Associated Press
The college basketball notebook …
NEW YORK ó Nate Miles tells The New York Times he is open to talking to the NCAA about his recruitment by Connecticut, and the former prep star says Huskies coach Jim Calhoun knew he received improper benefits from a former team manager.
Calhoun and Connecticut were penalized by the NCAA in February for recruiting violations involving Miles and other infractions. But Miles refused to participate in the investigation.
Miles tells the newspaper in a story posted on its website Friday night that he ěprobablyî would talk to the NCAA now to ěget some things straight.î
SLAM STAR
JACKSONVILLE, Ill. ó Illinois College senior guard Jacob Tucker is a slam dunk star.
Tucker won the annual slam dunk championships that are part of the Final Four on Thursday night at the University of Houston. He competed against seven Division I players in front of a judging panel that included former NBA star Karl Malone.
The State Journal-Register reports Tucker won a chance to compete after winning a Facebook fan vote. Tucker also posted a video on YouTube of himself slam dunking in an empty gymnasium. It garnered millions of hits.
GEORGIA TECH
ATLANTA ó Iman Shumpert said Friday he is impressed with Brian Gregory’s first week as Georgia Tech’s coach and believes he would become a better player if he returns for his senior season.
Even so, the 6-foot-5 Shumpert told The Associated Press he hasn’t changed his mind about testing his NBA options.
“I’m confident I could be a late first- or high second-round pick, but it’s up to the NBA to tell me that,” Shumpert said.
The shooting guard led the Yellow Jackets with his 17.3 points and 5.9 rebounds per game as a junior. He was named one of the Atlantic Coast Conference’s top defensive players.
AP AWARDS
HOUSTON ó Jimmer Fredette became a one-name star in his senior season at BYU.
Leading the country in scoring helped as did being on a team that spent the second half of the season ranked in the top 10.
On Friday, Fredette ó excuse me; Jimmer ó was selected The Associated Press’ player of the year after averaging 28.5 points.
Notre Dame’s Mike Brey was selected the coach of the year as he led the Fighting Irish to a second-place finish in the Big East and a No. 5 ranking in the final poll.
Brey, a former Duke assistant, has been at Norte Dame for 11 years.
MISSOURI STATE
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. ó Missouri State has hired Purdue’s Paul Lusk as its men’s basketball coach, plucking the top assistant from Matt Painter’s staff.
Lusk replaces Cuonzo Martin, another former Purdue assistant who is taking over at Tennessee.