Soccer team signs youngster

A 14-year-old soccer player signed a pro contract with USL Championship club Orange County SC.

Francis Jacobs is the youngest male player to sign a pro soccer contract in the U.S., according to the club. Jacobs is from Laguna Beach. He was 14 years 4 months and 29 days old when he signed last month.

That’s less than a month younger than Freddy Adu was when he signed with Major League Soccer’s D.C. United in November 2003.

Jacobs has been training with Orange County SC’s first team since May.

Ecuadorian defender Diego Palacios joined MLSleading LAFC, the team announced. Palacios, 20, spent last season in the Netherlands with Willem II, starting 32 games. LAFC (17-3-4) added coveted Uruguayan forward Brian Rodriguez last week as a designated player . ... Former defender Kate Markgraf, 42, was appointed general manager of the U.S. women’s soccer national team. She will oversee the search for a coach to replace Jill Ellis.

Toronto Raptors guard Kyle Lowry withdrew from the pool of candidates that USA Basketball is considering to take to the FIBA World Cup this month. Lowry said he isn’t ready for on-court workouts because of his surgically repaired thumb . ... Ex-NBA guard Sebastian Telfair was sentenced to 31⁄2 years in prison in a New York gun-possession case.

Andy Murray moved well in his first singles match since hip surgery in January, but Richard Gasquet ended a five-match skid against him with a 6-4, 6-4 victory in the first round of the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio. Afterward, Murray, 32, said the U.S. Open’s wild-card timing led him to decide against playing in New York.

The Carolina Hurricanes signed team president and general manager Don Waddell to a three-year contract extension. Terms were not disclosed . ... Ex-goaltender Roberto Luongo’s No. 1 jersey will be retired by the Florida Panthers on March 7 against the Montreal Canadiens.