Sports briefs – A quick glance around the Tri-parishes

Tuesday, May 25
May 25, 2010
Thursday, May 27
May 27, 2010
Tuesday, May 25
May 25, 2010
Thursday, May 27
May 27, 2010

LSU soccer signee named La. Gatorade Player of Year


Incoming LSU freshman Emily Cancienne of Baton Rouge was named the Louisiana Gatorade Player of the Year this week, an award that highlights athletic excellence, high academic standards and exemplary character on and off the field.


“I was out at LSU when my mom sent me a text about it. I was excited when I found out I was nominated for this,” Cancienne said. “Winning it means a lot to me. I’m out there every day working with the ball, and to get an award like this means that the work has paid off. It’s nice to be recognized for that.’

Cancienne scored 44 goals and recorded 23 assists during her senior season at Baton Rouge High School.


Colonel Soccer adds another recruit


The Nicholls State soccer team has added another recruit to its up-start program – the 11th player to be signed for the 2010 season.

Carroll High School standout Alex Romanelli signed with the program after impressing Nicholls coach Dylan Harrison with physical midfield play and leadership capabilities.


Romanelli also played for the Texas club team Triumph F.C. while in high school.


“Her leadership is evident by being selected as team captain for Triumph F.C., as well as her volunteer work,” Harrison said. “Alex’s physical presence will help her make transition to the college game. Her willingness to get into tackles will be called upon to help us win our midfield battles.”

The Colonels will return to the field for the 2010 season in late August.


Hornets to pick 11th in June’s NBA Draft:


The New Orleans Hornets didn’t receive any lottery luck and will pick 11th in June’s NBA Draft.

The team had less than a one percent chance to win the top pick, which went to the Washington Wizards.


It is unclear whether the team will make their selection or try to package it in a trade for a veteran player.


According to recent mock drafts, players like Kansas’s Cole Aldrich and Xavier Henry, Kentucky’s Patrick Patterson and North Carolina’s Ed Davis could all be available should they keep the pick.

The team’s new head coach will likely determine that decision heavily. During the past week, the Hornets interviewed a few more candidates for that open position. A decision is expected well before the draft takes place. The Associated Press reports Trail Blazers assistant coach Monty Williams and Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau are two of the finalists and Jazz assistant Tyron Corbin, former Nets coach Lawrence Frank and veteran coach Mike Fratello are also being considered.


Nance named to LSU men’s basketball staff:

The LSU men’s basketball team has hired Lynn Nance to serve as an assistant coach on head coach Trent Johnson’s staff.

The hire is a reversal of roles as Johnson worked under Nance as an assistant coach when Nance was the head coach at Washington.

“Obviously we could not have gotten a better person or a more experienced person than Lynn Nance,” said Johnson in a press release announcing the hire. “Coach Nance has a wealth of knowledge about the game of basketball and college athletics and we are excited that he coming here to be a part of the LSU basketball program.”

Nance was working as a consultant the past several years, but he has been a head coach at Washington, Iowa State and St. Mary’s during his career. He has also served as an assistant coach at the University of Kentucky and at Fresno State.

Saints sign veteran linebacker to one-year deal:

The Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints signed veteran linebacker Clint Ingram to a one-year contract this week.

Ingram spent the first four years of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the team who made him a third-round pick in 2006.

During his stay in Jacksonville, Ingram played in 56 games and logged 46 starts.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 240-pound linebacker recorded 77 tackles with one sack in 13 games with the team last season.

He is expected to provide depth to the Saints’ linebacker corps that was left thin when former starter Scott Fujita signed with the Cleveland Browns this offseason.

Nicholls righty wins national award:

Winning two out of three games against Texas State was big for the Nicholls baseball program’s quest to reach the postseason.

But the weekend success was even bigger for senior pitcher Tyler Minto, who was named a Primetime Performer of the Week by baseball Web site www.collegebaseball360.com, after he earned a complete game victory in the series.

The righty is the second Colonel to win the honor this year, joining fellow pitcher Clint Dempster, who was named to the list on May 4.

To be a Primetime Performer of the Week, a player must meet specific requirements. They must be performing against a Top 50 team in America and they must, among other things, be involved in clutch performances throughout their team’s win, while overcoming adversity or extreme circumstances.

The performance was Minto’s final home start of his career.