A&M’s Blair part of Hall of Fame class
Gary Blair is the only Texas A&M coach in the last eight decades to win a national title in the big three sports of football, basketball and baseball. Blair on Saturday was named to the 2023 Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class for his rare feat with the Aggies.
“This is an incredible honor that I never thought was possible,” said Blair, who coached the A&M women over 19 seasons (2003-2022). “… When I am enshrined in August, I will be enshrined with all of the players, coaches, support staff, administrators and fans that helped me get there. This is our moment, and I am excited to celebrate everything we accomplished.”
Blair, who also coached at Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin, and A&M football’s Homer Norton (1939) are the only two coaches in school history to win national titles among the big three sports.
Blair’s Aggies won a championship in 2011 behind standout guards Sydney Colson and Sydney Carter and All-American forward Danielle Adams. Blair, 77, is the 18th Division I women’s coach to enter the hall of fame.
He’s joined in the class by San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich and fellow coaches Gene Bess, David Hixon and Gene Keady, along with players Becky Hammon, Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Dwyane Wade.
The late Jim Valvano, who coached North CarolinaState to the 1983 title over Houston, made the class as a contributor. The 2023 class also included the 1976 women’s Olympic team.
UH guard Mark to transfer, try draft
University of Houston guard Tramon Mark announced Saturday that “after careful consideration” he plans to go through the NBA draft process and enter his name in the transfer portal.
In a statement, the school said Mark would transfer for “personal reasons.” “I am excited for the next steps of my journey,” Mark posted on social media. “I will continue to work to be the best person I can, both on and off the floor.”
Mark becomes just the second starter in coach Kelvin Sampson’s nine years at Houston to transfer to another school. Guard Caleb Mills decided to transfer midway through the Cougars’ Final Four season in 2021.
By testing the NBA draft waters, Mark can go through the evaluation process and receive feedback from NBA personnel and keep his college eligibility. Point guard Jamal Shead announced earlier this week he would go through the NBA draft process.
Mark, a 6-5 a redshirt sophomore from Dickinson, missed the 2021-22 season with a shoulder injury.
Mark averaged 10.1 points and 4.9 rebounds while averaging nearly 30 minutes this season for the Cougars.
He had a career-high 26 points in UH’s comeback win over Auburn in the second round.
“Houston basketball thanks Tramon for all his contributions to our program during the last three seasons. We wish him and his family all the best in the future,” Sampson said in a statement.
Astros 2B Hensley roots on Aztecs
After starting at second base in the Astros’ 6-4 win over the White Sox on Saturday afternoon, David Hensley and his father Mike hustled from Minute Maid Park to NRG Stadium to watch San Diego State in the Final Four.
The Hensleys are from San Diego and David played four seasons at San Diego State before he was drafted by the Astros in 2018.
Hensley, who made his big league debut last season, is playing second base in place of the injured Jose Altuve. He’s off to a 2-for-7 start (.286).