DAYTON, Ohio – The University of Dayton said a member of its basketball team has died.
UD said in a statement that 20-year-old center Steve McElvene died Thursday in his hometown of New Haven, Ind. No other information about his death was made available.
Flyers Coach Archie Miller said “it’s hard to put into words how painful this is.”
McElvene, a 6-foot-11 redshirt freshman, averaged 6.1 points and 5.6 rebounds in 32 games last season. His 56 blocked shots set a Dayton single-season record.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Scott Skiles stepped down as coach of the Orlando Magic.
Skiles was 35-47 this season, his lone year leading the Magic. The team made the surprising announcement Thursday morning, saying Skiles informed them that he would not be returning.
In parts of 14 seasons as a head coach, Skiles has a 478-480 record. He’s also coached in Phoenix, Chicago and Milwaukee.
Skiles said he is apologizing “for any unintended consequences that may adversely affect anyone associated with this decision.” Skiles said he’s simply not the right coach for the Magic, and that any other speculation would be conjecture.
CLEVELAND – LeBron James will soon face a triple-team he can’t beat.
The NBA superstar, who is making another run toward a title with the Cleveland Cavaliers, said Thursday that he will extend his playing career only as long as his three children will let him.
“It’s kind of up to my kids, really,” said the 31-year-old father, who is in his 13th season as a pro. “I’ve missed so much of my kids’ tournaments and things of that nature when I’m playing. So, it’s kind of up to them. They’ll let me know when they’re tired of seeing me go away.”
James and his wife, Savannah, have two sons and a daughter: 11-year-old LeBron Jr., 8-year-old Bryce and 19-month-old Zhuri. Both boys play basketball.
PHILADELPHIA – Quarterback Carson Wentz signed a four-year contract with the Eagles one day before rookie camp.
Wentz led North Dakota State to consecutive FCS national championships in his only two seasons as a starter before Philadelphia selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in last month’s NFL draft.
The Eagles traded up twice to get Wentz. He’s expected to spend most of the season playing behind starter Sam Bradford and backup Chase Daniel.
All of Philadelphia’s draft picks are under contract and are scheduled to report for rookie camp Friday.
FALL RIVER, Mass. – A friend of former New England Patriots player Aaron Hernandez has been acquitted of murder in the shooting death of a man Hernandez was convicted of killing.
But a jury found Ernest Wallace guilty of accessory after the fact to murder in a Fall River, Mass., court Thursday. Wallace was sentenced to four and a half to seven years in prison.
Hernandez denied killing Odin Lloyd in 2013 but was convicted of murder and was sentenced to life without parole.
Lloyd’s body was found in a North Attleborough industrial park, near the Rhode Island border.
Prosecutors argued there was a “cooperative effort” in the killing of Lloyd, who was dating the sister of Hernandez’s fiancee. Wallace denied it.
Prosecutors said they respect the verdict and are pleased Wallace is going to prison.
Hernandez grew up in Bristol, Conn.
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. – The New York Jets signed quarterback Christian Hackenberg, their second-round draft pick, and wide receiver Charone Peake, a seventh-rounder, to four-year contracts.
The deal signed Thursday by Hackenberg is worth a total of $4.66 million and includes a $1.6 million signing bonus.
Hackenberg threw 16 touchdowns with six interceptions last season for the Nittany Lions. In three seasons at Penn State, he set the school marks for career yards passing, completions and touchdowns.
Peake is a speedy receiver who rebounded from knee injuries to have his best college season last season, catching 50 passes for 716 yards and five TDs for Clemson.
First-rounder Darron Lee and third-rounder Jordan Jenkins, both linebackers, are the only players of the Jets’ seven picks to not yet sign.
GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers third-round draft pick Kyler Fackrell signed his rookie contract.
General Manager Ted Thompson announced the linebacker’s signing on Thursday. The 6-foot-5 Fackrell hopes to break into Green Bay’s rotation on the edge, led by pass rusher Clay Matthews.
The drafting of Fackrell might make it less likely that the Packers bring back outside rusher Mike Neal. The six-year veteran started 15 games last season.
Fullback John Kuhn is another notable Packers veteran who became a free agent after the season. He has not yet signed with a team.
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alabama hired Karl Dunbar to coach the defensive linemen.
Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban announced the hiring of the longtime NFL assistant on Thursday. Dunbar has coached NFL defensive lines in 11 of the past 12 years, including with the Buffalo Bills last season. He worked for Rex Ryan with both the Bills and the New York Jets.
Dunbar replaces Bo Davis, who resigned after Alabama finished spring practice.
Dunbar played for LSU and spent three seasons in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints in 1993 and the Arizona Cardinals in 1994-95.
Dunbar also has coached the defensive line for the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears and in the college ranks at LSU, Oklahoma State and Nicholls State.
NEW YORK – Struggling pitchers Chris Young and Kris Medlen were put on the disabled list by the Kansas City Royals.
An MRI Wednesday determined Young has a strained right forearm, and Meden has right rotator cuff inflammation. Young’s stint is retroactive to Tuesday and Medlen’s to Wednesday.
Young is 1-5 with a 6.68 ERA in seven starts and Melden 1-3 with a 7.77 ERA in six.
Kansas City selected the contract of right-hander Peter Moylan from Omaha before Thursday’s series finale at the New York Yankees and recalled left-hander Scott Alexander from the Triple-A team.
Moylan is 1-1 with a five saves and a 0.71 ERA in 12 relief appearances with the Storm Chasers, and Alexander is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings.