LSU basketball will make its three incoming freshmen available to the media. Ben Simmons is the marque player out of the group as he’s considered the top player coming out of high school. Antonio Blakeney, was also heavily recruited out of Florida, and Coach Johnny Jones tells us about him….
cut 29 (12) “…get better”
Blakeney is six-foot-four, 170 pounds.

The NBA free agency period begins tomorrow. The New Orleans Pelicans are not expected to make much news, but that doesn’t mean the team will not be busy. The biggest priority for the franchise is to get All star forward Anthony Davis to sign a five-year, 143-million dollar extension. The team hopes the hiring of head coach Alvin Gentry will convince Davis to sign that extension.

LSU sports information director Michael Bonnette has told the Baton Rouge ESPN radio affiliate that running back Leonard Fournette will represent the Tigers at next month’s SEC media days. Offensive lineman Vadal Alexander and junior linebacker Kendall Beckwith will join Fournette and head coach Les Miles, when the Tigers meet with hundreds of reports in Birmingham on July 16th.

Former LSU baseball star Blake Dean is the new head coach at UNO. The 27-year-old has spent the previous two seasons as the Privateers hitting coach and he’ll replace Ron Maestri, who decided to retire following the 2015 season.

Ragin Cajuns freshman left-handed pitcher Gunner Leger has been selected to the D-1 Baseball Freshman All-American team. The Lake Charles native was 6-and-5 with a 2.99 ERA this past season. He struck out 87 and walked only 20.

LSU men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones doesn’t expect the new 30 second shot clock to have much of an impact on his team. The NCAA has decided to change the shot clock from 35 to 30 seconds in an effort to speed up play. Jones doesn’t see this changing what his team does…

cut 30 (25) “on them”

Last season, Jones lead the Tigers to a 22-11 record and their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2009.

Former LSU power forward Jarell Martin says he will not take part in Orlando Summer League play. The Memphis Grizzlies’ first-round draft pick says he has a stress fracture in his foot that will prevent him from participating in any summer league games.

Ragin Cajuns basketball star Shawn Long is one of 22 players invited to take part in the 2015 US Pan American men’s basketball training camp. Long will look to make the 12-member team, which will represent the United States at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto next month.

LSU football coach Les Miles announces that defensive tackle Trey Lealaimatafao has been dismissed from the football team. The San Antonio native was arrested two weeks ago on simple battery and simple robbery charges for an incident that occurred in the parking lot of a bar. It was the second time Lealaimatafao’s been arrested in Baton Rouge.

LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri has been named the 2015 Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year. Mainieri led the Tigers to the College World Series this past season and helped LSU win a nation’s best 54 games.

McNeese State names Connor Lloyd as a new assistant coach for the Cowboys baseball team. Lloyd hit .321 for the Pokes last season and served as a team captain. He had over 200 hits during his career at McNeese.

LSU football Coach Les Miles announced today that defensive tackle Trey Lealaimatafao has been dismissed from the football team. The San Antonio native was arrested two weeks ago on simple battery and simple robbery charges for an incident that occured in the parking lot of a bar. It was the second time he’s been arrested in Baton Rouge.

24-7 sports ranks LSU’s 2016 football recruiting class as the best in the nation. Ten of LSU’s 17 commitments are from Louisiana. Shea Dixon with 24-7 sports says the Tigers are also doing well in Texas, as four of their verbal pledges are from the Lone Star state….
cut 19 (20) “….Erick Fowler”

The Louisiana Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year has verbally committed to LSU. University High Forward Wayde Sims averaged 18 points and ten rebounds a game last season as he helped the Cubs win their second straight Class Three-A title. He is the son of former LSU basketball player Wayne Sims.

Ragin Cajuns basketball star Shawn Long is one of 22 players invited to take part in the 2015 US Pan American men’s basketball training camp. Long will look to make the 12-member team, which will represent the United States at the 2015 Pan American Games in Toronto.

LSU’s Paul Mainieri has been named the 2015 Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year. Mainieri led the Tigers to the College World Series this past season and helped LSU win a nation’s best 54 games.

And McNeese State names Connor Lloyd as a new assistant coach for the Cowboys baseball team. Lloyd hit .321 for the Pokes last season and served as a team captain. He had over 200 hits during his career at McNeese.

According to 24-7 sports, LSU’s 2016 football recruiting class is ranked number one in the country. The Tigers have 17 committments, including two five-star prospects, cornerback Saivion Smith from Florida and St. Thomas Aquinas defensive tackle Edwin Alexander from Hammond. Shea Dixon, with 24-7 sports says LSU is also filling positions of need, especially on the defensive side of the ball…
cut 18 (12) “…outside linebacker”
Ten of LSU’s commitments are from Louisiana.

The Louisiana Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year has verbally committed to LSU. University High Forward Wayde Sims averaged 18 points and ten rebounds a game last season as he helped the Cubs win their second straight Class Three-A title. He is the son of former LSU basketball player Wayne Sims.

LSU’s Paul Mainieri has been named the 2015 Skip Bertman National Coach of the Year. Mainieri led the Tigers to the College World Series this past season and helped LSU win a nation’s best 54 games. The Bayou Bengals were also ranked number one in the country for ten consecutive weeks during the season.

One of Mainieri’s former players, Austin Nola, has been added to the New Orleans Zephyrs roster. Nola gets the promotion to Triple-A, despite hitting only .214 at Double-A Jacksonville.

Another former LSU Tiger, Alex Bregman, hit his first first professional home run yesterday as he helped Quad Cities beat Cedar Rapids.

The NBA has reportedly required that the 76ers pay the New Orleans Pelicans three million dollars for not fully disclosing Jrue Holiday’s injury history. Philadelphia traded Holiday to the Pelicans during the 2013 draft. But he only played in 34 games in 2013-14, because of problems with his legs and he only played in half of the regular season games last season.

According to 24-7 sports, LSU football’s 2016 recruiting class is ranked number one in the country. With national signing day still several months away, the Tigers have 17 verbal commitments, including two five-star prospects, cornerback Saivion Smith from Florida and St. Thomas Aquinas defensive tackle Edwin Alexander from Hammond. 24-7 sports, Shea Dixon, says Coach Les Miles has hired some great recruiters…

cut 17 (17) ” in the country”

Ten of LSU’s commitments are from Louisiana.

Offensive lineman Jahri Evans took a pay cut this offseason, but the Saints veteran says he’s not upset about it. The team entered the offseason with serious salary cap problems. Evans tells ESPN that it’s just part of the reality of being a player with fairly hefty salary. The veteran guard will make about half-a-million dollars less this season, but he will still wear the Black & Gold.
The LSU men’s basketball team has received a verbal commitment from U-High guard Wayde Sims. Sims help the Cubs win two consecutive Class 3A state championships. According to Louisiana Basketball Report, Sims is listed as Louisiana’s number 7 senior prospect for 2016.

Danielle Ballard’s basketball career at LSU has come to an end. In a news release, the Lady Tigers said Ballard will not return for her senior season. Ballard, a former first-team All-Southeastern Conference player, averaged 12.1 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists over the last three seasons.

Former LSU Tiger Austin Nola has been promoted to Triple-A. Nola was drafted by the Miami Marlins in 2012 and has been playing at the team’s Class Double-A affilliate in Jacksonville. Nola joined the New Orleans Zephyrs over the weekend during their trip to Iowa.

In his 12th at-bat as a pro, Alex Bregman hit his first professional home run. The former LSU standout shortstop’s dinger came in the third inning of Quad City’s 6-1 win over Cedar Rapids Sunday. Bregman, the second overall pick in this year’s Major League Baseball Draft, signed with the Houston Astros Thursday and debuted with the Class A Iron Pigs the following day.

One of the best LSU running backs ever will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame this weekend. Kevin Faulk was a three-time all-SEC selection and the Carencro native went on to win three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots. Faulk says his football career took off in New England…
cut 24 (11) “…just playing”
Former Saints and Ragin Cajuns quarterback Jake Delhomme is also part of the eight member class that will go through induction ceremonies tonight in Natchitoches. Joining the NFL stars are former college football coach Pat Collins, former softball coach Yvette Girouard, basketball player and coach Avery Johnson, former McNeese State standout Leonard Smith, former St. Aug football coach Otis Washington and horse trainer Frank Brothers.

Former LSU Tiger Alex Bregman played in his first professional baseball game last night and as a designated hitter he went one for five with a single in the ninth inning.

The United States defeated China last night 1-0 in the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup. Carli Lloyd scored the only goal on a header in the 51st minute. Hope Solo had her fourth straight shutout. The U-S plays again Tuesday night against Germany in the semi-finals.

Former Louisiana Tech standout Michale Kyser has received an NBA Summer League invite from the Toronto Raptors. Kyser averaged nine points and seven rebounds from the Bulldogs last season. The Raptors will compete in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League, beginning on July 10th.

LSU athletics finished 15th in the annual Learfield Directors’ Cup rankings. The rankings are compiled by adding up how a college performed in all sports during the 2014-15 athletic season. Of LSU’s 21 sports, 16 competed and placed in an NCAA event with the men’s golf team leading the way with the program’s first national title in 60 years.

It’s a big weekend in Natchitoches as eight sports figures will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame. One of those individuals is former Northeast Louisiana University football coach Pat Collins, who led the Monroe school to a Division One-Double-A national championship in 1987. Collins credits the staff he had at N-L-U…
cut 15 (08) “….high school”
The 2015 class also includes recent NFL stars Jake Delhomme and Kevin Faulk, who also had standout college careers at then Southwestern Louisiana University and LSU.

For the first time since 2000, LSU had two players selected in the NBA draft. Jarell Martin was a first round selection as he was taken by the Memphis Grizzlies, while Jordan Mickey went in the 2nd round to the Boston Celtics, who picked him with the 33rd pick.

Former LSU pitcher Aaron Nola has been selected to participate in the Major League Baseball Futures game, which is set for July 12th in Cincinnati. The 22-year-old Baton Rouge native is pitching for the Phillies triple-A club, Lehigh Valley. He has a 9-3 record this season as he’s split time between Double and Triple-A.

In the final collegiate baseball poll of 2015, LSU is ranked fifth, while the Ragin Cajuns are ranked 16th. And in case you were wondering, there were 15 home runs hit in 16 games at the College World Series. The most ever, since the C-W-S moved to TD Ameritrade Park in 2011.

Tonight at 6:30, US soccer clashes with China in the quarterfinals of the Womens’ World Cup. It’s the first time these two teams have faced each other since that historic match in 1999 when the Americans won on penalty kicks and Brandi Chastain ripped off her jersey.

For the first time since 2008, LSU had a player selected in the first round of the NBA Draft. The Memphis Grizzlies selected Jarell Martin with the 25th overall pick. Martin averaged nearly 17 points and nine rebounds a game last season.

A few picks later, Martin’s old teammate at LSU, Jordan Mickey was drafted by the Boston Celtics in the second round. Mickey led the nation in block shots per game and he was also the Tigers top rebounder.

The Pelicans didn’t add any one to their roster. They had only one pick, late in the second round, and they used it on Michigan State Forward Branden Dawson. But Dawsen’s rights were sold to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Former Louisiana Tech standout Speedy Smith was hoping to hear his name called last night, but he was not selected in the draft.

One of the best LSU running backs ever will be inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame this weekend. Kevin Faulk was a three-time all-SEC selection and the Carencro native went on to win three Super Bowl rings with the Patriots. Faulk says his football career took off in New England…
cut 14 (11) “…just playing”
Former Saints and Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme is also part of the eight member class that will go through induction ceremonies in Natchitoches.

The 2015-16 Ragin Cajuns men’s basketball schedule has not officially been released, but Coach Bob Marlin has told reporters that U-L Lafayette plans to play Miami, UCLA and Pepperdine on the road next season.

Former NFL stars headline the 2015 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class that will be inducted this weekend in Natchitoches. Former Saints and Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme is part of the eight member class. The Breaux Bridge native was a record-setting QB for the Ragin Cajuns and led Carolina to the Super Bowl during the 2003 season. Delhomme credits former Saints offensive coordinator and current Packers head coach Mike McCarthy for the success he had in the NFL…

cut 13 (14) “right team”

The 2015 class also includes former LSU Tiger Kevin Faulk, former St. Aug High School Football Coach Otis Washington, former McNeese State defensive back Leonard Smith, New Orleans native and former NBA player/coach, Avery Johnson, former Cajuns and LSU softball coach Yvette Girouard, horse trainer Frank Brothers and former Northeast Louisiana University coach Pat Collins.

In last night’s NBA Draft, former LSU power forward Jarrell Martin was selected in the first round by the Memphis Grizzlies. The Grizzlies took Martin with the 25th overall pick in the draft. Martin was an All-SEC selection after finishing third in the conference in scoring, rebounding, and field-goal percentage.

The Boston Celtics drafted former Tiger Jordan Mickey in the second round. Mickey is one of only two players in LSU history to have blocked more than 100 shots in a season. The first was Shaquille O’Neal.

With their only pick in the draft, the Pelicans picked former Michigan State small forward Branden Dawson, who the team promptly turned around and traded to the Clippers for cash.

The Houston Astros are sending their first round pick, former LSU shortstop Alex Bregman, to Iowa to begin his professional career. It is expected that Bregman will make his pro debut this weekend for for the Quad City River Bandits.

LSU baseball finished fifth in the final USA Today and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association polls. The Tigers led the nation with 54 victories.

Tonight’s the NBA Draft and two former LSU Tigers should be selected, possibly in the first round. Yahoo-dot-com’s mock draft has Memphis with the 25th overall pick taking Jarrell Martin, while Gary Parrish, with C-B-S Sports has Boston selecting Jordan Mickey with the 28th overall pick. Ricky Blanton of the LSU Sports Radio Network says Mickey’s stock is on the rise, because of good pre-draft workouts and NBA scouts appreciate his skill set…
cut 18 (08) “….he’s young”
Former Louisiana Tech standout Speedy Smith is projected to go in the 2nd round.

The Pelicans only have one draft pick tonight and that’s late in the second round.

The Houston Astros are sending their first round pick, former shortstop Alex Bregman, to Iowa to begin his professional career. Bregman will play for the Quad City River Bandits.

Louisiana Tech announces that they are naming the new south end zone facility at Joe Aillet Stadium in honor of the Davison Family, which has supported the Bulldog athletic program and university for three generations. Officials broke ground on the facility 14 months ago, and it’s expected to be operational for the season opener against Southern on September fifth.

LSU baseball finished fifth in the final USA Today and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association polls. The Tigers led the nation with 54 victories. The college baseball season wrapped up last night with Virginia beating Vanderbilt four to two for the national title.

Five-time major league All-Star Josh Hamilton makes a rehab star at Zephyr Field tonight. The Rangers put Hamilton on the D-L earlier this month with a left hamstring injury and he’ll play tonight for the Round Rock Express. Hamilton has only played in seven games this season for Texas.