Tag: Baylor

Five-star forward, Notre Dame target to announce college decision

Hope she picks the Irish!

Even with Notre Dame set to have a fantastic 2024-25 season, there’s no reason to get complacent with the period beyond that. The Irish want to keep the good times going for as long as possible. Landing one particular player would help that cause in a big way.

Deniya Prawl originally hails from Toronto, but she’s been developing her game at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. She’s become a five-star small forward according to 247Sports and is ranked sixth in the 2025 recruiting class.

The Irish are one of three finalists for Prawl’s services alongside Tennessee and Baylor. She has announced that she’ll make her decision Nov. 11.

As of this moment, the only 2025 commit for the Irish is [autotag]Leah Macy[/autotag], another five-star forward who made her decision in May. While the Irish obviously have a solid player coming in already, it would help immensely to have another one, especially when women’s basketball is getting more attention than ever:

Best of luck to Prawl in making her decision, though we obviously hope she picks the Irish.

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VJ Edgecombe using NIL money to fund scholarships for Bahamas school

Baylor signee VJ Edgecombe launched a scholarship fund to help students at Gateway Christian Academy in his hometown in Bimini in the Bahamas.

On a thin strip of land surrounded by deep blue water on North Bimini Island sits Bailey Town. This Bahamian town, on an island about 95 miles from the country’s largest, Andros Island, and 55 miles from Miami, is home to Gateway Christian Academy, a middle and high school for students in the area.

This small academy was the school of five-star high school basketball prospect V.J. Edgecombe, who immigrated to the United States in ninth grade and is now completing his senior year at Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.).

Though Edgecombe has moved away, the school and community remain part of him. When he began making NIL money, Edgecombe wanted to help the academy in which he started his journey, Long Island Lutheran assistant coach Jay David said in an interview with USA TODAY High School Sports.

“The thought process was, ‘I want to try to give back to the school that helped me become the person that I am,’” David said.

Edgecombe and David worked with partners to develop a scholarship model and host a dinner when Long Island Lutheran played in the Bahamas this season. During the dinner, with the Gateway Christian Academy president and founder in the room, Edgecombe announced plans for a fund that would help cover tuition, books, and other academic necessities for students at the institute.

“Kids aren’t funded properly, (don’t) have a strong base, a strong foundation financially,” Edgecombe said during an interview ahead of the McDonald’s All-American game. “I just want to be able to help them, allow them to be happy, and give them the opportunity to get a free education at one of probably the best schools in the Bahamas.”

David said the group is still finalizing logistics, but the fund will cover at least three students this year.

“As it grows, they’ll start putting in some more specifications,” David said. “As of right now, it’s to help underprivileged kids who can’t afford school, and/or books, and different things like that.”

Edgecombe attended the academy for two years before moving to the U.S. Over the last four years, he has proven his legit potential to thrive at the collegiate level and reach the NBA. The dynamic shooting guard, listed at 6-foot-5 and 180 pounds, was named the Gatorade Boy’s Basketball Player of the Year in New York as both a junior and senior, posting averages of 17.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks this year to clinch the back-to-back recognition.

In 22 minutes of play during the 2024 McDonald’s All-American game, Edgecombe had nine points, five rebounds, and two blocks. In the Chipotle Nationals opening round, he recorded 13 points, six assists, five rebounds, and two steals.

While some prestigious NCAA coaches have criticized NIL money as the dismantlement of amateurism in high school and college, Edgecombe is showing the merits of how this money can be used for community-building means.

As his focus shifts to Baylor University, where he committed in January, he’s keeping his beginnings in mind and helping Bimini students get an education.

USA TODAY High School Sports’ Kristian Dyer contributed to the reporting.

Baylor, fresh off impressive win at Virginia Tech, tries to take down USC in Sweet 16

Baylor just won a tough road game at Virginia Tech. The Bears are good, and they’re coming for USC in the Sweet 16.

The Baylor Bears are next up for the USC women’s basketball team in the Women’s NCAA Tournament. Baylor lost to Iowa State in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals, so the Bears had a lot to prove heading into March Madness. They responded well, beating Vanderbilt and then Virginia Tech on the first weekend of the Big Dance. The win over Virginia Tech was a true road game on the Hokies’ home floor in Blacksburg, Virginia. That game is the entry point for a brief discussion about the Bears.

On one hand, winning an NCAA Tournament road game is extremely difficult, regardless of the opponent. Cassell Coliseum, Virginia Tech’s home arena, is a tough place to win in. Baylor’s ability to scratch out a 75-72 win over the Hokies reflects well on the Bears and shows how formidable they are. Baylor was not favored to win that game. The Bears — like Colorado beating Kansas State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament — won a true road game to reach the Sweet 16. That deserves a lot of respect.

Yet, as well as Baylor did play to win against Virginia Tech, it remains that the Hokies were without star player Elizabeth Kitley, who was injured and unable to play. Virginia Tech without Kitley is a greatly diminished version of its best self. Baylor turned in a winning performance, but the depleted nature of its opponent can’t be ignored.

So, as Baylor now faces USC in the Sweet 16, we’re all wondering how much the Kitley injury influenced that outcome, and how prepared the Bears will be against a full-strength USC team with all of its best players available for this regional semifinal on Saturday.

USC might benefit from playing Baylor in this respect: The Trojans just faced Kansas, a fellow Big 12 school. Lindsay Gottlieb, Beth Burns, and the rest of the staff might watch some Kansas-Baylor game film this week to get a feel for how the Trojans can attack and respond to Baylor at both ends of the floor. USC will need to minimize turnovers, which became a problem against Kansas, and find a way to get to the free throw line more than it did this past Monday versus KU.

Having seen Baylor score 75 on the road at Virginia Tech, USC will need to find a way to make sure Baylor doesn’t score in the 70s. USC gives itself the best possible chance of winning when it can hold an opponent under 60 points. There’s a lot to deal with when looking at a Baylor team whose toughness is impossible to ignore.

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Everyone wants to see USC vs UConn, but Trojans must first focus on Baylor

USC needs tunnel vision and an ability to ignore the media’s talk about anything beyond Baylor.

The USC women’s basketball team is in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans are in Portland for a regional which also includes the Connecticut Huskies. UConn is the ultimate powerhouse in women’s college basketball — not this season, but certainly over the past 30 years. The Huskies will be appearing in their 30th straight Sweet 16. They have won 11 national titles in those 30 years and have made 21 Final Four appearances. Geno Auriemma basically owned the sport of women’s college basketball from 2002 through 2016. In that 15-year span, UConn won nine national titles. The Huskies won the national title for a majority of a time period lasting a decade and a half.

This year’s UConn team has been ravaged by a flood of injuries. The Huskies are seeded third and aren’t at full strength. Yet, it’s still UConn. It’s still Geno. Paige Bueckers, an elite player, is still on the roster, giving this team a chance to go to the Final Four. You know that ESPN and a lot of women’s basketball fans want to see USC and JuJu Watkins get their shot at UConn next Monday with the Final Four on the line. That is going to be a talking point in Portland heading into the Sweet 16.

USC has to block out that talk and the distractions which come along with it. The Trojans have to have tunnel vision and focus relentlessly on their next opponent, the Baylor Bears. Baylor comes from a Big 12 Conference which is putting up a fight in this NCAA Tournament. Texas looks strong heading into its own Sweet 16 battle in Portland against Gonzaga on Friday. Iowa State nearly upset Stanford on the road, losing an epic game in overtime this past Sunday in Maples Pavilion. The Big 12 has quality teams. Baylor is one of them. The Bears just beat Virginia Tech on the road to make their way to Portland.

USC-UConn? Nope. Don’t go down that road just yet. People will talk about it, but USC has other things to do before then. The Trojans need to play with great clarity to handle Baylor on Saturday afternoon. The game starts at 2:30 p.m. Pacific time on ESPN.

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Vols conclude play in Arlington with win against Baylor

Tennessee baseball concludes play in Arlington with a win against Baylor.

No. 8 Tennessee (2-1) defeated Baylor (0-3), 11-5, on Sunday in the Shriners Children’s College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.

Rankings reflect the USA TODAY Sports baseball coaches poll.

Nate Snead (1-0) pitched five innings in relief for the Vols. He recorded four strikeouts, while allowing four hits, two runs (two earned) and five walks. Snead totaled 85 pitches (53 strikes) against 22 batters.

Zander Sechrist started for Tennessee and recorded one strikeout. He allowed four hits, three runs (three earned) and one one walk in two innings.

Billy Amick and Kavares Tears hits home runs for the Vols. Tennessee totaled 12 hits in the contest.

Tennessee-Baylor softball series finale canceled

Tennessee-Baylor softball series finale on Saturday is canceled.

No. 2 Tennessee (3-0) and No. 19 Baylor (0-2) were slated to conclude a three-game series on Saturday at Getterman Stadium in Waco, Texas.

Saturday’s series finale has been canceled due to inclement weather.

Tennessee won the series opener, 3-2, and defeated Baylor, 9-1, in game No. 2 on Friday in a doubleheader.

The Lady Vols will next play at Kennesaw State on Wednesday before traveling to Clearwater, Florida, for the Shriners Children’s Clearwater Classic Feb. 16-18.

Tennessee opened its 2024 season on Thursday, debating UT Arlington, 15-0.

Tennessee finished the 2023 campaign with a 51-10 record and won the Southeastern Conference regular-season and tournament championships. The Lady Vols also advanced to the College World Series last season.

No. 2 Lady Vols sweep doubleheader at Baylor

No. 2 Lady Vols sweep doubleheader at No. 19 Baylor.

No. 2 Tennessee (3-0) completed a doubleheader sweep against No. 19 Baylor (0-2) Friday at Getterman Stadium in Waco, Texas.

The Lady Vols (3-0) defeated Baylor, 3-2, in game No. 1 and won game No. 2, 9-1.

In the first game, Baylor led, 1-0, in the third inning and extended its advantage to, 2-0, in the fifth inning.

Tennessee trailed, 2-1, in the sixth inning after McKenna Gibson hit an RBI single. The Lady Vols led, 3-2, in the seventh inning after Destiny Rodriguez hit a two-run home run.

Tennessee sophomore pitcher Karlyn Pickens (1-0) earned the win. She recorded four strikeouts.

In the second game, Tennessee run-ruled Baylor in six innings.

Rylie West went 2-for-2, recording one home run, one double, four RBIs and two walks. Kiki Milloy went 1-for-3, recording one home run and two runs for the Lady Vols.

Payton Gottshall (2-0) earned the win as she pitched 4.1 innings. She allowed four hits and recorded six strikeouts.

Charli Orsini started for the Lady Vols. She recorded one strikeout.

How to watch Lady Vols-Baylor softball series

How to watch the Lady Vols-Baylor softball series Friday and Saturday.

No. 2 Tennessee (1-0) will play No. 19 Baylor (0-0) in the Getterman Classic.

The three-game series will take place Friday and Saturday at Getterman Stadium in Waco, Texas.

Tennessee and Baylor will play two games on Friday, while playing the series finale on Saturday.

First pitch for game No. 1 is slated for 6 p.m. EST and game No. 2 is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EST on Friday. Saturday’s series finale will take place at 3 p.m. EST.

All games can be watched on ESPN+.

Tennessee opened its 2024 season on Thursday. The Lady Vols defeated UT Arlington (0-1), 15-0, at Allan Saxe Field in Arlington, Texas. Tennessee recorded 13 hits in the contest.

2024 NBA Mock Draft 3.0: Projecting the first round with Ja’Kobe Walter leading the way

The 2023 NBA Draft is challenging to predict but that won’t stop us from trying.

The 2024 NBA Draft is a genuinely challenging class to predict but that isn’t going to stop us from trying.

At this point in the season, there aren’t many players who have separated themselves as “can’t miss” prospects. Similarly, many players have clumped together in a similar tier and it is hard to differentiate much between many of those names.

If you’re into uncertainty and like the thrill of the unexpected, this is a fun group of players to evaluate because anything can happen and lots can (and will) change. But for those who want something more clear-cut, this process may become more frustrating.

Our mock draft looks different than some others around the industry and we expect that to remain true until the draft happens. Lots of factors will weigh into how teams evaluate these prospects and so that makes predictions even more hard to pinpoint than usual. While there is a lot we have learned, there is lots more to learn as well.

Unless noted otherwise, all data outside of the NCAA was pulled from our friends at Cerebro Sports — you can create a free account to evaluate player performance across all levels globally.

Our order was determined based on expected wins averaged out from ESPN, Basketball Reference and Cleaning the Glass. The teams outside the top eight in each conference were considered lottery squads. Trades were pulled from this database at RealGM.

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Best quotes from Tom Izzo’s press conference previewing Baylor vs. Michigan State basketball

Best quotes from Tom Izzo’s press conference previewing Baylor vs. Michigan State basketball

It’s been a rocky start to the season for Michigan State basketball, to say the least. The Spartans are off to, I think it’s fair to say, one of the more disappointing starts to a season in Tom Izzo’s career at MSU.

After starting the season ranked No. 4 in the country, the Spartans are now 4-5 and on a collision course with No. 9 ranked, undefeated Baylor at Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit.

Before the game, Tom Izzo spoke to the media on Thursday to give some insight into his team and the match-up that awaits them. You can see the best quotes from that press conference below.