Category: NCAA Basketball

Metta World Peace Returns to Los Angeles as Cal State LA Women’s Basketball Associate Head Coach

Brandon King

Metta World Peace is embarking on the next chapter of his basketball career, this time on the sidelines. Cal State LA announced that the former NBA champion and one of the league’s premier defenders has joined its women’s basketball program as Associate Head Coach, adding decades of playing experience and championship pedigree to the Golden Eagles’ coaching staff. Best known for his pivotal role in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 2010 NBA championship run, World Peace spent 17 seasons in the NBA, earning the 2004 NBA Defensive Player of the Year…

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Marcus Spears Jr. Reclassifies to 2026, Commits to Texas

Brandon King

The top-ranked player in ESPN SCNext’s Class of 2027 is headed to Austin sooner than expected. Five-star forward Marcus Spears Jr. has officially reclassified to the Class of 2026 and committed to the University of Texas, he announced Thursday to ESPN’s Paul Biancardi. The move allows Spears to join the Longhorns for the upcoming 2026-27 season rather than waiting another year.   The 6-foot-9 standout from Dynamic Prep (Texas) had been regarded as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2027 class. Following his reclassification, he slots among the elite…

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Kansas Lands Landmark Ripple Jersey Patch Deal Featuring XRP Across All Athletics

Brandon King

The University of Kansas is set to announce a groundbreaking five-year partnership with digital finance company Ripple that will place XRP cryptocurrency jersey patches on uniforms across all Jayhawks athletic programs, according to Sports Business Journal. The agreement is reportedly one of the most lucrative jersey patch deals in college sports history, underscoring the growing commercialization of college athletics in the NIL and revenue-sharing era. Financial terms have not been disclosed, but sources indicate the deal ranks among the richest patch sponsorships to date. Ripple and its XRP cryptocurrency will…

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Nikola Kusturica Reportedly Commits to UCLA on Historic $12 Million NIL Deal

Brandon King

College basketball’s recruiting landscape may have just changed once again. According to EuroHoops, Serbian basketball sensation Nikola Kusturica has committed to UCLA on a reported two-year, $12 million NIL agreement, making it one of the most lucrative name, image, and likeness deals ever reported for an incoming college basketball player. The 17-year-old FC Barcelona standout reportedly chose the Bruins over several major programs, including Kentucky, in what could become one of the biggest recruiting victories of the NIL era. Multiple outlets have echoed the report, although some recruiting insiders say…

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NCAA President Charlie Baker Says Supreme Court Ruling Will Not Change NCAA Policy on Transgender Athletes

Brandon King

Just days after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld state laws restricting participation in girls’ and women’s school sports based on biological sex, NCAA President Charlie Baker says the decision will not result in immediate changes to the association’s transgender athlete policy. Speaking with CBS News’ Face the Nation, Baker said he does not believe the NCAA will need to revise its current rules following the Court’s ruling, signaling that the organization plans to stay the course despite one of the most significant sports governance decisions in recent years. Baker: No…

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Michigan star Syla Swords signs NIL deal with Nike

Brandon King

Michigan star guard Syla Swords has added another major achievement to her rapidly growing résumé, signing a name, image and likeness (NIL) shoe deal with Nike. The partnership makes Swords the first basketball player to join Nike Canada’s NIL roster, marking another milestone for one of the brightest young stars in women’s college basketball. “Nike is always at the forefront of every podium, medal and championship,” Swords said in a statement. “I cannot wait to join a family of winners and role models while I continue to write my story!”…

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Former Tennessee State Basketball Coach Ron Abernathy Dies at 75, Leaving Lasting Legacy Across HBCU Basketball

Brandon King

The Tennessee State basketball family is mourning the loss of former men’s basketball head coach Ron Abernathy, who has passed away at the age of 75. Abernathy, whose coaching career spanned more than five decades, led the Tennessee State Tigers men’s basketball from 1991 to 1995 before continuing his successful coaching journey at Lane College, where he became the winningest coach in the program’s history. Most recently, he served as the head coach at Humboldt High School, retiring earlier this year after 12 seasons.   Before his time at Tennessee…

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Utah Ends Under Armour Era, Signs Seven-Year Partnership with Adidas Beginning in 2027

Brandon King

A major shift is coming to Salt Lake City. The University of Utah has officially announced a seven-year agreement with Adidas that will make the Three Stripes the exclusive footwear, uniform, apparel, and sideline partner for Utes Athletics beginning with the 2027-28 academic year. The move brings an end to Utah’s long-standing relationship with Under Armour, which has outfitted the program since 2008 and served as the school’s department-wide apparel partner since 2011.   This fall will mark the final season of Utah’s 18-year run with Under Armour, closing one…

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15 Players Sue NCAA Over New Five-Year Eligibility Rule One Day After Historic Change

Brandon King

The NCAA’s newly approved age-based eligibility model is already facing a significant legal challenge. Just one day after NCAA officials unanimously approved a new structure that grants student-athletes five years to compete in five seasons beginning either upon college enrollment or when they turn 19 years old, a group of 15 college basketball players filed a lawsuit seeking an opportunity to benefit from the rule change. The plaintiffs argue that the NCAA’s decision to implement the new model without extending eligibility relief to athletes who have already completed four seasons…

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NCAA Officially Adopts New Age-Based Eligibility Model

Brandon King

The NCAA has approved a major change to its eligibility rules, ushering in a new era for college athletics. The Division I governance cabinet unanimously voted to adopt an age-based eligibility structure that will grant student-athletes five years to compete in five seasons, beginning either when they first enroll in college or when they turn 19 years old—whichever occurs first. The move represents one of the most significant eligibility reforms in NCAA history and is designed to create a more standardized framework across all sports. Under the previous system, athletes…

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