Sports in brief: Thomas will present Stockton

Basketball: Spokane’s John Stockton has chosen Isiah Thomas (above, with Stockton) to present him at Friday’s Basketball Hall of Fame enshrinement ceremony in Springfield, Mass.

Stockton, the career leader in assists, is in a class that includes Michael Jordan, David Robinson, and coaches Jerry Sloan of the Utah Jazz and C. Vivian Stringer of Rutgers. Each was asked to select a previous inductee to serve as a presenter at Friday’s ceremony at Springfield, Mass.

Michael Jordan has chosen David Thompson, another high-flyer from North Carolina, to present him. Jordan went with a surprise by asking Thompson, the athletic swingman who led North Carolina State to the national championship in 1974 – eight years before Jordan won one for the rival Tar Heels.

Robinson went with Larry Brown, his first NBA coach, and fellow San Antonio Spurs Hall of Famer George Gervin. Stringer’s choice of John Chaney was perhaps the least surprising. The longtime friends were coaches of the men’s and women’s teams at Division II Cheyney State at the same time.

Associated Press

WSU cancels 2011 game

College football: Washington State University has cancelled a scheduled 2011 game at the University of Hawaii.

The Cougars signed a three-game agreement with Hawaii in 2008 and played in Honolulu last season. The teams meet Saturday at Qwest Field in Seattle.

Washington State will pay Hawaii $300,000 to end the contract. The decision was made to allow scheduling flexibility in 2011, according to WSU athletic director Jim Sterk.

“We need that weekend open,” Sterk said, to allow for a bye during the season. The Cougars still have the opening weekend free, but Hawaii couldn’t move to that date, Sterk said.

Vince Grippi