Los Angeles Lakers Sign JSU's Trey Johnson

EL SEGUNDO, CA (April 13, 2011) - The Los Angeles Lakers have signed guard Trey Johnson, it was announced today.  Johnson rejoins the Lakers after spending the 2010 preseason with the team before being waived on October 21, 2010. In five preseason games, he averaged 2.8 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 8.8 minutes.

A 6’5” guard out of Jackson State, Johnson has spent the last four seasons playing for the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA Development League. A 2011 D-League All-Star West Team selection, Johnson did not play in the game after being called up to the Toronto Raptors and signing a pair of 10-day contracts with the team. In seven games with the Raptors this season, Johnson averaged 4.0 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 11.6 minutes.

Lakers sign Trey Johnson and recall Derrick Caracter from Bakersfield Jam

In a move to address their depleting roster, the Lakers signed Trey Johnson and recalled Derrick Caracter from the Bakersfield Jam and will be available to play in the team's season finale Wednesday against the Lakers.

These movies coincide with a number of absences that began plaguing the Lakers before their 102-93 victory Wednesday over the Spurs. The Lakers are without Lakers reserves Steve Blake (chicken pox) and Matt Barnes (sore right knee) for an undetermined amount of time, while center Andrew Bynum plans to have an MRI today after hyperextending his right knee.



Lakers adding D-Leaguer Johnson

The two-time NBA champ Los Angeles Lakers are shorthanded. Steve Blake(notes) is out indefinitey with the chicken pox. And the right knee of Matt Barnes(notes), which has undergone surgical repair in the past, is so sore that when he woke up Tuesday he couldn't move easily, according to the Los Angeles Daily News. Plus, it's unclear if Andrew Bynum(notes) and his knee will be ready to go when the playoffs start. Not a great way to finish out the season and start the postseason, right?

Lakers Call-Up Trey Johnson From NBA D-League's Bakersfield Jam

Trey Johnson spent the preseason with the Los Angeles Lakers and, after playing the regular season with the NBA Development League's Bakersfield Jam, it looks like he'll spend the postseason with the Lakers as well.

Johnson will be signed for the remainder of the season by the Lakers, a source close to the situation told Ridiculous Upside, after averaging 25.5 points, 4.5 assists and 4.2 rebounds in 39 games for the Jam during the regular season. In Bakersfield's lone playoff game so far this season, Johnson scored 29 points to lead the Jam to a 110-105 upset victory over the Rio Grande Valley Vipers.

This will be his second call-up of the season after...

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

VISIT: JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: JSUTIGERS
VISIT: LA LAKERS

JSU Tiger blissful at free safety

JSU Tiger blissful at free safety

Jackson, MS - Tim Dandridge is back where he feels he belongs - roving in the secondary, frantically screaming out formations, putting teammates in the correct places. To Dandridge, this is where it's at: free safety. "I think I fit in good there," he said. "That's my natural position."

Dandridge's move this spring from outside linebacker/cornerback to free safety is one Jackson State hopes will strengthen a defense that struggled last season. Dandridge and his D have a chance to prove they're better than last season - and last week - at noon today during JSU's spring game.



JSU set for Tiger Fest 2011

JACKSON, Mississippi - The Jackson State football team will complete its 2011 spring practice sessions with its annual "Blue and White" spring game Saturday, April 16 at the JSU practice field. The spring football game is held in conjunction with the 2011 Tiger Fest sponsored by the JSU Tiger Fund.

Tiger Fest activities officially got under way with the annual Rick Comegy Golf Tournament played at LeFluer's Bluff Golf Course on Friday.

Saturday (April 16) activities will begin with the JSU Lady Tigers Volleyball "Spring Fling" Tournament at 9 am in the T.B. Ellis Gymnasium. The JSU Legends "Flag Football" game will take place at 10 am on the JSU practice field.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.

VISIT: JACKSON STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: JSUTIGERS

Baseball players sign letters-of-intent to Bethune-Cookman

Four high school baseball players from around Hillsborough County signed their national letters-of-intent Thursday night. The players, members of the Team Xtreme travel baseball team, gathered at the Westchase Beef O' Brady's.

Middleton's Eric Comstock signed his letter-of-intent to play at Eastern Michigan University. He was joined by Einar Muniz (Jefferson, Bethune-Cookman University), Mike Estevez (Jefferson, Bethune-Cookman) and Sean Cramer (Armwood, Polk State College). Strawberry Crest's Jordan Keys, who was also there and a member of Team X, will sign his letter-of-intent April 21 to play baseball at St. Pete College.

BCU Incoming: Big County Prep Interviews B-CU Tampa Bay Area Signees

FAMU to interview Virginia Commonwealth assistant coach

VCU Assistant Coach Mike Jones (Howard U.,1990)

Tallahassee, FL - Mike Jones, who is currently an assistant at Virginia Commonwealth University, is expected to interview today for the Florida A&M men's basketball job, multiple sources have told the Tallahassee Democrat.

 Jones, a former assistant coach at the University of Georgia, met with FAMU athletic director Derek Horne during the week of the NCAA Final Four, a source in Richmond, Va., said Thursday night.

It wasn't clear if Horne and Jones came to terms and that he would be signing to become the next head coach of the Rattlers. Horne wasn't available for comment Thursday night. Should Jones sign, he would become the second major FAMU athletic hire with a history in the SEC.

FAMU's Taylor satisfied with spring practice

After giving the Florida A&M football team its first look at what to expect from its opening day opponent, coach Joe Taylor expressed satisfaction Thursday afternoon with the Rattlers' progress at the end of spring practice. FAMU culminated the spring with one last scrimmage, simulating Fort Valley State's offense and defense.

 FAMU opens the season at Bragg Stadium on Sept. 3.

"It's 143 days before that game kicks off, but when you come back in August, there is a lot going on so this is all about preparation and giving them some reps," Taylor said. "Those guys who we feel we would be playing really got a chance to play as a team.

READ MORE, CLICK EACH TITLE.


VIDEOGRAPHER: FAMURecreationCenter;
On April 6th, 2011 the Florida A&M Recreation Center officially opened Phase II & Phase III of the buildings completed projects. The FAMU Recreation Center is also know as the Hansel E. Tookes Student Recreational Center "The Tooke"!


VISIT: FLORIDA A&M University
VISIT: FAMUATHLETICS
VISIT: e-RATTLER

SUNO Lady Knights Team Up With Science Major for Day of Service

New Orleans, La. - SUNO's women's basketball team united with members of the Beta Kappa Chi Scientific Honor Society and SUNO's National Institute of Science chapter to lend a helping hand to doing community service at City Park. The SUNO student athletes and science majors visited field number eighteen at Harrison and Marconi Blvds., to help lay down new clay for the softball leagues. The service project took place on Saturday, April 2nd.

"There are going to be a lot of happy players (when they see this)," said Lori Colgan, the Assistant Commissioner of the NOLA Softball League and manager of one of the teams. Colgan said that after the league bought the clay, there was no one to help the leagues do the hard part. She was going to ask the players to do the dirty work, and they would have had to play the next day. Eight leagues use the fields at City Park, inlcuding a youth league.

The SUNO students arrived at 9 a.m., and worked consistently for the next couple of hours. Later in the morning, students from Tulane University arrived to lend their backs to the process to give City Park nearly fifty volunteers on the morning.

The students were joined by Elston King, Athletic Director and Women's Basketball Coach, Roshaun Ambrose, Assistant Women's Basketball Coach, Dr. Murty Kambhampati, Professor of Biology, and Dr. Illya Tietzel, Assistant Professor of Biology.

"This is great!" exclaimed a smiling Jim Morrisson, Volunteer Coordinator of City Park. "You guys really saved the day."

VISIT: SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AT NEW ORLEANS
VISIT: SUNOKNIGHTS

Randolph tosses no-hitter as ECSU Vikings sweep Shaw Bears

Final Stats
ELIZABETH CITY, NC- The Elizabeth City State University baseball team kept their hopes for a berth in next week's CIAA tournament alive with a double header sweep of Shaw University 7-0 and 8-0 Thursday afternoon.

However the, Vikings' post season push temporarily served as a backdrop to a near flawless performance by freshman Kerich Randolph, who threw a no-hitter in the game 7-0 win over Shaw in game one.

"I wasn't aware of it," the Bolivia, NC native said. "I didn't know until my teammates told me in between games. A lot of the credit goes to them because they made some great plays today."

Randolph, who leads the Vikings in strikeouts this season with 72, fanned 10 batters on Thursday. "In a way, I'm glad I didn't know (about the no-hitter). I felt good out there today. I'm just happy we got two wins."

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.
VISIT: ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY
VISIT: ECSUVIKINGS

UMES's Rodriguez named NCAA Division I Player of the Year

All-American Maria Rodriguez

DETROIT, MI -- Maria Rodriguez has a big hand in the success of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore's (UMES) women's bowling program and Wednesday she was recognized for it with the NCAA sport's highest honor.

Rodriguez was names the Division I Player of the Year by the National Tenpins Coaches Association (NTCA) at the NCAA Tournament Banquet on the eve of the championship.

"What an honor," said Rodriguez. "I am truly humbled by this; it is great to be recognized by the coaches who have driven this sport to where it is. For me it justifies all the hard work, all the sweat, blood and tears that have literally gone into my college career. It is an awesome feeling."

Rodriguez is the first National Player of the Year UMES has ever had since becoming a Division I program and, along with teammate Kristina Frahm one of two four-time All-Americans in school history.

"I am so proud of Maria," said head coach Sharon Brummell. "I know she feels vindicated. She gave up a lot to come here and start her bowling life anew but in the end it has been great for her and great for our program and university. She has been a driving force in elevating this program to the status we have today. She deserved this award."

Frahm joined Rodriguez as a First-Team All-American, the second selection of her career and fourth overall. Martha Perez was a Second-Team All-American and Anggie Ramirez earned her first All-American selection being named to the third team.

Rodriguez earned her third Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Player of the Year award earlier this season and finished with an average of 210.44. She was named to three All-Tournament Teams this season, was a MEAC Bowler of the Week and even had time to earn the honor of top bowler in her nation's Team Trials. She also earned her third All-MEAC award this season and posted the second highest pinfall of any women's bowler at any ISC sectional.

HAWKS SET FOR OPENING DAY OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS

Live Video | Tournament Central | 2011 UMES Post-Season Guide (NCAA)

TAYLOR, Mich. - Arriving in Detroit Tuesday night, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) women's bowling team got settled and prepared for the coming days and their pursuit of a second national championship in the last four years. For seniors Maria Rodriguez, Kristina Frahm and Martha Perez a title would mean a nice set of bookends for their careers. The three were freshman on the 2008 championship team.

The Lady Hawks arrived early at Skore Lanes on Wednesday to get in their 90-minute practice session and tested different shots, balls and positioning as well as reading the shot (the oil pattern laid down on the lanes the teams will bowl on for the event). Following their practice, each team member had to select and enter just five balls for tournament use, checking them in, having them weighed and even having uniforms inspected for championship play.

After a daunting trip to two different Target stores (the team had to purchase matching belts for competition), they settled in for some rest before the banquet that evening. After winning numerous awards, including four All-American honors, Rodriguez being named Player of the Year andFrahm earning the NCAA Elite 88 Award it was off to a team meeting and bed for the long day ahead.

By UMES Athletics

READ MORE, CLICK TITLE.

VISIT: UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND EASTERN SHORE

VISIT: UMESHAWKS