Evansville hires Celtics assistant, former UK star McCarty

Boston Celtics assistant Walter McCarty is returning to college basketball as Evansville’s head coach.

Evansville announced McCarty’s selection Thursday as the replacement for Marty Simmons, who was fired this month after going 184-175 over 11 seasons during which the Purple Aces failed to make the NCAA or NIT tournaments. Evansville finished 17-15 this season.

McCarty is returning to his southern Indiana hometown, where he was a high school star. He played on Kentucky’s 1996 NCAA championship team, then was a first-round draft pick of the New York Knicks as he started a 10-year NBA career.

Miami’s Brown declares for draft

Miami Hurricanes sophomore guard Bruce Brown Jr. has decided to declare for the NBA Draft but won’t retain an agent, leaving him the option of continuing his college career.

The school announced Brown’s decision Thursday. Players have until April 22 to enter the draft and until June 11 to withdraw. The draft is June 21.

Brown is considered a potential first-round pick even though he had a disappointing season that ended after 19 games because of a left foot injury requiring surgery. He averaged 11.4 points and shot 27 percent from 3-point range.

Freshman guard Lonnie Walker IV also is considering turning pro this year and is projected as a potential lottery pick.

Medved to replace Eustachy

Former Colorado State assistant coach Niko Medved is returning to Fort Collins to lead the Rams men’s basketball program after spending a year as Drake’s head coach.

Medved replaces Larry Eustachy, who stepped down last month, ending a “climate assessment” of the program led by athletic director Joe Parker.

Eustachy, who was 122-79 in five-plus seasons at CSU, is on paid leave until June 30, at which time he’ll formally resign.