Sports briefs – a quick glance around the Tri-Parishes

Former LSU pitcher makes NL All-Star Team

Former LSU standout Brian Wilson reached new heights in his professional career this past week and was again named to the National League All-Star team.

The San Francisco Giants’ closer earned his way onto the team with a 2.04 ERA and 22 saves in the first half of the season.

Wilson’s selection marks the third-straight year an LSU player took part in the game, joining Aaron Hill and Brad Hawpe as former Tigers to recently make it to the Mid-Summer Classic.

This is the second time Wilson is an All-Star. He also made the team in the 2008 season.

Hornets complete draft-day trade

With NBA teams now able to officially trade players selected on draft day, the New Orleans Hornets sent Morris Peterson and Cole Aldrich to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Thursday.

In exchange, the team will get back Craig Brackins and Quincy Poindexter, who were both first-round selections of the Thunder in June’s NBA Draft.

The trade was agreed upon on draft night, but the NBA has a moratorium in place that prohibits drafted players from being dealt until two weeks after the draft.

Where the move allowed the team to add a pair of young players, it also saves the Hornets more than $5 million in salary for the 2010-11 season.

That flexibility will allow the team to pursue another player on the open market during the free agent season.

Hornets GM removes his name from Nets’ search

Hornets General Manager Jeff Bower was among several people interviewed to hold the same position with the New Jersey Nets.

But Bower announced this week he is committed to the rebuilding process in New Orleans and will no longer explore the Nets’ vacancy.

“I appreciate the interest shown by the New Jersey Nets to discuss the opportunity with me to head up their basketball operations,” Bower said. “At this time, however, it is not the right fit for the Nets or myself. I remain focused on improving our Hornets roster on a daily basis.”

One of the factors that likely assisted in Bower returning to the Hornets is Nets coach and Louisiana native Avery Johnson.

It has widely been reported that Johnson was against Bower’s interest in the job, because the Hornets’ GM did not hire Johnson as New Orleans’ coach.

Terrebonne High School makes several coaching hires

With the school year just around the corner, Terrebonne High School filled four vacant coaching positions this week.

The moves were made official at the Terrebonne Parish School Board meeting last Tuesday night.

Veteran coach Gus Brown will become the school’s new baseball and women’s basketball coach. Derek Szush will take over as the team’s boys’ basketball coach.

And longtime assistant coach Craig Hamner will become the team’s volleyball coach, replacing former coach Chip Didier, who had spent the past decade at the school.

The Terrebonne Parish school year begins on Aug 9.

LSU softball signees named to All-Region Teams

A pair of LSU softball signees were named to All-Region teams this past week, putting a bow on their successful high school careers.

Jacee Blades and Tammy Wray, were both named to the Louisville Slugger/NFCA High School All-Region First Team, as announced by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

Blades earned her spot on the team after already being named the Most Outstanding Player in Class 3A in Louisiana.

She batted .525 with 11 RBIs in her senior season at Parkview High School.

Wray made the team after having already won the Gatorade Player of the Year award in her native New York.

She broke 14 school records at Somers High School, and batted .623 with 10 home runes and 34 RBIs in her senior season.

Everyone on the first team is eligible to be named to one of three Louisville Slugger All-American teams.

Former LSU quarterback arrested for possession

Former LSU All-American JaMarcus Russell was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance after a raid of his home last Tuesday.

The former No. 1 pick of the NFL Draft was allegedly in possession of codeine syrup at the time of his arrest, and he was reportedly a subject of an undercover narcotics investigation.

Russell was currently not affiliated with any team after being released by the Oakland Raiders earlier in the offseason.

One potential suitor for Russell, the New York Jets, have already backed away from the former LSU star and have said they will not consider signing him, following his arrest.

LSU’s Mahtook makes USA Baseball Collegiate Squad

LSU outfielder Mikie Mahtook was one of 22 players named to the 2010 USA Baseball Collegiate Squad on Monday.

The LSU outfielder was one of four outfielders to make the team, which will compete all throughout the summer all across the world.

Mahtook batted .335 with 14 home runs and 50 RBI in his sophomore season at LSU.

Team USA will begin play Monday when they take on the Gastonia Grizzlies. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.