Warriors’ Andrew Wiggins notches 20 points in Team Canada’s win vs. China in Olympic qualifier

Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins led Team Canada to another win with 20 points in the second leg of an Olympic qualifier against China.

After leading Team Canada to a victory over Greece in the opening game of an Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria, British Columbia, Andrew Wiggins went back to work in game two.

Against China, the Golden State Warriors forward dropped 20 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the floor with four boards, three steals and two assists in 25 minutes. Wiggins drilled a trio of triples against China on seven attempts from beyond the arc.

Via @KadeButlerSJ on Twitter:

Team Canada stayed hot from deep with Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort and New York Knicks forward RJ Barrett tacking on three 3-pointers each. Nick Nurse’s squad hit 17 3-pointers against China in the second round of the Olympic qualifier.

Golden State guard Mychal Mulder tallied seven points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field in 15 minutes off the bench.

Six different Canadians tallied double-figure scoring efforts on the way to a blowout victory over China, 109-79.

Watch highlights from Canada’s contest against China via YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C3AaNAfZO_4

Wiggins, Nurse and the rest of Team Canada are now one victory away from punching a ticket to the summer Olympic games in Tokyo. The Canadians will face Cedi Osman, Alphren Sengun and the Czech Republic on Saturday at 4:05 p.m. PT.

This post originally appeared on Warriors Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=38201,38181,38087,37887]

[vertical-gallery id=37852]

Who is Chargers’ worst draft pick since 2006?

Pro Football Focus identified the Chargers’ worst draft pick not named Ryan Leaf.

The Chargers have hit on a handful of players in the NFL draft throughout the years, but they’ve also had several that didn’t pan out the way the team was anticipating.

Pro Football Focus’ Mike Renner identified the worst selection by each of the 32 teams since 2006 and for the Bolts, it was former first-round pick edge defenders Larry English.

While English saw significant time as a rookie, his role diminished after that, as injuries started to pile up. He only played 1,219 snaps in five seasons with the Chargers, and he never earned a grade higher than 64.3 for a season.

It’s easy to pinpoint quarterback Ryan Leaf as the franchise’s worst draft pick, but since this activity only dates back to 2006, English is next up on the list.

Former Chargers general manager A.J. Smith used the pick in hopes of bolstering the linebacker corps and potentially getting a successor to Shawne Merriman.

Unfortunately, English never matched the player he was coming out of Northern Illinois.

English at least spent five seasons with the Bolts, primarily contributing on special teams, that’s when he was without an injury. He played 52 out of 80 games and started only nine games.

Had the Chargers weighed their options, six-time Pro Bowl linebacker Clay Matthews, Jr. was still available when they were on the clock.

One may also argue that wide receiver Craig “Buster” Davis was the worst selection since then (2007). During his four years, Davis was sidelined by sore hips, ribs, hamstrings, Achilles’ tendon and a nagging groin injury, which required two procedures.

This former Florida linebacker transfers to Jackson State

Former Gator James Houston IV entered the NCAA transfer portal in January and announced Friday that he will be transferring to Jackson State.

Former Florida linebacker James Houston IV announced Friday that he will transfer to Jackson State to play for head coach Deion Sander s. He entered the NCAA transfer portal in January following the Gators’ loss to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl.

He played nine games in 2020 and posted 37 tackles, including 3.5 for a loss, a sack and a forced fumble. Houston tallied 100 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in four seasons with the orange and blue.

But his playing time was set to fade in 2021 with linebackers Ventrell Miller, Amari Burney and Mohamoud Diabate likely to take most of the snaps at his position. The duo seemed to get more run in the Gators defense in the latter half of the season. Houston started three games while Diabate made six and Burney recorded four.

His transfer is also good news for some younger players in Florida’s linebacker room like Ty’Ron Hopper, Chief Borders, Jeremiah Williams and Diwun Black.

[lawrence-related id=46215,46172,46131,46051,45981]

This stat will help Notre Dame football with NIL

The Irish football brand is 💪

There are deals being flung left and right after the official start date of Name, Image, Likeness has allowed collegiate athletes to earn a wage. SkullSparks just released their newest data regarding impressions among the college football teams and the Irish finished inside the top-ten, at seventh.

Programs across the country will be using NIL as a recruiting tool and rightfully so. With the Notre Dame social media sites comprised of Instagram, Twitter and Facebook totaling over 266,000 interactions, Irish players are getting in front of plenty of viewers. This only helps the Notre Dame staff to show to perspective athletes that if they play in South Bend, they’ll be plenty of eyes on them and opportunities with NIL.

The legislature is so new that we really don’t know where it will take athletes, but opportunities are popping up everywhere.

[lawrence-related id=30026]

How the players use this opportunity with be up to themselves, but we have already seen some of the Irish players starting to sign with companies.

[lawrence-related id=30031]

It’s an exciting time for collegiate athletes and with data that supports the Notre Dame brand is an extremely strong one, it will only help the Irish going forward.

Is Jeff Garcia the NFL ceiling for Spencer Rattler?

NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah sees an intriguing pro comparison for Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler

Every year, one of the favorite pastimes of NFL draft analysts is trying to find pro player comparisons for the next class of top college prospects. Sometimes, those comparisons jump out immediately. Other times, it takes a little more digging, and even then it can be difficult to find the right fit.

The latter seems to be the case for Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, who has NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah grasping for a player in the recent past who mirrors Rattler’s skill set in a significant way.

Jeremiah eventually landed on Jeff Garcia as a potential ceiling for Rattler:

This is a difficult one to find. I don’t see any obvious comparisons for Rattler. My hope is that he will turn himself into a Jeff Garcia type of player in the NFL. Garcia lacked the ideal size/frame, but he made things happen with his accuracy, mobility and playmaking skills. I do think Rattler has that potential. When he plants his feet, he’s very accurate. And he has the athleticism to make the off-schedule plays that allowed Garcia to flourish during his time in the pros. Rattler’s not there yet, but I can envision the 20-year-old eventually arriving at that level of play.

Rattler is widely regarded as potentially the top quarterback prospect in the nation, which could put him in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

The big question for NFL teams will be, does a prospect with Garcia as a best-case scenario for his development warrant that high of a selection?

[vertical-gallery id=628764]

WATCH: Texas QB Casey Thompson’s preseason hype video

Texas’ potential starting quarterback:

Starting quarterback hopeful Casey Thompson may have a slight edge over Hudson Card due to his electric performance in the Alamo Bowl.

Thompson entered the game in relief after starting quarterback Sam Ehlinger hurt his shoulder.

To say he seized his first true opportunity would be an understatement. Prior to his Alamo appearance, Thompson had been featured only in garbage time in two games earlier in the season and had thrown for a combined seven passes for 55 yards and two touchdowns.

He surpassed those numbers with flying colors against Colorado. He accumulated 170 yards on 8-of-10 passing and had four touchdowns. It gave him film that Hudson Card lacks at the moment.

Thompson started with the ones during the spring game, but he had an average showing. Card seemingly had a better performance with the second team offense. It is a battle that will likely come down to fall camp.

If Thompson has any chance of winning the job, he needs to establish himself in the pocket while making better reads than we saw in the spring game. Obviously the spring game was not the full playbook, but Card is considered the golden child quarterback and is applying a lot of pressure on Thompson.

Steve Sarkisian will likely appreciate that Thompson stuck it out behind Ehlinger, but at the end of the day he will put the best quarterback on the field.

Fans apoyaron a Sha’Carri Richardson tras su explicación por el positivo de marihuana

Sha’Carri Richardson dijo que estaba intentando lidiar con la pérdida de su madre biológica de lo cual se enteró durante las pruebas

Sha’Carri Richardson llegó a los corazones a las personas en todo el mundo con su desempeño en las pruebas para las Olimpiadas.

No solo corrió un increíble tiempo de 10.58 segundos, sino que mostró tener una gran personalidad. Su carisma era contagiosa. Además resultó relacionable para muchas personas. Uno de inmediato se enamoraba de ella y de su historia. Y, sobre todo, no podíamos esperar para verla en las Olimpiadas.

Pero ahora eso ya no es opción. Al emnos en parte.

Richardson ha sido suspendida por un mes después de dar positivo por marihuana en un test, la Agencia de Antidoping de Estados Unidos reveló el viernes. La prueba anula su desempeño en las pruebas, donde ganó en los 100 metros. Debido a esta prueba, se perderá de la carrera de 100 metros en las Olimpiadas de Tokio en un par de semanas.

Esto nos rompe el corazón. Richardson dio una entrevista en el TODAY show y explicó su resultado positivo.

Dijo que estaba intentando lidiar con la pérdida de su madre biológica de lo cual se enteró durante las pruebas, mientras también se preparaba para competir. Eso es bastante para digerir.

Traducción: Sha’Carri Richardson (@itskerrii) se une a nosotros en vivo para una entrevista exclusiva para discutir la prueba de marihuana positiva que ha puesto su futuro olímpico en el limbo.

“Yo simplmente, honestamente, quiero hacerme responsable de mis acciones. Sé lo que hizo, sé lo que se supone que debería de hacer… y aún así tome esa decisión. No estoy haciendo ninguna excusa, no busco empatía en mi caso. Pero simplemente… estar en esa posición en mi vida y enterarme de algo así, algo que diría es una de las cosas que más me ha impactado de manera positiva y negativa en mi vida, cuando se trata de lidiar con la relación que tengo con mi madre. Definitivamente fue un tema muy pesado y la gente no entiende realmente lo que es tener que… poner buena cara y tener que salir frente al mundo y esconder mi dolor.”

Eso es desgarrador. Y sus suspensión, encima de todo eso, tiene que estarle pesando mucho.

Fans de todos lados sitieron mucha pena por ella.

Portada Patrick Smith/Getty Images

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Celtics icon Paul Pierce finally reveals what his hinted-at post-ESPN venture is

The Boston great has linked up with a new site for athletes, celebrities and influences.

Since Boston Celtics Hall of Fame wing Paul Pierce made reference to a cryptic venture in early April following his controversial exit from ESPN as an analyst, fans have tried to nail down what it might be.

Speculation ranged from ties to a commercial cannabis venture to cryptocurrency or perhaps a podcast with former teammate Kevin Garnett. Turns out, it’s a platform for social media influences and celebrities called “SelfiePop” with aspects of popular sites LinkTree and Cameo that can help said persons monetize their social media presence. “I told you all April 5th, that big things are coming,” tweeted Pierce on Friday.

“Athletes and Artists are taking the power into their own hands,” he continued. “I have been working on something that is going to change the game. All of my fellow ballers, CHECK IT OUT and beat part of the #selfiepop beta.”

This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!

[mm-video type=video id=01f9g4m8by2bcy9n007p playlist_id=none player_id=01eqbvq570kgj8vfs7 image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f9g4m8by2bcy9n007p/01f9g4m8by2bcy9n007p-4cdc1eab810d31be5788d9e69cdfcbcb.jpg]

[lawrence-related id=53248,53139,53135,53131]

[listicle id=53118]

Davion Mintz to withdraw from NBA draft, return to Kentucky

Mintz is the first Wildcats player to return to Kentucky after leading the team in scoring average since 2006.

Kentucky Wildcats guard Davion Mintz announced on Thursday that he will withdraw from the NBA draft and return to school for a fifth and final collegiate season.

Mintz announced in May that he would test the NBA waters while preserving his collegiate eligibility. He entered the pre-draft process not projected to be selected and can now use the feedback received from teams to improve next season with the Wildcats.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and one steal on 37.8% shooting from 3-point range last season. He led the Wildcats in scoring, assists and 3-point shooting, and is the first Kentucky player to return to school after leading the team in scoring since 2006.

[mm-video type=video id=01f9j0r8b9s2tv696ezj playlist_id=01f09kz5ecxq9bp57b player_id=01f1jxkahtwnvzepyp image=https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/video/thumbnail/mmplus/01f9j0r8b9s2tv696ezj/01f9j0r8b9s2tv696ezj-356ee8d50f3e45c365cabd455886e784.jpg]

With Mintz back in the fold, the Wildcats figure to receive a huge boost of production in the lineup. Kentucky will also be returning Dontaie Allen, Keion Brooks Jr. and Jacob Toppin among others while adding CJ Fredrick from Iowa and Kellan Grady from Davidson.

This post originally appeared on Rookie Wire! Follow us on Facebook!

[lawrence-related id=32887,23717,17357]

[listicle id=33538]

Lucas Herbert sets the pace at Irish Open; Shane Lowry, Rory McIlroy lag behind

Lucas Herbert remains at the top of the Irish Open leaderboard after two rounds.

Lucas Herbert remains at the top of the Irish Open leaderboard after two rounds on the strength of his opening 8-under 64 at Mount Juliet Estate in Thomastown, Ireland.

Herbert, an Australian, followed with a 4-under 67 on Friday that included both a bogey and a double-bogey. He balanced it out with a total of eight birdies on the day and is at 13 under for 36 holes.

After winning last season’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic, Herbert is looking for his second European Tour win.

Despite not being thrilled with his big numbers on Friday, Herbert was pleased with how he’d set himself up for the weekend. He leads Grant Forrest and Andy Sullivan, both at 11 under, by two shots.

“I think it’s definitely something that comes with a win where you know you’ve proved to yourself that you can win, you can hit shots under pressure and actually win,” he told the European Tour. “So I’ll be taking a lot of experience from that into the weekend and try and draw on that confidence as well.”

Defending champion John Catlin was T17 at 7 under, two shots clear of 2019 British Open champion Shane Lowry and four-time major winner Rory McIlroy.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01es6rjnsp3c84zkm6 player_id=none image=https://golfweek.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]