Fast Break
BASKETBALL
Cougars land top point guard
Xavier Thames, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Pleasant Grove High in Elk Grove, Calif., has made an oral commitment to attend Washington State University, according to his father Ray.
Thames, a three-star recruit ranked 19th in the nation at his position by Scout.com, picked the Cougars over Iowa State, Marquette, Oregon State and others.
“They were real open and honest in their recruitment,” Ray Thames said of his son’s reasons for picking WSU. “I think he has a great opportunity to compete right away. Obviously, the recent success of their program plays into it. And I think he just has a good rapport with their staff.”
The Cougars, who reached the NCAA Sweet 16 this past season, will lose starting point guard Taylor Rochestie to graduation after the upcoming season.
Thames is the Cougars’ second commitment from the class of 2009, joining Shadle Park High senior Anthony Brown, who committed to WSU last year.
High school seniors can sign a binding letter of intent in November.
Hockey
Melrose gives up TV to coach
Barry Melrose was hired as coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, returning to the NHL after 12 years as a television analyst because he wants to be “on the inside again.”
He replaces John Tortorella, who was fired June 3. The hiring of Melrose by the Lightning’s new owners ends weeks of speculation concerning the former Los Angeles Kings coach.
Tortorella was fired four years after leading Tampa Bay to its only Stanley Cup title.
Melrose coached Los Angeles from 1992-95. He helped the Wayne Gretzky-led Kings to the Stanley Cup finals in his first season. He joined ESPN as an analyst in 1996.
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Golf
Tiger’s surgery deemed a success
Tiger Woods has undergone reconstructive surgery on his left knee in Utah to repair a torn ligament, and doctors say it’s “highly unlikely” there will be any long-term effects.
It’s the second time in 10 weeks Woods had surgery on his knee, this time on his anterior cruciate ligament.
“We were confident going into this surgery, and I am pleased with the results,” Dr. Thomas D. Rosenberg said in a statement released by IMG, Woods’ management company.
Hockey
Cowen invited to tryouts
Spokane Chiefs defenseman Jared Cowen is one of 40 players – 16 from the Western Hockey League – to be invited to try out for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 team.
The tryouts will be held Aug. 1-6 in Calgary, Alberta. Chiefs coach Bill Peters is coaching the team.
The tryouts will determine who will make the 22-player roster that will represent Canada in the Memorial of Ivan Hlinka Tournament to be held Aug. 12-16 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.