NIL

Sorem Appointed to NCAA Division I Women’s College Basketball Committee

Story Links INDIANAPOLIS — Maryland interim Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics Colleen Sorem has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Women’s College Basketball Committee, the NCAA announced Monday. Sorem’s appointment to the committee is effective immediately. Sorem will be part of the 12-member committee that will be chaired in 2025-26 […]

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2 weeks ago

May 5, 2025

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INDIANAPOLIS — Maryland interim Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics Colleen Sorem has been appointed to the NCAA Division I Women’s College Basketball Committee, the NCAA announced Monday.

Sorem’s appointment to the committee is effective immediately. Sorem will be part of the 12-member committee that will be chaired in 2025-26 by Amanda Braun, director of athletics at Milwaukee. Other committee members include Vicky Chun of Yale; Liz Darger of Brigham Young; Jill Bodensteiner of Saint Joseph’s; Amy Folan of Central Michigan; Alex Gary of Western Carolina; Josh Heird of Louisville; Jeff Konya of San Jose State and Lynn Tighe of Villanova.

“I am truly honored to be selected to the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Committee,” said Sorem. “At Maryland, we have a long tradition of success and support for women’s basketball, and representing the Big Ten Conference in this capacity is an opportunity I accept with great pride.

“The women’s game has been experiencing an exciting and unprecedented amount of growth over the past few years. As someone who is passionate about the game and supporting our fearless women, I look forward to contributing to the future of women’s basketball alongside my fellow committee members.”

Sorem was named the Interim Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics earlier this spring. Prior to that, she served as Maryland Athletics’ Sr. Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Operating Officer. She added the role of COO in July 2023 after being named the University of Maryland’s Deputy Athletic Director on July 30, 2018. She is in her 10th year at Maryland.

Sorem supervises the football and women’s basketball programs at Maryland. She has overseen the women’s basketball program for eight seasons. During this time, the Terrapins won the 2020 and 2021 Big Ten regular season and tournament championships and advanced to four Sweet Sixteens and the 2023 Elite Eight.

She is responsible for implementing new strategies for internal and external initiatives, including revenue generation, contract negotiations, football scheduling, creating operating efficiencies, and enhancing the student-athlete experience. She developed and implemented a new financial model that allows the athletic department to operate with long-term financial stability. In addition, Sorem assisted with the oversight and construction management of the Barry P. Gossett Basketball Performance Center and the Cole Field House project, including Jones-Hill House.

-TERPS-

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2025 NBA Draft: Florida’s Alex Condon headlines list of five declared prospects who should return to school

The NIL era of college basketball comes with drawbacks, but it also means players who previously would have declared for the NBA Draft are returning to school — either with their original teams or new ones via the transfer portal. Only 106 players declared early for the 2025 NBA Draft — the fewest since 2015, […]

Published

21 minutes ago

May 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Only 106 players declared early for the 2025 NBA Draft — the fewest since 2015, when just 91 elected to forgo their remaining eligibility to turn pro. That trend has played out this offseason with players like Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, who bypassed the draft process entirely thanks to a lucrative NIL deal.

Several players in this year’s class still have a decision to make ahead of the May 28 stay-or-go draft deadline. One of them is Florida starting center Alex Condon, who played a key role in the Gators’ run to the national title. Condon is a borderline late first-round pick, and his return would likely solidify Florida as a preseason top-five team.

Here are five players who should bypass the 2025 NBA Draft and return to school.

Alex Condon, Florida

2024-25 season stats: GP: 37 | PPG: 10.6 | RPG: 7.5 | APG: 2.2

Another college year could do wonders for Condon’s long-term draft stock. The 6-foot-11 forward/center is projected to go at the end of the first round in several mock drafts, but he could easily slide into the second round if he stays. That’s why returning to school — where he would reinforce the deepest frontcourt in the country — is the wise decision.

Condon started all but two games during a magical 2024-25 season and recorded at least 10 rebounds in 10 regular-season games last year. Florida’s star big man didn’t match that production in the NCAA Tournament. He suffered an ankle injury against Maryland in the Sweet 16 but was able to return for the stretch run. If Condon stays and plays well, he could become a lottery pick in 2026.

2024-25 season stats: GP: 30 | PPG: 12.3 | RPG: 4.4 | APG: 2.7

The lengthy 6-foot-7 wing is coming off a breakout 2024-25 campaign, but he still needs more time in college to maximize his stock. Byrd started 30 games and averaged career-highs in points, steals, blocks, assists and rebounds.

Byrd is a volume 3-point shooter who connected on 30.1% of his 5.9 attempts per night. The SDSU star projects as a second-round pick, so it would be wise for him to return to build off a standout season where he showed flashes of being a two-way talent at the next level. Returning to school and being “the guy” at San Diego State should put him in the middle of the first round in 2026. NBA teams will buy into his length and the projectability of his shot if he chooses to stay in the NBA Draft.

2024-25 season stats: GP: 36 | PPG: 16.2 | RPG: 4.7 | APG: 1.7

It makes sense for Oweh to return to school for multiple reasons. It’s doubtful Oweh will sneak into the end of the first round. If he returns to school, Oweh can build off a standout 2024-25 season, which saw him finish as UK’s leading scorer in Year 1 of the Mark Pope era.

Oweh is a true two-way talent, so getting him back in the fold would be a huge win for Pope and his staff. He averaged a career-high 16.2 points and 1.6 steals during his first season with the Wildcats. Kentucky has rebuilt its roster this offseason mostly through the transfer portal, but members of last year’s team running it back include Brandon Garrison, Collin Chandler and Trent Noah. Oweh would be the best player on Kentucky’s roster and a potential SEC Player of the Year candidate if he runs it back. The pros of returning to school outweigh the risk of sliding in the second round.

Kentucky basketball recruiting: Braydon Hawthorne’s commitment marks latest offseason win for Mark Pope

Cameron Salerno

2024-25 season stats: GP: 38 | PPG: 11.6 | RPG: 2.2 | APG: 3.0

The door is open for Pettiford to return to Auburn if he doesn’t get a first-round guarantee. Pettiford did have a strong showing at the NBA Draft Combine earlier this month, but it still seems more likely than not that he won’t get that first-round promise he is looking for.

The other reason why Pettiford running it back would be the right decision is he’s a potential All-American if he returns to Auburn. Last year, he was a true microwave scorer off the bench. There were multiple instances when he took over down the stretch to help the Tigers pull away. If he returns for his sophomore season, he will be the focal point of Auburn’s offense. Getting the keys handed to him and improving his all-around game would do wonders for his draft stock in 2026.

2024-25 season stats: GP: 40 | PPG: 11.4 | RPG: 3.1 | APG: 4.3

Uzan took a significant step forward during his first year at Houston. He was the Cougars’ best 3-point shooter, connecting on 42.8% of his shots from beyond the arc, but outside of Uzan’s performance against Purdue in the Sweet 16 — which saw him score a game-winning bucket to help the Cougars advance — he didn’t have his best showing in the NCAA Tournament.

Uzan running it back would be a perfect marriage for both parties because, at this moment, he’s a second-round pick if he stays in the draft.

Houston projects as a preseason top-three team heading into the 2025-26 campaign. Getting Uzan back would help the Cougars make the case for preseason No.1. He can also shake off a lackluster showing at the NCAA Tournament, which saw him shoot just 5 of 19 against Duke and Florida during the final weekend of the college basketball season.

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2025 NCAA Softball Tournament Bracket: Updated Super Regional matchups, scores, schedule

The Super Regionals are underway during the 2025 NCAA Tournament following an action-packed Regional weekend. Now, each team are two wins away from qualifying for the 2025 Women’s College World Series. Matchups in the 2025 NCAA Softball Super Regionals kicked off with two top-16 matchups on Thursday. That includes the Tallahassee Super Regional between Florida […]

Published

23 minutes ago

May 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Matchups in the 2025 NCAA Softball Super Regionals kicked off with two top-16 matchups on Thursday. That includes the Tallahassee Super Regional between Florida State and Texas Tech, as well as the Austin Super Regional between Texas and Clemson. After that, the six other series will begin on Friday.

The second stage of the tournament will feature eight best of three series between the Regional champions crowned last weekend. These matchups will begin play on May 22 and conclude on May 26, if a game three is necessary. The winners of these two cities will meet for the NCAA Championships in Oklahoma City at the WCWS later this month. Here’s how those series shape up:

Eugene Super Regional: Liberty vs. No. 16 Oregon

Game 1: Friday, May 23 | 10:00 p.m. ET | ESPNU
Game 2: Saturday, May 24 | 7:00 p.m. ET
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 25 | TBD

Norman Super Regional: No. 2 Oklahoma vs. No. 15 Alabama

Game 1: Friday, May 23 | 5:00 p.m. ET | ESPN2
Game 2: Saturday, May 24 | 3:00 p.m. ET
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 25 | TBD

Gainesville Super Regional: No. 3 Florida vs. Georgia

Game 1: Friday, May 23 | 11:00 a.m. ET | ESPN2
Game 2: Saturday, May 24 | 11:00 a.m. ET
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 25 | TBD

Fayetteville Super Regional: No. 4 Arkansas vs. Ole Miss

Game 1: Friday, May 23 | 8:00 p.m. ET | ESPNU
Game 2: Saturday, May 24 | 9:00 p.m. ET
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 25 | TBD

Austin Super Regional: No. 6 Texas vs. No. 11 Clemson

Knoxville Super Regional: No. 7 Tennessee vs. Nebraska

Game 1: Friday, May 23 | 7:00 p.m. ET | ESPN2
Game 2: Saturday, May 24 | 5:00 p.m. ET
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 25 | TBD

Columbia Super Regional: No. 8 South Carolina vs. No. 9 UCLA

Game 1: Friday, May 23 | 1:00 p.m. ET | ESPN2
Game 2: Saturday, May 24 | 1:00 p.m. ET
Game 3 (if necessary): Sunday, May 25 | TBD

All times ET.

2025 Women’s College World Series

May 29 through June 5 or 6 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

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Texas A&M QB, former MBA star Marcel Reed has NIL deal with jet company

Texas A&M football quarterback and former Montgomery Bell Academy player Marcel Reed has just landed an NIL deal with private jet charter company ENG Aviation Group. According to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos, Reed will be an ambassador for the ENG’s organ donation services, as well as have access to the company’s private jets. […]

Published

49 minutes ago

May 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Texas A&M football quarterback and former Montgomery Bell Academy player Marcel Reed has just landed an NIL deal with private jet charter company ENG Aviation Group.

According to a report from On3’s Pete Nakos, Reed will be an ambassador for the ENG’s organ donation services, as well as have access to the company’s private jets.

The Texas-based aviation company, which has been offering premier private charter flights for businesses and individuals for over 30 years, has recently begun signing high-profile college football players to name, image, and likeness deals to promote their brand. Reed joins former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers, former Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart and Miami quarterback Carson Beck as ambassadors for ENG.

A post on Reed’s instagram account puts an emphasis on the deal’s organ donation awareness.

“ENG runs a premium charter jet service, but when those jets aren’t in the air with private clients, they’re flying something far more important: life-saving organ transplants,” the caption reads.

Reed, a former four-star recruit out of Montgomery Bell Academy, signed with the Aggies in 2023, backing up then-starter Max Johnson. During his sophomore season with the Aggies in 2024, Reed threw for 1,864 yards with 15 touchdowns and rushed for 547 yards with seven touchdowns.

Reed is the son of former Tennessee State head coach Rod Reed. Reed coached the Tigers to a 57-60 record over 11 seasons, but his contract was not renewed in 2021.

Alex Daugherty is the Predators beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Alex atjdaugherty@gannett.com. Follow Alex on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @alexdaugherty1. Also check out our Predators exclusive Instagram page @tennessean_preds.

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President Trump Halts Plans To Create Anticipated NIL Commission on College Sports

Just as quickly as things can be formed, they can dissipate in the continually evolving state of college sports in the NIL landscape. Things appear to be on hold when it comes to action on the future of college athletics, as the House v. NCAA settlement has yet to earn final approval, and the NCAA […]

Published

50 minutes ago

May 23, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Just as quickly as things can be formed, they can dissipate in the continually evolving state of college sports in the NIL landscape.

Things appear to be on hold when it comes to action on the future of college athletics, as the House v. NCAA settlement has yet to earn final approval, and the NCAA is no longer in the business of enforcing college amateurism, instead deflecting power to the individual conferences.

While approval by Judge Claudia Ann Wilken is expected to transform college football and basketball in the revenue-sharing era, so was the potential for oversight by a presidential commission that will, at this time, not move forward.

Pete Nakos with On3 Sports reported Thursday that President Donald Trump put his plans for a presidential commission on college athletics on an indefinite pause.

“Donald Trump’s presidential commission on college sports has been paused,” Nakos wrote on X. “Expectation is commission will eventually be formed, but is being delayed as U.S. Senator Ted Cruz works to push through federal legislation.”

The proposed presidential commission was put together rather quickly and perhaps haphazardly, and Cruz has pushed for Trump to halt efforts to form one while he works on federal legislation regulating NIL.

The commission’s intent was to evaluate the role of NIL in college sports, but it lacked substantial details beyond identifying its members.

Former Alabama Crimson head football coach Nick Saban was expected to spearhead the commission as co-chair alongside Texas Tech billionaire booster Cody Campbell, and the two reportedly were talking behind the scenes.

Saban has come out since initial reports surfaced of the commission and his purported role to declare that he isn’t sure one is necessary.

“I know there’s been a lot of stuff out there about some commission or whatever,” Saban said. “I don’t think we need a commission. I’ve said that before. I think we know what the issues are; we just have to have people that are willing to move those and solve those and create some solutions for some of those issues.”

Nakos further reports that Campbell is expected to continue his quiet work on the commission until it’s ready to come to fruition, though again, the details are scarce on what that means.

Perhaps the best move is to simply wait until the impending July 1 date of the settlement’s approval and assess the state of college sports thereafter.

For now, the state of athletics remains in limbo, with no plan for oversight via an executive order.

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Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed signs NIL deal with ENG Aviation Group

College Football and NIL now go hand in hand from here on out, and until further notice, it’s fair to expect highly random yet interesting deals to be made with some of the more high profile players within the Power 5 conferences, especially the SEC. While Texas QB Arch Manning’s lucrative deals with with Panini America, EA […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

While Texas QB Arch Manning’s lucrative deals with with Panini America, EA Sports, Red Bull, Uber, and Vuori are unsurprsing given his skillset and namesake, Texas A&M’s starting QB has just signed on the the more intriguing deals of the summer.

Earlier this week, there were rumblings regarding Marcel Reed signing an NIL deal with private jet company, which were confirmed on Thursday, as the Tennessee native is now a partner with ENG Aviation Group, joining Miami quarterback Carson Beck as the other active college signal caller to sign a private jet deal.

For those who are unaware of how private jet services are utilized outside luxury travel for high net worth individuals, ENG Aviation Group has a different and honorable mission, which Boardroom described in detail to provide an in-depth look of Reed’s NIL deal.

Texas A&M QB and rising star, Marcel Reed, just became the fourth college athlete to land a private jet NIL deal—but this one’s different. In a first for both sides, Reed has partnered with ENG Aviation Group not just for flights, but for a mission with real impact: raising awareness for organ donation.⁠

ENG runs a premium charter jet service, but when those jets aren’t in the air with private clients, they’re flying something far more important: life-saving organ transplants. Every empty seat, every available flight path is a chance to deliver hope to someone in need. Now, Reed is helping spotlight that work on a national stage.⁠ ⁠

As part of the deal, Reed will use his platform to share stories, stats, and ways fans can register to become organ donors. This summer, he’ll also visit a Houston hospital to meet with organ donors, recipients, and medical teams—turning a high-flying NIL deal into something grounded in purpose.

ENG offers a potential life-saving service, and Marcel Reed, who has been consistently praised as a locker room leader, is showing said leadership off the field and bringing an important issue to the forefront. If this is the future of NIL, I can safely say that everyone will be on board.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.

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Darrion Williams commits to Will Wade, NC State basketball as transfer

AI-assisted summaryWilliams averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists last season for a Texas Tech team that made the Elite Eight.Williams withdrew from the NBA Draft to maintain college eligibility.Will Wade continues to make waves ahead of his debut as the head coach of N.C. State basketball. Darrion Williams, one of the top players […]

Published

2 hours ago

May 22, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Darrion Williams commits to Will Wade, NC State basketball as transfer

Darrion Williams, one of the top players in the transfer portal, has committed to join Wade’s Wolfpack in the 2025-26 season. The 6-foot-8 forward averaged 15.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season for Texas Tech, which advanced to the Elite Eight.

“See you soon,” Williams wrote in a social media post on May 22, tagging the N.C. State men’s basketball X account.

Since Wade was hired to lead the Wolfpack in late March, N.C. State has added seven players via the portal to join three incoming freshmen and sophomore returner Paul McNeil. Williams is the latest to join a group that will be tasked with helping N.C. State rebound from a 12-19 record.

Here’s a breakdown of what Williams can provide for the Pack in the 2025-26 season.

Darrion Williams stats, scouting report for NC State basketball

A junior from California who started his career at Nevada before two seasons at Texas Tech, Williams was one of the top players for the Red Raiders in a variety of ways. He scored 20 or more points in three of Texas Tech’s four NCAA Tournament games, including 23 points, five rebounds and three steals in an Elite Eight loss to eventual national champion Florida.

Williams, who was also reportedly considering Kansas and Ohio State, went through the NBA Draft Combine before withdrawing his name to maintain his college eligibility. He was among the top shooters in a 3-point drill at the combine after making 34% of his 3s with the Red Raiders last season. He had 15 games with multiple 3-pointers as a junior.

Darrion Williams makes NC State contender in ACC, NCAA Tournament

Prior to Williams’ commitment, Wade’s work in the portal already was arguably good enough to make N.C. State an NCAA Tournament team. With Williams joining the Wolfpack, N.C. State will be expected to compete atop the ACC before making a run in March Madness. Michigan State’s Tre Holloman, McNeese State’s Quadir Copeland and Houston’s Terrance Arceneaux are among the players being tasked with helping the Pack forget about a losing record last season.

Williams, one of the most well-rounded players in the portal, will arrive in Raleigh as an All-Big 12 selection capable of becoming the alpha for Wade’s Wolfpack. He hit the game-tying and game-winning shots in Texas Tech’s Sweet 16 win against Arkansas. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him have similar moments in a turnaround season for N.C. State, which levels up with Williams joining the program.

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.