After lucrative NIL deal, tearful KSU star says outside noise ‘affected my play'
Speaking through tears after Kansas State's defeat Wednesday in the Big 12 men's basketball tournament, senior forward Coleman Hawkins said he regretted 'letting people talk about me and affect my play' all year. His comments came after the 10th-seeded Wildcats lost 70-56 to No. 7 Baylor in the second round of the conference tournament, effectively ending their season with a 16-17 record.
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USA Today
19 hours ago
- USA Today
Broncos roster: OLB Nik Bonitto (No. 15) aims for another big season in contract year
Broncos roster: OLB Nik Bonitto (No. 15) aims for another big season in contract year Broncos Wire's 90-man offseason roster series continues today with a look at fourth-year outside linebacker Nik Bonitto, No. 15. Before the Broncos: Nik Bonitto played for four years at the University of Oklahoma from 2018-21. Over his four-year tenure, Bonitto earned three honors: AP third-team All-American (2021), second-team All-Big 12 (2021) and second-team All-American (2020). Over 40 games played, Bonitto recorded 117 tackles (68 solo, 49 assisted, 35 tackles for loss), 18.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and seven pass deflections. Bonitto was selected in the second round (64th overall) of the 2022 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos. Broncos tenure: Bonitto had a rocky rookie season, playing in 15 games, only starting one game and totaling 14 tackles (six solo, eight assisted, one for loss), one forced fumble and 1.5 sacks, hardly the type of year the Broncos were hoping for from their highest draft pick in 2022. Bonttio took a step forward in 2023, a year in which he started four games. Bonitto upped his sack total to 8.0, made 30 tackles (23 solo, seven assisted, 13 tackles for loss), two pass deflections and one forced fumble. If 2023 was a step forward, 2024 was an explosion, and one every bit as much as the Broncos were hoping for when they drafted Bonitto in 2022. Bonitto started 15 games, totaling 48 tackles (33 solo, 15 assisted, 16 tackles for loss, 24 QB hits), two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one interception. Bonitto's fumble recovery and interception both went for touchdowns. Bonitto's huge jump earned him a Pro Bowl nod, as well as second-team All-Pro honors. Chances to make the 53-man roster: 100 percent. Bonitto had a breakout year in 2024, and is in the middle of contract extension talks with the Denver front office to keep him with the Broncos for the foreseeable future. Bonitto is primed for another big year in 2025, and Broncos Country is excited to see what the future holds. Related: These 25 celebrities are Broncos fans.
Yahoo
21 hours ago
- Yahoo
Jeremy Sochan Sparks Trade Rumors After Teasing His Arrival In Phoenix
Jeremy Sochan Sparks Trade Rumors After Teasing His Arrival In Phoenix originally appeared on Fadeaway World. The NBA offseason is heating up as teams across the league prepare for the start of free agency in July. In Phoenix, Kevin Durant is expected to be moved sometime this month, and it seems Jeremy Sochan may know something about it. In an obvious "hint" on social media, the Spurs youngster posted his location as Phoenix, Arizona, knowing the kind of rumors it would spark. He also posted a rather cryptic video of himself in a car with friends, with no context of who they were or where they were going besides the city of Phoenix. On one hand, it's not far-fetched to call this whole thing a prank by Sochan, who may be trolling the fans and NBA media amid all the trade buzz. At 22 years old, the young power forward out of Baylor has become an important member of the Spurs rotation, and he is widely seen as a long-term player for the organization. Advertisement On the other hand, it's impossible not to draw a link between Sochan's sudden trip to Phoenix and the ongoing trade rumors regarding the Spurs and Kevin Durant. As the 2x champion makes his exit from Phoenix, many teams will be ready to make a major offer, but only three of them have been named as his ideal landing spots: the Heat, Rockets, and San Antonio Spurs. As a young team on the rise, the Spurs make the perfect destination for Durant as a place where he can win a lot of games to end his career. He could also mentor young superstar Victor Wembanyama. Sadly, for Jeremy Sochan, he'd be the odd man out as one of the ones being traded in the deal. The total package would likely have to include Sochan, Devin Vassell, Harrison Barnes, a 2027 first-round pick (via Hawks), and a 2029 first-round pick. As it stands, the Spurs are leading the charge for Durant (after Minnesota's shocking fall from grace), and Sochan's latest social media activity may be his way of dropping some hints to the fans. If this trade gets announced, then it will send seismic waves throughout the NBA and shift the balance of power in the West for years to come. With Durant, Wembanyama, and De'Aaron Fox, the Spurs would be major players in the West and strong title contenders for the 2025-26 season. Even at 36 years old, Durant is an elite NBA athlete and an easy 25-point-per-game scorer. Advertisement For now, it seems the process is still ongoing in San Antonio, and it could be that Sochan is the hold-up. The Spurs announced he was previously untouchable in trade talks, but it could be possible they've changed their minds over the last few days or hours. Whether he stays or goes this summer, Jeremy Sochan is going to have a role to play in the Spurs' future success (or failure). Whether he's part of the package that gets them Durant or a part of their long-term future, he's going to be an important part of their plans to improve and it seems he's completely unphased by the uncertainty thatis his NBA future. Related: The Spurs' Dream Starting Five For The 2025-26 Season This story was originally reported by Fadeaway World on Jun 15, 2025, where it first appeared.
Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Chicago Tribune
Hanover Central's Rebecca Ferguson shines in the spotlight in the 3A state final: ‘She knew she could do it'
WEST LAFAYETTE, Indiana — In the moment Saturday night, Hanover Central's Rebecca Ferguson knew she wasn't alone. The junior second baseman stepped to the plate with two outs and two teammates in scoring position in the seventh inning of the Class 3A state championship game. Top-ranked Indianapolis Cathedral had a three-run lead. 'There was a lot of pressure,' Ferguson said. 'But I had my teammates and my family, and everyone who came out was there to support me.' Ferguson came through, hitting a two-run single to give the Wildcats hope, but Cathedral pulled out a 5-4 win at Purdue's Bittinger Stadium. 'Everyone fought to the end and gave it everything they had,' Ferguson said. 'I don't think one person wasn't ready every second.' Ferguson, who entered the game hitting .324 with 15 RBIs, certainly seemed ready when it mattered most. 'Big hit,' Hanover Central coach Sam Antkiewicz said. 'Everyone on our team has had key hits throughout the year. She was right there battling, and she was able to get a barrel on it and put that ball over the second baseman's head. 'That's just a testament to her, knowing what to do, the softball IQ, and looking for a pitch she could handle and put the ball in play. She put the ball in play, and good things happen.' In the seventh, Hanover Central junior center fielder Adeline McMahon and junior designated player Kaden Poppe walked with one out and advanced on a wild pitch before Ferguson's hit. 'That was great,' Hanover Central junior catcher Sienna Stilley said. 'You could tell by the way she was just looking to attack, and that's exactly what she did. She had so much confidence in herself, and she knew she could do it. 'She got so much energy from the dugout because we were telling her, 'You got it,' and she did. I'm very, very happy for her.' Stilley crushed a two-run homer to left-center to give the Wildcats (18-3) the lead in the third inning against Cathedral (29-2), which was ranked No. 1 in the final state coaches poll and won its first championship. 'It was electric,' Stilley said. 'That's the only word for it. You look up from running the bases and you see your entire fan base standing there and cheering you on. That's one of the best feelings I've ever had in my entire life. 'We worked really, really hard. It just goes to show that no matter what your record looks like, you can't count us out. It just goes to show how much we care and how much we love it. We stuck together.' Cathedral scored four runs in the fourth against freshman pitcher Jillian DeYoung, who continued to excel in the circle and also had one of the Wildcats' four hits, and added a run in the fifth. Sophomore left fielder Nora Edgerton also had a hit for Hanover Central. 'You can't ask for anything more,' Antkiewicz said. 'Obviously, we'd like to be in the opposite position where we're up a couple of runs going into that last inning. But we're down, and credit to our girls, they didn't give up, they kept chipping away, kept getting girls on base. 'Then the next thing you know, we have the tying run up to the plate, and that's what I told them all along — just hang in there, just hang in there. When you're within three runs, you're within striking distance.' Antkiewicz came away impressed. 'I can't be prouder of this group,' he said. 'I'm so proud of the way they fought back and the way they handled themselves and the way they showed they deserve to be here.' Indeed, the Wildcats weren't the most likely of state finalists, but they proved worthy. 'We were really the underdogs,' Ferguson said. 'It was amazing we came through and beat everyone who we weren't expected to beat, even though we got here and couldn't do it.'
