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PGA Tour Swings to Florida

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PALM BEACH GARDENS – Beginning with today’s Honda Classic, the PGA Tour will stage the next four tournaments in Florida: 1). The Honda Classic; 2). Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard (same week as the Puerto Rico Open); 3). THE PLAYERS Championship and 4). Valspar Championship.

Louis Oosthuizen – No. 122 FedEx Cup Standings and No. 13 in the Official World Golf Ranking, Oosthuizen is the highest-ranked player in the field this week. He’s recorded 13 under-par scores in his 13 rounds on Tour this season but his last Top-10 was the 2021 3M Open (T-2).

With a T-2 at last week’s Genesis Invitational, Tour rookie Cameron Youngmoved from No. 113 to No. 53 in the Official World Golf Ranking.

Matt Jones is the tournament’s defending champion. Last year he shot 61 70 69 68 (268) (-12) to win by five strokes over Brandon Hagy.

Last week’s Genesis Invitational winner Joaquin Niemann met with media at The Honda Classic. The native of Chile, who lives in the Palm Beach area, was asked how long it takes him to get home from PGA National;

“Depends on the car,” he quipped.

The Honda Classic

COURSE: PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (Champion Course)

ARCHITECT: Tom Fazio

YARDS/PAR: 7,125 yards/Par 70

PRIZE Money/First Place Winnings: $8,000,000/$1.440,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Matt Jones

PAST RESULTS: (link)

PAST CHAMPIONS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @TheHondaClassic

TV COVERAGE: First two rounds (today and Feb 25) are scheduled for coverage from 2:00pm to 6:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel. Then, Saturday and Sunday, coverage is set for 1:00pm to 3:00pm (ET) on Golf Channel and 3:00 to 6:00pm (ET) on NBC.

PGA TOUR LIVE STREAMING on ESPN+: Streaming coverage will be featured on ESPN-Plus today and Friday with Main Feed, Featured Hole and Featured Groups from 6:45am to 6:00pm (ET). Weekend times TBA, depending on tee times.

PGA TOUR RADIO COVERAGE: SiriusXM Radio will have live radio coverage of The Honda Classic with today’s and Friday’s broadcasts from 12:00pm to 6:00pm (ET). Saturday coverage on Sirius XM Radio runs from 1:00pm to 6:00pm and Sunday from 1:00 to 6:00pm (ET). PGA Tour Radio is available on Sirius 208/XM 92 or online via PGATourCom.

Big East: UConn Big Win Over ‘Nova

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HARTFORD – (Staff report from official News Release) – In a back-and-forth Top-25 showdown, No. 21 Connecticut and R.J. Cole came up clutch on both ends of the court, first knocking down a contested layup with 5.9 ticks left to give the Huskies a 70-69 advantage over eighth-ranked Villanova. Defensively, Cole forced a turnover with 1.1 seconds left to seal the 71-69 home win.

Early in the contest, UConn took a 33-32 lead on a layup by Adama Sonogo to close out the opening half. Just 2:38 into the second frame, the Huskies took the largest lead of the game, 43-36, on a pair of Isaiah Whaley free throws. After Villanova clawed back to take a four-point lead with 46 seconds remaining in regulation, UConn tallied the final six points of the contest to secure the top-10 win in front of a sold-out XL Center.

Sanogo led the Huskies (20-7, 11-5 BIG EAST) with 20 points and two blocks, while Whaley (13 points) and Cole (12 points) also reached double figures. Collin Gillespie led the Wildcats (21-7, 14-4 BE) with 17 points, while Brandon Slater added 15.

Tonight’s schedule includes three games. At 6:30 p.m. ET, Creighton and St. John’s put their multiple game winning streaks to the test, when the Red Storm host the Bluejays at Carnesecca Arena on FS1. Entering the game with five straight wins, Creighton sits a half-game back on the Huskies in fourth at 10-5. Meanwhile, St. John’s sits in a three-way tie for sixth place with Xavier and Seton Hall at 7-8 in league play.

At 7 p.m. on CBSSN, BIG EAST leader Providence welcomes the Musketeers to the Dunkin Donuts Center. Ranked 11th in Monday’s AP Poll, the Friars enter the game with a 12-2 conference mark and 14-1 record at home. Xavier will look to bounce back from back-to-back losses against St. John’s and UConn and return to .500 in league play.

Rounding out the night, Seton Hall faces Butler at the Prudential Center at 8:30 p.m. on FS1. The Pirates enter the contest with a 16-9 (7-8 BE) overall record, while boasting a 10-2 mark at the Prudential Center this season. The Bulldogs enter the game with a 13-15 (6-11 BE) record.

Sakiewicz Steps Down from NLL Post

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PHILADELPHIA – The National Lacrosse League announced that Commissioner Nick Sakiewicz has decided to leave his position to pursue other interests but will continue to advise the league until June 30, 2022. The league has also announced that Deputy Commissioner Jessica Berman will assume the Commissioner duties. The league will announce the selection process for a new Commissioner in the near future.

The NLL has enjoyed unprecedented growth, new media partnerships, and expansion during Sakiewicz’s term as league Commissioner. His tenure began began January 1, 2016.

“The National Lacrosse League has seen transformative change and is poised for both future growth and success, thanks to Nick’s leadership during the past six years,” said Matt Hutchings, COO and EVP at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment, franchise owner of the Colorado Mammoth, speaking as Chairman of the NLL Board of Governors. “On behalf of the NLL Board of Governors, we thank him and the league staff, for all they have done to put the NLL in this position and look forward to seeing what he does next.”

Hutchings continued, “We understood the importance of having a strong team to carry on when the organization’s success provides opportunities for its leaders. Therefore, several years ago, we very intentionally empowered Nick to strengthen our management team with the Deputy Commissioner position. Jessica Berman has done a wonderful job in her short time in this role, and the league is in great hands with her and our experienced management team supporting her efforts.”

“I have enjoyed my time leading the NLL, and want to thank the lacrosse community, NLL’s amazing fans, players, our board, owners, partners, and, league staff for the support that has led us to the point where we are now, poised for greatness in the years ahead,” Sakiewicz said. “Through thoughtful and strategic business planning the league expanded with the right investors, embracing the digitally native fan and expanding our media reach now with both ESPN and TSN for the first time in league history, the NLL and the sport of lacrosse on every level, is in a much better place with a brighter future than ever before.”

“My decision to leave now is a personal one,” he added. “The goals I had set out when I came to the NLL from soccer have been met, and it is time for me to pursue a new, exciting and different global opportunity as my next challenge.”

Under Sakiewicz’s watch, the NLL has experienced unprecedented growth, expanding from nine to 15 teams. Under his leadership, the League also secured the two largest media rights deals in the history of the league, first partnering with B/R Live, Turner’s live streaming service, for all games to be streamed on the platform starting with the 2018–2019 season. The NLL also signed a broadcasting rights deal with ESPN.

Bruins Trade for Callahan

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – Boston Bruins acquired the rights to defenseman Michael Callahan from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for Boston’s seventh round pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

The 6-foot-2, 200-pound defenseman has skated in 134 games for the Providence Friars (NCAA) for four seasons from 2018-22, tallying 13 goals and 53 assists with a plus-23 rating.

The 22-year-old blue liner was born in Franklin, MA and was drafted by Arizona in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Niemann Goes Wire-to-Wire at Riviera

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The Genesis Invitational | Recap

PACIFIC PALISADES – Joaquin Niemann won The Genesis Invitational by two strokes to earn his second PGA Tour victory and first since 2019. Niemann is the fourth wire-to-wire victor in tournament history and was the first since Charlie Sifford in 1969.

The 23-year-old became the second-youngest winner of The Genesis Invitational standing beside Harry Cooper who won in 1926.

California native Collin Morikawa and promising PGA Tour rookie Cameron Young finished T-2 while Adam Scottfinished T-4 at (-14). Scott won the 2020 Genesis Invitational, and had a chance this week as he shot a final-round 5-under (66), highlighted by eagles on No. 1 and No. 17 and birdies on three of the four par-3s (4, 6, 14), but Niemann’s effort was just too much.

Making his second tournament start, Viktor Hovland (T-4) at (-14) posted his second straight Top-five finish at the event (T-5 in 2021) and second Top-five on Tour this season (Won/World Wide Technology Championship at Mayakoba).

Justin Thomas finished solo sixth (-13), earning his fourth Top-10 in his sixth start of the season; ranks T2 in Driving Accuracy (37-of-56) for the week while defending champion Max Homa finished T-10, his third consecutive Top-10 at The Genesis Invitational.

 

The Genesis Invitational | Final Leaderboard

Joaquin Niemann 63-63-68-71—265 (-19)

Collin Morikawa 67-67-68-65—267 (-17)

Cameron Young 66-62-69-70—267 (-17)

Adam Scott 68-65-71-66—270 (-14)

Viktor Hovland 71-64-65-70—270 (-14)

Paul Earns WNBA Advocacy Award

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CLEVELAND – Phoenix Suns 12-time All-Star guard Chris Paul was named the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award for Paul’s significant contributions to the advancement of girls’ and women’s basketball, and advocacy for the WNBA. The WNBA and Vanessa Bryant will present Paul the award at NBA All-Star 2022 in Cleveland during Sunday’s game.

The annual award honors the late Kobe Bryant, a devoted supporter of the WNBA and women’s basketball, and his daughter Gianna (also known as Gigi). Gigi, a happy, loving and competitive young lady, wanted to pursue her dreams of one day playing in the WNBA and continuing her father’s legacy while elevating women in sports. Gigi loved the game of basketball and aspired to reach the pinnacle of the sport like her father. Kobe Bryant contributed to the growth of the women’s game at every level through forging relationships, mentoring and training high school, college, NBA and WNBA players, coaching Gigi’s youth basketball team, and launching the Mamba Sports Academy. He also was involved with empowering girls through Her Time to Play, an initiative created by the WNBA and NBA dedicated to championing participation in athletics on behalf of girls and women.

The Kobe and Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy award aims to honor advocates and influencers who use their time, talent, and platform to raise awareness for the WNBA, and women’s and girls’ basketball in various ways, like Kobe was so committed to doing. Bryant, his daughter and seven others we3re killed in a horrific helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.

“I have seen first-hand Chris’ appreciation of the WNBA and the game at every level for women and girls, especially in Phoenix and North Carolina, and his ardent support of our game strongly reflects the legacy of Kobe and Gigi,” said WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. “The league is proud to name Chris as the inaugural recipient of the Kobe & Gigi Bryant WNBA Advocacy Award, as he serves as a leader and role model for other professional athletes around growing the future of the game for young girls and all fans.”

A devoted fan of the WNBA and the Phoenix Mercury, Paul has consistently demonstrated a unique level of support, attending games throughout the regular season and playoffs while also using his public platforms to highlight the on-court successes and stories of WNBA players as well as their leadership in the community through their fight for social justice. During WNBA tentpole events such as WNBA Draft and All-Star, he can be found showing his support for rookies entering the league and WNBA veterans. He also supports the youth girls’ game through camps and the CP3 Basketball Academy, with a mission of using basketball to enhance young athletes’ aspirations, disciplines and life skills. Prior to the start of the WNBA’s historic 25th season, Paul was among several NBA stars that donned a WNBA player’s jersey to amplify the historic significance of the moment. Additionally, Paul teamed up with Suns center Deandre Ayton to support the Mercury’s recent WNBA Finals playoff run.

While We’re Young (Ideas) | Feb 20

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TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | February 20, 2022

By TERRY LYONS

BOSTON – Post the dreaded and deadly global pandemic, the sports world bounced back about as well as any business segment on the planet. While not perfect and, in many cases, having to operate without fans in the building, the events and sports carried-on and incurred extra expenses to keep the players and front-line workers safe.

Here are just a few of a long list of sporting events of 2021-22 that greatly entertained our sports-loving world:

  • PGA Tour ✅
  • NASCAR ✅
  • NCAA Basketball and March Madness ‘21 ✅
  • NCAA Football and the CFP Championship and most Bowl Games ✅
  • NFL Season and Super Bowl ✅
  • NBA Season and this Weekend’s All-Star festivities ✅
  • MLS ✅
  • NHL Season and its Winter Classic and All-Star Game ✅
  • The Masters ✅

And, more recently …

  • Australian Open ✅
  • Winter Olympic Games ✅
  • Super Bowl LVI ✅
  • 2022 NBA All-Star and the Daytona 500 are looking good ✅

Then, we get to Pitchers & Catchers reporting and MLB Spring Training ❌

The Major League Baseball lockout began at 12:01am on December 2, 2021 immediately upon the expiration of the 2016 MLB/MLB Players’ Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) ending. It is MLB’s first work stoppage since the 1994-95 players’ strike and the first lockout since 1990.

Unbeknownst to many, the expiration of a CBA gives a sports organization very few options. If the sides are close, they can call for a moratorium and try to bang-out the remaining issues and keep things operating in “good faith.’ However, with things as they are in Baseball today, the Commissioner of Baseball and his MLB Player Relations Committee had no option under labor laws and called for the lockout.

While a lockout in December and January is not very visible to players or fans, the impact begins immediately for the league office and teams, as they must shutdown any and all player-related activities, including promotional tours, winter training and a host of important items. The players must train on their own, which most do in their hometown cities anyway. So, as the NBA on TNT basketball guru Kenny Smith once likened an off-season lockout as your regular Barber Shop being closed on Mondays, the tenants of MLB are now in dire need of a haircut.

MLB and its Players have volleyed proposals back-and-forth without any significant progress towards a deal. The first “real” meeting didn’t take place until January 13 and that was done by virtual Zoom rather than in person, which saved time and travel while keeping the parties safe from confinement and air travel.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred requested a Federal Mediator to assist the process in early February and as recently as February 17, the sides met again – but that was two days after the treasured date on the calendar for Pitchers & Catchers to report.

The Boston Red Sox are yet to load-up the equipment truck on Jersey Street, outside of Gate D at Fenway Park and the negotiations seem to be going backwards, rather than forward.

The NBA and NHL find themselves in the dog days of winter. College basketball’s “Got Next” with the various Conference Tournaments and March Madness fast approaching. Meanwhile, MLB is starting to scratch-off scheduled Spring Training games and revenue is being lost by the day. And, if there’s any sport which needs a solid month of training and exhibition games, to stretch-out the starting pitchers and alleviate many a hamstring pull awaiting, it is baseball.

Remember last year when the likes of Ronald Acuna (297 at bats), Alex Bregman, Max Muncy, Fernando Tatis, Jack Flaherty, Chris Sale, J.D. Martinez, Eloy Jiménez, Cody Bellinger, Ketel Marte, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, George Springer, and a laundry-list of others were all sidelined or scratched?

A combination of pandemic fatigue, lack of training and proper stretching and preparation, never mind care by some of the best Athletic Trainers in the world, will cost many a game due to injury if and when the 2022 MLB season begins and the Barber Shop opens seven days a week.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: Shares of Boston-based DraftKings tumbled by more than 15% as the week closed when the online sports-betting operator reported top line growth as well as widening costs, according to the Boston Business Journal. The company, led by CEO Jason Robins, reported its quarterly and full-year financial results. In the last three months, DraftKings’s revenue jumped from $322.2 million to $473.3 million, but costs widened as well, particularly sales and marketing — from $192 million to $278 million. In the end, net loss for the quarter grew from $242.7 million to $326.3 million. while Draft Kings offers full sports gambling in many States, including New York where it pays a lofty 50+% tax, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts continues to bury its head in the sand with no real progress on sports gambling. With Governor Charlie Baker now facing lame-duck status, there’s no certainty on the future of sports gambling in Massachusetts and the money continues to flow to Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire.

NHL UPHOLDS MARCHAND SIX-GAMER: National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman upheld the six-game suspension that was assessed to Boston Bruins forward Brad Marchand by the Department of Player Safety for roughing and high-sticking Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry during their game in Boston on Feb. 8.Bettman heard Marchand’s appeal of the original decision, assessed Feb. 9, at a hearing on Feb. 16. … The incidents occurred at 19:35 of the third period. Marchand was assessed a minor penalty for roughing as well as a match penalty. … “In reaching my conclusions I have given careful consideration to Mr. Marchand’s testimony concerning his efforts to control his emotions in order to excel as an impact player who plays aggressively, but within the rules. I believe that he has already made significant strides towards achieving this goal. Unfortunately, however, Mr. Marchand’s behavior and lack of judgment in respect of these incidents did not meet acceptable NHL standards. He created a distraction which reflected poorly on himself, on his team and on the League as a whole, and as such, I find he also deserves the penalty he received. Having said that, I encourage Mr. Marchand to reflect on this experience and to use it positively in furtherance of his efforts to refine and improve his on-ice image and game for everyone’s benefit,” said Bettman in his statement.

Niemann Chases Riviera Record

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The Genesis Invitational | Preview | Final Round

PACIFIC PALISADES – Joaquin Niemann’s three-day score of (194) total set a new 54-hole tournament record at the Riviera Country Club. Niemann aims to become first wire-to-wire winner since Charlie Sifford (1969).

The previous 54-hole record at The Genesis Invitational was (196), shared by Mike Weir (2004), Dustin Johnson (2017), and Justin Thomas (2019).

PGA Tour rookie Cameron Young is seeking first Tour title in 12th career start and trails the red-hot Niemann by only three strokes.

Viktor Hovland hit 16 of 18 greens in search of his second title of the season while Justin Thomas birdied his final two holes but sits seven strokes off the lead going into today’s final round.

The 69.28 scoring average in Saturday’s round three marked the lowest in a round at The Genesis Invitational since 1984.

The Genesis Invitational | Leaderboard After 54 Holes

Joaquin Niemann 63-63-68—194 (-19)

Cameron Young 66-62-69—197 (-16)

Viktor Hovland 71-64-65—200 (-13)

Justin Thomas 67-64-70—201 (-12)

Collin Morikawa 67-67-68—202 (-11)

Big East Standings Tighten-Up

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NEWARK – A three-game Saturday resulted in a three-way tie for sixth place with Villanova and Connecticut inching up in the standings.

UConn moved into sole possession of third place with a 72-61 victory over Xavier. The No. 24 Huskies (19-7, 10-5 BIG EAST) built a 44-27 halftime edge before holding off a rally by the Musketeers (17-9, 7-8 BE). R.J. Cole, Tyler Polley and Adama Sanogo combined for 47 points for UConn. Sanogo also grabbed nine rebounds. Adam Kunkel came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points.

Seton Hall put together a 30-21 halftime lead against DePaul but had to come back to win 66-64. The Pirates (16-9, 7-8 BE) fell behind 57-52 after the Blue Demons (12-14, 3-13 BE) rallied with a 9-0 run. In the last 4:49, neither team led by more than two points. Jared Rhoden carried Seton Hall with 18 points and 18 rebounds. The rebound total matches the highest by a league player this season. DePaul’s Javon Freeman-Liberty scored 20 of his game-high 22 points in the second half. His twisting shot in the lane spilled out as the buzzer sounded.

Xavier, St. John’s and Seton Hall are all 7-8 in league play and tied for sixth place.

Villanova led 32-22 at the break against Georgetown but could not get comfortable in the second half of its 74-66 victory. Justin Moore scored 15 of his team-high 19 points in the second half for the Wildcats (21-6, 14-3 BE) who moved closer to first-place Providence (11-2 BE). Donald Carey helped the Hoyas (6-20, 0-15 BE) with a game-high 24 points, which included five 3-pointers. Dante Harris added 16 points.

FS1 will telecast two key games on Sunday’s schedule. Providence at Butler at 1 p.m. (ET0 followed by Marquette at Creighton at 3 p.m. (ET).

Basketball Hall of Fame Names Finalists

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CLEVELAND – (Staff Report from Official News release) – The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame named six extraordinary players, four longtime coaches and one top-of-class referee as finalists from the North American and Women’s committees to be considered for election in 2022.

This year’s list includes two first-time finalists: two-time NBA All-Star and four-time NBA champion Manu Ginobili and five-time WNBA All-Star, three-time WNBA Champion, and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Lindsay Whalen.

Previous finalists included again this year for consideration are longtime NBA referee Hugh Evans, five-time NBA champion and five-time NBA All-Defensive First Team selection Michael Cooper, five-time NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway, consensus National Collegiate Player of the Year Marques Johnson, two-time NCAA National Coach of the Year Bob Huggins, the NBA’s sixth-winningest coach of all-time George Karl, the all-time winningest high school coach, Leta Andrews, four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time Olympic gold medalist Swin Cash, and NCAA national champion and WNBA Coach of the Year Marianne Stanley.

“It’s a tremendous honor to be named a Finalist for the Basketball Hall of Fame and we’re elated to recognize the achievements by these outstanding men and women who have left a lasting impact on the game of basketball,” said Jerry Colangelo, Chairman of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “A heart-felt congratulations goes out to the finalists and their families and we very much look forward to revealing the Class of 2022 at the NCAA Final Four in New Orleans this April.”

The entire Class of 2022 will be announced in New Orleans, on April 2 at the NCAA Men’s Final Four at 12:00 PM ET as part of the Hall of Fame Class Announcement. Enshrinees from the Direct Elect Committees are also recognized at the NCAA Men’s Final Four and include Early African-American Pioneers, International, Contributors, Veterans and the new Women Veterans. A finalist needs 18 of 24 votes from the Honors Committee for election into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Class of 2022 will be enshrined during festivities in Springfield, Mass., the Birthplace of Basketball, on September 9-10, 2022.

North American Committee Finalists:
HUGH EVANS [Referee] – Evans served as an NBA Official for 28 consecutive years (1973-2001), tallying over 1,900 regular season games, 170 playoff games, 35 NBA Finals games and four NBA All-Star Games. Following his on-court officiating career, Evans worked as the NBA Assistant Supervisor of Officials (2001-03). He is a recipient of the Each One Teach One Community Service Award and is enshrined in the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame as well as the North Carolina A&T Hall of Fame.

MANU GINOBILI [Player] – Ginobili is a two-time NBA All-Star (2005, 2011) and four-time NBA Champion with the San Antonio Spurs (2003, 2005, 2007, 2014). Over his 16-year NBA career, all with the Spurs, the Argentine guard amassed 14,043 points, 4,001 assists, 3,697 rebounds and 1,392 steals and was honored with the NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2008, as well as twice being named to the All-NBA Third Team (2008, 2011). On the international stage, Ginobili helped deliver the first and only Gold Medal in the country’s basketball history at the 2004 Olympics, as well as the bronze at the 2008 games. He joins Bill Bradley as the only two players to have won a EuroLeague title (2001), an NBA championship and an Olympic Gold Medal.

MICHAEL COOPER [Player] – Cooper is a five-time NBA Champion with the Showtime Los Angeles Lakers (1980, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1988) and is best known for his defensive contributions to an offensively gifted team. He earned NBA All-Defensive First Team honors five times (1982, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988) and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1987. In 1986, he collected the J. Walter Kennedy Citizen Award for outstanding service in his community. He played one season for Virtus Roma, where he received the Italian All-Star Game MVP in 1991. As a collegiate athlete at the University of New Mexico, Cooper was named a USBWA First Team All-American.

TIM HARDAWAY [Player] – A 2000 Olympic Gold Medalist, Hardaway played 13 NBA seasons scoring a total of 15,373 points while averaging more than 20 points per game for four consecutive seasons. He is the 1990 recipient of the Jack McMahon Award for most inspirational player and a 1997 All-NBA First Team selection. He currently ranks 18th in NBA history with 7,095 career assists. The Chicago native was a member of the men’s basketball team at the University of Texas at El Paso (1985-1989) and is known for making his signature move – the “UTEP Two-step” – famous in 1989, the same year he was named WAC Player of the Year.

MARQUES JOHNSON [Player] – Johnson is a five-time NBA All-Star (1979-81, 1983, 1986) and a member of the 1978 NBA All-Rookie First Team and the 1979 All-NBA First Team. He was also named the NBA Comeback Player of the Year in 1986. In 11 NBA seasons, he averaged 20.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. As a student-athlete at UCLA under the direction of Hall of Famer John Wooden, Johnson was a member of an NCAA national championship team (1975). In 1977, he was named Pac-8 Player of the Year and the consensus National Collegiate Player of the Year. Johnson has been inducted into the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame (2013).

BOB HUGGINS [Coach] – Huggins has been coaching in the collegiate ranks for 45 years, including the last 15 as the head coach at West Virginia University. Over the course of his career, Huggins has led his teams to 25 NCAA Tournament berths, including nine appearances in the Sweet Sixteen (1992, 1993, 1996, 200, 2008, 2010, 2015, 2017, 2018), four trips to the Elite Eight (1992, 1993, 1996, 2010), and two appearances in the NCAA Final Four (1992, 2010). In 16 years as the head coach at the University of Cincinnati (1989-2005), Huggins led the Bearcats to eight Conference USA regular season championships (1996-2002, 2004), four Conference USA Tournament championships (1996, 1998, 2002, 2004), was a three-time Conference USA Coach of the Year (1998-2000) and was honored as the Conference USA Coach of the Decade in 2005. On the national level, he a was tabbed as the Sporting News National Coach of the Year in 2000 and the ESPN.com National Coach of the Year in 2002.

GEORGE KARL [Coach] – Karl spent 27 seasons as a head coach in the NBA, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers (1984-1986), Golden State Warriors (1986-88), Seattle Supersonics (1992-1998), Milwaukee Bucks (1998-2003), Denver Nuggets (2005-2013) and Sacramento Kings (2015-2016). During his career, he guided five different franchises to a total of 22 playoff appearances, led the Supersonics to the NBA Finals (1996), was named the NBA Coach of the Year (2013), and was called upon to be an All-Star Game head coach four times (1994, 1996, 1998, 2010). Karl owns a lifetime coaching record of 1,175-824 (.588), ranking sixth all-time in NBA career wins and posted 12 seasons of 50+ victories and three seasons of 60-plus.

Women’s Committee Finalists:
LETA ANDREWS [Coach] – Coaching in the high school ranks across Texas for 51 years (1962-2014), Andrews posted a lifetime 1,416-351 (.801) record, making her the winningest high school coach of all-time, male or female. She guided her teams to 16 state Final Four appearances, including a state title with Calaleen High School in 1990. Among her many honors, Andrews was named the Walt Disney Teacher/Coach of the Year in 1993, served as the head coach for the Gatorade All-America Game West Team in 2009 and the McDonald’s All-America Game West Team in 2004. In 2007, she was named the National High School Coach of the Year by the National High School Coaches Association and was the recipient of the inaugural Morgan Wooten Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Basketball Hall of Fame. She is a member of numerous Hall of Fames across the country, including the National Federation of State High School Hall of Fame (2011), Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2010), Texas Sports Hall of Fame (2008) and the High School Basketball Hall of Fame (1995).

SWIN CASH [Player] – Cash is a four-time WNBA All-Star (2003, 2005, 2009, 2011) and two-time Olympic gold medalist (2004, 2012). A true champion, she was a member of three WNBA championship teams during her 15-year career with the Detroit Shock (2003, 2006) and Seattle Storm (2010) as well as two NCAA National Championships at the University of Connecticut (2000, 2002) and a Gold Medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championships. Cash was recognized as one of the 20 best WNBA players of all time in 2016 as she twice named WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2009, 2011) and twice received All-WNBA Second Team (2003-2004) honors. During her collegiate career, she was named the NCAA Final Four Most Outstanding Player and received Kodak First Team All-America honors in 2002 after UConn won their third national title in program history after finishing the season a perfect 39-0. In 2021, Cash was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame.

MARIANNE STANLEY [Coach] – Coaching in the collegiate and professional ranks for a combined 45 years, Stanley currently serves as the head coach of the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. In 22 years as a college coach with Old Dominion (1977-1987), Penn (1987-1989), USC (1989-1993), Stanford (1995-1996) and Cal (1995-1996), Stanley compiled a 416-222 (.652) record, including a NCAA National Championship in 1985, three Final Four appearances (1983, 1985, 1996) and back-to-back AIAW National Titles (1979-1980). She has accumulated numerous Coach of the Year honors, including AIAW National Coach of the Year (1979), Virginia Coach of the Year (1979, 1980, 1981, 1984, 1985), Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year (1984, 1985), Pac-10 Conference Coach of the Year (1993) and WNBA Coach of the Year (2002). On the national team level, she helped lead the United States to a Goodwill Games Gold Medal (1983) and FIBA World Championship Gold Medal (1986). Stanley has been enshrined in the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame (2002) and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame (2010).

LINDSAY WHALEN [Player] – Whalen is a five-time WNBA All-Star (2006, 2011, 2013-2015), three-time WNBA Champion (2011, 2013, 2015) and two-time Olympic Gold Medalist (2012, 2016). After averaging 11.5 points and 4.9 assists over 15 seasons in the WNBA, she was named to the WNBA First Team three times (2008, 2011, 2013) and was recognized as one of the 20 best WNBA players of all time in 2016. Whalen ranks third all-time in assists (2,345) and led the league in total assists five times (2007, 2011-2015) and assists per game on three occasions (2008, 2011, 2012). During her collegiate career at University of Minnesota, Whalen led the Golden Gophers to the NCAA Final Four in 2004 and was twice named a finalist for the Naismith Award (2003, 2004) and Wade Trophy (2003, 2004). She also received numerous accolades for her on-court performance, including being named to the Kodak/WBCA All-America Team (2003-2004), USBWA All-America Team (2002-2004), AP Second Team All-America Team (2003-2004) and the All-Big Ten First Team (2002-2004).Whalen currently serves as the head coach of the women’s basketball program at her alma mater.