Quarterback Rowley returns to Shock

Arena football: Quarterback Kyle Rowley is back for his third stint with the Spokane Shock.

Rowley (pictured left), who helped Spokane to an arenafootball2 title in 2006 and an Arena Football League crown in 2010 before losing the starting job to Erik Meyer in 2011, officially rejoined the Shock on Tuesday. With Meyer on injured reserve and Adam Froman tossing six interceptions in two-plus games, Spokane brought back Rowley, who was released by Pittsburgh prior to the season opener.

“Kyle knows this offense and I expect him to compete for the starting job,” coach Andy Olson said. “It’s rare to have a veteran with his experience available this late in the season and so we felt like we had to jump on the opportunity.”

Rowley is Spokane’s franchise leader in passing yards (8,691), passing touchdowns (182) and rushing touchdowns (14).

Spokane (1-2) faces the Arizona Rattlers in Phoenix on Friday.

Jim Meehan

Wroten, Lillard declare for NBA

Basketball: Washington guard Tony Wroten announced he will declare for the NBA draft and hire an agent, ending his collegiate career after one season during which he was the Pac-12 freshman of the year but could not help the Huskies reach the NCAA tournament.

Wroten made his announcement less than 48 hours after teammate Terrence Ross announced his intention to leave Washington following his sophomore season.

The Huskies will now go from having one of the most talented guard pairs in the country to needing to replace the top two scorers from a team that won the Pac-12 regular-season title.

Washington was also the first team from one of the six major power conferences to win a regular-season crown and not make the NCAAs.

The Huskies reached the semifinals of the NIT before losing to Minnesota.“I have been talking with my friends and family and I just felt like this was the right time,” Wroten said in a statement. “I love the University of Washington, but I just feel that it’s best for me to make the jump.”

Meanwhile, Weber State guard Damian Lillard, 21, will bypass his final year of eligibility and declare for the NBA draft after one of the best individual seasons in school history.

The native of Oakland, Calif., finished second in the country in scoring, averaging 24.5 points, five rebounds and four assists en route to his second Big Sky MVP award.

The 6-foot-3 Lillard is considered one of nation’s top point guards and projected to go as high as No. 9 in June’s draft.

Associated Press