Florida swingman

decides to transfer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida swingman DeVon Walker has decided to transfer after one season of limited playing time.

Coach Billy Donovan made the announcement Monday, saying Walker has been granted his release and “we hope for the best for him wherever he chooses to go.”

Walker played in 25 games last season, finishing with 20 points, 17 rebounds and four blocked shots.

He’s the second underclassman to leave the Gators this month. Point guard Braxton Ogbueze announced his intention to transfer last week.

Florida has one of the nation’s top recruiting classes headed to Gainesville. It includes guard Kasey Hill and forward Chris Walker, both McDonald’s All-America selections.

 

Kansas ‘mum’ on

McLemore charges

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — Kansas athletic officials are reviewing allegations that the former AAU basketball coach of Ben McLemore received cash payments aimed at steering the star freshman to a sports agent.

AAU coach Darius Cobb told USA Today he received $10,000 in two payments from Rodney Blackstock, the founder and CEO of Hooplife Academy in Greensboro, N.C.

Kansas athletic director Sheahon Zenger issued a statement Saturday saying that the university had received an inquiry about the relationship between the McLemore family and Blackstock. The information was being reviewed and officials would “process it” with the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference if necessary.

McLemore, a second-team All-American, is expected to be an NBA lottery pick in June after breaking the Jayhawks’ freshman scoring record held by Danny Manning.

 

Ex-Duck cornerback

Harris arrested

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) — Former Oregon cornerback Cliff Harris has been arrested after witnesses reported him fighting with his girlfriend outside a restaurant.

The arrest for alleged domestic harassment in Hillsboro on Friday comes less than a week after the 22-year-old player was cut from the New York Jets following an arrest for alleged marijuana possession. He had been signed to a reserve-future contract with the Jets in January.

Police were called to the restaurant. Harris was released Saturday after posting bail and is expected in court Tuesday.

Harris, an All-American in 2010, was dismissed from the Ducks in December 2011 after violating team rules.

 

Former MLB star

facing drug charges

CANTON, Ga. (AP) — Former Major League outfielder Otis Nixon has been arrested on drug charges following a weekend traffic stop in suburban Atlanta.

A report from the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says Nixon was pulled over just after midnight Saturday after another driver called police to report a Dodge Ram truck weaving all over the road. The 54-year-old remained in jail Monday afternoon on $11,880 bond.

The report says deputies found a pipe to smoke crack cocaine in Nixon’s pocket and another in the car. They also found several suspected crack rocks.

The deputies conducted field sobriety tests and determined Nixon wasn’t under the influence of crack cocaine or alcohol.

Nixon collected more than 600 stolen bases in 17 seasons from 1983-99. He played for several teams including the Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians and Montreal Expos.

 

UK’s Stoops visits

Lowery at hospital

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops has visited injured junior safety Ashely Lowery as he recovers from a Saturday morning car accident in Georgia.

The first-year Wildcats coach traveled to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville Monday and says in a statement he is “thankful for the progress” Lowery has made and hopeful for his improvement. The player’s family also says in a statement that he has been upgraded from stable to satisfactory and his injuries are no longer considered life-threatening.

Lowery’s family also thanked the public for prayers and support.

Lowery, 20, was seriously injured in a single-car wreck near his hometown of Cleveland, Ga. He was not wearing a seat belt and was thrown 100 feet from his 2006 Nissan Altima after it left the road and flipped several times.