Associated Press
CHARLOTTE ó Charlotte may have finally found help at point guard.
Coach Bobby Lutz on Tuesday announced the signing of Derrio Green from Gulf Coast Community College. The 6-foot Green averaged 13.6 points and 5.2 assists last season and will have three years of eligibility with the 49ers.
Green joins Boston College transfer Shamari Spears, redshirt freshman Shamarr Bowden and signees Chris Braswell and K.J. Sherrill as newcomers to the program. Spears played at Salisbury High School, and Sherrill is a senior at West Rowan.
Charlotte only had one true point guard last season after Michael Gerrity left school just before preseason practice began. Rising senior DiJuan Harris set the school record for minutes played as Charlotte stumbled to an 11-20 record.
LOUISVILLE
LOUISVILLE, Ky. ó A federal judge has modified release conditions for the woman charged with trying to extort $10 million from Louisville coach Rick Pitino.
Magistrate Judge Dave Whalin took out language that specifically barred Karen Sypher, estranged wife of Pitino’s equipment manager, from speaking ill of Pitino. Sypher’s lawyer, Thomas Clay, said Whalin took the step to ensure the language did not infringe on his client’s right to free speech.
FLORIDA
GAINESVILLE, Fla. ó Forward Alex Tyus has decided to remain at Florida, changing his mind after announcing plans to transfer. Tyus gave no reason for his about-face.
“The University of Florida is where I want to be,” Tyus said in a statement. “I truly feel this is the best place for me to continue to grow and improve, and I look forward to this upcoming season.”
The 6-foot-8 sophomore was Florida’s second-leading scorer at 12.5 points per game and leading rebounder at 6.2 per game last season. Tyus played out of position all year, having to line up at center on an undersized team, and had decided to transfer because he wanted to play small forward.
NEVADA
RENO, Nev. ó Nevada athletic director Cary Groth has denied forward Malik Cooke a release in good standing he sought because of family medical and financial hardships back home in North Carolina.
Cooke and his family had sought his release, citing his stepfather’s illness and business financial difficulties. Groth denied the request, which was upheld by an appeal board.
Cooke, a sophomore who averaged 9.6 points and 6.2 rebounds while starting every game this past season, says he wants to purse a transfer to a school closer to his home in Charlotte. He played at the Christ School near Asheville.
While he could still transfer without the release in good standing, he could not receive a scholarship for tuition while he sits out a year before becoming eligible again.