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.

Two former LSU men’s basketball players are expected to be selected in tonight’s NBA draft. Former Tiger Jarrell Martin was considered a first-round selection when he announced in March that he was turning pro. He averaged nearly 17 points and nine rebounds a game last season. But LSU radio color analyst Ricky Blanton says Martin’s stock has been dropping, as teams are having a hard time trying to determine what position he’ll play in the NBA…
cut 17 (12) “…embrace it”

Blanton says it appears fellow former LSU Tiger Jordan Mickey’s stock is rising, because of good pre-draft workouts. Former Louisiana Tech standout Speedy Smith is projected to be selected in the second round.

The Pelicans only have one pick and that’s the 56th overall selection, which will take place in the second round.

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees tells ESPN’s Ed Werder that he’s convinced he’ll win a another Super Bowl. Brees that’s what keeps him going and he also said again that he would like to play until he’s 45. Brees came in at number 30 on the NFL Network’s Top 100 Players of 2015. That’s a 24 spot drop from last year.

In baseball, former St. Thomas More standout and LSU recruit O’Neal Lochridge has been named the Marucci Sports Baseball Player of the Year. Lochridge helped the Cougars win their second straight state championship as he hit .454 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs.

LSU catcher Kade Scivicque has been named to the 2015 All College World Series team. Scivicque had six hits in Omaha and drove in three runs.

Virginia won the C-W-S last night with a four to two victory over Vanderbilt. It’s the A-C-C’s ifrst title in baseball since 1955.

Two former LSU basketball players are expected to be selected in tonight’s NBA draft. Former Tiger hoops star and current color analyst on the LSU Sports Radio Network, Ricky Blanton, says Jarrell Martin and Jordan Mickey could be selected late in the first round, but he says Martin’s stock has fallen since he’s not participated in a lot of five-on-five and three-and-three workouts…

cut 16 (12) “I don’t know”

But Blanton says Mickey’s stock has been on the rise, because of good pre-draft workouts. By the way, the Pelicans will get the 56th pick in this year’s draft.

Former LSU shortstop Alex Bregman has signed with the Houston Astros. Houston selected Bregman with the second overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft. His signing bonus is reportedly around six million dollars. The Astros have also announced the signing of left-handed pitcher Zac Person. The former LSU reliever was picked in the ninth round by Houston.

LSU’s 2016 baseball schedule has been released. The Tigers will have weekend non conference series against Cincinnati, Sacramento State, Fordham, and Ball State. They’ll host Vanderbilt during the second weekend of April and they have a two-game road trip to Notre Dame planned in may. Coach Paul Mainieri used to coach in South Bend.

Virginia claims their first College World Series title after defeating Vanderbilt last night 4-2. The Cavaliers finish the season with a 44-24 record. Their 44 wins are the fewest by a national championship team since 1968.

The estranged heirs to Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson have announced they will appeal last week’s ruling by a judge, who determined the 87-year-old is not mentally incompetent to run his professional franchises. According to an attorney for the heirs, Benson is in a foggy state and his condition will only continue to get worse.

For the second straight year, Lutcher High School’s bulldog mascot has been stolen. It’s reported that the bulldog named Spike went missing Tuesday morning. St. James Sheriff Willy Martin says his deputies are searching for the dog.

Former LSU shortstop Alex Bregman signed with the Houston Astros today. Houston selected Bregman with the second overall pick in the Major League Baseball Draft. His signing bonus is reportedly around six million dollars. The Astros have also announced the signing of left-hander pitcher Zac Person. The former LSU reliever was picked in the ninth round by Houston.

LSU’s 2016 baseball schedule has become public. The Tigers will have weekend non conference series against Cincinnati, Sacramento State, Fordham and Ball State. They’ll host Vanderbilt during the second weekend of April and they have a two-game road trip to Notre Dame planned in may. Coach Paul Mainieri used to coach in South Bend.

And work is underway to install netting underneath the grandstand overhang at Alex Box Stadium. Officials hope the netting will keep the birds away and stop them from pooping on the fans during the game. The project is expected to take four months to compelte.

The estranged heirs to Saints and Pelicans Owner Tom Benson have announced they will appeal last week’s ruling by a judge, who determined the 87-year-old is not mentally competent to run his professional franchises. According to an attorney for the heirs, Benson is in a foggy state and his condition will only continue to get worse.

A bad situation is developing for the Louisiana High School Athletic Association. The referees are threatening a walk-out, if they don’t see an increase in pay for the games they work. LHSAA Executive Director Eddie Bonine says if the impasse is not resolved, they could have problems finding officials for high school atheltic events when school begins in August. Bonine hopes it doesn’t come to that…
cut 28 (05) “…suffer here”
The Louisiana High School Officials Association says they’ve only received two pay raises over the last 25 years. The referees say they are tired of promises, which is why they’ve rejected a proposal for any increase in pay to begin in 2016.