Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard wins NBA Rookie of the Year award

Published May 01, 2013

Associated Press

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  FILE- In this Dec. 22, 2012, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard calls out a play during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Phoenix Suns in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers are expected to announce Lillard as the league's Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)The Associated Press

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  FILE- In this March 2, 2013, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, shoots against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Dante Cunningham during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers are expected to announce Wednesday, May 1, 2013, Lillard as the league's Rookie of the Year. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)The Associated Press

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  FILE- In this Dec. 13, 2012, file photo, Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard, left, battles for a loose ball with San Antonio Spurs forward Danny Green during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Portland, Ore. The Trail Blazers are expected to announce Lillard as the league's Rookie of the Year on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Don Ryan, File)The Associated Press

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PORTLAND, Ore. –  Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard has been unanimously chosen the NBA's Rookie of the Year.

Lillard, the sixth overall pick in last June's draft out of Weber State, led all rookies with a 19-point scoring average. He also averaged 6.1 assists and 3.1 rebounds, playing in all 82 games this season.

Lillard broke Stephen Curry's rookie record for 3-pointers in a season, finishing with 185. He is the fourth player in league history to win the Eddie Gottlieb Trophy unanimously, joining Blake Griffin in 2011, David Robinson in 1990 and Ralph Sampson in 1984.

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Baylor women complete 2013-14 recruiting class with addition of guard from Florida

Published April 17, 2013

Associated Press

WACO, Texas –  Standout prep guard Ieshia Small has signed a national letter of intent with Baylor, completing the Lady Bears' five-player recruiting class.

Small is a 6-foot guard from Florida High in Tallahassee, Fla., where she averaged 25 points, nine rebounds, 5.4 assists and five steals a game as a senior. She was a McDonald's All-American, Florida's Gatorade Player of the Year and ranked No. 3 nationally at her position.

Small, who signed Wednesday, played on the same AAU team with current Baylor freshmen Niya Johnson and Alexis Prince. The rest of the Lady Bears' new recruiting class signed during November's early period.

Brittney Griner, the three-time All-American and two-time AP player of the year, is one of five Baylor seniors who played their last game in the NCAA tournament.

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Cardinals guard Smith establishing himself as tournament's top player for top-seeded Cardinals

Published March 26, 2013

Associated Press

Drop in any barber shop and sports is usually a hot topic.

That's especially true these days at Big Russ' Barber Shop in Harlem, N.Y., where folks are buzzing about the owner's son — Louisville guard Russ Smith.

Of course, they're somewhat biased toward the Brooklyn native, but they're not alone in their praise of the 6-foot-1 guard.

Smith, considered the best player on the top-seeded team in the NCAA tournament, has garnered attention for his dominating play on both ends of the floor. He is averaging 25.0 points and 5.0 steals per game.

Playing the best he has all year, Smith and the Cardinals (31-5) will take on 12th-seeded Oregon (29-8) in the round of 16 Friday in Indianapolis.

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