Associated Press
The college basketball notebook …
LEXINGTON, Ky. ó Forward DeMarcus Cousins has signed a national letter of intent to play at Kentucky, the first one secured by new coach John Calipari.
Cousins had previously committed to play for Calipari at Memphis, but now is joining the Wildcats since Calipari was hired earlier this month to replace Billy Gillispie.
Rivals.com has ranked the Mobile, Ala., senior as the top power forward in the country. He averaged 26 points and 12 rebounds this year in leading his high school team to the state semifinals.
GOING PRO
LEXINGTON, Ky. ó Kentucky forward Patrick Patterson will test the NBA waters but will not hire an agent.
The 6-foot-9 sophomore said Wednesday he wants to get a feel for his draft status before making a decision.
– SPOKANE, Wash. ó Gonzaga forward Austin Daye will make himself available for the NBA draft, but will not hire an agent and thus leave open his option of returning to the Bulldogs. Daye averaged 12.7 points and 6.8 rebounds as a sophomore.
– AUSTIN, Texas ó Texas swingman Damion James has decided to enter the NBA draft but won’t hire an agent. He averaged 15.7 last season.
VIRGINIA
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. ó Virginia men’s basketball coach Tony Bennett has completed his first staff for the Cavaliers with the addition of three new assistant coaches.
Bennett on Wednesday named Ron Sanchez and Jason Williford assistant coaches and Brad Soucie director of basketball operations. Williford is a former Virginia player.
BARTOW CANCER
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ó Former UCLA and UAB basketball coach Gene Bartow has been diagnosed with stomach cancer. The 78-year-old Bartow is currently the president of the company that owns the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.