Newsmakers
Removed Washington Huskies guard Isaiah Thomas underwent minor surgery on his right big toe to remove a bone spur. The school said Thomas had the surgery on Friday in Seattle. He is expected to be in a walking boot for a short time and be limited in his basketball activities for the next three to six weeks.
Convicted A Las Vegas jury found six-time convicted felon Deshawn Lamont Thomas guilty of kidnapping, robbing and beating former Oakland Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker, who, after the incident almost two years ago, was found unconscious a block off the Las Vegas Strip. Thomas faces up to life in prison at sentencing June 23 by Clark County District Court Judge Douglas Smith.
Declared Northern Arizona guard Cameron Jones declared for the NBA draft but said he won’t hire an agent. He can still withdraw his name by the May 8 deadline and return for his senior season with the Lumberjacks.
•Temple junior forward Lavoy Allen declared for the NBA draft, although he has not hired an agent. Allen, a first-team All-Atlantic 10 Conference selection, became the first Temple player to average a double-double since Ollie Johnson in 1970-71.
•Florida State center Solomon Alabi will also enter the NBA draft. Alabi was a third-team All- Atlantic Coast Conference pick this past season when he helped Florida State to the NCAA tournament.
Hired Virginia Tech assistant Bill Courtney was hired as Cornell’s basketball coach, succeeding Steve Donahue, who accepted the same position at Boston College. This is the first head coaching job for Courtney, a 39-year-old well-traveled assistant.
Halted A person familiar with negotiations told the Associated Press that New Orleans Hornets sale talks between George Shinn and minority owner Gary Chouest have reached an “impasse” and that Shinn now wants to speak with other possible buyers. Shinn’s preference is to deal only with investors who want to keep the Hornets in New Orleans.
Undecided American Bode Miller said he will not decide his future with the U.S. Ski Team until the team’s preseason camp in August. The 32-year-old Miller says many of the issues that prompted him start his own team two years ago hadn’t changed when he returned to the U.S. team in the run-up to the Vancouver Olympics.