OFF AND RUNNING

KJ Simpson ready to leave Buffs, enter NBA draft

As the final seconds ticked away in a season-ending loss against Marquette in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Colorado guard KJ Simpson leaned dejectedly against the scorer’s table while lifting his gaze to the rafters.

After one of the most impressive individual seasons in program history, Simpson is ready to roll the dice at the next level. On Friday, the junior guard announced via social media that he will forgo his senior season at CU to enter the NBA draft.

Duke’s Filipowski, Mccain declare for NBA draft

DURHAM, N .C. >> Kyle Filipowski and Jared Mccain, Duke’s top two scorers, are both off the NBA. The two announced their decisions on social media Friday.

Filipowski, a 7-foot sophomore from Westtown, N.Y., was named a second-team AP All-american after averaging a team-high 16.4 points. Mccain, a 6-3 freshman from Sacramento, Calif., averaged 14.3 points.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Former Colorado receiver Keith Miller III found dead

Keith Miller III, who played two seasons at Colorado and the past two years at Texas A&mcommerce died in his apartment near the TAMUC campus on Thursday night.

A receiver from The Colony, Texas, Miller, 22, played at CU in 2020 and 2021. He did not appear in any games before transferring to TAMUC.

Odom signs 5-year deal to remain as UNLV’S coach

LAS VEGAS>> UNLV signed second-year football coach Barry Odom to a five-year contract on Friday after he led the Rebels to one of the most successful seasons in program history.

MLB

Red Sox SS Story has season-ending surgery

BOSTON >> Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story had season-ending shoulder surgery on Friday.

Boston said Los Angeles Dodgers team physician Dr.

Neal Elattrache performed the arthroscopic procedure on the left posterior labrum.

Story injured his shoulder trying to make a diving stop on a ball off the bat of the Angels’ Mike Trout on April 5.

Guardians ace Bieber has Tommy John surgery

CLEVELAND >> Cleveland Guardians ace Shane Bieber had Tommy John surgery on Friday and will start a long recovery.

The 2020 Cy Young Award winner made two strong starts this season before pain in his elbow became too overwhelming and surgery was recommended. Bieber will be sidelined for the rest of 2024.

TENNIS

Osaka, Swiatek, Raducanu win at Billie Jean King Cup

LONDON>> Grand Slam title winners Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek and Emma Raducanu all earned victories for their countries in Billie Jean King Cup qualifying.

A total of 16 nations are involved in qualifiers Friday and Saturday, with the winners advancing to the 12-team Billie Jean King Cup Finals in Seville, Spain, in November.

Djokovic in Monte Carlo semis for 1st time since ’15

MONACO>> Novak Djokovic is back in the semifinals at the Monte Carlo Masters for the first time since 2015. Nine years after he won the last of his two titles at the clay-court tournament, the top-ranked Serb secured a spot in the last four with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Alex De Minaur on Friday.