Duke basketball’s Isaiah Evans is one of 106 players on a list of early entry candidates for the 2025 NBA Draft.

The NBA released the full list April 29. Evans, who is set to return for his sophomore season with the Blue Devils, appears to be going through the draft process to get feedback before returning to Duke. He’s projected to be a first-round pick in next year’s draft.

On April 22, Evans confirmed his return to the Blue Devils with a social media post when the program’s official X account asked him if he would be back for a second season in Durham. “Yea” was Evans’ reply.

A 6-foot-6 wing, Evans shot 41.6% from beyond the arc and made multiple 3-pointers in 17 games as a freshman, including five in a row during his best stretch of the season. He averaged 6.8 points, 1.1 rebounds and 13.7 minutes across 36 games. As a sophomore, Evans projects to be included in Duke’s starting lineup.

The NBA Draft Combine in Chicago is set for May 11-18. Players who want to maintain their college eligibility must withdraw their names by May 28. The 2025 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 25-26 in Brooklyn. 

Cooper Flagg, Kon Knueppel, Khaman Maluach and Tyrese Proctor are the other Blue Devils on the NBA’s list of early entrants. Duke’s freshman starters from last season are projected to be top-10 picks. 

Washington State transfer Cedric Coward, who committed to Duke on April 28, is also among the players set to go through the draft process. Coward, like Evans, could be in Duke’s starting lineup to start the 2025-26 season, which is Jon Scheyer’s fourth as head coach. 

Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them torbaxley@fayobserver.com. 

Rename the school Shaqramento State. Or perhaps Shaq State will do.

Sacramento State announced Tuesday that it hired outsized personality and hoops icon Shaquille O’Neal as general manager of its forlorn men’s basketball program. OK, so maybe hired isn’t an accurate term because O’Neal — whose net worth is estimated at $500 million — will do the job on a voluntary basis.

But Shaq nevertheless assumes a role that has become increasingly popular in the NCAA in the age of name, image and likeness, and the Lakers great will attempt to help turn around a program that finished 7-25 and last in the Big Sky Conference last season. Sac State has had all of two winning seasons in program history and has never made the NCAA tournament.

Shaq isn’t the only addition. Earlier this month, the Hornets hired former Sacramento Kings star Mike Bibby as coach. One of Bibby’s first moves was to add O’Neal’s son, senior forward Shaqir O’Neal, a transfer from Florida A&M, where he averaged 6.7 points and 3.2 rebounds a game last season.

Shaqir began his high school career at Crossroads in Santa Monica before transferring to a school in Georgia. He spent two seasons as a reserve at Texas Southern before transferring to Florida A&M a year ago.

Bibby has no college coaching experience but recently led his high school alma mater Phoenix Shadow Mountain to five state championships. He plans to go for the glamour in Sacramento. He made that clear at his news conference upon being hired April 1.

“I’m going to turn this around,” he said. “I have a lot of NBA players who want to send their sons to me to play. We can get kids. We’re going to try to have that Deion [Sanders] impact. We’ll have superstars in the building, active NBA players stop by.”

Sacramento State will open a new basketball facility on campus in the fall, leaving behind the Nest, the decrepit current arena that seats only 1,012 people and is one of the oldest NCAA Division I venues.

Transforming the Hornets into winners will be a daunting task for O’Neal, who already has a busy schedule. He is a longtime NBA analyst for TNT and oversees a business empire that according to a Times article in 2023 has included 155 Five Guys restaurants, 40 24-Hour Fitness gyms, 20 Big Chicken outlets, 17 Auntie Anne’s pretzel stands, nine Papa John’s pizzerias and at least one Krispy Kreme doughnut shop.

Shaq has appeared in commercials for Icy Hot, the General insurance, Buick, Frosted Flakes, the Carnival Cruise Line, Epson, Novex Biotech, Reebok, Google, Pepsi, Ring, Gold Bond, JCPenney, Tonka and WynnBet sports betting. Partnering with the sports betting business forced O’Neal to sell his minority stake in Sacramento’s NBA team, the Kings, three years ago.

How extensive are O’Neal’s business holdings? He’s hosted a Shaq Summit for several years to corral representatives from all of his brands and partnerships into one room for strategic planning.

How much time can O’Neal devote to Sacramento State? Serving as GM of a Division I athletics program involves more than glad-handing and bringing in talent via grins and a magnetic personality. The position gained prominence soon after NIL legislation was passed in 2021 that overturned the long-held NCAA stance preventing athletes from getting paid.

Sure, some GMs are prominent sports figures — witness Andrew Luck at Stanford and Stephen Curry at Davidson — but logging long days on campus would seem a key part of the job description.

Sacramento State, long considered a bottom-rung athletics program amid the far-flung California State University system, has ambitions. The football program hopes to build a new stadium and upgrade from the FCS to the FBS.

A basketball program can flip from perennial losers to winners more easily than football because it can take only a few standout players to change fortunes. Shaq knows that firsthand, along with Kobe Bryant spearheading the transformation of a middling Lakers period in the late 1990s into three consecutive NBA championships beginning in the 1999-2000 season.

Can he trigger something similar at Sacramento State? If so, calling the school Shaqramento State might indeed be appropriate.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling out the Jefferson Davis Parish Schools system in Jennings, La. for using a Christian cross on official district athletics attire.

A concerned community member informed FFRF that the Lacassine High School boys’ basketball team warm-up gear features a Christian cross on the back, additionally noting that these shirts are worn during games. 

FFRF contacted the district after learning of this constitutional violation. 

“Religious imagery on official school attire sends the message that the district is promoting religion,” FFRF Patrick O’Reiley Legal Fellow Hirsh M. Joshi has written to Jefferson Davis Parish Schools Superintendent John Hall. 

It is well settled that public schools may not show favoritism towards or coerce belief or

participation in religion. A public school may not use religious imagery to demonstrate favoritism toward Christianity — as the district does here. Further, having minor children wear religious imagery on their assigned uniform may infringe their free speech rights, especially if they would be retaliated against for refusing to wear a Latin cross.

FFRF also points out that student athletes are especially susceptible to coercion. When their school’s athletic program assigns uniforms featuring religious imagery, the students undoubtedly feel that wearing those images is essential to pleasing their team’s coach. That places athletes in a difficult position: They must either express that religious message — against their conscience — or openly dissent at risk of their standing. That ultimatum is exactly what the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause guards against. 

Religious coercion occurring within the district is particularly troubling for those parents and students who are not Christian or who are nonreligious. Nearly half of Generation Z (those born after 1996) is nonreligious, which may be quite a few of the district’s athletes.

FFRF asserts that in order to respect the First Amendment rights of students, the district must instruct the athletics department to refrain from using religious imagery on official athletic gear.

“The school district has a constitutional obligation to remain neutral regarding religion,” FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor says. “The district must not include religious iconography on student athletics attire in order to create an environment welcoming to all students — whether they are religious or nonreligious.”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a national nonprofit organization with over 42,000 members, including more than 100 members in Louisiana. FFRF’s purposes are to protect the constitutional principle of separation between church and state, and to educate the public on matters relating to nontheism.

Jeremiah McKibbins, a Class of 2016 communication studies alumnus, set 10 different rushing records during his four years playing football at Chapman. He was a three-time All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) selection and four-time team captain.

McKibbins, however, operates with an unassuming excellence.

“Football isn’t something you do alone, it’s built on brotherhood, trust and showing up for the person next to you every single day,” McKibbins said.

Despite his humble attitude towards success, it seems to follow McKibbins. He, along with four other former Chapman athletes, was announced as part of the 2025 Athletics Hall of Fame class.

“This honor isn’t just about stats or wins, it’s about the moments in the locker room, the battles on the field and the lifelong connections made along the way,” he said. “It’s a reminder of what we built together and the legacy we left behind.”

McKibbins captures the authentic greatness many athletes strive to obtain, and his legacy at Chapman rewards him for that. Discipline and hard work is a major part of excelling at anything you do, but the impact you make on anything is often a clear reflection of character.

The Chapman University Athletics Hall of Fame class is set to be inducted during the 42nd Annual Night of Champions and Hall of Fame Induction Weekend on Oct. 24 and Oct. 25, 2025. 

Since 1980, Chapman’s Hall of Fame induction has honored athletic excellence and school spirit. Held each October, the two-day Night of Champions weekend reunites alumni and celebrates new inductees with a Friday banquet, a halftime announcement at Saturday’s home football game and a plaque unveiling on Victory Way.

All five inductees played within one of Chapman’s Division III teams and will make Panther history as a member of the third class in Chapman’s Hall of Fame History: Scott Martino ’01 (soccer), Jennifer Manship ’09 (water polo), Erin Dudzinski ’09 (softball), Brian Rauh ’14 (baseball) and McKibbins ’16 (football).

The Hall of Fame Committee Chair, Jack Bauerle summed up the significance of this event.

“To put it simply, these are the best of the best,” Bauerle said. “Being selected into Chapman’s Hall of Fame, just as any other hall of fame, puts you in elite company. These particular student athletes’ exemplified the pillars of the university, coupled with excellence in the classroom, the athletic field, court or aquatics. We want their legacy to continue and inspire the future Panthers.”

McKibbins further emphasized how not only discipline, but being a good person, defined his time at Chapman.

“I showed up every day with purpose,” he said. “I wasn’t chasing clout, I was chasing growth. I treated my teammates and my community with kindness and respect because, at the end of the day, how you treat people matters more than any stat sheet.”

By definition, exceptional means “unusually good: outstanding,” and to be recognized as such takes more than talent — it requires integrity, consistency and a mindset that elevates those around you. Athletes like McKibbins — and the rest of the 2025 class — embody that standard in the way they lead and live, both on and off the field.

“I believed in doing things the right way, showing up for others and building a reputation you can stand on long after the game’s over,” said McKibbins.

Manship, an accounting and business administration major, is now the second ever aquatics member of the Hall of Fame. Manship is a two-time All-American athlete who set Chapman’s record, scoring 223 goals in 2007. She stands as a trailblazer today, as the first Panther to score 100-plus goals in a season, and ranking second in the highest total goals in school history.

Beyond her athletics, Manship showcased every positive attribute of a teammate. Eric Ploessel, Chapman’s men and women’s water polo coach, described the incredible stature of Manship’s character beyond her skills in the water. 

“(Manship) made all the players around her better,” said Ploessel. “That’s what made her such an amazing player. Besides the records she broke, it’s that she wanted her teammates to score and help them become better players. Finding a star that’s willing to make some of their teammates better is huge for programs.”

Ploessel, who coached Manship for three seasons, further said that her selflessness impacted more than her teammates and the game.

“She wants to make people around her better,” he said.“That included me. We butted heads a lot when I was coaching her but that was because she wanted the best out of me. She was the first player to demand more out of me. I was younger when I coached her with less experience than I do now. Coaching her made me a better coach.”

Manship said receiving the honor has been surreal — and incredibly meaningful. Her words echoed the same humble character that Ploessel described.

“We must celebrate the accomplishments of all past, present and future but to be called out as one of the greats, it somehow does not feel real,” she said.

Rauh, a business administration major, was drafted into the MLB for the Washington Nationals, before bouncing around in the minor leagues, and now provides professional-level baseball training for young athletes. He said that he believes his experience at Chapman built the foundation for his success.

Rauh credits his head coach, Tom Tereschuk, and his pitching coach, Dave Edwards, for playing a huge role in his development as not just a player but as a man.

“Neither of them let me get away with being average — or just good,” he said. “They wanted me to be great, and that’s how I live my life now, whether personally or professionally. That (mindset) was instilled in college with those two coaches who, again, saw more in me and wanted me to be something special.”

Looking back on his experience, Rauh emphasized the importance of embracing the process and finding purpose in each moment.  

“That’s what life’s about,” he said. “It’s not the end goal, it’s who you impact on the way. The relationships. The memories. It’s good to have goals and try to pursue them, but you also want to enjoy the process. When you look back, that’s the stuff you remember: the people I met along the way, the experiences, the games, the road trips and all that.”

Rauh said that it’s not only important to learn from the moments that positively impact you but also to take time to understand the negative ones because, together, they shape who we are.

“I tell a lot of the kids I work with (that) I would give anything to go back and live one of my worst outings I ever had on a baseball field,” Rauh said. “Just to be there in the atmosphere and compete again is something special that not a lot of people get to experience.”

Dudzinski, a marketing major, played softball for Chapman until 2009 but now she balances her life between work and motherhood and this recognition carries an ever deeper meaning.

“It means every ounce of sweat, every long car ride, every cheer from the sidelines was worth it,” Dudzinski said. “And now, as a new mom, I get to share this honor with my kids — to show them firsthand that hard work and passion can take you amazing places… and that, yes, their mom was kind of a big deal.”

Getting to this point in her life did not come easy for Dudzinski, however.

“Graduating in 2009 during the financial crisis wasn’t easy. Jobs were scarce, and no one was hiring,” she said. “But I landed an interview for a sales position, and they were specifically looking for former athletes — people who knew how to compete, hustle and thrive under pressure. I never imagined myself in sales, but now, years later, I’m leading a team and ranking as a top performer.”

Dudzinski also reflected on how her time on the field laid the foundation for everything that followed.

“Chapman didn’t just prepare me for the field — it prepared me for life,” she said. 

From navigating a tough job market after graduation to rising through the ranks in her career, the mindset she built as a student-athlete stayed with her. Now, as she looks ahead to the Hall of Fame induction, she sees it as more than just a personal milestone — it’s a full-circle moment she gets to share with her family.

Martino, a business finance major, graduated from Chapman and says he’s had the pleasure of attending Hall of Fame events in the past, so to be considered and recognized is certainly an honor. He said that learned valuable lessons from playing soccer through the season’s highs and lows.

“We made the tournament the first three years and then in my senior year we did not make it,” Martino said. “The lesson of actually losing and learning how to deal with that and (learning) how to think through that actually was just as impactful as the winning seasons.”

Doug Aiken, assistant athletic director, and Steven Olveda, sports information director, shared their thoughts on the incredible achievements of the inductees.

“Brian Rauh’s streak of 24 wins to start his career was pretty special,” Aiken said. “Not sure that’s been done or will be done again at Chapman or elsewhere. He was as automatic a pitcher as I’ve ever seen. Same with Scott Martino’s 50-point season. Pretty incredible.”

Olveda followed, highlighting other standout athletes.

“Jeremiah was a threat to score every time he touched the ball on the football field,” Olveda said. “Everyone knew it and he would still find a way to break off a big run. Jennifer Manship was our scoring leader for over 15 years and is next in line of deserving student-athletes from the pool.”

He continued: “Erin Dudzinski was such a special player. She would take away hits in center field, double to lead off a game, or steal a base to put herself in scoring position. A champion on the softball diamond.”

As a society, we look to our heroes for inspiration and guidance. The Chapman Hall of Fame Class of 2025 embodies this ideal, representing individuals who not only excelled as athletes and students but also spread positive growth. Their legacies will extend beyond their personal achievements, being honored within Chapman.

For her run to 2025 MAC Medalist honors, junior women’s golfer Jasmine Driscoll has been named the Pridemark Construction Student-Athlete of the Week.

With a par on hole nine, her closing hole Tuesday (April 22), Driscoll etched her name in both program and league history by carding a 54-hole score of +2 (218) at the Delaware Country Club to earn a one-stroke victory over a quartet of other players to claim the title of MAC Medalist. Along with her league title, Driscoll earned an individual berth into the NCAA Lexington Regional May 5-7 on the Champion Trace at the Keene Trace Golf Club.

After tying the lowest opening-round in MAC Championships history with a -5 (67) on Sunday, she was tied for the lead after two rounds at E (144). She then closed the tournament at +2 (218) for the lowest individual score in program history at the MAC Championships. The effort also helped her earn MAC All-Tournament Team honors for the first time in her career. Ball State’s previous best was a +5 (149) by 2005 Champion Katie Sundberg, which was later tied by 2010 runner-up Brittany Kelly who fired a +5 (221).

In the 2025 MAC Women’s Golf Championships, Driscoll led the field with 12 birdies and tied for tournament-low honors with a 4.67 (-4) stroke average on the course’s par 5 holes. She also carded 30 pars over her 54 holes in the event, while tying for third on the courses par 4 holes with a 4.07 (+2) stroke average.