Thunder hires Florida’s Donovan as coach

The Oklahoma City Thunder hired Florida’s Billy Donovan as its new coach Thursday, hoping he will help the franchise finally win an NBA championship.

The 49-year-old Donovan led Florida to two national championships, four Final Fours, seven Elite Eights and 14 NCAA tournament berths in 19 years.

He signed a one-year contract extension with the Gators in December that would have paid him an average salary of $4 million through 2020.

But, eight years after leaving Florida to coach the Orlando Magic and then changing his mind the following day, Donovan is back in the NBA.

It’s not likely he’ll head back to Gainesville this time — he inherits 2013-14 most valuable player Kevin Durant and 2014-15 scoring champion Russell Westbrook.

Donovan replaces Scott Brooks, who was fired last week.

Andrew Wiggins was selected as NBA rookie of the year after averaging 16.9 points and 4.6 rebounds while playing all 82 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wiggins received 110 of 130 firstplace votes and 604 total points in the voting.

Chicago’s Nikola Mirotic finished second and Philadelphia’s Nerlens Noel was third. Jordan Clarkson of the Lakers was seventh in voting. failed to pay taxes, New Jersey prosecutors announced.

The 37-year-old former wide receiver with the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Giants and New York Jets was charged last week with willful failure to pay a state tax and issuing a bad check or electronic funds transfer.

Burress is the first person in the state to be charged under a law adopted and signed last year that makes issuing a bad electronic funds transfer a criminal offense just like passing a bad check.

Each offense could carry up to a five-year prison term if he is convicted.

In a news release from the Mercer County prosecutor’s office, authorities said Burress filed his state income tax return for 2013 on Oct. 20, 2014, showing he owed nearly $48,000, the amount that would be due for someone with a taxable income of about $550,000.

Prosecutors said he submitted an electronic funds transfer, but it failed.

USC, Pepperdine and Long Beach State will open play in the eight-team American Volleyball Coaches Assn. Collegiate National Championship for sand volleyball beginning Friday at Gulf Shores, Ala.

USC is undefeated in 24 matches and top ranked; Pepperdine (10-4) is the defending national champion; and Long Beach State (13-4) won the title in 2013.

USC opens at 6 a.m. PDT against No. 8 Stetson (21-4); No. 7 Long Beach State plays secondseeded Hawaii (15-1) at 7 a.m.; No. 4 Pepperdine faces No. 5 Georgia State (18-1) at 8 a.m.

The team championship is determined in a double-elimination bracket, and the title game will be played Saturday at 2 p.m. PDT. Each school sends out five teams of two — “pairs” — with the team that wins at least three of the matches advancing.

The championships continue on Sunday with the pairs championships.

USC’s top pair is Sara Hughes and Kelly Claes, who have a record of 36-3. Hughes was a pairs national champion last season with Kirby Burnham.

Carson High’s baseball team will forfeit the rest of its games this season as punishment for its participation in a fight last week during a game against San Pedro, the City Section decided.

Carson’s season was declared over because the baseball program was already on probation because of an incident last year.

San Pedro will be allowed to resume its season, but the Pirates suffered two forfeits and were placed on probation.