KU FORWARD DE SOUSA OPTS OUT
Kansas forward Silvio de Sousa is opting out of the upcoming college basketball season, potentially ending what has been one of the most controversial tenures of any player to have joined coach Bill Self’s blueblood program.
Self said in a statement that de Sousa was opting out to “focus on matters in his personal life.” Self added that it became clear in recent workouts that de Sousa was distracted, and after the two of them talked recently, “it was clear this was the best decision for him and Kansas basketball to leave the program.”
De Sousa said in a statement on social media that he is unsure what direction his career will take him.
De Sousa joined the Jayhawks midway through the 2017-18 season and helped them to reach the Final Four. But he was forced to sit out the next season amid eligibility questions after his name surfaced in the FBI probe into college basketball corruption, then served a 12-game suspension last year for his role in a brawl against Kansas State.
NHL
The Los Angeles Kings signed No. 2 overall draft pick Quinton Byfield to a three-year contract. The Kings announced the entry-level deal with Byfield, a powerful 6-foot-5 center from Ontario.
The 18-year-old Byfield is likely to play another year of junior hockey before he moves to the NHL, but the Kings haven’t ruled out anything with their top prospect before he attends his first training camp.
• The Maple Leafs signed 41year-old forward Joe Thornton to a one-year, $700,000 contract.
Tennis
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev advanced to the Cologne (Germany) Indoors semifinals by beating Lloyd Harris of South Africa 6-4, 3-6, 6-0. The seventh-ranked Zverev next faces Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. The Spaniard defeated Dennis Novak 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. The second-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut will meet Canada’s Felix AugerAliassime in the other semifinal.
• Andrey Rublev eased into the semifinals of the St. Petersburg (Russia) Open after defeating Britain’s Cameron Norrie 6-2, 6-1. The third-seeded Russian will play Denis Shapovalov for a place in Sunday’s final. Second-seeded Shapovalov defeated Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-5.
Boxing
Anthony Joshua will defend his world heavyweight titles for the first time this year when it was confirmed he will face Kubrat Pulev on Dec. 12 in London.
Soccer
Star striker Kylian Mbappe scored twice as Paris Saint-Germain won at 10-man Nimes 4-0 to move to the top of the French league for the first time this season.
• Philadelphia Union midfielder Brenden Aaronson will join FC Salzburg following the conclusion of the Major League Soccer season.
Also
Jack Scheuer, the go-to guy at courtside, on the field and in the press box, who covered Philadelphia sports from the days of Wilt Chamberlain to Br yce Harper for The Associated Press and other outlets, died. He was 88. Son Bob said his father died in hospice care from kidney and cancer complications.
Ed Her vey, 47, is stepping down as general manager of the B.C. Lions because of personal reasons. The Canadian Football League team announced the decision.
Diego Ulissi sprinted to victory at the end of the 13th stage of the Giro d’Italia, and Joao Almeida held on to the pink jersey.
The Four Continents Championships in figure skating scheduled for February in Australia has been canceled by the International Skating Union because of the pandemic. The 2023 Four Continents will be staged in Sydney instead.
The NCAA is stripping Massachusetts of victories in men’s basketball and women’s tennis for overpaying 12 athletes about $9,100 in financial aid over three years.