MSU sophomore forward Raymar Morgan has helped the USA Basketball Under-19 World Championship Team jump out to a perfect 3-0 record in the Global Games. Morgan poured in 13 points and grabbed five rebounds as Team USA defeated Africa 102-51 in their opening contest.
With the month of June winding down, it is time for one of my favorite sporting events of the summer, the NBA draft.
Payne Gniewek of Trenton, Mich., has signed a National Letter of Intent to attend MSU and will join the golf team as a freshman for the 2007-08 season. Gniewek, a four-year letter winner at Gabriel Richard Catholic High School, was named Michigan's Mr. Golf during his senior season.
MSU incoming freshman Corey Tropp of Grosse Pointe was selected in the third round (89th pick) by the Buffalo Sabres in the National Hockey League's entry draft.
Lansing — A day filled with laughs, golf and money going toward several good causes highlighted the eighth annual Mid-Michigan Steve Smith Charity Challenge golf outing at the Country Club of Lansing on Monday. Smith, a former MSU and NBA star, hosted the event to raise money for the Steve Smith Scholarship Fund. Each year, the Steve Smith/Pershing High School/MSU Scholarship for Academic Achievement fund selects students who have come from Smith's former high school, Pershing High School in Detroit. The scholarship allows students to attend MSU without the concern of financing their education.
Lansing — Kids were invited to run the bases Sunday afternoon at Oldsmobile Park, but they were not the only ones rounding the bases. The Fort Wayne Wizards put together a five-run, eighth inning against the Lansing Lugnuts.
"It's a great moment for me, I can't believe it," Angel Cabrera said in a press conference late Sunday afternoon.
Team Most Valuable Player. USA Hockey College Player of the year. National champion. Jeff Lerg has put together quite the resumé his sophomore year, and the MSU goaltender's postseason honors aren't done yet. Lerg was named the George Alderton Male Athlete of the Year on Wednesday, June 13.
Detroit — It's something not many people can say they have seen in their lifetime. In fact, the last time it happened by a Tigers pitcher in Detroit was 55 years ago.
MSU sophomore Bianca Mejia will join the USA Junior Women's National Softball Team at the ISF Junior Women's Fast Pitch World Championships. The tournament will take place June 20-30 in Enschede, Netherlands, with the United States playing its first game against Puerto Rico at 9 a.m.
Maurice Joseph, who would have been entering his junior season with the MSU men's basketball team, has announced his decision to transfer to the University of Vermont. The 6-foot-4 guard appeared in 31 games for the Spartans last season.
Former Spartan wrestler Nick Simmons, a four-time All-American, won two matches over the weekend at the U.S.
Lansing — The Lansing Lugnuts won in thrilling fashion Sunday afternoon over the South Bend Silver Hawks, 1-0. Lansing shortstop Raul Barron took advantage of a one out, bottom of the ninth, bases-loaded situation and lined the first pitch he saw to left field.
Sophomore catcher Kyle Day and junior left-hander Jon Kibler were selected in the 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft, which concluded Friday.
MSU senior golfer Matt Harmon was named a third-team All-America, the first time since 2002 a Spartan has received the honor. Harmon finished his four years at MSU with the lowest career scoring average (73.51) in MSU history.
Sophomore Jonathon Allen recorded a 15.51 meter jump to take 11th place in the triple jump at the NCAA Championships on Saturday. His first jump was recorded at 15.49 meters, which tied for 12th and sent him to the second flight Saturday.
Summertime is here, and with MSU baseball, softball and all the athletes having recently wrapped up their seasons, MSU's 2006-07 sports campaign has come to an end.
While scouts rave over Lugnuts outfielder Travis Snider's potential stardom in the big leagues, Snider is content to write his own blossoming story in baseball archives using a bat, glove and the confines of Oldsmobile Park. Snider, a 19-year-old from Mill Creek, Wash., was the Toronto Blue Jays' 2006 first-round draft pick and 14th overall selection.
MSU senior guard Drew Neitzel has accepted an invitation to try out for the 2007 USA Basketball Pan American Games on July 12-14 at Haverford College (Pa.). Neitzel will compete against 29 other top collegiate players in the country for the chance to make the final 12-player roster. Of the 30 players partaking in the trials, 14 will be seniors in 2007-08, 11 will be juniors and five will be sophomores.
"Bittersweet." It's the one word that can describe the type of season his team had, said MSU men's golf head coach Mark Hankins. After qualifying for the NCAA Championships in Williamsburg, Va., the MSU golf team's season came to an end Friday afternoon after finishing in 23rd place at the 30-team tournament.