James Blackmon Jr. has made an oral commitment to play basketball at Indiana, Peegs.com reported late Thursday.
“What really sold it is the coach,” Blackmon told the Indianapolis Star. “He has a lot of confidence in me.”
Blackmon was scheduled to visit IU during the Hoosiers’ football season opener against Towson.
The 6-foot-2, 170-pound guard is the all-time leading scorer at Memorial Park Middle School, breaking current South Side standout Rapheal Davis’ record.
Blackmon, a freshman at Bishop Luers, would be part of the Hoosiers’ Class of 2014.
Blackmon is the son of Luers coach and former Kentucky player James Blackmon Sr.
BASKETBALL
Heritage hires boys coach
Former Woodlan coach Dave Randall was hired as the boys basketball coach at Heritage, replacing Nick Ankenbruck. Randall coached the Warriors for five years in 2001-05 and has also been an assistant coach at North Side, South Side and Snider.
Sluggish U.S. trounces Tunisia
Outworked and outhustled, the United States led winless Tunisia by only four points early in the third quarter before turning the game into a rout over the final 15 minutes of a 92-57 victory in Istanbul. Former IU standout Eric Gordon scored 21 points for the U.S., which had already clinched first place in its group.
Seattle’s Jackson MVP of WNBA
Seattle Storm forward Lauren Jackson was selected the WNBA’s most valuable player for the third time in her career. Jackson, a 6-foot-5 forward from Australia, averaged 20.5 points and 8.3 rebounds while helping the Storm to a 28-6 record – tying the record for the most wins in a season.
CHEERLEADING
USA Gymnastics to sanction cheering
The national governing body for gymnastics – USA Gymnastics – agreed to sanction college cheer competitions, a step aimed at getting competitive cheerleading recognized as a sport. It comes after a federal judge ruled this summer that what participants call “competitive cheer” had not developed enough to be considered a college sport for Title IX purposes.
FIGURE SKATING
Olympic champ Lysacek to rest
Olympic gold medalist Evan Lysacek is taking some time off. How much time off, he hasn’t decided. Lysacek said he won’t compete the rest of this year, meaning he will skip the Grand Prix season. But he still wants to skate, and hasn’t ruled out the U.S. championships in mid-January. “
FOOTBALL
Iowa extends Ferentz’s contract
Iowa says it is extending coach Kirk Ferentz’s contract through 2020. Ferentz’s current deal runs through 2015 and pays him roughly $2.84 million per season. Ferentz’s new deal will total nearly $3.7 million a year.
College news
Alabama defensive end Marcell Dareus has been declared ineligible for two games for accepting nearly $2,000 in improper benefits during two trips to Miami. An NCAA ruling also ordered Dareus, defensive MVP of the national championship game, to pay $1,787 to a charity of his choice before regaining eligibility. … No. 4 Florida will be without reserve receiver Frankie Hammond Jr. for its season opener Saturday against Miami of Ohio.
HOCKEY
NHL news
Colorado signed forward Chris Stewart to a two-year deal. Stewart, 22, led the team with 28 goals last season and finished with 64 points. The deal’s terms weren’t disclosed. … San Jose signed a one-year, $2 million deal with former Chicago goalie Antti Niemi.
MOTORCYCLE
Funeral set for 13-year-old racer
A funeral Mass for a 13-year-old motorcycle racer killed last weekend in Indianapolis is scheduled for this morning at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Vancouver, Wash. The Vancouver boy died Sunday after he fell off his motorcycle during a warm-up lap and was run over by a 12-year-old rider from Flushing, N.Y.
