The Associated Press on Friday.
Sports broadcasting
Norby Williamson, ESPN’s head of event and studio production, is leaving the network after nearly 40 years in Bristol, Conn. The move was announced in a memo by Burke Magnus, the network’s president for content. Williamson had overseen ESPN’s studio content — including “SportsCenter” — as well as NFL and college football.
Key Bridge aid
Baltimore’s two pro sports franchises, the Orioles and Ravens, announced they are teaming to make a $10 million donation in the wake of the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. The donation will go the the Maryland Tough Baltimore Strong Key Bridge Fund. The fund is intended to provide financial support to the families of victims, port workers, first responders and others affected by the March 26 collapse of the bridge.
Golf
Akshay Bhatia followed up his opening round 63 with a 2-under-par 70 to move to 11-under and a five-stroke lead ahead of Denny McCarthy, Brendon and Russell Henley after the second round of the Valero Texas Open at San Antonio.
• Leona Maguire shot a final-round 36-under-par 69 to win the LPGA T-Mobile Match Play at Las Vegas, three strokes ahead of Minami Katsu, Angel Yin and Rose Zhang.
• Sergio Garcia decided to refurbish the putter he used 25 years ago when he was a rookie and played like it was 1999 on Friday. He was bogey-free at Trump National Doral for a 5-under 67 to share the lead with Talor Gooch and Peter Uihlein in LIV Golf Miami.
Tennis
Top seed Jessica Pegula survived four match points in a third-set tiebreaker to defeat Victoria Azarenka 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7) in a quarterfinal at the Charlotte Open. Danielle Collins ousted Elise Mertens 6-4-6-4 in their quarterfinal. Pegula will play Daria Kasatkina in one semifinal Saturday and Collins will face Maria Sakkari in the other.