4-star Oregon Ducks LB target earns MVP honors at Rivals camp
This past week, some of the best recruits in the nation showed out at the Rivals 5-star camp, going through drills and displaying what they could do on a bigger stage. While Oregon Ducks target Deuce Geralds turned some heads with his play and his gear, it was fellow Oregon target Nick Abrams who earned MVP honors at the linebacker position when all was said and done.
247Sports rates Abrams as the No. 229 player in the 2026 class, and the No. 14 linebacker, but he has some big-time schools after him in this cycle, including Oregon, the Georgia Bulldogs, Alabama Crimson Tide, and Michigan Wolverines.
Abrams took an official visit to Oregon earlier this month and is said to be high on the Ducks coming out of it. He is scheduled to announce his commitment on July 16, and Dan Lanning's team is squarely in the running to land him, looking to add to their small but impressive haul of commits in the 2026 cycle.
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New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Ichiro hilariously needles lone writer who left him off Hall of Fame ballot
Ichiro has a Hall of Fame mind and on off the field. The long-time Seattle Mariner didn't hold back during his Hall of Fame acceptance speech on Sunday, calling out the lone Baseball Writers' Association voter who failed to include him on his or her ballot, despite his historic career achievements. 'Three‑thousand hits or 262 hits in one season are achievements recognized by the writers. Well, all but one of you. And by the way, the offer for that writer to have dinner at my home has now expired,' Ichiro said to a roaring Cooperstown crowd. Ichiro Suzuki speaks during the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown, New York. Getty Images Ichiro headlined the 2025 class, sharing the Cooperstown stage with CC Sabathia and elite reliever Billy Wagner, while legendary players Dick Allen and Dave Parker were inducted posthumously. Ichiro was selected on his first ballot with a sweeping 99.7 percent of the vote share, collecting 393 of 394 votes. The achievement also makes Ichiro the first Asian-born Hall of Fame inductee. Over 19 MLB seasons, Ichiro racked up 3,089 major league hits with a career batting average of a blistering .311, as well as 509 stolen bases, 10 Gold Gloves, three Silver Slugger awards, and two batting titles. Ichiro's single-season record of 262 hits in 2004 still stands to this day. Inductees, from left, Billy Wagner, Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Willa Allen, representing her late husband late Dick Allen and David Parker II, representing his late father Dave Parker pose for a photograph after the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Clark Sports Center on July 27, 2025 in Cooperstown, New York. Getty Images Ichiro's 242 hits as a rookie in 2001 are also 10th all-time and second after 1930 — that season he won both MVP and Rookie of the Year in the American League. He also reached 10 consecutive All-Star games to begin his career, an MLB record. As of Ichiro's speech, the writer who left him off the ballot, keeping him from becoming the second unanimous first ballot Hall of Famer, has remained anonymous. Mariano Rivera received a perfect 425 of 425 votes for his initial Hall of Fame bid in 2019. Ichiro's 99.7 percent ties Derek Jeter for second place.
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
Baseball Hall of Fame 2025 induction: Best moments from Ichiro, Sabathia, more
The Baseball Hall of Fame welcomed five new members on Sunday, July 27, as Ichiro Suzuki, CC Sabathia, Billy Wagner, Dave Parker and Dick Allen were inducted in Cooperstown, New York. Suzuki became the Hall of Fame's first Japanese player – assembling a 19-year MLB career after nine decorated professional seasons in Japan – and was just one vote shy of a unanimous election. Sabathia also got in on his first ballot after winning 261 games as one of the best starting pitchers of the new millennium. Wagner ranks eighth on the all-time saves list with 422, while Allen (1972) and Parker (1978) were MVP award winners. An enormous crowd showed for the festivities, with Suzuki a fan favorite on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Sabathia also had a huge number of fans on hand with Cooperstown a four-hour drive from Yankee Stadium, where Sabathia pitched 11 seasons. Here are some of the best moments from Sunday's Hall of Fame induction ceremony: Ichiro steals the show Ichiro was undoubtedly the biggest name of the 2025 Hall of Fame class, the first Japanese-born player to be enshrined in Cooperstown. Despite his immense fame, success and long, illustrious career though, Ichiro started his speech talking about his familiarity with being a rookie – first in Japan, then Seattle, and now Cooperstown. He asked his fellow Hall of Fame members to take it "easy with the hazing." Ichiro then spoke on his accomplishments, mentioning that he was honored that "all but one" of the BBWAA writers believed he was worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. Ichiro had previously offered to have that writer over for dinner at his house, but during his speech, Ichiro rescinded the offer, which drew a large laugh from the crowd. Ichiro also did not shy away from the pressure he faced as a Japanese-born player. He went out of his way to thank Hideo Nomo for carving the path toward Japanese players commonly being found in Major League Baseball. After a day of largely emotional speeches filled with tears and heartfelt poems, Ichiro's was much lighter, speaking largely on the difference between "dreams" and goals", his love for Seattle, and his love for the high-octane calls he heard on the television and radio for some of his most iconic plays. He even talked about his greatest experience in baseball, being able to enjoy a hot dog in the stands with his wife after he'd retired. Ichiro finished his speech to massive applause and "I-CHI-RO" chants from fans in the crowd. CC Sabathia learned lessons from each place he lived Sabathia's speech was a bit of an autobiography, speaking on lessons that he learned and people who inspired him at each step in his life, from his childhood to Cooperstown. He started his speech talking about how his mother inspired his love for baseball, and how he can still remember the starting lineups from certain All-Star games, pointing out fellow 2025 Hall of Fame class member Dave Parker as a player he loved watching growing up. At the same time, he did poke fun at Ichiro Suzuki, who Sabathia claims "stole [his] Rookie of the Year award in 2001." Sabathia's speech was all about family, from the women who raised him in Vallejo to the brothers he found during his Major League career to his own kids. He's had a lot of homes throughout his career, but home isn't where you live, it's wherever you feel most at peace, and that is very clearly the case for CC Sabathia. Dick Allen's widow speaks on his character Phillies' legend Dick Allen was known for his strong build, but his widow Willa, made most of the acceptance speech about his kind heart. Whether it was taking time to speak with children who were fans of his or his simple "Thank you" when the Phillies told him that they were going to retire his number, Allen never took the fact that he got to play baseball for a living for granted. Willa Allen got noticeably emotional when speaking on her husband's death, which came just four months after the Phillies told him they would retire his number. Dave Parker's son shares memories of his father Pirates' legend Dave Parker passed away less than a month away from his induction ceremony, making his son's speech hit that much harder as it happened. Dave Parker II even mentioned that he died while writing his Hall of Fame speech. Parker II finished his speech with a poem written by his father, noting that it was specifically his father's request that it be read during the acceptance speech. The poem was a good conclusion, with Parker posthumously praising himself for his "rocket arm" and willingness to "run any catcher over." The best moment of the poem though was the finale. After mentioning that Cooperstown would be his last stop, Parker wrote, "I didn't lie in my documentary, I told you I wouldn't show [to my acceptance speech]." Considering Parker's recent death, this line hit infinitely harder. Billy Wagner leads off Hall of Fame speeches Renowned for his closing ability, Billy Wagner led off the Hall of Fame acceptance speeches reminiscing about being a kid who never thought he'd end up in Cooperstown. Wagner's speech was preceded by incredible words from fellow Hall of Famer and former teammate, Craig Biggio. Wagner continued on, speaking about his luck to finish his career with his hometown team, the oddity that he never closed a game in the minors and never started a game in the majors, and thanking his family for their support, even getting teary-eyed while mentioning his wife. Arguably the highlight though was when Wagner turned to speak to his Hall of Fame teammates Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell. Sharing the stage with them, Wagner wasted no time both praising and teasing them, mocking Bagwell's terrifying "glare" and Biggio's whininess, while also praising their consistency and competitiveness. Ken Griffey Jr. receives monumental applause With Ichiro Suzuki entering the Hall today, it was no surprise that numerous Mariners fans had made their way to Cooperstown. Before Suzuki could take the stage though, several other Hall of Famers took the stage to show their support, including Mariners' legend Ken Griffey Jr. The applause was enormous, definitely the largest of the day before Ichiro. Unsurprisingly, the next largest applause came from the announcement of Mariners' designated hitter and third baseman Edgar Martinez. When Suzuki was finally announced, he an Griffey shared a handshake on stage. The two played together for two seasons in Seattle. What time is the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony? The 2025 Hall of Fame ceremony was scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. ET. But due to inclement weather expected between noon and 2 p.m., the start of the induction ceremony has been moved to 2:30 p.m. ET. How to watch Baseball Hall of Fame induction Where is the Baseball Hall of Fame located? The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is located in Cooperstown, New York, about a four-hour drive north of New York City. (This story has been updated with new information.)
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025 WNBA midseason awards tracker
The post 2025 WNBA midseason awards tracker appeared first on ClutchPoints. The 2025 WNBA season has officially hit the halfway mark, and fans have already enjoyed plenty of entertaining storylines. As things stand, the MVP award in particular is almost certain to go another way, considering A'Ja Wilson is not amongst the most likely contenders thus far. That honor belongs to the likes of Caitlin Clark and Napheesa Collier, the two All-Star captains this year. The Indiana Fever star in particular looks likely to compete for the MVP award after winning the Rookie of the Year last time around. However, there are plenty of other major contenders who have emerged this season already, as we attempt to recognize the biggest contenders for all the major WNBA awards. Most Valuable Player – Napheesa Collier Leading the MVP race is Napheesa Collier of the Minnesota Lynx. The 2024 MVP runner-up has elevated her game to another level in 2025, guiding the Lynx to a league-best 20-4 record while leading the WNBA in scoring with 23.9 points per game, per Basketball Reference. She has also been highly efficient, shooting at 52.1% from the field and an astounding 95.6% from the free throw line. Collier is also averaging 7.7 rebounds, 1.6 blocks, and 1.7 steals per game, ranking top-five in each of the three major defensive metrics. These two-way contributions have made her indispensable for the Lynx, who boast both the league's top offense and defense. Challenging her for the MVP crown is Phoenix Mercury's Alyssa Thomas, who has thrived with her new team, and Caitlin Clark. Thomas leads the league in assists with 9.5 per game while chipping in 15.4 points and 7.5 rebounds. Her unique ability to control games as a forward-sized playmaker is unmatched, and she recently set a WNBA record with her 16th career triple-double. She's kept Phoenix near the top of the standings despite roster changes and injuries, making her the strongest threat to Collier's MVP run. Clark will need to remain fit, and has consistently missed games this season, which is why she is not amongst the top-2 candidates as things stand. However, things can change quickly, with the player expected to return soon. Rookie of the Year – Paige Bueckers Few rookies in WNBA history have arrived with the same expectations as Paige Bueckers, and even fewer have lived up to the hype in such a short span. The Dallas Wings guard has seized full control of the Rookie of the Year race, despite missing four games due to injury and illness. She leads all rookies in scoring (18.3), assists (5.4), steals (1.7), and minutes (34.7) per game. Among all WNBA players, Bueckers ranks top-10 in scoring and is one of just four players averaging 18+ points and 5+ assists, joining the likes of Sabrina Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, and Skylar Diggins-Smith. Despite Dallas' slow start to the season, Bueckers has helped ignite a modest turnaround, with the Wings now 5-5 in their last 10 games. She became the fastest rookie in league history to reach 200 points and 50 assists, accomplishing the feat in just 11 games. Apart from Bueckers, Sonia Citron and Kiki Iriafen have impressed as well and continue to be challengers. However, this one might have Bueckers' name written all over! Most Improved Player – Allisha Gray Atlanta Dream guard Allisha Gray has exploded into All-Star stardom in 2025, becoming the first Dream player to start in the midseason showcase since 2018. Her offensive game has blossomed under new head coach Karl Smesko, with Gray averaging a career-high 19.4 points on 42.6% shooting from the field and a blistering 41.6% from three. Gray's leap in production hasn't come with a drop in consistency, and just like Bueckers, she looks the firm favorite to become the MIP this campaign. Others like Brittney Sykes, Rae Burrell, and Veronica Burton have also turned heads, but Gray looks to be the runaway leader for MIP thus far. Sixth Player of the Year- Kennedy Burke In New York, Kennedy Burke has carved out a vital role for the title-contending Liberty as the league's most impactful bench contributor. The 28-year-old guard is averaging 10 points per game off the bench and has become one of the WNBA's most efficient perimeter shooters, hitting 47.9% of her threes. Though Burke has made six starts due to injuries, her best work has come as a reserve. She's stepped into the void left by the departures of Thornton and Laney-Hamilton and has been crucial in the absence of Jonquel Jones. Minnesota's Jessica Shepard, Atlanta's Naz Hillmon, and Lynx guard Natisha Heideman round out the other top candidates. Coach of the Year- Natalie Nakase In her first season as a WNBA head coach, Natalie Nakase has redefined what's possible for expansion teams. The Golden State Valkyries are 10-9 and are firmly in the playoff race. Nakase has created a defensive juggernaut, ranking second in defensive rating behind only the Lynx, while building an offense that sits comfortably in the league's top 10. What makes Nakase's success more impressive is the cohesiveness she's developed with a brand-new roster. While Nakase's rise has undoubtedly been impressive, the likes of the Mercury's Nate Tibbetts and the Lynx's Cheryl Reeve appear to be the biggest contenders. Much of how this award goes may depend on the results of the rest of the regular season. Related: WNBA Rookies get 100% honest on 1st WNBA All-Star honor Related: JuJu Watkins, Azzi Fudd among 14 NCAA basketball stars to ink Unrivaled NIL deals
