Duke and Texas will play in the inaugural Dick Vitale Invitational in Charlotte on Nov. 4, ESPN announced Monday.

• The announcement coincides with Vitale's 86th birthday and his new multiyear contract with the network.

  "Dick is the heart of college basketball, and his kindness, generosity and courage are a constant inspiration to us all," ESPN Chairman Jimmy Pitaro said in the release. "Through the creation of the Dick Vitale Invitational, we will celebrate him and his profound impact on the sport."

  The Longhorns and Blue Devils will play at the Spectrum Center, home to the Charlotte Hornets.

  --Field Level Media

Senior guard Desmond Claude, who led Southern California in scoring last season, said Sunday that he will be joining the Washington program.

• The 6-foot-6 Claude averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 assists and 3.5 rebounds in 33 games (32 starts) last season. He reportedly chose the Huskies over Alabama and Gonzaga.

  Claude announced his decision on Instagram.

  "After a long and thorough process of evaluating each school recruiting me, I have decided to sign at the University of Washington," Claude wrote. "I am a firm believer with the recruiting class coming in and the returning players, we can compete with the very best, which was very important to me.

  "I am excited to get to work with my new teammates and staff in Seattle Husky. Go Dawgs!!"

  The decision by Claude means both of USC's top two players transferred to Washington. Wesley Yates, who was second with a 14.1 scoring average and shot a stellar 43.9 percent from 3-point range as a freshman last season, announced his move to the Huskies in April.

  Last season was Claude's only one with the Trojans. He played his first two seasons at Xavier and enjoyed a breakout season in 2023-24 when he averaged 16.6 points and was named Big East Most Improved Player.

  Washington (13-18, 4-16 Big Ten) finished last in the 18-team Big Ten last season under first-year coach Danny Sprinkle.

  --Field Level Media

After a stellar debut season, BYU coach Kevin Young was rewarded with a long-term contract extension, the school announced on Thursday.

• Details of the agreement, including length of the deal and monetary value, were not disclosed. According to a news release, the extension "will keep Young in Provo for the foreseeable future."

  "My family and I have loved our first year at BYU, being surrounded by great people, at a great university with shared values," Young said in a statement. "I'm excited to continue to build a program based on trying to help young men prepare for the NBA, win at the highest level and do it at BYU."

  Young guided the Cougars to a 26-10 record in 2024-25 and an appearance in the Sweet 16 -- BYU's first since 2011. It also marked the Cougars' most wins in a season since 2016.

  Such success sets up high expectations for BYU next season, especially after the Cougars landed the country's top overall prospect in A.J. Dybantsa, a 6-foot-9 small forward who could be the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft.

  Behind Dybantsa, BYU boasted the No. 13-ranked recruiting class for 2025, according to ESPN.

  --Field Level Media

More than 15 former Indiana men's basketball players allege improper sexual conduct by a former team physician, and they claim that university officials -- including the late coach Bobby Knight -- knew of the doctor's behavior.

• Two former Hoosiers sued the school last fall, but the number of complainants has grown to five with another 10 expecting to also pursue litigation, according to ESPN on Tuesday.

  In the existing lawsuit, former players allege that Dr. Bradford Bomba, who died last month at the age of 89, regularly performed rectal exams on male athletes during physicals despite the fact that medical guidance did not recommend them for college-age men. The lawsuit argued that this amounted to sexual misconduct, and it claimed university officials were aware of this behavior, yet failed to stop it.

  The players said that they raised complaints, with some even requesting a different physician. However, the athletes alleged that Knight, who died in 2023, and head athletic trainer Tim Garl instructed players to continue seeing Bomba.

  Garl, who is named as a defendant in the lawsuit, was the head athletic trainer from 1981 until this year, when Indiana said it would not renew his contract. Garl's attorneys, emphasizing that the trainer did not supervise Bomba, noted that rectal exams were a normal part of a physical.

  During his initial deposition a year ago, Bomba refused to answer 45 questions by invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

  Last month, Indiana commissioned an investigation that found Bomba's digital rectal exams were performed in a "clinically appropriate manner," adding that there was "no evidence to suggest that Dr. Bomba achieved sexual gratification."

  However, Michelle Simpson Tuegel -- representing the group of 10 players who are preparing to file suit -- said two of her clients contradict that finding. One individual said Bomba "fondled his genitalia" during a physical.

  Some medical experts indicated that it was uncommon for a physician to perform a rectal exam without any concerning history or symptoms. These procedures are generally used to screen for prostate and other cancers. In the 1990s, the American Cancer Society recommended them for men who were 50 and older.

  An Indiana University spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation.

  --Field Level Media

Ex-North Carolina forward Ven-Allen Lubin is heading a half-hour or so southeast on Interstate 40, committing Sunday to play at Atlantic Coast Conference rival North Carolina State in the 2025-26 season.

• He made the announcement via a social media post. Wearing a Wolfpack uniform, Lubin simply wrote "Committed."

  Lubin entered the transfer portal on April 21 after spending one season with the Tar Heels. He appeared in 37 games (20 starts) and averaged 8.7 points, 5.5 rebounds in the 2024-25 campaign.

  Prior to North Carolina, the Florida native played single seasons at Notre Dame and Vanderbilt.

  Lubin has career averages of 9.0 points and 5.4 rebounds in 91 games (53 starts). He is a career 61.6 percent shooter from 2-point range.

  He averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds in 26 games for Vanderbilt in the 2023-24 season.

  Lubin, 6-foot-8 and 230 pounds, is a two-time selection to the All-ACC Tournament team.

  Now 21, Lubin was ranked by 247Sports as a four-star prospect in the Class of 2022.

  NC State has rebuilt its roster following the hiring of former Chattanooga, VCU, LSU and Mcneese State head coach Will Wade. The team has eight incoming transfers, including recent high-profile addition Darrion Williams, formerly of Texas Tech.

  --Field Level Media

Fifty early entry candidates withdrew from 2025 NBA Draft consideration ahead of this week's deadline, including two players returning to defending national champion Florida.

• In addition to forward Alex Condon and center Rueben Chinyelu of the Gators, the full list released by the league on Friday also includes a high-profile player transferring to Florida: guard Boogie Fland (Arkansas).

  Head coach Todd Golden's Gators finished a 36-4 season with a 65-63 win over Houston in the NCAA Tournament title game on April 7. Condon delivered 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals in the game, with fellow starter Chinyelu contributing three points, five boards and one block.

  Florida's other three starters -- guards Walter Clayton, Alijah Martin and Will Richard -- have exhausted their NCAA eligibility.

  The NBA draft is scheduled for June 25-26.

  The full list of players withdrawing from the draft:

  PLAYER (SCHOOL/TEAM)

  Chad Baker-Mazara (Auburn)

  Quincy Ballard (Wichita State)

  Nate Bittle (Oregon)

  John Blackwell (Wisconsin)

  Jaden Bradley (Arizona)

  Miles Byrd (San Diego State)

  Rueben Chinyelu (Florida)

  Alex Condon (Florida)

  Tayton Conerway (Troy)

  Melvin Council Jr. (St. Bonaventure)

  Thierry Darlan (Delaware (NBA G League)

  Tae Davis (Notre Dame)

  Silas Demary Jr. (Georgia)

  Jerry Deng (Florida State)

  Treysen Eaglestaff (North Dakota)

  Isaiah Evans (Duke)

  Elijah Fisher (Pacific)

  Boogie Fland (Arkansas)

  PJ Haggerty (Memphis)

  Dominick Harris (UCLA)

  Chris Howell (UC San Diego)

  Josh Hubbard (Mississippi State)

  Karter Knox (Arkansas)

  Kobe Knox (South Florida)

  Toibu Lawal (Virginia Tech)

  Yaxel Lendeborg (UAB)

  Brenen Lorient (North Texas)

  Jaland Lowe (Pittsburgh)

  Ven-Allen Lubin (North Carolina)

  Nick Martinelli (Northwestern)

  Paul Mbiya (ASVEL, France)

  Camron McDowell (Northwestern Oklahoma State)

  Devin McGlockton (Vanderbilt)

  Mackenzie Mgbako (Indiana)

  Kebba Njie (Notre Dame)

  AK Okereke (Cornell)

  Otega Oweh (Kentucky)

  Tahaad Pettiford (Auburn)

  Labaron Philon (Alabama)

  Jaron Pierre Jr. (Jacksonville State)

  Devon Pryor (Texas)

  Joson Sanon (Arizona State)

  Raysean Seamster (UT-Arlington)

  Malik Thomas (San Francisco)

  Bruce Thornton Jr. (Ohio State)

  Milos Uzan (Houston)

  Brandon Walker (Montana State)

  Lamar Wilkerson (Sam Houston State)

  Darrion Williams (Texas Tech)

  Money Williams (Montana)

  --Field Level Media

March Madness could soon become even bigger, if Charlie Baker has his way.

• Speaking Thursday during the Big 12 spring meetings, the NCAA president said he sees value in expanding the NCAA Tournament to potentially 76 teams with hopes of coming to a decision on the matter in the next few months.

  "We've had good conversations with CBS and WBD (Warner Bros. Discover)," Baker said. "Our goal here is to try to sort of get to either yes or no sometime in the next few months because there's a lot of logistical work that would be associated with doing this.

  "If we were to go down this road, you just think about the opening weekends, who has to travel the longest, it gets complicated."

  The tournament field expanded from 65 teams to 68 in 2011, creating the First Four round that pits the two lowest-seeded at-large teams against one another as well as the two lowest-seeded conference champions for a chance to reach the traditional 64-team bracket.

  Baker said he has discussed growing the field to 72 or even 76 teams.

  As the NCAA president put it, the current format contains flaws, noting that even with 68 teams in the field, there are still some who believe their teams were snubbed.

  "The point behind going from 68 to 72 or 76," Baker said, "is to basically give some of those schools that were probably among the 72, 76, 68, 64 best teams in the country a way into the tournament."

  Kansas coach Bill Self said Big 12 coaches favor expansion. His conference featured seven tournament entrants in 2025, compared with 14 boasted by the SEC.

  "There was a little bit that was brought forth and the consensus among the coaches, even though it was very little, would be in favor of that," Self said. "I don't know if you could make it where it was totally equitable all the way across the board for everybody. Certainly, there's going to be outliers on every situation."

  --Field Level Media

Former Grand Canyon star Tyon Grant-Foster said Wednesday that he is transferring to Gonzaga.

• Grant-Foster posted a picture of himself in a Gonzaga uniform with the word "signed" on his Instagram account. He wrote "The Right Place At The Right Time."

  Grant-Foster was the Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year in the 2023-24 season and guided the Lopes to their first NCAA Tournament victory by beating Saint Mary's in the first round.

  Grant-Foster, 25, will reportedly need an NCAA waiver to be cleared for play Gonzaga.

  His college basketball journey didn't start off so well as he underwent multiple heart surgeries and was out of the game for 16 months.

  Grand Canyon cleared him in March 2023 - roughly 12 months before the milestone NCAA tourney win - and he averaged 20.1 points and 6.1 rebounds in 34 games (all starts). Last season, he averaged 14.8 points and 5.9 rebounds in 26 games (17 starts).

  He began his career at a junior college and then played the 2020-21 season at Kansas and played sparingly.

  Grant-Foster transferred again, this time to DePaul, but he collapsed in the locker room at halftime of his Blue Demons' debut on Nov. 10, 2021, and had to be revived. His heart again was shocked back into rhythm three times during the ambulance ride.

  Grant-Foster spent 10 days in the hospital.

  When he collapsed again several months later during a pickup game and subsequently underwent a second heart operation, it seemed basketball might no longer be an option. But he accepted a scholarship from Grand Canyon coach Bryce Drew after being medically cleared.

  --Field Level Media

Auburn guard Tahaad Pettiford announced on social media that he is withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to the Tigers for his sophomore season, one of several high-profile players to make a last-minute decision about their draft status on Wednesday.

• "I'm back," Pettiford said on Instagram.

  Joining him in returning to school are Kentucky's Otega Oweh and San Diego State's Miles Byrd.

  Arkansas' Adou Thiero, Penn State's Yanic Konan Niederhauser, and RJ Luis Jr. of St. John's, however, announced that they plan to stay in the draft pool, exhausting their collegiate careers.

  The deadline for players to withdraw from the draft and maintain college eligibility is Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

  Pettiford was viewed as a second-round pick in this year's draft. He said he plans to boost his stock during a second college season.

  "I was happy to go through the process, getting feedback from NBA teams," the 6-foot-1 Pettiford told ESPN. "Going back to Auburn is a better situation for me. I see myself being a higher pick next year. It wasn't 100 percent this year, so I didn't want to take that chance.

  "Being a short guard, it won't be easy to play in the league, but I know I can do it. It's maybe not the right time."

  Pettiford ranked third on Auburn in scoring at 11.6 points per game despite coming off the bench in 37 of his 38 appearances. He averaged a team-leading 3.0 assists per game and was second on the squad with 70 3-point baskets.

  Auburn went 32-6 last season and reached the Final Four before losing to eventual national champions Florida 79-73.

  The 6-4 Oweh, like Pettiford, drastically improves his team's prospects via his 2025-26 return. The junior guard has improved his scoring output in every collegiate season, averaging 16.2 points per game for the 24-12 Wildcats a season ago. He played his first two seasons for Oklahoma before transferring to Kentucky last offseason.

  He was widely considered a borderline second-rounder.

  Byrd, a 6-7 wing, has been a member of the Aztecs' NCAA regional semifinalist squad in 2023-24 and their national runners-up team in 2022-23 (both losers to eventual champion UConn).

  His 2024-25 season was his best individually, as Byrd contributed 12.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game on the offensive end and added 2.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game defensively in boosting his evaluation into the second round.

  "We are very happy to have Miles returning to San Diego State for the 2025-26 season," San Diego State coach Brian Dutcher said. "It was important that he meet with NBA teams and get their evaluations so he can continue his development in order to be able to fulfill his dream of playing at the next level. As we focus on earning another Mountain West championship in the upcoming season, this experience can only be positive for Miles and the Aztecs."

  Luis raised eyebrows by declaring for the draft, and will likely raise even more by staying in it, despite his status among draft observers as being a borderline prospect while conversely being highly coveted in the transfer portal.

  The 6-7 guard led the Red Storm in scoring (18.2 ppg) as they bolted out to a 31-5 (18-2) record in winning the Big East. The Big East Player of the Year was very pointedly benched by coach Rick Pitino, however, late during the team's 75-66 second-round loss to Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament.

  His shooting, inconsistent at the college level, is considered a big question.

  On the other hand, flirting with the first round is Thiero, whose mix of size and athleticism makes him a more solid bet to get drafted on June 25. The former Kentucky guard followed John Calipari to Arkansas in 2024 and averaged career highs in points (15.1), rebounds (5.8) and assists (1.9) for the 22-14 Razorbacks.

  Niederhauser, a 7-foot forward, strengthened his position with strong workouts in recent weeks and is ranked in the same range as Thiero. A product of Switzerland, Niederhauser played two seasons at Northern Illinois before transferring to Penn State for his junior season in 2024-25. He averaged 12.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game in 29 starts last season.

  --Field Level Media

Men's basketball coaches in the Big 12 are in favor of expanding the NCAA Tournament, Kansas coach Bill Self told reporters Wednesday.

• Self said the coaches discussed the topic at the conference's spring meetings in Orlando, Fla., and supported increasing the number of participating schools.

  This 2025 NCAA Tournament marked the 40th men's bracket since the field expanded to 64 teams in 1985. In 2011, the NCAA added the First Four round, increasing the field to 68.

  A potential expansion to 72 or 76 teams, perhaps as soon as 2026, has been under consideration for at least a couple of years.

  NCAA senior vice president of basketball Dan Gavitt told CBS Sports in February that "committees are continuing their ongoing analysis of whether or not to expand the championships, and if so, how to go about doing that."

  Gavitt said organizers are still studying the financial burden and travel demands of staging a larger tournament, while also weighing opinions on whether expanded fields would water down the competitive viability of the events.

  Seven Big 12 teams made the men's NCAA Tournament in 2025, including recent conference additions Arizona, BYU and Houston.

  Self, 62, has led the Jayhawks to the NCAA Tournament every season it has been held since he took over in 2003-04, winning championships in 2008 and 2022.

  --Field Level Media

North Carolina and Georgetown basketball will play a home-and-home series beginning in the 2025-26 season, CBS Sports reported Wednesday.

• The first game is expected to be played in Chapel Hill, N.C., and scheduled sometime in December, per the report.

  North Carolina finished 24-14 in the 2024-25 season and was a controversial selection to the NCAA Tournament, where the Tar Heels defeated San Diego State in the First Four and lost to Ole Miss in the first round.

  Georgetown was 18-16 and played two games in the College Basketball Crown postseason tournament. The Hoyas lost to Nebraska in the second round.

  The Tar Heels and Hoyas have met seven times, with North Carolina holding a 4-3 edge. The teams played in the 1982 NCAA Tournament championship game, with legendary coaches John Thompson and Dean Smith squaring off.

  North Carolina, behind Final Four Most Outstanding Player James Worthy, won 63-62 in New Orleans.

  --Field Level Media

Forward Alex Condon, who played a key role in Florida's run to the national championship, will return for his junior season after telling ESPN on Tuesday that he is withdrawing from the 2025 NBA Draft.

• The 6-foot-11 native of Australia averaged 10.6 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 37 games (35 starts) for the Gators in 2024-25.

  "It's a really good situation waiting for me there," Condon told ESPN. "A great coach with Todd Golden. Teammates I won a national championship with. I have great chemistry with those boys. We have a good transfer class coming in. I expect guys to make a leap. My big man coach Carlin Hartman is returning, so I will keep developing my game with him."

  The deadline for players to withdraw from the June 25-26 draft and maintain their college eligibility is Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

  Condon is ranked No. 38 in ESPN's latest draft projections. The third-team All-Southeastern Conference selection shot 49.3 percent from the field and 32.8 percent (19 of 58) from 3-point distance this season.

  He contributed 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals in Florida's 65-63 victory against Houston in the NCAA Tournament final on April 7.

  "It's a hard thing to do, winning back-to-back," Condon said. "We're not taking it lightly. We need to get together as a team. ... Part of the reason we were so good last season was we got used to playing with each other for two years. We need to continue that. When guys have your back, that's what makes a great team."

  --Field Level Media

UAB transfer Yaxel Lendeborg withdrew from the NBA draft and committed to Michigan on Tuesday.

• The 6-foot-9 forward, a projected first-round pick, confirmed his decision with ESPN.

  The deadline for players to withdraw from the draft and maintain college eligibility is Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

  Lendeborg has one season of eligibility remaining following stints with the Blazers (2023-25) and Arizona Western (2020-23).

  He averaged 17.7 points, 11.4 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 blocks and 1.7 steals in 37 starts for UAB last season.

  Lendeborg was named the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and a first team All-AAC pick in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.

  --Field Level Media

Indiana transfer Mackenzie Mgbako withdrew from the NBA draft and confirmed his commitment to Texas A&M on Tuesday.

• "I decided to withdraw to focus on becoming a lock first-round pick next year," the 6-foot-8 forward told ESPN. "I am committed to making the improvements to my game based upon feedback from NBA teams."

  Mgbako was projected to be a second-round pick in the June 25-26 draft. Underclassmen have until Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET to withdraw and maintain their college eligibility.

  Mgbako, a McDonald's All-American in high school and the 2023-24 Big Ten co-Freshman of the Year, averaged 12.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in 32 games (31 starts) for the Hoosiers as a sophomore in 2024-25.

  He entered the transfer portal in March and committed to the Aggies before exploring the draft process, including an invitation to the G League Elite Camp in Chicago earlier this month.

  "I look forward to building off of my experience at the combine and team workouts and translating that into a full season's worth of basketball at Texas A&M," Mgbako told ESPN. "I look forward to playing in Coach (Bucky) McMillan's system, doing whatever is asked of me to help our team win, play in the NCAA tournament and go deep into March."

  Texas A&M finished 23-11 last season under Buzz Williams, who departed to become the head coach at Maryland. McMillan spent the past five seasons coaching at Samford.

  --Field Level Media

Houston guard Milos Uzan has withdrawn from the 2025 NBA Draft and will return to the Cougars.

• His representation, PNW Sports Group, confirmed his decision with ESPN on Tuesday.

  The deadline for players to withdraw from the draft and maintain college eligibility is Wednesday at 11:59 p.m. ET.

  Uzan, who has one season of eligibility remaining, averaged 11.4 points, 4.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds and shot 42.8 percent from 3-point range while starting all 40 games in his first campaign with the Cougars (35-5) in 2024-25.

  He made the All-Big 12 second team for Houston, which fell to Florida in the final of the NCAA Tournament.

  He scored 22 points in top-seeded Houston's 62-60 win against fourth-seeded Purdue in the Sweet 16, including the game-winning layup with 0.9 seconds left. Uzan also scored a career-high 25 points in the Cougars' 72-64 win against Arizona in the Big 12 tournament title game.

  Uzan, 22, transferred to Houston after two seasons at Oklahoma, where he averaged 8.3 points, 3.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds in 64 games (56 starts) from 2022-24.

  --Field Level Media

Cedric Coward, a Washington State standout who had committed to play for Duke, will keep his name in the 2025 NBA draft.

• A 6-foot-6 guard from Fresno, California, the 21-year-old Coward played just six games last year at Washington State before a partially torn shoulder labrum required season-ending surgery. He averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.7 assists before the injury, while shooting 40 percent from 3-point range.

  "This is the best opportunity for me to achieve part of my dream, which is making the NBA," Coward told ESPN. "Everything is pointing in the right direction right now to follow that."

  Coward began his career at Division-III Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where he recorded 19.5 points and 12.0 rebounds while hitting 45.3 percent of his 3-pointers.

  He then transferred to Eastern Washington, earning First-Team All-Big Sky honors in his second season for the Eagles. In two years at Eastern Washington, Coward averaged 11.3 points and 6.1 boards.

  After entering the transfer portal following his shortened season at Washington State, Coward announced his intention to play for Duke, selecting the Blue Devils over Alabama, Kansas, Washington and Florida.

  Strong showings at both the NBA draft combine and his pro day led analysts to project Coward as a late first-round pick in June.

  "This was a difficult decision at first, but after the combine, it became a lot easier with the path I wanted to take," Coward said.

  "This was always the main goal. Even if I went to Duke, it would have been in order to get to this level. I feel like I am ready. It didn't hurt that I did pretty well at the combine."

  --Field Level Media

Matthew Driscoll resigned after 16 seasons as the head coach at North Florida to accept an associate position on Jerome Tang's staff at Kansas State.

• Driscoll, 60, and Tang previously worked together at Baylor. The former left that job to become the head coach of the Ospreys in 2009.

  "Coach Driscoll is a proven program builder and an exceptional teacher of the game. His ability to develop players and implement high-level offensive systems is second to none," Tang said. "At North Florida, he not only became the winningest coach in ASUN history but also built one of the most dynamic and efficient offenses in the country, consistently ranking among national leaders in 3-point shooting and scoring. His basketball IQ and passion for teaching will bring tremendous value to our program and elevate our team on every level."

  Driscoll departs North Florida as the winningest head coach in the program's history, posting a 248-264 overall record and 144-118 mark in Atlantic Sun conference play.

  A three-time Atlantic Sun Conference Coach of the Year selection in 2014-15, 2015-16 and 2019-20, Driscoll led the program to four conference championships (three regular season, one tournament) and a berth in the 2015 NCAA Tournament.

  "I know some will wonder why I would leave being a head coach to become an assistant coach, but this was a no-brainer in every aspect for us," Driscoll said. "We all know that work brings profit and if you have studied Coach Tang and his program that's what they do. My responsibility will be to continue to nurture, encourage, and expound upon this foundation with amazing energy, passion, and a servant's mentality that will resonate throughout the incredible community of Manhappiness! Go Cats!"

  North Florida announced that longtime assistant coach Bobby Kennen will serve as the interim coach for the 2025-26 season.

  "For the past 16 years, he has been a vital part of the program's success, and I have every confidence in his ability to lead us forward," athletic director Nick Morrow said. "I fully expect Coach Kennen to continue to build a program that thrives both academically and competitively, while making a meaningful impact on the lives of our student-athletes and energizing the fan base."

  --Field Level Media

Duke gained a commitment from Dame Sarr, the top international 2025 prospect, on Thursday, helping the Blue Devils to ease the sting of losing four of their top five scorers to the 2025 NBA Draft.

• The 18-year-old announced his commitment to Duke via ESPN, calling it "my dream school."

  "My ultimate goal is to play in the NBA," Sarr said. "There's no better place to prepare you for that than Duke."

  A 6-foot-8 wing from Oderzo, Italy, Sarr made his Spanish ACB league debut for Barcelona in 2023. Then 16, Sarr became the second-youngest player in club history.

  He had a strong performance at the Nike Hoop Summit in Portland, Ore., in April, where he recorded 17 points and four boards in 25 minutes against the top high school players in the United States, including future Duke teammates Cameron and Cayden Boozer.

  Sarr's commitment further bolsters the Blue Devils' recruiting class, which ranks third in the nation, according to the 247Sports composite behind only Houston and Arizona.

  --Field Level Media

Kentucky guard Jaland Lowe, a transfer from Pitt, has withdrawn from this summer's NBA draft.

• "Can't miss this opportunity," Lowe posted Thursday on X along with photos of himself in a Wildcats uniform and a message to Kentucky fans: "Big Blue Nation See you soon!"

  As a 2024-25 sophomore, Lowe averaged 16.8 points, 5.5 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals in 31 starts for the Panthers. He earned a spot on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference third team.

  Lowe averaged 13.1 points, 4.3 assists, 3.5 boards and 1.3 steals in 64 games (50 starts) over two seasons at Pitt.

  "I love his ability as a playmaker," Kentucky coach Mark Pope said earlier this offseason, per On3.com. "He's going to be surprised, and he knows it, by having a chance to actually get an open catch-and-shoot once in a while, and have guys that demand space on the floor.

  "I expect he's going to take a massive jump also in his efficiency and his leadership. We're really excited about him. I think he's got a huge upside."

  --Field Level Media

Tennessee guard Zakai Zeigler is suing the NCAA for another year of eligibility, claiming he could lose up to $4 million in NIL money if he isn't allowed to play in 2025-26.

• Zeigler's lawsuit requests a preliminary injunction allowing him to play a fifth season and arguing he will suffer irreparable harm without immediate relief, with schools currently finalizing rosters and settling NIL deals.

  According to the Knoxville News Sentinel, Zeigler's lawsuit challenges the NCAA's redshirt rule in which players are allowed to play a fifth year if they sit out a year of competition.

  Zeigler played four consecutive seasons for the Volunteers from 2021-22 through 2024-25. He argues that he should get be allowed a fifth year of eligibility and its earning potential instead of being punished for not taking a redshirt year, per the News Sentinel.

  "All NCAA athletes should be eligible to compete and earn NIL compensation during each year of the five-year window -- not just those selected to redshirt," the court filings state.

  Zeigler filed his suit in the Eastern District of Tennessee. In it, he claims he could make between $2 million and $4 million in name, image and likeness money in 2025-26 after making $500,000 in 2024-25.

  The lawsuit calls a fifth year "the most lucrative year of the eligibility window for the vast majority of athletes."

  Zeigler set the Tennessee career records for assists (747) and steals (251). The three-time All-SEC pick and two-time league defensive player of the year averaged 11.3 points, 5.4 assists and 2.6 rebounds in 138 career games (83 starts).

  He graduated this month from Tenneseee and plans to pursue a graduate degree.

  --Field Level Media

Former Kansas standout guard and two-time NBA head coach Jacque Vaughn is returning to Lawrence as an assistant coach.

• The Jayhawks announced Wednesday that Vaughn, whose No. 11 hangs in the rafters at Allen Fieldhouse, will join head coach Bill Self's staff for the 2025-26 season. Vaughn played for Roy Williams from 1993-97.

  "We're very excited to welcome Jacque and (his wife) Laura into the fold," Self said in a statement. "I've known Jacque from a distance for several years now and have always admired how he has conducted himself professionally and how he has treated people. I think he will be an excellent addition to our program, while also serving as a great mentor, coach and representative of Kansas basketball."

  Vaughn averaged 9.6 points and 6.4 assists in 126 career games (125 starts) for the Jayhawks. He is third in Kansas history with 804 assists. He was named Academic All-American in 1996 and 1997. He was the 1996 Big 8 Player of the Year.

  Vaughn replaces Norm Roberts, who retired earlier this month.

  "I'm truly honored and overwhelmed with excitement to return to my alma mater and join Coach Self's staff as an assistant coach," Vaughn said. "I couldn't pass up the opportunity to bring those experiences back to the school that means so much to me. It's a blessing to once again be part of the Jayhawk tradition."

  Vaughn, 50, was selected No. 27 overall by the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA Draft. He averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 assists in 776 career games (123 starts) with five teams across 12 seasons.

  Vaughn began his coaching career as an assistant with San Antonio in 2010. He became head coach of the Orlando Magic in 2012, going 58-158 in 2 1/2 seasons. He led the Brooklyn Nets to a 71-68 mark in parts of three seasons (2020; 2022-24).

  --Field Level Media

Former Bowling Green big man Marcus Johnson announced his commitment to Kansas State on Wednesday.

• The 6-foot-7 senior forward averaged 16.2 points and 5.0 rebounds in 32 starts for the Falcons in 2024-25.

  Johnson shot 89.8 percent from the free-throw line and 39.4 percent from 3-point range.

  He scored at least 20 points in a game 13 times, including 23 in a Nov. 16 loss at Michigan State.

  Johnson played his first three seasons at Division II Wheeling University in West Virginia.

  --Field Level Media

Houston has given coach Kelvin Sampson a new four-year contract following his team's run to the championship game of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

• The contract will run through the 2028-29 season, the university announced Wednesday.

  Financial terms were not announced by Houston, however CBS Sports reported that the deal will keep Sampson "among the highest paid coaches in college basketball."

  However, according to the USA Today coaches salary database for the 2024-25 season, Sampson has a long way to go to reach the top. Bill Self of Kansas, at $8.8 million a year annually, is No. 1 on the USA Today list while Sampson is No. 16 at $4.6 million.

  That figure puts him fourth in the Big 12 behind Self, Scott Drew of Baylor ($5.4 million) and Arizona's Tommy Lloyd ($5.3 million).

  "It is hard to truly put into words what Kelvin Sampson has meant to our men's basketball program, our athletics department, our University and our greater Houston community," Cougars vice president for athletics Eddie Nunez said in the school news release. "His success as a coach on the court is even more impressive when considering the tremendous impact he has had on the many young men to come through our program."

  Sampson led the Cougars to a 35-5 record in the 2024-25 season, which included a heartbreaking 65-63 loss to Florida in the final of the NCAA Tournament last month.

  The 69-year-old Sampson has a 724-311 career record in Division I. Before being hired at Houston in 2014, he coached at Washington State (1987-94), Oklahoma (1994-2006) and Indiana (2006-08). With the Cougars, his record is 299-84.

  He has been named Coach of the Year twice -- 1995 and 2024.

  --Field Level Media

Notre Dame hired alumnus Pat Garrity on Tuesday to serve as general manager of the Fighting Irish men's and women's basketball teams.

• The dual GM role is new at Notre Dame and is believed to be only the second such role -- overseeing both men's and women's sports -- in college athletics. Baker Dunleavy holds a similar position, created in 2023, for Villanova's basketball programs.

  Garrity, 48, will also oversee men's basketball as its primary sports administrator.

  Garrity graduated in 1998 and was drafted in the first round (19th overall) that year by the Milwaukee Bucks. He still ranks fifth in Notre Dame school history with 2,085 career points.

  The 6-foot-9 forward spent 10 seasons in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns (1998-99) and Orlando Magic (1999-2008) and averaged 7.3 points and 2.6 rebounds in 552 games (107 starts).

  He was the assistant general manager of the Detroit Pistons from 2016-20.

  "I'm thrilled to be returning to Notre Dame," Pat Garrity stated. "At every point in my career and life, Notre Dame has always been a second home for me and my family. The University has shaped who I am, and its values resonate deeply within me.

  "... Thank you for your trust and for providing me with this amazing new opportunity. I can't wait to begin serving our exceptional student-athletes in both programs and contributing to the broader mission of our athletic department and the University."

  The Notre Dame men's team finished 15-18 (8-12 ACC) in 2024-25 under second-year coach Micah Shrewsberry, missing the NCAA Tournament for a third straight season.

  The women's team went 28-6 (16-2 ACC) last season under fifth-year coach Niele Ivey, reaching the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season.

  Garrity's responsibilities include developing long-term strategies for roster management in the transfer portal era, as well as budget analysis, revenue generation, fundraising, alumni relations and facility management.

  "We could not be more excited to welcome back Pat to Notre Dame," athletic director Pete Bevacqua said. "With the pace of change in college sports, we knew we had to find someone that could support Micah and Niele with all that's required of high-level basketball programs off the court, while they focused on coaching and supporting our amazing student-athletes.

  "Being able to bring in someone like Pat, who's a Notre Dame alumnus, former student-athlete, 10-year NBA veteran, former NBA front office executive and Notre Dame parent, made him the perfect candidate from the start."

  --Field Level Media

The college basketball transfer portal retained one of its marquee names with Darrion Williams reportedly withdrawing from the NBA draft.

• After earning First Team All-Big 12 honors as a junior at Texas Tech, Williams was one of several players who tested the NBA draft waters while remaining in the NCAA transfer portal. He went through the NBA workout circuit while evaluating his options before officially removing his name from the draft on Tuesday, according to a report by CBS Sports.

  Williams averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per game last season, helping the Red Raiders reach the Elite Eight and elevating his NBA draft stock.

  In 100 career games that includes his freshman year at Nevada, Williams has averaged 11.4 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.3 steals.

  The 6-foot-6, 225-pounder is rated as the third-best player remaining in the portal by On3.com's Industry Rankings, behind only Memphis' PJ Haggerty and St. John's RJ Luis.

  Williams could return to Texas Tech for his senior year, but is expected to receive strong interest as the No. 1-ranked small forward available. Kansas and North Carolina State reportedly are among the leading programs to land Williams should the Sacramento native decide to transfer.

  Williams is viewed as a versatile forward and strong defender, but needs to work out his jump shot after shooting only 34 percent from 3-point territory in 2024-25, marking the lowest percentage of his career.

  --Field Level Media