MIAMI’S LARRANAGA DENIES IMPLICATIONS

FLA.» University of Miami CORAL GABLES, men’s basketball coach Jim Larranaga believes he is the “Coach-3” named in court documents that detail the federal investigation of corruption in college basketball recruiting, and he insists he did nothing wrong.

Larranaga spoke out Monday about the scandal for the first time, reading from a prepared statement. He has not been named specifically in documents, though “Coach-3” is listed in those papers as someone who allegedly had conversations with a sneaker company executive about paying a recruit $150,000 in exchange for a commitment.

Larranaga said, “I certainly have never engaged in the conduct that some have speculated about.”

He would not discuss his relationship with Adidas executive James Gatto, who allegedly conspired with schools sponsored by his company to pay top recruits. Miami is an Adidas school.

Tar Heels’ Berry breaks hand.

North Carolina point guard Joel Berry II will miss about four weeks after suffering a broken bone in his right hand.

The school announced Berry’s injury but didn’t provide details on how Berry was hurt. The reigning national champion’s opener is Nov. 10 against Northern Iowa.

• North Carolina will host a fourteam men’s basketball exhibition on Nov. 5 to raise money for the state’s disaster relief fund.

UNC said in-state programs East Carolina, UNC Greensboro and UNC Wilmington would participate.

The event will benefit the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund. Tickets go on sale Oct. 25 for $20.

• South Carolina and Virginia Tech men’s basketball teams will play an exhibition next month and funds raised from the game will go to hurricane relief efforts in Florida, Puerto Rico and Texas.

The game, “Hoops 4 Hurricane Relief,” will take place Nov. 5 on the South Carolina campus.

• The Wisconsin men’s basketball team will host an exhibition game against Northern Iowa on Nov. 1. The game will raise money for hurricane relief in the southern U.S. and the Caribbean.

Halep wins first match as No. 1.

SINGAPORE» Playing her first match as the top-ranked player, Simona Halep beat Caroline Garcia 6-4, 6-2 at the WTA Finals.

“I am really happy I can win the first match (as No. 1),” said Halep, the first Romanian woman to be topranked. “It takes the pressure off.”

Also, Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark, the 2010 runner-up, beat Elina Svitolina of Ukraine 6-2, 6-0 for the first time in four matchups.

Olympian Gray becomes a coach.

Three-time world champion and 2016 Olympian Adeline Gray of Denver has been named assistant coach for the girls wrestling team program at national high school powerhouse Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School in Kingston, Pa.

Restoration of conviction denied.

BOSTON» A justice on Massachusetts’ highest court denied prosecutors’ request to reinstate the murder conviction of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez.

The conviction in the 2013 fatal shooting of Odin Lloyd was voided by a Superior Court judge in May because Hernandez killed himself in prison. Under Massachusetts legal principle, courts typically erase the convictions of defendants who die before their direct appeals are heard.

Musher denies drugging dogs.

Four-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey denied he administered banned drugs to his dogs in this year’s race and said he has withdrawn from the 2018 race in protest of the allegation.

Footnote.

The 2018 Major League Soccer All-Star Game will be held at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.