Zion Williamson is officially a Pelican, and New Orleans is buzzing about the Duke legend’s selection as the first pick in the NBA Draft last night. Zion is from Spartanburg, South Carolina so he’s used to the south and he visited the Big Easy earlier in the week to take in some of the sites. He had a meal at Commanders Place and started fielding questions about his future home the birthplace of jazz.
Williamson averaged 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists and a game shooting unbelievable 68 percent from the floor at Duke last year.
Zion is hot and so is the state according to state climatologist Barry Keim. The long range forecast from the climate prediction center are higher than normal temps.
Cut 14 (08) “…summer even worse.”
The state of Louisiana has reached a settlement with Bell Helicopter over an economic development deal that never took flight in Lafayette. The Daily Advertiser reports Bell Helicopter is ordered to pay the state about $9.5 million in cash. Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Don Pierson also told the newspaper that the state will keep a helicopter valued at $4 million. The deal with Bell Helicopter was highly touted when announced by former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration in 2013, but when Bell Helicopter failed to meet hiring goals the deal was off. The company moved its operations to Amarillo last year.
An anonymous individual donates a 2-point-52 million dollar gift to the Nicholls State athletics department to contribute to a 6-point-5 dollar million building project. Athletics Director Mike Roan says the success of the program as well as the culture established by the coach and players is a big reason for the donation.
Cut 12 (09) “…to our program.”
The donor will be revealed at a future date, along with naming information of the new center.