Saturday, April 19, 2008

Memphis all-American guard Chris Douglas-Roberts will enter the NBA draft, joining teammate Derrick Rose as an early entrant, the school announced yesterday.

The 6-foot-7 Douglas-Roberts led the Tigers with 18.1 points a game as a junior and helped them set a Division I record with 38 wins. He was picked for the NCAA all-tournament team after Memphis lost the title game in overtime. . . .

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, a 6-8 forward, said he will leave UCLA a year early to enter the draft. Mbah a Moute won't hire an agent right away, keeping him eligible to return to UCLA for his senior year. . . .

American women's basketball coach Melissa McFerrin has been hired at Memphis, according to a source close to the hiring. An announcement is expected to be made today. In four seasons with the Eagles, McFerrin went 50-70. This season, American won the Patriot League regular season championship and advanced to the postseason for the first time since 1998. McFerrin replaces Blair Savage-Lansden, who resigned after four seasons with the Lady Tigers.

· FOOTBALL: Baltimore Ravens tight end Quinn Sypniewski was carted off the field during the second day of a minicamp.

Sypniewski lightly collided with linebacker Antwan Barnes, twisting his left knee when he came down after hauling in a pass. . . .

The Kansas City Chiefs are saying they are willing to part with all-pro defensive end Jared Allen, who led the NFL in sacks last year and is just 26. . . .

A Washington man was arrested in the Frbruary 2007 triple shooting at a Las Vegas strip club that led to the suspension of NFL cornerback Adam"Pacman" Jones.

Las Vegas police said Arvin Kenti Edwards, 29, was arrested at the Yakima County Correctional facility, where he was already in custody on unrelated charges.

· TENNIS: Serena Williams extended her winning streak over Maria Sharapova, advancing to the Family Circle Cup semifinals in Charleston, S.C., by beating the Russian, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1. . . .

Roger Federer struggled again with unforced errors but defeated 146th-ranked Frederico Gil, 6-4, 6-1, in an Estoril Open quarterfinal in Oeiras, Portugal, twice interrupted by rain.

· OLYMPICS: The prime minister of Thailand, Samak Sundaravej, said Thais should be honored the Olympic torch is passing through their country and protesters would be "crazy and unreasonable" to disrupt the relay.

The torch arrived in the morning under tight security. Thailand's crown princess welcomed the flame, which will be run through Bangkok today. . . .

Kayaker Carrie Johnson clinched a spot in this summer's Beijing Games by winning a 500-meter qualifying race at the U.S. trials in Oklahoma City.

-- From News Services