Latest news with #Gamecocks
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Michigan Adds Third Blue-Chip Commitment in Three Days
Michigan Adds Third Blue-Chip Commitment in Three Days originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Michigan Wolverines are on a heater. Their 2026 recruiting class was already among the top 10 in the country, and it keeps getting better. Advertisement On June 29, "Big Blue" secured a commitment from five-star EDGE Carter Meadows. The following day, Andre Clarke, a four-star safety out of Richmond, Virginia, committed to the program. On Tuesday, Michigan earned its third commitment in three days with the addition of four-star EDGE Julian Walker. The 6-foot-6, 250-pound defender is from Columbia, South Carolina, and chose the Wolverines over several big-time offers from schools like South Carolina, North Carolina, NC State, Georgia Tech and more. The race for Walker's services seemed to be down to two schools: Michigan and South Carolina. Walker's father, Jamil, is a staff member with the University of South Carolina's Gamecocks. Advertisement In June, Walker took his official visit to Michigan and spoke positively about his experience. 'It was a great visit to Ann Arbor,' Walker said. 'I got some really good time with the defensive staff and Coach Moore. Definitely another elite visit, where they continue to show me how they see me playing across the line. They really like my ability to play any position up front and want to use me on the inside and outside. I love that they want to use my versatility on the field." Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore. Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Per On3, Walker is the No. 180 player in the country, the 24th-best EDGE and fourth-ranked prospect from South Carolina. Advertisement The Wolverines now have 20 commitments in this recruiting cycle. They have the ninth-best class and rank third in the Big Ten. With the addition of Walker, Michigan has nine players ranked in On3's industry top 200. Related: Hours After Landing 5-Star EDGE, Sherrone Moore, Michigan Secure Another Recruiting Win Related: Michigan WR Makes Feelings Clear About Bryce Underwood Before 2025 Season This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 1, 2025, where it first appeared.
CBC
a day ago
- Sport
- CBC
Raptors sign first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles to rookie-scale contract
The Toronto Raptors signed first-round pick Collin Murray-Boyles to a rookie-scale contract, the team announced Tuesday. The six-foot-seven, 239-pound forward was the ninth overall pick in last week's NBA draft coming out of the University of South Carolina. Murray-Boyles averaged 16.8 points and 8.3 rebounds in 32 games en route to earning an All-Southeastern Conference second-team selection as a sophomore. He led the SEC in field-goal percentage (.586), scored 20-plus points in 12 games and had nine double-doubles for the Gamecocks. Toronto also signed guard Chucky Hepburn to a two-way contract Tuesday. Hepburn averaged 16.4 points and 5.8 assists in 34 games as a senior year at the University of Louisville in 2024-25. The six-foot-two, 190-pound Hepburn was named the Atlantic Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Year and earned All-ACC first team and all-defensive team honours. He led the ACC in steals per game with 2.4.
USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Michigan football's 2026 class grows with 4-star edge rusher Julian Walker
We can't start every discourse on Michigan football recruiting by saying that the Wolverines are on a heater, can we? Well, we have to because Michigan football recruiting is on a heater. And the locomotive isn't slowing down; it appears to be gaining speed. One area where the maize and blue have thrived on the 2026 recruiting trail is in the trenches. The offensive line has a ton of promise with four-stars Malakai Lee, Marky Walbridge, and Bear McWhorter pledged, but defensive line recruiting has been on another level. The Wolverines have five-star edge rusher Carter Meadows, four-star edge McHale Blade, four-star tackles Titan Davis and Alister Vallejo, and three-star edge Tariq Boney committed already. What's one more four-star edge rusher? Thought to be a strong South Carolina lean due to his father being on the strength staff in Columbia, Irmo (S.C.) Dutch Fork four-star edge rusher Julian Walker shocked the college football world when he chose Michigan football over the Gamecocks. Walker visited Ann Arbor for Victors Weekend on June 20 and thus completes the picture he posted emanating from that weekend's photoshoot, featuring him, Tariq Boney, Carter Meadows, and Titan Davis. He was also strongly considering North Carolina and USC, and had offers from Auburn, Kentucky, Syracuse, NC State, Virginia Tech, and others. Scouting report and ranking Here's the scouting report from 247Sports' Clint Brewster: Walker possesses great overall size and length that correlates well to the next level as a 3-4 defensive lineman. He has fluid movements to get past the offensive tackle from both inside and outside rushes. Chases the ball with a great motor and can turn and flatten down the line of scrimmage. Plays with reactive quickness and has a counter move. Walker has the strength and toughness to be disruptive against the run and make plays as a true 3-down player. Depending on body type and how he develops, Walker could potentially move inside on passing downs. Walker is listed at 6-foot-6, 252 pounds and is ranked highest by On3, which has him at No. 136 overall, regardless of position. The rest of the class With Walker in the fold, the Wolverines only really have one defensive line target remaining in Suwanee (Ga.) Collins Hill four-star defensive tackle Deuce Geralds. All rankings by the 247Sports Composite Michigan is hoping to get good news throughout the week, with other players such as cornerback Donovan Webb, wide receivers Travis Johnson and Calvin Russell, offensive lineman John Turntine III, and cornerback Dorian Barney deciding.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Knicks Have Reportedly Reached Out To Dawn Staley Over Vacant Head Coaching Role
Knicks Have Reportedly Reached Out To Dawn Staley Over Vacant Head Coaching Role originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The New York Knicks are currently the only NBA team without a head coach after firing Tom Thibodeau on June 3. The Knicks have been linked to quite a few names, and Knicks Fan TV now reports the team has reached out to South Carolina Gamecocks' head coach Dawn Staley. Advertisement "According to league sources, both Taylor Jenkins and Mike Brown are headed for a second round of interviews. Micah Nori is still being considered. The Knicks have also reached out to South Carolina HC Dawn Staley about the job." Staley has won three national titles with the Gamecocks (2017, 2022, 2024) and is one of the greatest coaches in women's basketball history. She has a 475-110 record at South Carolina and led the program to a historic undefeated season in 2023-24. Staley's resume speaks for itself, and she'd be the first female head coach in NBA history if the Knicks do hire her. Becky Hammon was the first female to even be a finalist for a head coaching role in the NBA in 2021 when the Portland Trail Blazers interviewed her. Hammon would end up losing out to Chauncey Billups and decided to head over to the WNBA later that year. She had been an assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs for eight seasons, but still found head coaching opportunities hard to come by. Advertisement Will Staley be the one to finally end the long wait for a female head coach in the NBA? Well, only time will tell. It's unclear if Staley even has an interest in the job, as she signed a new contract earlier this year. She has given no indication of wanting to leave, but if she does consider the opportunity, she'll face some stiff competition. Mike Brown is a two-time Coach of the Year (2009, 2023) who reached the NBA Finals in 2007 with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Taylor Jenkins, meanwhile, led the Memphis Grizzlies to back-to-back 50-win seasons in 2021-22 and 2022-23. As for Micah Nori, he is regarded as one of the top assistant coaches in the NBA, and the Minnesota Timberwolves would hope to hold on to him. Along with these three, the Knicks are also interviewing New Orleans Pelicans associate coach James Borrego, according to NBA insider Shams Charania. Prior to these interviews, the Knicks adopted the rather interesting strategy of going after head coaches currently employed by NBA teams. They requested to interview Jason Kidd, Ime Udoka, Chris Finch, Billy Donovan, and Quin Snyder, but their respective teams rejected the approaches. Advertisement The Knicks were reportedly told by some of those teams to "f*** off," which isn't too surprising. It was a bizarre approach, and they're now going the traditional route. There is no clear favorite for the vacancy at the moment Related: Bill Simmons Claims Knicks Owner James Dolan Is Blocking NBA Expansion This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Dawn Staley Could Be Leaving South Carolina For NBA Job
Dawn Staley Could Be Leaving South Carolina For NBA Job originally appeared on The Spun. Dawn Staley is the best women's basketball coach in college basketball - and perhaps the entire world. The former University of Virginia and WNBA star has been leading South Carolina's women's basketball program since the 2008 season. Staley started her coaching career at Temple from 2000-08, before leaving for the Gamecocks. She's turned South Carolina into the best program in the country, winning three national championships and making seven Final Fours. Advertisement Staley has been linked to other jobs over the years - including some men's college basketball ones, along with some NBA ones - but every time, she's decided to stay put. And she's been paid well for it. The 55-year-old head coach is reportedly making a $4 million base salary as part of a five year, $25.25 million contract. But could Staley actually consider leaving South Carolina this time? TAMPA, FLORIDA - APRIL 04: Head coach Dawn Staley of the South Carolina Gamecocks looks on in the third quarter against the Texas Longhorns in the Final Four game of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament at Amalie Arena on April 04, 2025 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by)The New York Knicks are in need of a new head coach. New York fired head coach Tom Thibodeau after an Eastern Conference Finals loss. The Knicks made runs at various NBA head coaches, including Billy Donovan and Quin Snyder, among others, but they were rebuffed. Advertisement Could the Knicks now be turning to Staley? According to reports, Staley has been linked to the New York Knicks job. The Knicks are rumored to have reached out to Staley about the position. Even Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns has reacted to the coaching rumors on social media. Fouls became an issue for Towns during the 2024-25 season. The Knicks' coaching staff admitted it was something he needed to work on. 'There's good aggressive fouls and there's fouls that are obviously cheap that you have to clean up,' Thibodeau said last December, according to New York Post's Stefan Bondy. 'I think that's the important thing for him to understand, the difference between the two and how it's being called. I think discipline is the most important thing." Advertisement It'll be interesting to see how Staley approaches Towns and his foul trouble if she ends up taking the job. Staley leaving for the NBA is probably a long shot, but it continues to be mentioned as a possibility. Dawn Staley Could Be Leaving South Carolina For NBA Job first appeared on The Spun on Jun 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
