Young leaves Okla. for NBA
Texas’ Bamba also opts out
Oklahoma star Trae Young is leaving for the NBA after a standout freshman season that ended with him leading the nation in scoring and assists.
The 6-foot-2 guard averaged 27.4 points and 8.7 assists this season, and many projections have him going early in the first round of the June 21 draft. He announced the move on Twitter and posted the reasons for his decision on ESPN early yesterday, saying he was ready to put in the work needed to play in the NBA.
“I know there will be doubts again as I prepare for the draft. I don’t pretend to be ready to play in the NBA today, but I am determined to do what I’ve always done: invest in the work to prepare for the league and the incredible challenges it presents,” he wrote.
Young grabbed headlines early in the season when he scored 43 points against Oregon on Nov. 26 and less than a month later tied the NCAA record with 22 assists against Northwestern State. He later scored at least 40 points three times in a six-game span. Along the way, a who’s who of NBA stars, including LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Chris Paul, became fans . . . . No more Mo Bamba for Texas.
The freshman forward said he will leave Texas for the NBA after one season of dominant rebounding and record-setting shot blocking. In a short statement, Bamba called his one season with the Longhorns “incredibly rewarding.”
Texas pretty much knew this was coming. Bamba was ranked among the top recruits in the country when he signed with the Longhorns and was considered a likely one-and-done college player.
Gophers hockey coach done
Longtime Minnesota hockey coach Don Lucia is stepping down after a disappointing year that ended with the Gophers missing the NCAA tournament.
Lucia, 59, leaves with a year left on his contract and after saying earlier this week that he hoped to stay. His contract has a $315,000 buyout clause.
Lucia headed the Gophers program for 19 seasons that included back-to-back national titles in 2002 and 2003 . . . .
Virginia women’s basketball coach Joanne Boyle says she is retiring because of a family matter.
The announcement by the school did not provide details on the family matter. Boyle’s retirement comes only days after the Cavaliers were knocked out of the NCAA tournament with a second-round loss to South Carolina . . . .
Saint Joseph’s has named Jill Bodensteiner as its first female athletic director.
Bodensteiner succeeds Don DiJulia, who retired following a 35-year stint as AD . . . .
Eastern Michigan University plans to drop softball, men’s swimming and diving, women’s tennis and wrestling at the end of the spring season because of budget cutbacks.
The school says the reduction in sports to 17 from 21 will save about $2.4 million.
Mann vies for Indy 500 spot
IndyCar driver Pippa Mann has been hired by Dale Coyne Racing to compete in this year’s Indianapolis 500.
The Briton will be the fourth driver on the team, joining Sebastien Bourdais, Pietro Fittipaldi and Conor Daly. Mann will attempt to make her seventh career Indy start in the No. 63 car, sponsored by Donate Life Indiana.
Mann is the second woman who will attempt to qualify for the May 27 race. Danica Patrick already has announced she will attempt to make the traditional 33-car starting grid . . . .
Defending champion Alejandro Valverde took the overall lead in the Tour of Catalonia by winning the second stage in northeastern Spain.
South African Daryl Impey was second and Australian Jay McCarthy third in the 108-mile stage from Mataro to Valls.