Promotions

• Wolverine Kids Club Day — Wolverine Kids Club Members can check in to receive bonus loyalty points at this game.

• Halftime Entertainment — Youth Scrimmage

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The second-ranked University of Michigan men’s basketball team (10-0, 2-0 Big Ten) returns to Crisler Center to close out the 2025 calendar year, hosting the La Salle Explorers for Kids Day at 4 p.m. on Sunday (Dec. 21). The contest is part of a doubleheader with the sixth-ranked Michigan women’s basketball team, which faces Oakland at noon. The game will be steramed live on Peacock, with Paul Sunderland and Wolverine alum Tim McCormick on the call.

Notes

• Michigan men’s and women’s basketball join forces for a holiday hoops doubleheader at Crisler Center on Sunday, Dec. 21, serving up a full day of Maize & Blue energy. The fun tips off at noon as the No. 6-ranked Michigan women’s team hosts the Oakland Golden Grizzlies in a festive Holiday Game, with the first 750 fans receiving a free set of two coasters. The No. 2-ranked Wolverines cap the day at 4 p.m., welcoming the La Salle Explorers for Kids Day and a Wolverine Kids Club Game, featuring kid-friendly activations, special in-game promotions, and bonus loyalty points for Kids Club members.

• There has been just one previous meeting between Michigan and La Salle, coming at the 1975 Las Vegas Holiday Classic (Dec. 29), where the 16th-ranked Wolverines earned an 86-71 victory. That season proved to be a memorable one for the Maize and Blue, as it advanced all the way to the national championship game, falling to top-ranked Indiana, which completed a perfect 32-0 season.

• The Wolverines’ 10-0 start to the season marks the sixth time U-M has begun a season with 10 straight wins. It also marks its the best start since 2020-21, when U-M started 11-0 en route to an eventual Big Ten title and Elite Eight run.

• Michigan’s 101 points at Maryland marked the Wolverines’ fifth 100-point performance of the season. U-M leads the Big Ten and ranks sixth nationally, scoring 94.7 points per game. The frontcourt trio of Yaxel Lendeborg, Morez Johnson Jr. and Aday Mara has contributed over 40 percent of U-M’s scoring, combining for 39.7 points per game.

• Michigan leads the nation and Big Ten at 21.3 assists per game. U-M has 25+ assists in three of its last four games and five total on the season. Elliot Cadeau leads the Wolverines with 6.1 per game.

• With 12 points and 10 assists at Maryland, Cadeau recorded the third point-assist double-double of his career and the first by a Wolverine in nearly four years — DeVante’ Jones posted 25 points and 10 assists vs. Illinois on Feb. 27, 2022. Cadeau has 37 assists, with two 10-plus assist games, over his last five games, posting a 37:9 assist-to-turnover ratio.

• From deep, Cadeau remains a constant force and after knocking down two threes at Maryland, he accounted for six of his 17 triples last week. He is the lone Wolverine to make at least one three-pointer in every game this season.

• Sixth man Roddy Gayle Jr. continues to provide a steady veteran spark off the bench, averaging 10.8 points while shooting 55.6 percent. He adds 3.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 steals in just 22.3 minutes per game.

• Mara leads U-M and the Big Ten with 27 blocks (2.78 bpg), ranking 12th nationally. He has at least one block in every game and multiple blocks in eight. On the glass, Mara paces with a team-best 8.3 rebounds.

• La Salle features alum Tim McCormick as part of the Peacock broadcast crew. A Clarkston, Mich., native, McCormick played at Michigan from 1980–84, helping lead the Wolverines to the 1984 NIT championship, earning MVP honors.

• McCormick was the 12th pick in the 1984 NBA Draft by Cleveland and was traded on draft day to Seattle; he played with six franchises over eight NBA seasons. Following his playing career, McCormick transitioned into a role as a college basketball and NBA analyst and has also worked with the NBA Players Association.

In a recent discussion with Kelly Flagg, mother of prominent young athlete Cooper Flagg, the complexities of youth sports were laid bare, highlighting a significant crisis that has garnered attention from U.S. Congress. The youth sports industry, now exceeding $40 billion in annual revenue, is under scrutiny for creating an environment that many believe is unsustainable for average families.

Rep. Kevin Kiley, who chairs the House subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education, underscored the issue during a hearing titled “Benched: The Crisis in American Youth Sports and Its Cost to Our Future”. Kiley emphasized that while participation in youth sports has seen a decline, the financial burden on families has increased dramatically. Many parents feel pressured to invest in year-round travel teams, private coaching, and early specialization, with the hope of securing scholarships for their children. This approach often leads to a steep spending surge that excludes countless families from participation.

Statistics presented during the hearing revealed that approximately 60 million children engage in youth sports across the U.S., yet participation rates have slipped since the pandemic, with current figures around 55% for kids aged 6 to 17, down from 61% in 2019. Kiley points out that this drop in participation is more than just a number; it signifies a loss of vital social connections and mental health benefits that team activities provide.

Katherine Van Dyck, a witness and senior legal fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, highlighted the void left by diminishing public funding for community-based programs, leading to the rise of monopolistic entities that prioritize profit over accessibility. This trend raises alarm as many kids find themselves pushed into high-pressure environments that are deemed unnecessary for their long-term athletic development.

Experts at the hearing urged for a fundamental reevaluation of youth sports’ purpose. John O’Sullivan, CEO of the Changing the Game Project, encouraged parents to shift their focus from merely seeking athletic scholarships to prioritizing the development of well-rounded individuals. He emphasized the importance of nurturing healthy, character-driven humans through sports.

The statistics reveal a sobering reality—only about 6% of high school athletes will move on to play at the collegiate level, with less than 1% making it to the professional ranks. A student survey from the Aspen Institute found that only 20% of parents believe their child has a shot at playing Division I college sports, and just 10% think they could reach professional or Olympic levels.

Steve Boyle, co-founder of 2-4-1 Sports, stressed the critical life skills that sports can teach in real-time scenarios, advocating for a broader and more inclusive approach to youth athletics. He and his wife founded their organization out of a concern for their daughter, who was told that trying different sports was not an option for those on local travel teams.

As the discussion unfolded, witnesses urged lawmakers to take action to rejuvenate public parks and recreation programs, which have suffered from budget cuts in previous years and during the pandemic. They proposed moving towards more inclusive structures within school-based sports to ensure that all children have a place to develop their skills, regardless of their athletic ability.

Tom Farrey, executive director of Aspen Sports & Society, proposed implementing multiple team structures within schools to accommodate all interested participants, thus preventing the marginalization of kids who may not fit traditional competitive molds. Making youth sports organizations more accountable through regulatory measures like background checks for coaches was also suggested to enhance safety and integrity in youth sports.

Overall, the hearing underscored a united call for systemic change within youth sports, focusing on accessibility, education about the true purpose of youth athletics, and the necessity of fostering an environment where all kids can enjoy the benefits of physical activity and community engagement. As these conversations continue, the hope is that meaningful policies will emerge to revitalize youth sports for future generations, ensuring that fun, development, and opportunity remain at its core.

John Edward Ammerman, 34, of Stillwater, passed away peacefully on June 3rd, 2024, at Regions Hospital in St. Paul with his parents and a cousin, Debra Buschette at his side, from complications of cardiomyopathy.

John was born March 23rd, 1990, in Fallbrook California to Kelly and Jocelyn (Razal) Ammerman. His family moved to Minnesota in 1993, attended Stillwater and White Bear Lake schools and graduated from Stillwater Area High School in 2008.

He was preceded in death by grandparents, Guia and Jose Razal of the Republic of Philippines; Patricia Ammerman of Stillwater and Thomas Ammerman of Florida; uncles, Ronilio “Ronnie” Razal, Ariel Razal, Glendo Razal of the RP, and Michael Ammerman of Florida.

John is survived by mother, Jocelyn “Josie” Razal; father, Kelly Ammerman; brother, Thomas Jose Ammerman of Stillwater; uncle, Razalito “Boboy” (Maria) Razal of RP; uncle, Jerry Ammerman of Stillwater; cousins, Rayze Paul and Rezelyn Razal of RP.

John had a number of nicknames, ‘Johnny Tsunami, John John, JJ, JDM (Japanese Do Magic) for his love of Japanese sports cars, and Cat Whisperer ‘. He enjoyed playing sports, baseball, football, weightlifting, and especially playing youth hockey at St. Mary’s Point. John loved working on his sports cars, hanging out with his friends, and his cats, (all of which were strays until they rescued us). He also loved all types of pets, military air shows, every type of car and truck show, and watching MMA and WWE Wrestling events. He was a Cub Scout in Pack’s 113 in Bayport and 114 in Stillwater, then joined the Boy Scouts of Troop 114 of Stillwater. At the time of his passing, John was a Security Agent with Relative Intel of Minneapolis where he was known as the Rock for his reliability, judgement and flexibility to cover shifts at last moment.

John was a very proud American and very proud of his Philippine heritage. He grew up to be a fine man and always strove to do the right thing, still had many dreams to fulfill, had a great sense of humor, was very thoughtful, very respectful, very hardworking, and had a heart of gold- evidenced by taking stray cats out of harm’s way and providing a safe home with care, compassion, and companionship.

His final hours were spent with his parents, and Cousin Debra at his side, listening to Dragonforce and with his former cat, ‘Shadow’ in a heart shaped, keepsake urn in his hand. He was diagnosed with cardiomyopathy in 2019 and has battled courageously for 5 years.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Cat Rescues such as: Davidloop65, Cats of San Bernadino, Willy Wonka Adoption, Animal Ark in Hastings MN. Honorary Pallbearers: Tom Ammerman, Enrique Torjesen, Chris Tran, Matt Nelson, LaRue ” Junior ” Palmer, Kent Marcuson, Rezelyn Razal and Rayze Razal.

Visitation 10 AM, Celebration of Life 12 PM, followed by a luncheon. Saturday July 27, 2024 Bayport American Legion 263 3rd St N Bayport, Minnesota.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard Men’s Basketball hosts Holy Cross on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+/NESN) at Lavietes Pavilion as the Crimson returns from its finals break for its Youth Day game which will include giveaways, a Toys for Tots donation bin, and postgame autographs.

What to Know

• Harvard features four double-figure scorers on the year in a group that includes sophomore guard Robert Hinton (16.9 points per game), senior guard Chandler Piggé (13.5), junior forward Thomas Batties II (11.4), and sophomore guard Tey Barbour (11.4).
• Among the Crimson’s four double-figure scorers, three of them averaged fewer than 7.0 points per game as first-years. Senior Chandler Piggé (1.9 points per game in 2022-23; 13.5 in 2025-26), junior Thomas Batties II (6.8 points per game in 2023-24; 11.4 in 2025-26), and sophomore Tey Barbour (4.8 points per game in 2024-25; 11.4 in 2025-26) have all increased their production over their careers.
• In the Ivy League rankings, Harvard stands second in free throw percentage (78.2), third in steals per game (7.91), third in scoring defense (68.2), and fourth in field goal percentage (46.2). In the NCAA, the Crimson sits eighth in fewest fouls per game (13.8) and 15^th in free throw percentage (78.2).
• Sophomore guard Robert Hinton has averaged 16.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 1.6 steals per game on the year, while shooting 86.0 percent on free throws. Hinton ranks third in the Ivy League in field goals (68), third in free throw percentage (86.0), third in steals per game (1.6), fourth in free throws (43), fourth in minutes per game (32.3), and sixth in points per game (16.9). On the year, he has scored in double figures eight times, netted 20 or more points four times, and eclipsed 30 points twice. He earned Ivy League Player of the Week honors on Dec. 8. Hinton – the 2024-25 Ivy League Rookie of the Year – averaged 14.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 2024-25.
• Hinton dropped a career-high 35 points on 12-of-22 field goals and 11-of-12 free throws with eight rebounds at UMass (Dec. 3). Hinton poured in 34 points on 13-of-17 field goals, 4-of-5 3-pointers, and 4-of-4 free throws vs. BU (Nov. 22). He totaled 26 points, five rebounds, and five assists at Furman (Dec. 6) and scored 22 points vs. UNH (Nov. 9), and notched 16 points at Army (Nov. 15). He netted 13 points, including the go-ahead free throws with 5.1 seconds left at Marist (Nov. 16) and added 12 points and nine rebounds at BC (Nov. 26).
• Senior guard Chandler Piggé has posted 13.5 points, 3.7 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.6 steals per game on the year. He ranks first in the Ivy League in minutes per game (33.6), second in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.4), third in steals per game (1.6), fourth in assists per game (3.7), sixth in field goals (57), and 11^th in points per game (13.5). He has scored in double figures in eight games on the year. Piggé – an Honorable Mention All-Ivy selection and CSC Academic All-District honoree last season – notched 13.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in 2024-25. He has steadily increased his production over his career, averaging 1.9 points per game in 2022-23, 8.1 points per game in 2023-24, and 13.1 points per game in 2024-25.
• Piggé totaled 23 points and six assists, while shooting 8-of-11 from the floor vs. UNH (Nov. 9). He dropped 21 points with a career-high nine assists at Penn State (Nov. 19). He registered 14 points against both Army (Nov. 15) and Marist (Nov. 16), connecting on a game-tying 3-pointer with 35.8 seconds left against the Red Foxes. He netted 15 points against both Northeastern (Nov. 11) and Bryant (Nov. 29).
• Junior forward Thomas Batties II has registered 11.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game on the year, while shooting 53.6 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from 3-point distance. He ranks third in the Ivy League in 3-point percentage (58.3), seventh in field goal percentage (53.6), seventh in blocks per game (0.9), and ninth in 3-pointers made (21). He has scored in double figures eight times on the year. In 2024-25, Batties II averaged 11.0 points and 5.0 rebounds per game on the year after registering 6.8 points and 4.2 rebounds per game on the 2023-24 season.
• Batties II tallied a season-high 17 points, career-high five made 3-pointers, and a career-high six assists at Penn State (Nov. 19). He scored a game-high 17 points against both MIT (Nov. 7) and Army (Nov. 15). Batties II posted 14 points and a career-high six assists vs. BU (Nov. 22) and notched 13 points at BC (Nov. 26) and vs. UMass (Dec. 3). He totaled 12 points and nine rebounds vs. Bryant (Nov. 29).
• Sophomore guard Tey Barbour has registered 11.4 points and a team-high 5.5 rebounds per game on the year, while shooting 38.8 percent from 3-point distance. Barbour ranks fifth in the Ivy League in 3-pointers made (26), fifth in 3-pointers per game (2.4), sixth in minutes per game (31.6), and 11^th in rebounds per game (5.5). He has scored in double figures in eight games on the year. Barbour notched 4.8 points and 1.8 rebounds per game on the year in 2024-25.
• Barbour posted 15 points and nine rebounds at BC (Nov. 26) after scoring 15 points vs. BU (Nov. 22). He posted 14 points, six rebounds, and a career-high four made 3-pointers vs. UNH (Nov. 9) before netting 12 points on four 3-pointers vs. Northeastern (Nov. 11). He compiled 12 points and seven rebounds at Penn State (Nov. 19). Barbour netted 10 points and hit the game-winning 3-pointer vs. Bryant (Nov. 29).
• Sophomore guard Ben Eisendrath has notched 5.1 points, 2.9 assists, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.8 steals per game on the year, while shooting 51.4 percent from the field. Eisendrath ranks second in the Ivy League in steals per game (1.8) and 11^th in assists per game (2.9). He scored a career-high 15 points on 6-of-7 field goals at Penn State (Nov. 19) and netted 10 points at Furman (Dec. 6). Eisendrath distributed a career-high nine assists vs. BU (Nov. 22).
• Sophomore guard Austin Hunt has tallied 5.9 points and 3.1 rebounds per game on the year. He notched 13 points, six rebounds, and three assists vs. UNH (Nov. 9) and netted 10 points at Furman (Dec. 6). Hunt averaged 7.8 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 2024-25.
• Harvard trails Holy Cross in the all-time series, 31-46. The Crimson has taken five of the last six matchups in the series. 

Next Up

Harvard plays at No. 22 St. John’s on Tuesday, Dec. 23 at 6:00 p.m. (FS1) and at Colgate on Sunday, Dec. 28 at 2:00 p.m. (ESPN+) to close non-conference play.
 

Fresh off naming three people 35 years old or younger to significant positions within the organization, the Washington Nationals continue an offseason trend of hiring young. This time, the club is set to name 31-year-old Ani Kilambi as its general manager, a league source told The Athletic’s Matt Gelb on Wednesday.

Phillies are losing assistant GM Ani Kilambi to Washington Nationals, who are hiring him as GM, as @JeffPassan reported. Kilambi oversaw club’s R&D department. He’ll be one of the youngest GMs in baseball.

— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) December 17, 2025

Kilambi, who previously served as the Philadelphia Phillies’ assistant GM, began his career as an intern with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2015. A graduate from UC Berkeley, Kilambi spent multiple years in Tampa Bay’s R&D department before joining the Phillies in 2021 as a 27-year-old.

The Nationals, who finished the season with a 66-96 record, the third-worst mark in baseball, fired president of baseball operations Mike Rizzo and manager Dave Martinez before the All-Star break. At the time, the Nationals (37-53) were just days away from selecting the No. 1 pick in the draft, which they eventually used to select shortstop Eli Willits.

By late September, the club had hired 35-year-old Paul Toboni, an assistant GM for the Boston Red Sox, to be its top decision maker. A month later, Blake Butera was tabbed to be Washington’s manager, making the 33-year-old the youngest MLB manager in over 50 years. The youth movement didn’t stop there, as Simon Mathews, a 30-year-old former assistant pitching coach with the Cincinnati Reds, was hired to be the organization’s pitching coach.

The oldest member so far of the new-look Nationals? Bench coach Michael Johns, who is 50, but carries nearly 20 years of professional coaching experience.

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – Crews are laying turf on the first fields at Cape Girardeau’s new youth sports complex, marking major progress on a $4.5 million project expected to open in early 2026.

The five-field complex, located next to Shawnee Park Sports Complex, is designed for baseball and softball players ages 8 to 15.

Parks and Recreation Director Doug Gannon said the expansion meets growing demand for tournament play.

“Travel sports is really gaining popularity, and Cape Girardeau is a very popular destination for travel sports,” Gannon said. “We’re going to have the opportunity to draw much larger tournaments. We’re going to be a much more appealing destination for tournaments.”

The facility will feature artificial turf in the infields and natural grass outfields, reducing rain delays and rescheduling.

Recreation Division Manager Scott Williams said the upgrade will help guarantee games even after heavy rain.

“The artificial turf will bring the ability, if we have any rain that occurs during a tournament, as soon as it stops raining with minimal time for drainage, it will be ready to play,” Williams said.

Tournament growth is already underway, with events scheduled nearly every weekend from mid-March through October.

Some weekends could bring 80 to 90 teams to southeast Missouri.

“Good things happen when people come to town for these types of events,” Gannon said. “They stay in hotels, they eat in restaurants, they shop at convenience stores, they buy gas locally.”

The complex will boost the local economy and position Cape Girardeau as a regional sports hub.

The project is scheduled for completion in time for the spring season.

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