HENRICO, Va. (WWBT) – The Virginia Sports Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2026 on Wednesday.

This year’s group of athletes, coaches, administrators, and contributors whose influence spans generations, levels of competitions across the state. This includes one man from Richmond, who has also been named the 2026 Distinguished Virginian.

The Class of 2026 inductees are as follows:

• Bobby Ukrop (Richmond): Robert S. “Bobby” Ukrop has been named the “2026 Distinguished Virginian” presented to an individual with a sports background who is a distinguished citizen of the Commonwealth based on outstanding life accomplishment”. A former basketball player at the University of Richmond, Ukrop has been a transformative community leader, leading initiatives throughout Central Virginia including the founding of Richmond Sports Backers, construction of the Diamond baseball stadium, efforts to “Drown-proof Virginia” learn to swim initiative.
• Grant Hill (Reston): ACC Player of the Year; two-time consensus All American; two-time NCAA Champion; one of the ACC’s 50 Greatest Players; 19-year NBA career – 17,137 points -7-time NBA All-Star- 3-time NBA Sportsmanship Award; Olympic Gold Medalist; member of the College and Naismith Memorial Basketball Halls of Fame. National broadcaster for both NCAA and NBA games. Co-owner of the Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Orlando City SC (MLS), Orlando Pride (NWSL) and the Baltimore Orioles (MLB).
• Marcellus “Boo” Williams (Hampton): Widely regarded as one of the most successful and influential youth basketball coaches in the nation, Williams has helped shape the careers of countless young men’s and women’s players. Walt Disney Wide World of Sports named Williams its 2001 Volunteer of the Year; The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame presented him with its 2013 Human Spirit Award. Williams currently operates his youth basketball programs from the 135,000 sq. ft. Boo Williams Sportsplex in Hampton.
• Michael Vick (Newport News): The former Virginia Tech standout and NFL quarterback, Vick became one of the most dynamic players of his generation. At Virginia Tech, Vick led the Hokies to the 1999 National Championship game and was a 1st team All-American and a member of the College Football Hall of Fame. The #1 overall pick in the 2001 NFL draft, Vick played in the NFL for 13 seasons, earning 4 Pro Bowl selections and the 2010 NFL Comeback Player of the Year. After his retirement, Vick was a commentator for Fox NFL Sunday. He is currently the head coach of the Norfolk State University Spartans.
• Wally Walker (Charlottesville): Often credited with starting the prominence of UVA basketball, Walker led the Cavaliers to their first NCAA tournament berth in 1976 when he was the MVP of the ACC Tournament. Walker was the #5 overall pick of the 1976 NBA draft and played for 8 NBA seasons winning two NBA Championships. Following his playing career, Walker moved to the front office, to become the President of Seattle SuperSonics.
• Kristi Toliver (Harrisonburg): One of the most accomplished basketball players in Virginia history. Toliver was the 2009 ACC Player of the Year, a 2-time All-American, NCAA National Champion, 1st round WNBA selection, 2-time WNBA Champion and a 3-time WNBA AllStar. Toliver is currently the associate head coach of the Phoenix Mercury in the WNBA.
• Terry Driscoll (Williamsburg): A visionary leader in collegiate athletics, Driscoll served with distinction as the Director of Athletics at William & Mary for 22 years, during which the Tribe won 114 Conference Championships, had 118 teams with 100% graduation rates and oversaw a dramatic increase in funding for new facilities and the College’s endowment. A true “Scholar-Athlete” himself, Driscoll was an Athletic and Academic All-American, the #4 overall pick in the 1969 NBA draft, and a championship professional coach in Europe.
• Roland Lazenby (Wytheville): A former reporter with the Roanoke Times, Lazenby is best known for his award-winning author of over 60 sports books that has vaulted him to the top of his profession. Widely regarded as an “expert or authority” on NBA basketball, several of his most prominent books are “go to” references on Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
• Tony Bennett: Former University of Virginia basketball coach, two-time Naismith Coach of the Year, and national championship coach as long stood among college basketball’s most respected leaders. Over an 18-season head coaching career, including stops at Washington State and the University of Virginia, he compiled a remarkable 433-and-169 overall record. He took over Virginia in 2009 and transformed the Cavaliers into a powerhouse, amassing a 364- 136 record while becoming the programs all-time wins leader. His crowning achievement came in 2019, when his team captured the NCAA national championship- a milestone that delivered Virginia its first ever national title in men’s basketball. Under Bennett’s stewardship, Virginia won six regular season conference titles, two conference championships, and made 10 NCAA Tournament appearances.

The 53rd induction events are set for Saturday, April 25, 2026, at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa/Short Pump.

Copyright 2025 WWBT. All rights reserved.

Athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to compete under their national flags and emblems at youth level, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has recommended.

Russian and Belarusian competitors have been banned from competing under their countries’ flags at Olympic and Paralympic events since Russia invaded neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022. Despite widespread international condemnation of Russia, it has continued to receive diplomatic support from its geographical neighbour and ally Belarus, which has acted as a launchpad for its invasion of Ukraine.

At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the IOC permitted some Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete under the “Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN)” team, which had no symbolism of national anthems, badges or flags.

An IOC release from Thursday’s Olympic Summit in Lausanne, Switzerland said that the Summit agreed with the Executive Board’s recommendation that youth athletes from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to compete under their national flags, and asked the international sporting federations to consider how to make it work.

The recommendation comes ahead of the 2026 Youth Olympics in Dakar, the first Olympic event held in Africa, which will take place between October 31 and November 13 next year. “The above principles should apply to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, and are recommended for adoption by all IFs and International Sports Event Organisers for their own youth events,” a statement read.

The IOC acknowledged this implementation would “take time”, adding: “The standard protocols of the international federation (IF) or the international sports event organiser regarding flags, anthems, uniforms and other elements should apply, provided that the national sports organisation concerned is in good standing.”

The statement continued: “With its considerations today, the Olympic Summit recognised that athletes, and in particular youth athletes, should not be held accountable for the actions of their governments — sport is their access to hope, and a way to show that all athletes can respect the same rules and each another.”

The IOC also said that Belarus should no longer be restricted from hosting international events, although Russia should remain barred from doing so.

Earlier this month, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled that skiers from Russia and Belarus should be allowed to participate in qualification events for the 2026 Winter Olympics, provided they meet the IOC’s criteria for individual neutral athletes.

Meanwhile, Russian lugers have informed the International Luge Federation that they plan to compete in a World Cup race at Lake Placid, New York, next weekend. It would be the first Russian participation at a World Cup luge race since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In November, the International Luge Federation’s ban on AIN athletes was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Any Russian participation at Lake Placid, which could give their team hopes of qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympics, would be under the AIN banner.

Russian lugers have been granted visas to the U.S., and any participation has been criticised by Ukrainian luge athlete Anton Dukach. “They are not neutral,” Dukach said, via the Associated Press. “They support war.”

In soccer, Russia was banned from competing in UEFA and FIFA (the governing bodies of European and world soccer respectively) competitions after invading Ukraine. Belarus was not banned by either body.

In October 2022, UEFA said it was “constantly monitoring the situation” in Belarus and could yet take “further decisions” against the eastern European nation, after troops from the country were deployed with Russian forces near Ukraine. Belarus most recently competed in European qualifiers for the 2026 men’s World Cup, finishing bottom of Group C behind Scotland, Denmark and Greece.

Most of the time, I think life is a disconnected series of attempts to transform yourself into a different person, despite all evidence suggesting that you pretty much are who you are.

What am I currently doing to create a better, more successful me?

I’m watching videos about motion offenses, zone defenses, and basketball training drills. You see, I kind of inherited a fifth-grade basketball team this fall, and now if I can find a way for us to win some games, maybe I’ll feel better about myself. Maybe I’ll be better.

In fact, I have proof because we did win a game last weekend, and I did feel kind of accomplished for about an hour until we got blown out by a far superior team in our second game… and then again by that same superior team the next morning. I felt accomplished even though my primary contribution to the game was standing on the sidelines, waving my arms around, and shouting things like “GET BACK!” “STOP BALL!” “HANDS UP!” and “PASS IT!”

As I’m slowly discovering, I’m not really built for coaching basketball, but I’ve found over the years that I’m not really built for much of anything, so I’m fine adding one more thing to the list.

I’m hyperaware of how I am perceived at all times, so not only do I have to do my best to wrangle young children into some semblance of a basketball team, I have to do that while constantly evaluating how every parent, referee, coach, player, and random onlooker feels about my every word and action.

It’s as soul-crushing as it sounds.

Extreme self-awareness is, I think, a trait that most successful coaches don’t have. It’s hard to project the necessary confidence and inspire young athletes when you’re using half your brain power to observe the game and the other half to speculate on whether your last celebratory fist pump was a little too aggressive, or maybe not demonstrative enough.

I stumbled into my current coaching position because my son joined an AAU basketball organization that has two teams. Because the main coach can’t coach both teams when their game schedules overlap, and I was one of the few parents who stuck around for the practices instead of dropping their kid off, I was tasked with filling in as coach at tournament games when required. That slowly, but inexorably, spiraled into me being the primary coach for the younger team (I think… it’s still a bit unclear).

Anyway, I was, by all appearances, the head coach for three games last weekend, and we won one game. The team’s first win in our second tournament of the season. My first-ever basketball head coaching win. It felt great for a minute or two until I started thinking about the postgame huddle with parents and players, where I knew I’d be tasked with selecting a team MVP for the game.

When my turn came to talk, I started saying something vague about what a great team win it was, and how proud I was of everyone. I drew on years of watching post-game interviews on TV in which every player and coach pulls from an accepted list of about ten phrases.

After I praised the team for getting the job done, the main coach was like, “Yeah, that’s nice, but we need an MVP.” I asked, “Can I do two?” and he agreed, so I chose the top two point scorers from the game.

I felt reasonably okay because there were only six kids on the team, so a full one-third of them got official recognition. I also threw out a few specific compliments to the other four, including my son, who honestly didn’t have a good game, but, you know, it happens.

I left the huddle exhausted.

Luckily, there wasn’t much time to dwell on my decisions and parse the parents’ facial expressions because we had another game in an hour. As I already mentioned, we got blown out, which was honestly a bit of a relief because that meant I didn’t have to choose an MVP.

Instead, I made a few cliched comments about how we ran out of gas, and it’s hard playing with only five or six players, but we have to keep pushing. I didn’t highlight the real reason for the loss, which was that the other team had much better players. It definitely wasn’t the coaching!

The legendary basketball coach John Wooden (or, depending on what source you believe, a sportswriter named Heywood Hale Broun) once said, “Sports do not build character… they reveal it.” I think that’s probably true to some extent. At least it is for me.

At this point in my life, my character is pretty locked in. As much as I’d like to change a few things about who I am, the largest parts of me are fixed. While growth and development are possible around the margins, I’m never going to morph into Coach K.

I’m not going to magically become forceful and supremely confident. I’m probably not going to hold kids accountable for their mistakes and push them to be the best they can be. I’ll be kind and supportive, and I’ll always care deeply about what other people think.

My coaching days might ultimately be short-lived, but I’ll look back on them fondly. Getting to be right there in the arena while my kid does something he loves (or hates?… it’s hard to tell the difference sometimes) is what every dad dreams about. I’ll remember it forever.

Unfortunately, because of who I am, I’ll also remember the one non-call I tentatively questioned by saying, “Wasn’t that like seven steps?” while the ref jogged by. He turned to me and said, “It was clean, coach. We’re good.”

That guy hates me. He’s probably at home right now throwing darts at a dartboard with my face on it.

Yeah, I’m never going to change.

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Pacers power forward Obi Toppin surprised 10 children from the Boys & Girls Club of Indianapolis with a shopping spree at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Castleton Square Mall on Sunday.

Every child received a $150 DICK’S Sporting Goods gift card, and Toppin added an additional $100 gift card for each child. In total, the children each were given $250 to shop for holiday gifts, sports gear, and apparel.

“I always spoil my kids with a whole bunch of gifts around the holidays,” said Toppin. “So, being able to be in the position I’m in, being able to come back and give some kids a shopping spree experience is amazing so I feel grateful for it.”

Learn more about DICK’S Sporting Goods mission to support youth sports and strengthen communities here.

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC took a big step toward reintegrating Russia and Belarus into world sports Thursday by advising governing bodies to let the countries’ youth teams and athletes compete with their full identity of national flag and anthem.

Athletes have “a fundamental right to access sport across the world, and to compete free from political interference or pressure from governmental organizations,” the International Olympic Committee said in a statement.

That message in support of athletes will be welcomed in Russia and Israel, whose athletes have faced recent discrimination, and comes less than three years out from the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games that risks facing political crosswinds in the United States.

The updated strategy on Russia was set at a so-called Olympic Summit — a meeting chaired by IOC president Kirsty Coventry that invites key stakeholders from the Olympic family.

“It was recognized that implementation by the stakeholders will take time,” the IOC said in a statement, adding that each sport’s governing body should decide how to define youth events.

The IOC’s latest move to ease the sporting isolation of Russia can apply to its own Youth Olympic Games which are held next year in Dakar, Senegal, from Oct. 31 to Nov. 13.

Russian teams have been fully excluded from international soccer, track and field and other sports since the full military invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, while Russian and Belarusian athletes in winter sports are now starting to return with neutral status ahead of the Milan Cortina Olympics in February.

A small group of Russian and Belarusian athletes competed as neutrals without their national identity at the Paris Summer Games last year, where those countries were banned from team sports.

AP Winter Olympics at https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Player-Curated Bags

The player bags continue to be a highlight of Devils Youth Foundation Day. Each player selected items based on their interests and added signed pieces and Devils gear.

Nico Hischier Bag

A pizza-themed collection that reflects Nico’s love of cooking. The bag includes specialty pizza tools, a cookbook, signed memorabilia, and Devils Youth Foundation items.

Jack Hughes Bag

Jack’s bag centers around his interest in reading and downtime. It features comfort items, books, signed pieces, and Devils accessories.

Luke Hughes Bag

Luke curated a gaming-inspired package that includes entertainment items, signed memorabilia, and Devils Youth Foundation gear.

Dougie Hamilton Bag

Dougie’s bag brings together creative and lifestyle items along with signed pieces and branded merchandise.

Timo Meier Bag

Timo selected items that reflect his personal style, including a signature accessory, Devils gear, and signed memorabilia.

Jesper Bratt Bag

Jesper’s bag includes curated lifestyle items with a Swedish touch, a custom journal, signed pieces, and Devils Youth Foundation merchandise.

Jacob Markstrom Bag

Jacob assembled a collection that blends tech, food, and fitness items along with signed memorabilia and Devils accessories.

Supporting Youth Across New Jersey

Funds raised through the auction allow the Devils Youth Foundation to continue supporting thousands of young people across the state. The Foundation works with nonprofit partners in Newark and throughout New Jersey to deliver academic support, expand access to sports, provide healthy meals, and create safe spaces for kids and teens.

Fans can browse all auction items and place bids now through December 13.