On the Move: Players and Coaches

The "Little General" Avery Johnson, new head coach of the New Jersey Nets.

1. Former Southern University and A&M College star Avery Johnson has agreed to coach the NBA's worst team, the New Jersey Nets (12-70). The Nets announced on Thursday that they had reached an agreement in principle with Johnson, with the notice coming less than 24 hours after Johnson text messaged The Associated Press that he was going to become the team’s coach. Rod Thorn, president and general manager, refused to disclose details on the multiyear contract, but he said it should be signed in “a reasonable period of time.” A current ESPN analyst who coached Dallas for three-plus seasons, Johnson had a 194-70 regular-season coaching record and a 23-24 mark in the playoffs. He guided the Mavericks to the NBA finals in 2006, and was fired after a first-round playoff series loss to New Orleans in 2008. Johnson led the Mavericks to the postseason in each of his seasons as a head coach. He has the highest coaching winning percentage in NBA history and set the record for reaching the 150-win plateau the fastest (191 games). In 2005-06, Johnson led the Mavericks to their first ever appearance in the NBA finals en route to earning NBA Coach of the Year honors.
   
   
2. The Baltimore Orioles chose center fielder Jeremy Shelby, Grambling State University with pick number 1,138, 38th round of the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft. The 6’3, 180 pound senior helped lead the Tigers to the SWAC tournament title and an NCAA berth in 2010. Shelby hit .354 with 6 home runs and 39 RBI while stealing 20 bases. Shelby is the son of former Baltimore Orioles, Dodgers and Tigers center fielder John Shelby.
   
   
3. In the 2010 Major League Baseball Draft, 35th round, pitcher Cody Hall, Southern University was selected by the Detroit Tigers with pick number 1,063 overall. The 6’4, 230 pound Hall is a junior and a former Baton Rouge Community College and Central High player. The hard throwing right-hander Hall was 2-2 with a 5.84 earned run average in 20 relief appearances for the Jaguars.
   
   
4. Rikiah Gatlin has transferred to Savannah State University from University of Miami (FL). Gatlin has been attending classes at SSU since January 2010 and should be eligible to play for the Lady Tigers in December. The 6-2 sophomore center is a native of Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Christian County High School. Gatlin is a four time high school letter winner in basketball, three time in track and field (shot put) and twice in volleyball.
   
   
5. Delaware State University softball standout Jordan Reid has been selected to compete for a major Amateur Softball Association of America (ASA) team this summer. Reid has earned a spot on the nationally recognized Storm USA fastpitch squad of Corona, California. Storm USA is considered one of the top amateur teams in the nation. he selection is the latest honor for Reid, who was named the 2010 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player-of-the-Year last month. The junior outfielder was also selected to the 2010 Louisville Slugger All Mid-Atlantic team. A native of Accokeek, (Prince George's County)Maryland, Reid was tops in the MEAC, and ninth among all NCAA Division I players, with a .457 batting average during the 2010 regular season. She also led the MEAC in on-base percentage this season (.500). In addition, Reid was 24th in the nation in runs per game (1.0 pg) and 47th in stolen bases (0.51 pg) during the regular year.
   
   
6. Mississippi State women's basketball coach Sharon Fanning-Otis announced Tuesday the hiring of Wanika Owsley to the staff as an assistant coach. Owsley comes to Mississippi State after a one-year stint at Morgan State University where she helped lead the Lady Bears to a 22-13 record and a school-best third-place finish in the MEAC conference. Prior to her stint at Morgan State, Owsley spent three years as the top assistant at Jefferson (Mo.) Community College, going 97-9 during that span. Owsley recruited one national junior college player of the year and four All-Americans. Two of the teams were academic teams of the year which included six academic All-Americans. As a player at Southeast Missouri State, Owsley helped the Redhawks to a 46-16 overall record and their first ever NCAA Tournament appearance during her senior season. Owsley is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana.
   
   
7. From the NFL Niners Nation Blog: What they are saying about Florida A&M University's LeRoy Vann....Will LeRoy Vann make the active roster? | Calling It: N/A | Vann is the "flavor of the month" here at Niners Nation, drawing a following much like Thomas Clayton and Brit Miller. I'll admit, his chances weren't looking good until Singletary stated that 3-to-4 spots would likely be open for special teamers, not counting kickers. It doesn't hurt that Vann also has exceeded expectations as a cornerback in OTAs. Has a decent chance, in my mind.
   
   
8. Michael Merritt, head track and field/cross-country coach at Howard University for the past 10 years, has announced his retirement from coaching. It’s been an unbelievable run,” says Merritt. “When you first take a job you never think of things like years, wins or championships. But then, at the end, you look back and feel good.” Merritt has a lot to feel good about. In his 10 seasons at Howard he was instrumental in the development of David Oliver, Lauren McNary and Landria Buckley. Merritt won three MEAC women's cross-country championships (2002, 2003, 2005) and coached three MEAC individual cross-country champions while earning MEAC cross-country Coach of the Year honors.
   
   
9. Hampton University's sophomore women's basketball swing player, Jasmine (Jazz) Williams-Hayes from Yorktown, Virginia has transferred to Division II, Francis Marion University in Florence, South Carolina. The 5-9 guard will join first year head coach Kate Glusko's 27-5 squad that ended the year ranked 20th nationally and made the program's third consecutive NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance. The former Grafton High School star saw limited action as a Lady Pirate freshman--10 games--for the 20-12 MEAC Tournament Champions, who advanced to the NCAA Division I Women's National Tournament. Jazz will play for the Patriots this fall, who returns eight letter winners.
   
   
10. 2010 Major League Baseball draft -- CIAA, MEAC, SWAC selections..

• Virginia State University John Bivens was taken in the 12th round (at #369 overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers. Bivens batted .293 for VSU with five triples, five homers, 33 RBI and 16 steals.
  
  
• Florida A&M's Derrick Shaw, selected by the Brewers in the 41st round, based on his season stats of 45 runs, 36 RBI, 11 doubles and 67 hits with a .411 average.

• Bethune-Cookman's junior reliever Juan Perez selected at 560 in the 18th round for the Colorado Rockies. Perez notched a school-record 10 saves in a season. He also batted .347 with 13 doubles and 34 RBI, while tallying 68 putouts and 111 assists at second base.

• Burch Smith, Howard -- taken by Cleveland (20th round -- #600)
• Cody Hall, Southern -- selected by Detroit (35th -- #1063)
• Jeremy Shelby, Grambling -- taken by Baltimore (38th -- #1138)
• Ronald Barnes, Howard -- Tampa Bay (48th -- #1451).

Florida A&M University LeRoy Vann is attempting to make the 49'ers roster as an undrafted free agent.