Two Fort Wayne boys basketball players were named Wednesday as Junior All-Stars by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association.
Bishop Luers’ James Blackmon Jr. is on the Core team, while Concordia’s D.J. McCall is on the North team.
The six Core players will play in two exhibition games against the Kentucky Junior All-Stars on June 14 in Louisville and June 15 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, as well as two games against the Indiana Senior All-Stars, with dates and locations to be announced. The North Junior All-Stars will play in two games – one against Kentucky and one against the Senior All-Stars.
Blackmon Jr. is an Indiana recruit who led the state in scoring at 33.4 points per game. McCall has led the Cadets to Saturday’s Class 3A state championship against Greensburg. Also on the Core team are Greensburg’s Bryant McIntosh, Evansville Bosse’s JaQuan Lyle, Indianapolis Tech’s Trey Lyles, Park Tudor’s Trevon Bluiett and Plymouth’s Mack Mercer.
BASKETBALL
Vandeweghe takes position with NBA
The NBA has hired former All-Star Kiki Vandeweghe as vice president of basketball operations. Vandeweghe, also a former general manager with Denver and the Nets, and the Nets’ interim coach, will be involved in the development of rules and interpretations, disciplinary matters and other details involved in the operation of NBA games. He will report to executive vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, who said in a statement that Vandeweghe’s more than three decades of experience give him “a tremendous amount of insight into our game.”
COLLEGES
Illness forces AD at ’Bama to resign
Alabama athletic director Mal Moore is stepping down to become special assistant to the president because of health problems after a lengthy reign at his alma mater that ended with the Crimson Tide’s football program back on top nationally. The university announced the move Wednesday, and it is effective immediately. The 73-year-old Moore, who played and coached for Paul “Bear” Bryant” and then hired football coach Nick Saban, has been hospitalized at Duke University Medical Center since March 13 with pulmonary problems. He has been the Tide’s athletic director since 1999.
Mountain West, ESPN reach deal
The Mountain West and ESPN have reached agreement on a seven-year deal that will give the network rights to televise some football and men’s basketball games, plus all Boise State’s home football games. The agreement runs from the 2013-14 school year to the 2019-20 season. CBS Sports Network will still hold primary rights to the conference through 2015-16 and will get first selection of football games each week during the season, excluding Boise State home games.
HIGH SCHOOLS
College signings
Three East Noble football players have made college choices: Tom Woehnker and Alex Frick to Defiance College, and Drake DeMuyt to Saint Francis. … Carroll’s Olivia Knispel will sign to play women’s soccer at Huntington University.
IDITAROD
Changes coming
Changes are planned for Alaska’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race following the asphyxiation death of a dog that was buried in snow by extreme winds, organizers of the 1,000-mile race. Race officials said they also plan to meet with the owners of 5-year-old Dorado. The dog was found dead at a checkpoint Friday, four days after he was removed from the race because he was moving stiffly. He was kept in Unalakleet to await transportation home. The Iditarod Trail Committee said planned changes include construction of dog shelters at two major checkpoints, and more frequent checks on the animals.
