LSU has wrapped up camp season with a wave of commitments and now has the third best recruiting class for 2019 according to 24-7 sports-dot-com. Cornerback Cordale Flott became the 16th verbal pledge of the class on Sunday when he decommitted from Auburn and announced his plans to attend LSU instead. Shea Dixon of 24-7 sports says Flott is the third cornerback commitment this month after failing to sign one in the last recruiting class…
Cut 17 (19) “…done yet”
According to 24-7 sports, LSU’s class features two five-star prospects and six four-star commitments.

Game 1 of the championship round of the College World Series begins tonight as Oregon State faces Arkansas in a best of three series. The Beavers reached the championship round after losing their first game in Omaha, while the Razorbacks are 3-0 during the C-W-S. The Hogs are in the finals for the first time since 1979. while Oregon State is looking for its first title since 2007. First pitch is at 7 PM.

LSU Baseball Coach Paul Mainieri is in Cary, North Carolina as he’s getting the 2018 USA Collegiate National Team ready for international competition. On Thursday, USA begins an international friendship series versus Chinese Taipei. The U-S will also play Japan and Cuba before the summer is over.

Mainieri is also waiting to see if signee Brice Turang will turn down a multi-million dollar contract from the Milwaukee Brewers and come to school instead. Milwaukee drafted Turang in the first round and they have until July 6th to sign him.

The Pelicans used their only draft pick last night to select former Penn State guard Tony Carr in the second round. He led the Big Ten in scoring last season at nearly 20 points a game. The 20-year-old from Philadelphia is six-foot-five. General Manager Dell Demps says they think he can play multiple positions, but how he fits in with next year’s team is uncertain…
cut 30 (23) “…he’s not”
Two players from Louisiana were selected in the first round last night. Boston with the 27th pick selected former North Caddo star Robert Williams and Baton Rouge native Jacob Evans gets a chance to play with the defending camps as Golden State selected the small forward who played at Cinncinnati.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers could be without Quarterback Jameis Winston for the first three games as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports the signal caller is facing a suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. And the Saints host the Bucs in the season opener. There was a report last November that Winston groped a Uber driver in Scottsdale, Arizona in March of 2016. A formal announcement on the suspension could come down today.

Tonight is the NBA draft, but the Pelicans do not hold a first round pick. They traded it last season to acquire Nikola Mirotic from the Chicago Bulls. So New Orleans has just one selection and that’s in the second round, the 51st overall pick.

Former North Caddo prep star Robert Williams could be a lottery pick. Mock drafts have the former Texas A-and-M standout going anywhere from 13th to 19th overall. Jacob Evans who played at St. Michael High in Baton Rouge is also a potential first round pick.

The Mighty Lions of Lafayette High opened their new weight room today, thanks to a generous donation by former NBA superstar Shaquille O’ Neal to help fund the project that cost a little more than $40,000. Football coach Rob Pool says he was stunned when Shaq stepped in to help.
Cut 6 (11) “…more grateful.”
Shaq’s donation was part of South Louisiana Giving Day, which was organized by the Community Foundation of Acadiana.

LSU’s 2019 recruiting class received a huge bump yesterday with the verbal commitment of consensus five-star cornerback Derek Stingley Junior from Baton Rouge. Tiger Rag Editor Cody Worsham says the class now features two five-star prospects, the other is Southern Lab offensive guard Kardell Thomas…
cut 17 (19) “….do now”
At the College World Series tonight, Florida faces Texas Tech in an elimination game. The winner advances to play Arkansas tomorrow. The Razorbacks are 2-0 in Omaha after beating Texas Tech seven to two yesterday. Mississippi State meets Oregon State tomorrow. A win for the Bulldogs and they advance to the championship series of the College world Series.

Big upset at the World Cup, Crotia stunned Argentina three-nothing, so Argentina is in jeopardy of not reaching the Round 16.

Consensus five-star cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. of Baton Rouge has committed to LSU and will shut down his recruitment for good. Stingley had 11 interceptions at Dunham High School last year. Tiger Rag Associate Editor James Moran is floored by the athleticism of the young athlete…
Cut 16 (09) “…birthday wednesday”
Stingley is the 13th commitment for the Tigers 2019 recruiting class, which is currently ranked in the top 10.

The NBA Draft is tonight and the Pelicans do not have a first round pick, because they traded it away to acquire Nikola Mirotic last season. New Orleans’ only pick comes in the second round as they have the 51st overall selection.

But four players from Louisiana could hear their name called, led by former North Caddo star Robert Williams. The forward out of Texas A-and-M has a chance to be a lottery pick.

LSU sophomore outfielder Zach Watson has been awarded a Gold Glove by Rawlings for his stellar play in the outfield last season. The Ruston native did not commit an error and threw out six base runners. Watson is the fourth LSU player to receive a Gold Glove Award.

At the College World Series, Arkansas advanced to the final four with a seven to four win over Texas Tech. Big game from Dominic Fletcher, who went 4-for-4 with a home run and four RBIs. Oregon State rallied from a six-three deficit in the 8th inning to beat North Carolina 11-6. The loss sends the Tar Heels home. Mississippi State will play the Beavers at 2 PM on Friday, while tonight it’s Florida versus Tech in an elimination game.

In major league baseball last night, George Springer, Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve hit back-to-back-to-back home runs as the Astros defeated the Tampa Bay Rays five to one. Charlie Morton gave up one earned run in six innings for his ninth win of the year.

Derek Stingley Junior, the nation’s number one recruit according to Rivals-dot-com announced today he plans on signing with LSU in December and enroll on the Baton Rouge campus in January. Instead of holding a press conference, with hats of different schools in front of him, the Dunham High School football star announced his decision with a video message on Twitter…
cut 30 (13) “…band music”
Stingley is a five-star cornerback with excellent return skills. The 17-year-old chose the Tigers over Florida and Texas.

LSU’s Zach Watson and UL Lafayette’s Hunter Kasuls are finalists for Rawlings Gold Glove Wards. Watson is one of eight outfielders up for the award, while Kasuls is one of four second basemen. Watson had a perfect fielding percentage in 2018 and had six assists. Kasuls had just one error in 260 chances.

Tulane and Northwestern University announce they will play each other in football in 2020 and 2025. The first match-up in 2020 will take place in Evanston, Illinois and the Wildcats will return the trip to New Orleans in 2025. The two schools have not played each other on the gridiron since 1956.

Southern University has named longtime assistant coach Carlos Funchess as its new head women’s basketball coach. The former ULM basketball player in the early 1990s has been an assistant at Southern for 13 years. Funchess replaces long time head coach Sandy Pugh.

The Advocate reports the Saints will hold a couple of joint practices with the Chargers leading up to their preseason game on August 25th. With Sean Payton at the helm, the Saints usually hold joint practices with another team. In years past, it’s been against New England and Houston.

Tomorrow is a big day for the LSU program as the nation’s number one prospect according to Rivals-dot-com, Derek Stingley Junior, announces his college destination. The cornerback from Dunham High School in Baton Rouge is a former LSU commitment and the Tigers are one of three finalists. The other two schools are Florida and Texas. Stingley says he’ll announce his decision on Twitter at 1:30 PM and he’ll post a video message, explaining his decision. Stingley plans to be an early enrolle, which means he’ll arrive on a college campus in January.

The Houston Astros go after their 13th straight win when they host Tampa Bay tonight. Nine-game winner Justin Verlander is on the hill for the Stros.

Mississippi State is just one win away from reaching the championship series of the College World Series. It’s truly remarkable considering where the Bulldogs were at the beginning of the season, when they fired coach Andy Cannizaro. Today, they dominated North Carolina 12-2 as Konor Pilkington threw six solid innings. Freshman Jordan Westburg hit a grand slam in the second inning and ended up driving in seven runs on the afternoon. State doesn’t play again until Friday.

In other college baseball news, next year will be the last for Florida State head coach Mike Martin, who is the all-time winningest coach in college baseball history. It will be the 40th as a head coach for the 74-year-old who has won 1,987 games.

At the World Cup today, a couple more surprises….Senegal beat Poland two to one and Japan knocked off Columbia by that same score. And Russia moved to 2-0, with a 3-1 win over Egypt.

Ex-Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux is back in the Canadian Football League after reportedly having trouble passing physicals in the NFL. Breaux has signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. That’s where he played before joining the Saints in 2015. He made an immediate impact in New Orleans by intercepting three passes, but only played in six games in 2016 and 2017.

LSU football has reportedly offered a scholarship to the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. Shedeur Sanders is a dual-threat quarterback in Cedar Hill, Texas. SEC Country says Sanders is the fourth quarterback LSU has offered a scholarship to in the Class of 2021.

The Ragin Cajuns have received a verbal commitment from ED White’s Brandon Legendre, who has multiple offers from Power 5 programs. Also dual-threat Quarterback Clifton McDowell from the Houston area has committed to the Cajuns.

The Houston Astros rallied for their 12th straight win last night in dramatic fashion, as former LSU star Alex Bregman drilled a two-run double in the left-center field gap to give the defending World Series champs a 5-4 walk-off win over Tampa Bay. The Rays had a 4-0 lead. Houston leads Seattle by two games in the American League West.

Oregon State outscored Washington 10-0 after a four-hour, 31-minute rain delay to beat the Huskies 14-5. Kyle Nobach’s opposite field three-run homer was the big highlight as the Beavers get to stick around in Omaha. Washington goes 0-and-barbeque in its first C-W-S appearance.

Three games will be played today at TD Ameritrade Park starting at 10 AM. North Carolina meets Mississippi State in a winner’s bracket contest. At 2 PM, it’s Texas versus Florida in an elimination game and Arkansas will take on Texas Tech in another winner’s bracket contest.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees has been named a “brand ambassador for the clothing company, UNTUCKit. They are shirts that are designed to be worn untucked. A news release says Brees is also an investor and he’ll appear in marketing campaigns.

Former Saints cornerback Delvin Breaux is back in the Canadian Football League as he’s signed a deal with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Breaux emerged as one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL in 2015 after signing with the Saints, but injuries the last two seasons resulted in the 28-year-old becoming unemployed in the NFL.

In football recruiting news…LSU has reportedly offered a scholarship to the son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders. Shedeur Sanders is the fourth quarterback in the Class of 2021 to receive a scholarship offer from LSU. Sanders is a dual-threat quarterback from Cedar Hill, Texas and also has offers from Florida State, Louisville and Oregon.

Ragin Cajuns Head Coach Billy Napier has received a verbal commitment from a Top 25 prospect in the state of Louisiana. ED White wide receiver Brandon Legendre posted on twitter he’s 100-percent committed to UL Lafayette. Legendre also had offers from Notre Dame and TCU.

Louisiana Tech received its seventh verbal commitment of the 2019 class, Milton, Georgia linebacker Allen Walker. Rivals-dot-com ranks him as a three star prospect.

Shreveport golfer and former LSU standout Sam Burns had a good showing at the US Open as he finished tied for 41st after shooting a 72 on Sunday at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club. Burns returns tot he web-dot-com tour this week as he’ll compete in the Wichita Open. LSU golfer Luis Gagne, who will be a senior this fall, finished 16-over at US Open, tied with Matt Parziale for the low amateur score.

Super Bowl champions Lance Moore and Pierre Thomas have been voted into the Saints Hall of Fame. They will be inducted in September. During a press conference at the team’s training facility in Metairie, there was a lot of reminiscing about the 2009 Super Bowl team. Running Back Pierre Thomas says it was an amazing season….
cut 18 (18) “…that MVP
Thomas scored the Saints first touchdown in Super Bowl 44, Moore had a critical two-point conversion in the 2nd half to give New Orleans a touchdown lead.

Bill Curl has passed away at the age of 77. Curl was the spokesperson for the Superdome from 1977 to 2010. Before that he served as sports information at Tulane. He recieved the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s distinguised service award in 2003.

Was Les Miles taking a jab at current LSU Head Coach Ed Orgeron during an interview on a Houston Sports Station. Miles said he’s never accepted a feeling of patience and when you say you need patience you are really saying you’re not good enough. Orgeron asked for the fans patience before the Spring game as the team is installing a new offense. Miles then said if you need a safety net, you should not coach the Tigers.

The US Senate approves legislation to honor former Saints standout Steve Gleason with the Congressional Gold Medal. Senator Bill Cassidy says they want to honor Gleason, who is battling A-L-S, for his work to provide individuals with neuromuscular diseases or injuries with assistance…
cut 9 (13) “…inspired”
The legislation now awaits House approval.

Two Saints players who joined the team as undrafted free agents are now heading toward induction into the team’s Hall of Fame. Lance Moore and Pierre Thomas were huge contributors on the 2009 Super Bowl team. But Moore was also there for the very difficult 2005 season, when the team was re-located to San Antonio because of Hurricane Katrina…
cut 17 (14) “….bad news bears”
Moore ranks fifth in team history for career catches, while Thomas ranks fifth in Saints history with 3,745 rushing yards.

The longtime spokesperson for the Superdome, Bill Curl, has passed away at the age of 77. The Ohio native spoke to the media regularly about Superdome events and improvements. In 2016, he told the Advocate The Superdome should be a National Historic Landmark. Curl also served as sports information director at Tulane.

At the US Open at Shinnecock Hills in New York, Shreveport native and former LSU golfer Sam Burns, didn’t play as well as he did yesterday. After shooting a 71 Thursdayday to finish two strokes off the lead, Burns carded a 76 today and is now six over for the tournament. Current LSU golfer Luis Gagne is at three over par and he’ll tee off later today. Former University High golfer and Masters winner Patrick Reed is also at 3 over after 18 holes. The current leader is Dustin Johnson at three under par.

In high school sports, Ouachita sophomore Abby Allen has been named the Class 5A Softball Most Valuable Player of the year. Allen hit .505 with 13 home runs and 48 RBIS for the Lions last season.

LSU signee Cade Beloso is the Class Five-A Most Valuable Player of the Year in Baseball. The John Curtis star hit .489 with 13 home runs and 37 RBIs as the Patriots won their second straight Division One state championship.