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  • French, Thompson latest as Warriors boss provides full injury update on quartet

    French, Thompson latest as Warriors boss provides full injury update on quartet

     

     

    Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet is hopeful he will be able to welcome back key duo Bevan French and Luke Thompson for their trip to Wakefield Trinity on Friday night.

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    Star man French was absent from Peet’s side that beat Huddersfield Giants in Dewsbury last Saturday due to a tight calf, whilst powerhouse prop Luke Thompson hasn’t played since breaking two ribs in the Warriors’ victory over Catalans Dragons in the south of France last month.

     

    Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Peet confirmed that both players will be part of his 21-man squad for Friday’s clash with Wakefield at the DIY Kitchens Stadium.

     

     

     

    “Bevan will make the 21, I’m hoping he plays, but it’s early in the week yet,” said Peet.

     

    “Luke’s trained today and done a little bit of contact, so hopefully he comes through the rest of the week okay. Similar to Bev, he’ll be in the 21.”

     

    Peet also provided the latest on Abbas Miski and Sam Walters, who are Wigan’s only long-term absentees with knee and fibula injuries respectively.

     

    “They’re both ticking the games off,” Peet said. “I don’t want to put a number on it because it escapes my mind, but I think Sam will be just after the bye week, and Abbas will be just before, but they’re both accelerating quickly and are doing what we expect of them.”

     

     

     

    Meanwhile, Peet confirmed that new Christian Wade will again feature for the Reserves when they make the trip to the Totally Wicked Stadium to face St Helens on Saturday afternoon, midday kick-off.

     

    Peet says he has been impressed by the way their new recruit has taken to life in a new sport, with his attitude and willingness to learn being one of his standout traits so far.

     

    “I’d say he’s doing everything he can,” Peet added. “He’s very diligent, the lads have taken to him because his attitude is so good and because he has an infectious personality.

     

    “He has got to keep learning, he’s going to make mistakes, but we’re going to do things in training to maximise his learning and I think every day at the moment will be really exciting and he seems to be enjoying it.”

     

     

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  • Report: Wisconsin in contact with five-star in-state guard top-30 recruit

    Report: Wisconsin in contact with five-star in-state guard top-30 recruit

     

     

    Wisconsin basketball has contacted 5-star 2027 shooting guard Dooney Johnson.

    Johnson, from Milwaukee, is ranked No. 27 overall in his class by 247Sports.

    Numerous top programs, including Kentucky, Indiana, and Gonzaga, have also contacted Johnson.

    Wisconsin basketball is in the mix for one of the top high school prospects in the class of 2027.

     

    According to Sam Kayser, the Badgers are part of a large group of programs that have contacted Milwaukee, Wisconsin, shooting guard Dooney Johnson. Other programs on the list are Indiana, Kentucky, Marquette, Washington, Gonzaga, Oklahoma State, Nebraska, Minnesota, LSU, BYU, Cincinnati, Western Michigan, St. Louis, Southern Utah and Bradley.

     

    247Sports lists Johnson as a five-star recruit at this stage of the 2027 cycle. He’s specifically ranked as the No. 27 overall player in the class, the No. 3 shooting guard and the No. 1 player from the state of Wisconsin. The in-state Badgers and Marquette Golden Eagles are the clear top programs on his offer sheet as of June 17, though numerous blue-blood programs, including Kentucky, Indiana and Gonzaga, appear to be entering the mix.

     

    The Milwaukee Juneau High School standout also sits at No. 30 in the ESPN60. He has a real chance to surpass class of 2024 five-star recruit Kon Knueppel, who finished the cycle ranked No. 19 in the nation, as one of the state’s top players in recent memory.

     

    Johnson’s recruitment should be a major storyline as the 2027 cycle picks up steam. Several top-ranked in-state recruits have committed elsewhere over the last half-decade. That includes top-100 class of 2025 prospects Jamarion Batemon (Iowa State) and Xzavion Mitchell (Iowa State), Knueppel (Duke), class of 2023 standout Milan Momcilovic (Iowa State), 2022 point guard Seth Trimble (North Carolina) and 2021 point guard Tyrese Hunter (Iowa State).

     

    Of course, Wisconsin has experienced as much success as the listed programs over the last half-decade, except for Duke. But there remains a question of how much the program’s ceiling would be elevated by landing top-tier, NBA-caliber talent. Johnson looks like the next in-state player who could make that a reality.

  • Noah Lyles says his planned race with Tyreek Hill is off

    Noah Lyles says his planned race with Tyreek Hill is off

     

    Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill will not get his wish of racing Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles.

     

    Lyles said that he and Hill had agreed to race in what they hoped would be a major event this weekend in New York City, but it has been called off for reasons that Lyles did not fully explain.

     

    “We were very deep into creating the event. In fact, it was supposed to happen this weekend,” Lyles said, via the New York Post. “Unfortunately there were some things, complications, personal reasons that it just didn’t come to pass, but we were full on. We were gonna have a big event, we were going to shut down New York Times Square and everything, we were gonna have all the billboards for the event, it was going to be a lot of fun.”

     

    Hill entered a track meet on Friday and won the 100-meter dash in 10.15 seconds. That’s an outstanding time for someone like Hill, who hasn’t run track competitively since he was in college a decade ago. But it’s a far cry from what Lyles is capable of doing: Lyles won the gold medal in Paris last summer by running the 100 meters in 9.79 seconds.

     

    With NFL season fast approaching, there may not be time to reschedule the Lyles-Hill race while Hill is available. If it ever happens, it’s probably on hold until next year.

     

     

  • Nottingham Forest news: Liverpool player emerges as transfer target

    Nottingham Forest news: Liverpool player emerges as transfer target

     

     

    Darwin Nunez and Kostas Tsimikas (Photo by Catherine Ivill – AMA/Getty Images)

    Nottingham Forest are set to be busy this summer, as they prepare for next season’s UEFA Conference League. Nuno Espirito Santo’s squad will need to be fleshed out, and there are a number of positions that intend to be addressed.

     

    A number of Forest players have been linked with big-money moves, but there is a desire for them to stay at the City Ground. And new teammates are also wanted, with left-back being one area that is expected to be addressed.

     

    Kostas Tsimikas added to Nottingham Forest shortlist

    Kostas Tsimikas at Liverpool

    Kostas Tsimikas has no future at Liverpool. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

    And as per Football Insider, former scout has revealed that Nuno is the one that wants a new left-back this summer, with Liverpool’s Kostas Tsimikas being one of the club’s targets.

     

    “At least one of Robertson or Tsimikas will leave Liverpool. They don’t want to have three left-backs on the books with Kerkez coming in.

     

    “Tsimikas has done well when he’s come into the Liverpool side and he’s got a few suitors. Nottingham Forest have done their due diligence on him and now they have to decide whether he’s the one they want to take a chance on. They’ve looked into his character and his ability to see if he would fit in.

     

     

  • Aina & Elanga hybrid: Nottingham Forest in talks to sign £21m star

    Aina & Elanga hybrid: Nottingham Forest in talks to sign £21m star

     

     

    Elanga & Aina-2

    Nottingham Forest were one of the standout sides of the Premier League last season. The East Midlands club, under the tutelage of Nuno Espirito Santo, qualified for the UEFA Conference League after they finished seventh in the top flight. For much of the campaign, they were in the race for a Champions League spot.

     

    Unsurprisingly, with all that success, there has been plenty of interest in some of their key players. Anthony Elanga is one man who has been linked with a move away, with reports suggesting a £50m bid from Newcastle United would be enough for the deal to go through.

     

    Anthony-Elanga-Nottingham-Forest

    If that move does happen, Forest will need a replacement and have been linked with a player who is, in many ways, a hybrid between Elanga and right-back Ola Aina.

     

    Nottingham Forest’s latest transfer target

    It would certainly be a huge blow if Elanga was to depart the City Ground. The relationship he has formed with Aina down that right-hand side has been formidable. The East Midlands side must get his potential replacement right.

     

    Well, perhaps the man they could bring into the club is AC Milan winger Alexis Saelemaekers. According to a report from TEAMtalk, the club ‘have held talks’ with the Serie A giants over a potential move for the Belgian this summer.

     

    alexis-saelemaekers-roma

    This is a longstanding interest; Forest have reportedly been ‘in contact with the Belgian international’s entourage for over a year’. The two teams are apart in valuation at the moment, with Milan demanding £21m, just over £4m more than what Forest want to pay.

     

    However, the fact that they’ve been interested in the winger for so long might suggest a deal can be completed.

     

    Why Saelemaekers would be a good signing

    The versatile Belgian star spent the 2024/25 campaign on loan at Milan’s Serie A rivals Roma. Whilst he struggled with an ankle injury at the beginning of the season, he enjoyed a strong second half to his spell in the Italian capital.

     

    alexis-saelemaekers-as-roma

    Saelemaekers played 31 games for Roma last season, grabbing an impressive 13 goals and assists in that time. Of those goal involvements, seven goals and three assists came in just 22 Serie A appearances.

     

    One of the standout features about Saelemaekers’ game last season was, without doubt, his versatility. The 25-year-old played on both flanks and as a number 10, seeing success in all of those positions.

     

     

    This is where the Elanga and Aina hybrid idea comes in. Not only is Saelemaekers able to play as a right-winger, thus replacing Elanga directly, but he can also slot in as a right-back.

     

    As per Transfermarkt, he has played that role 14 times in his career, as well as featuring at right wing-back.

     

    Replacing Elanga next season, if he leaves, will not be easy. The Sweden international was a standout player in Garibaldi Red last term, with six goals and 11 assists in 38 Premier League games, mainly operating on the right-hand side. However, Saelemaekers certainly has the ability to do so.

     

    Most assists 2024-25 Premier League (timeless)

    The similarities between the duo are clear to see. Both are right-footed wingers operating on the right and had a hand in a healthy number of goals.

     

    In fact, both of them averaged 0.61 goal involvements per 90 minutes, as per FBref, with Saelemaekers playing more progressive passes than Elanga each game, with 3.48 to 2.27.

     

    Saelemaekers and Elanga key stats compared

     

    Stat (per 90)

     

    Saelemaekers

     

    Elanga

     

    Goals and assists

     

    0.61

     

    0.61

     

    Key passes

     

    1.59

     

    1.8

     

    Progressive passes

     

    3.48

     

    2.27

     

    Shot-creating actions

     

    3.9

     

    3.67

     

    Ball recoveries

     

    4.82

     

    3.2

     

    Stats from FBref

     

    Saelemaekers can certainly be an apt Elanga replacement, and will be hoping he can form a deadly partnership with Aina, just as the Swede has done. They have played 57 times together, even combining for a goal away to West Ham United in 2022/23, in what ended as a 3-2 loss.

     

    He could also provide cover, or even competition as a flying full-back, for a player Jamie Carragher said “could play for a team who expects to be in the Champions League every season”.

     

    Nottingham Forest’s Ola Aina celebrates after the match

    There is no doubt that Saelemaekers could be a fantastic member of the squad at the City Ground. He is a player with reams of “quality” as football talent scout Jacek Kulig said, and with the abilities he possesses, can surely be considered a hybrid of Elanga and Aina, two of Forest’s most important players.

     

     

  • Noah Lyles and iShowSpeed’s split times in 50m race compared to run at Paris Olympics have finally been revealed

    Noah Lyles and iShowSpeed’s split times in 50m race compared to run at Paris Olympics have finally been revealed

     

    The split times for Noah Lyles and IShowSpeed’s race back in November have been revealed and they are eye-opening to say the least.

     

    Lyles, who is pushing to be the man to dethrone Usain Bolt as the fastest man on the planet, squared off against the Twitch streamer in a 50m race – with a staggering sum of $100,000 on the line.

     

    To begin with, Speed lived up to his name with a quick start on the track but Lyles soon turned on the jets and got in front, before taking it a little easier at the end and high-stepping on the final stretch.

     

    He claimed the six-figure fee and pledged to donate it to charity, though Speed claimed it was a draw and demanded a rematch – a request that Lyles turned down instantly.

     

     

     

    Different camera angles showed the race was closer than expected and on Reddit, one person decided to do a comprehensive breakdown of the race.

     

    Noah Lyles and iShowsSpeed’s split times in 50m race

    Lyles ran 100 metres in 9.79 to win Gold and claim a personal best at the Paris Olympics and after varying views on how seriously he took his sprint with Speed, Brian Ong used a slew of videos to crunch the data and calculate.

     

    Including Lyles’ splits from his Olympics heroics, Ong estimated that Lyles had a time of 5.87 seconds – with a max velocity of 24.31mph in the 50 metres – with Speed coming in at 5.94 seconds and with a max velocity of 23.30.

     

     

     

    Although he acknowledged difficulties in preparing the analysis that might mean some times are slightly off, Ong worked concluded that Lyles “definitely underestimated” Speed and had a slower start.

     

    Ong wrote that Lyles “hit an extra gear to catch Speed right around 22m” and then took control – running with ease before his antics near the end.

     

    The full table can be found here:

     

    Noah Lyles and IShowSpeed’s times were compared. Reddit/r/trackandfield

    Noah Lyles and IShowSpeed’s times were compared. Reddit/r/trackandfield

    IShowSpeed won four races in a row against rival

    Speed, who has expressed his interest in competing at the Olympics, recently faced off against former Liverpool defender and CBS pundit Jamie Carragher prior to the Champions League final.

     

     

    But he also went up against viral fitness star Ashton Hall, a former American football running back who has become known for his unusual morning routine on TikTok.

     

    And Speed dominated throughout, beating him FOUR times in a row and forcing Hall to admit that he lost “fair and square”.

     

    “You win some, you lose some,” he said.

     

    “He beat me fair and square… and I did ask to run it back. That’s what I’m always gonna do.

     

     

    “Turns out bro beat me clearly four times… fair and square.

     

    “First time, I slipped. Second time, he clearly beat me. And I said, ‘bro run it back’. And he ran it back. The third time was a tie. The fact that he beat me the fourth time, I’ll give it to him.”

     

     

  • Film Breakdown: What Robert Stith Brings to West Virginia’s 2026 WR Room

    Film Breakdown: What Robert Stith Brings to West Virginia’s 2026 WR Room

     

    Originally posted on West Virginia Mountaineers on SI

     

    Class of 2026 wide receiver Robert Stith (6’2″, 185 lbs) of Niceville, Florida, was one of several recruits who committed to West Virginia on Sunday.

     

    Stith picked the Mountaineers over opportunities at Arkansas State, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Jacksonville State, Kansas State, Kentucky, Liberty, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, South Alabama, Southern Miss, Toledo, Troy, Tulane, UAB, UConn, UNLV, and USF.

     

    This morning, we take a closer look at what WVU is getting in Stith, who caught 45 passes for 870 yards and 10 touchdowns as a junior.

     

    Evaluation

    Smooth runner. Doesn’t have blazing speed, but can definitely get separation and get behind the defense on deep balls.

    A lot of underneath catch-and-go stuff on his tape, combined with a fair amount of go balls. Interested to see how well he can work the middle of the field on intermediate stuff since there’s just not much of it on film. Wouldn’t expect him to contribute in year one, but could work his way into the rotation by year two, but certainly by year three once he spends a bunch of time with Mike Joseph in the weight room.

     

     

     

    Seahawks sign Australian rookie offensive lineman

    General Sports

    Tyreek Hill Race with Noah Lyles CANCELED Over Mysterious Personal Reasons

    If you were waiting with anticipation for the race between Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill and Olympian Noah Lyles, I have some bad news for you. The race will not be taking place. In fact, per Lyles, the race was supposed to happen this past weekend in New York City’s Times Square. Per a NY Post article, the race is off per Lyles.

    Lyes said, “We were very deep into creating the event. In fact, it was supposed to happen this weekend,” Lyles said. “Unfortunately there were some things, complications, personal reasons that it just didn’t come to pass, but we were full on. “We were gonna have a big event, we were going to shut down New York Times Square and everything, we were gonna have all the billboards for the event, it was going to be a lot of fun.” Lyes went on to say “A lot of people didn’t believe it to be true. They thought it was just, ‘Oh, this is just them talking online,’” Lyles said.

    “We had to bring it to fruition.” Lyles said both the general public and potential corporate sponsors “didn’t believe it was real,” but that he took charge in an effort to make it happen. “It’s like, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll take care of this. I know what to do. And it’s not going to look to the point where it’s staged. It’s going to look right on the money, trust me,’” It is unclear if the personal reasons were those of Lyle or Tyreek.

    Hill has a long list of off-the-field issues, is currently going through a divorce, and has an open court case for later this year. There is no word on whether plans are in place to reschedule the race for a later time, but it appears unlikely at this time, and the race will most likely not happen.

     

    Former Milwaukee Brewers Infielder DFA’d by New York Yankees

    NHL

    Maple Leafs’ John Tavares connected with surprising West team

    The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to see major changes occur this offseason. With the team having multiple key players entering free agency, Toronto’s roster could look very different come next season. Star forward Mitch Marner is expected to leave the team, and Toronto would then need to replace his production.

    But star John Tavares is also a free agent this summer. Many are expecting Tavares to return to the Maple Leafs, but anytime a player hits free agency, anything can happen. Despite having a down season, there will surely be other teams looking to bring Tavares into the picture. One of those could be the Minnesota Wild, who need a boost after another early playoff exit.

    NHL insider Joe Smith of The Athletic linked the Wild with the Maple Leafs star, writing that Tavares could be a good target for Minnesota to consider. “The Wild’s main need is up the middle, and now they’re on Plan B after target Nelson re-signed with the Avalanche.

    Tavares’ priority has been to stay in Toronto, but if he gets to market, he’d give Minnesota the experienced, two-way center who could take some pressure off Joel Eriksson Ek. The Wild need to get Tavares, Duchene or Jonathan Toews to address the position, especially after missing out on Nelson,” Smith wrote. Tavares isn’t the same player that he once was, but he could still be productive for the Wild.

    Last season, he scored 38 goals and 36 assists for the Maple Leafs. But in the playoffs, it became apparent that Tavares couldn’t keep up with other speedy players. Minnesota could be an interesting landing spot for the All-Star, and he could provide some quality experience to the team.

     

    New Report On Grizzlies’ Interest In Ex-Lakers, Knicks Guard For Coaching Role

    MLB

    Report: Cubs’ Jed Hoyer expected to be aggressive at trade deadline

    After winning three of their four games against the Pittsburgh Pirates this week, the Chicago Cubs sit 5.5 games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers for first place in the NL Central with a 44-28 record, the third-best record in the MLB behind the Detroit Tigers and New York Mets.

    The Cubs are expected to be aggressive before the trade deadline on July 31 to help find another starting pitcher, and Bruce Levine of 670 The Score had a positive update for the team’s chances of landing an ace on the mound.

    Trades are available for Jed Hoyer During an appearance Monday morning on the “Mully Haugh Show,” Levine said Cubs president Jed Hoyer has the ammunition to make a trade in the wake of the Boston Red Sox sending designated hitter Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday. “I’ve been talking to a lot of people over the last four or five days about possible trades, and everybody says it’s there for Hoyer,” Levine said. “There’s that money that they didn’t spend on (Cody) Bellinger or the Red Sox third baseman, right? Alex Bregman.

    That was another $30 million times four.” The Chicago Cubs could add more offense Levine suggested that the Cubs might do more than land a starting pitcher and could add another hitter to an already scary offensive lineup. “So, there’s money there for Hoyer to spend,” Levine said. “It’s up to him to decide how he wants to do that, and is it going to be an ace starting pitcher?… Do they need a little fortification with offense? It’s right there.

    Maybe, they can do a little of both as they start, hopefully, pushing away from the rest of the division.” The Cubs have some extra time to make a move on Monday. They have an off day before hosting a three-game series against the Brewers beginning on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. CDT.

     

    NBA superstar has ‘no desire’ to join his biggest suitor

    NBA

    New Report Doubles Down on Lakers’ Prime Center Target

    The Los Angeles Lakers have a monumental summer ahead of them.

    The NBA offseason of movement is slowly approaching, and we expect the Lakers to be at the forefront of things this summer. The Lakers will have a lot on their plate, but it is no secret that the top priority for the Lakers is adding and bolstering the center position. L.A. lacked in that department last season, and it played a massive factor in their ultimate demise in the first round of the playoffs.

    Los Angeles will look to learn from that and make a massive move this summer to bolster their roster. One player they’ve had their eye on for some time is Atlanta Hawks big man Clint Capela. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Capela is viewed as a player who is likely to leave the Hawks as he enters free agency this summer.

    “Capela, meanwhile, is viewed around the league by rival talent evaluators as a candidate who could leave in free agency – a scenario first mentioned back in late March on HoopsHype – after being benched in favor of Onyeka Okongwu and dangled in trade talks before the deadline.” The Lakers are in clear need of a center upgrade, and Capela stands out as one of the more realistic and attainable options on the market.

    It’s become evident that his time with the Hawks is coming to an end, and Los Angeles has surfaced as a potential landing spot. Capela could offer the Lakers exactly what they’ve lacked — reliable rim protection and a legitimate lob threat to pair with Luka Doncic.

    While he’s no longer the elite version of himself from a few years ago, Capela remains a serviceable big who can anchor a defense and finish around the rim. He also wouldn’t break the bank. At 31, Capela might be open to a team-friendly, multi-year deal if it means joining a contending situation like L.A. Of course, the Lakers could explore the trade market as well, which might be their most viable path to landing a long-term solution.

     

    But if they can snag Capela in free agency and pair him with a younger, more dependable option through a deal, it would go a long way toward solidifying the center position for the foreseeable future.

     

    More Lakers news: Lakers Eyeing Long Time Target as Offseason Plans Take Shape Lakers’ Jaxson Hayes Named Target of Surprising Rival Austin Reaves Breaks Silence, Drops Major Update on Lakers Future For more news and notes on the Los Angeles Lakers, head on over to Los Angeles Lakers on SI.

     

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  • CB Emari Peterson Chooses West Virginia Over SEC and Big Ten Interest

    CB Emari Peterson Chooses West Virginia Over SEC and Big Ten Interest

     

    West Virginia’s momentum in the 2026 recruiting class continues to roll along as cornerback Emari Peterson (6’2″, 185 lbs) of Evans High School in Orlando, Florida, announced his commitment to the program on Monday morning.

     

    Peterson picked the Mountaineers over offers from Appalachian State, Arkansas State, Bowling Green, Charlotte, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Kentucky, Liberty, LSU, Southern Miss, Texas A&M, Toledo, UMass, USF, Wake Forest, and a few others.

     

    In eleven games last season, Peterson registered 18 tackles and four pass breakups.

     

    Stayed tuned as we’ll have more in-depth analysis on this breaking story on West Virginia On SI, soon.

     

    West Virginia’s Current 2026 Commits

    QB Jyron Hughley, RB Jett Walker, WR Robert Stith, TE Sam Hamilton, OL Rhett Morris, OL Justyn Lyles, OL Cameron Goforth, EDGE Noah Tishendorf, DL Cam Mallory, LB Cameron Dwyer, LB Antoine Sharp, LB Miles Khatri, CB Emari Peterson, DB Simaj Hill, DB Jaylon Jones (JUCO), S Taj Powell, S Aaron Edwards, and S Emory Snyder.

     

     

     

    Tyreek Hill Race with Noah Lyles CANCELED Over Mysterious Personal Reasons

     

    Washington State Athletics Announces Significant Cuts To Track & Field Program

    It’s long been the fear among college sports fans that among ongoing financial changes to the national landscape, olympic sports programs at universities will be the ones to suffer. That happened at Washington State on Monday with the announcement that the Cougars will significantly scale back the track and field program.

    In a press release distributed Monday, WSU announced that the program will shift to a “distance-focused approach.” WSU is cutting all field events, such as jumps and throws, and cutting some sprints and hurdles for future seasons. “This change gives the WSU Track Field program the best opportunity to remain competitive at the conference and national levels in distance events in cross country, indoor track and field, and outdoor track and field,” the press release noted.

    WSU will honor the scholarships of all current student-athletes impacted by the change, should they choose to remain at the school. The Cougs recently sent six student-athletes to the NCAA Outdoor Championships this spring. Rising sophomore Evans Kurui finished fifth in the 10,000-meter final to clinch First-Team All-America honors.

    Kurui was also the West Coast Conference Men’s Co-Runner of the Year and the WCC Freshman of the Year in Cross Country this past fall. Four Washington State alumni competed in track and field the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, all of which competed in sprints, hurdles, or jumps.

     

    Desperation Growing for Red Wings to Trade Former NHL All-Star Per New Reports

     

    Maple Leafs’ John Tavares connected with surprising West team

    The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to see major changes occur this offseason. With the team having multiple key players entering free agency, Toronto’s roster could look very different come next season. Star forward Mitch Marner is expected to leave the team, and Toronto would then need to replace his production. But star John Tavares is also a free agent this summer. Many are expecting Tavares to return to the Maple Leafs, but anytime a player hits free agency, anything can happen.

    Despite having a down season, there will surely be other teams looking to bring Tavares into the picture. One of those could be the Minnesota Wild, who need a boost after another early playoff exit. NHL insider Joe Smith of The Athletic linked the Wild with the Maple Leafs star, writing that Tavares could be a good target for Minnesota to consider.

    “The Wild’s main need is up the middle, and now they’re on Plan B after target Nelson re-signed with the Avalanche. Tavares’ priority has been to stay in Toronto, but if he gets to market, he’d give Minnesota the experienced, two-way center who could take some pressure off Joel Eriksson Ek. The Wild need to get Tavares, Duchene or Jonathan Toews to address the position, especially after missing out on Nelson,” Smith wrote.

    Tavares isn’t the same player that he once was, but he could still be productive for the Wild. Last season, he scored 38 goals and 36 assists for the Maple Leafs. But in the playoffs, it became apparent that Tavares couldn’t keep up with other speedy players. Minnesota could be an interesting landing spot for the All-Star, and he could provide some quality experience to the team.

     

     

    New Report On Grizzlies’ Interest In Ex-Lakers, Knicks Guard For Coaching Role

    The Memphis Grizzlies have been making NBA headlines over the last few days, not just in trade reports, but also in terms of the coaching staff. The Grizzlies are searching for assistant coaches to join newly appointed head coach Tuomas Iisalo’s staff. After trading Desmond Bane, Memphis has been in the news regarding potential candidates to join Iisalo on the bench.

    Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported the list of candidates, and one name stands out above the rest: former Grizzlies guard Wayne Ellington. “Meanwhile, the Grizzlies have also cast a wide net for potential assistant coaches on the front of their bench, including interest in Adrian Griffin, Jared Dudley, Dale Osbourne, Royal Ivey, Wayne Ellington, etc.,” Scotto wrote.

    “Ivey has also drawn interest this summer from the Spurs, while Dudley has also logged interest from the Cavaliers and Suns, league sources told HoopsHype.” Ellington spent 13 seasons in the NBA with the Grizzlies, as well as eight other teams, including the New York Knicks, Los Angeles Lakers, and Miami Heat. In Memphis, he averaged 5.5 points, 1.3 rebounds, and 1.1 assists across 40 regular-season games, while his career averages consist of 8.0 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. As a coach, the former North Carolina Tar Heel has been in a player development role with the Heat since 2023.

    He left his playing career behind after the 2021-22 season with the Lakers. Ellington could be of use for the Grizzlies as they look to navigate post-Bane trade. The team still intends to compete with the star duo of Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst.

  • Who will be Wisconsin’s breakout player in 2025-26q

    Who will be Wisconsin’s breakout player in 2025-26q

     

    The Badgers are turning a page next season with a number of new faces.

     

    The 2025–26 Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball team is set to look very different from last season, especially when it comes to who will be carrying the scoring load. With leading scorer John Tonje heading to the NBA, a significant number of offensive opportunities are now up for grabs.

     

    While junior guard John Blackwell is expected to take another step forward from his already impressive 15.8 points per game, his improvement will not be the most impactful on the team. Instead, expect sophomore forward Nolan Winter to be poised to have the biggest breakout season for the Badgers.

     

    Winter already showed promise during the 2024–25 campaign, averaging 9.4 points and leading the team with 5.8 rebounds per game. What’s especially encouraging is that he achieved those numbers despite splitting nearly equal minutes with veteran forward Carter Gilmore.

     

    Winter played just over 21 minutes per game this season. But, with Gilmore now gone, Winter will likely see a significant increase in playing time, potentially closer to 30 minutes per game. More minutes will naturally lead to more opportunities to contribute on both ends of the floor.

     

    Efficiency was one of Winter’s strengths as a freshman. He shot 56.4 percent from the field and 35 percent from beyond the arc, showcasing a rare ability to stretch the floor as a big man. That versatility is exactly what Wisconsin’s evolving offensive system needs.

     

    Head coach Greg Gard and assistant coach Kirk Penney made a noticeable shift in the team’s offensive strategy last season, emphasizing perimeter shooting and offensive spacing. The result? A record-breaking year in terms of points scored and offensive efficiency for the program.

     

    Winter fits this new system perfectly. As a seven-footer who can shoot from deep, he forces defenses to guard him on the perimeter, which opens up lanes for others and helps keep the offense flowing.

     

    Wisconsin’s offensive identity is becoming more dynamic and guard-driven, and the additions of transfer point guard Nick Boyd and forward Andrew Rohde only add to that vision. Both players are strong ball-handlers and capable scorers who can drive into the paint and kick the ball out to open shooters.

     

    With three interchangeable guards who can penetrate and create, Winter will benefit from a steady stream of catch-and-shoot opportunities from beyond the arc. One of his weaknesses has been his weight and post scoring, but Winter has continually gotten bigger and stronger each season and will get opportunities in the post as well, giving him even more chances to score.

     

    Winter’s ability to hit outside shots, finish inside, rebound, and defend multiple positions gives him the tools to be one of the most improved players in the Big Ten. If he continues to build on the confidence and momentum from his freshman and sophomore years, Nolan Winter won’t just be a reliable starter—he’ll be a focal point of Wisconsin’s offense in 2025–26.

  • Florida football lands two more OL commitments for 2026 class

    Florida football lands two more OL commitments for 2026 class

     

     

    Florida football picked up its 11th and 12th commitments for the 2026 class, landing a pledges from three-star offensive tackle Javarii Luckas and three-star offensive tackle Tyler Chukuyem on June 16.

     

    The 6-foot-5, 305-pound Luckas, from Glades Central High in Belle Glade, chose the Florida Gators over offers from USF, West Virginia, FIU and Florida Atlantic. Per 247 Sports, Luckas is rated as the 97th-best offensive tackle in the 2026 class.

     

    Chukuyem (6-6, 290) is a three-star recruit from Douglasville, Ga., rated as the 36th-best tackle and 554th-best prospect in the 2026 class. He chose Florida over offers from Florida State, Cincinnati, Ole Miss and Appalachian State.

     

    Luckas joins St. Pete Lakewood offensive lineman Chancellor Campbell and IMG Academy guard G’Nivre Carr as the third and fourth offensive line commitments in UF’s 2026 class.

     

    Under offensive line coach Rob Sale, Florida has produced two offensive line All-Americans in three seasons ― right guard O’Cyrus Torrence (2022) and center Jake Slaughter (2024). UF returns four starters, including Slaughter, on its offensive line for the 2025 season.

     

    Luckas took his official visit to UF on May 30. Here’s more information about him, courtesy of of Gannett Florida’s USA Today recruiting database:

     

    Javarii Luckas

    School: Glades Central

     

    Commitment: Florida

     

    Height, Weight: 6-5, 305 pounds

     

    2024 Stats: 10 pancake blocks, 1 tackle (MaxPreps)

     

    USA Today Florida Network Star Rating: 3 ★★★

     

    USA Today Florida Network grade: 84.25

     

    247Sports Composite: N/A

     

    Scouting report: Luckas is a project of a prospect. His size is undeniable, but his strength, movement, and technique are not to the level of his peers yet. The foundations are there, but he struggles to handle even smaller defenders and takes a while to generate momentum from his base.

     

    This story was updated with new information.

     

    Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com