Few coaches in any sport can match the success Julie Solis has had in four years at Twinsburg: 104-6 record, two Division I state championships, three straight state finals and a 43-game winning streak.

TWINSBURG, Ohio – Julie Solis has every reason in the world to leave Twinsburg. Her husband, football coach Mark Solis, took a job near Columbus this month, and her powerful girls basketball team is back to square one.

The basketball talent that has walked through Twinsburg's last two graduation ceremonies has been an exodus of near biblical proportions.

Few coaches in any sport can match the success Julie Solis has had in four years there: 104-6 record, two Division I state championships, three straight state finals and a 43-game winning streak that ended in this year's state final.

Solis admits next season's team could “easily win five games.''

So, why stick around for that?

Solis says she will return to coach and teach at Twinsburg for one more year.

Again, why?

View full sizeTwinsburg girls basketball coach Julie SolisLisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer

Solis says she doesn't want to do to Twinsburg what some thought she did at Solon in 2009 – leave abruptly at a vulnerable time for the program.

“I didn't want it to go down the way that I left Solon,'' she said. “I wanted to be able to put some closure with me coaching at Twinsburg and this senior class that I've had with me the entire time.

“Where I'm at, at this moment, is that I plan on staying with them, the seniors, and seeing them through this. I'm willing to kind of make that sacrifice so that it's a smooth transition for myself, and my children.''

She and Mark have two kids, Trevor, 12, and Rylee, 4, who both will stay with Julie while Mark begins his first year at Olentangy. Trevor is entering R.B. Chamberlain Middle School, where Julie teaches social studies.

Twinsburg Superintendent Kathryn Powers said she welcomes Solis' return. “It's my understanding Julie will be back next year and we're very pleased about that,'' Powers said.

This gives Solis a year to find a good fit in the Columbus area instead of jumping into uncertain waters.

She'll carry with her a remarkable track record. Solis is 39 and owns a 233-62 career mark (.790 winning percentage) in just 12 seasons. She previously took Solon and Cloverleaf to unprecedented heights. Solon was the 2006 state runner-up. Cloverleaf was 2-19 in her first season as a head coach, 2001-02, and the Colts had their best season two years later, 19-3.

Solis hails from a great coaching tree, having been a feisty, 5-foot-5 point guard at Doylestown Chippewa known then as Julie Paolano. She compiled 402 career assists for legendary coach Denny Schrock, who is still going strong with 488 career wins.

Even though Twinsburg lost in the state finals to Kettering Fairmont, many believe this season was Solis' finest coaching performance yet. But she has her naysayers who believe she was in the right place at the right time, having inherited at Twinsburg eventual Maryland recruit Malina Howard as a sophomore, and coaching all four years with Purdue point guard recruit Ashley Morrissette, the reigning Ms. Basketball.

“I haven't coached a team like this since my early Cloverleaf days,'' Solis said of the incoming Tigers, most of whom saw little action this year. “To me, this is a personal challenge. I actually heard someone say as I walked by them, 'Looks like the Julie Solis days are over.'

“That motivates me even more. I'm not afraid of challenges. We have a nice freshman class coming in. The kids that have waited to play for me for a long time, I'd like to be able to coach them and try to make them better for that year.''

Solis and her husband are both known for their highly competitive personalities and hard-driving approaches. It's worked great for her, but he's even more intense and it apparently contributed to Mark's firing as Twinsburg's football coach in 2010, during Julie's second season. Mark was 32-14 with three playoff teams in four years.

“He was successful, and he challenged the kids. It was frustrating because it was right after my first year, but I've been treated very well by the administration,'' she said. “They've always supported me. Sometimes you have to separate yourself from your situation, and that's a tough thing when you're talking about family.''

Eventually, she will leave Twinsburg, and Northeast Ohio will lose one of its best coaches. She wants to leave on her terms.

“I had a really hard time leaving Solon, much harder than people realize, and this will be the same for me,'' she said. “I don't want to make any abrupt decisions. It's hard to leave people behind who are really good people and good friends.''

Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. and St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle will enter the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame at the same time.

Chuck Kyle has had coaching success at his alma mater.The Plain Dealer 

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A pair of legendary local high school football coaches are among seven inductees in this year's class to the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame.

Glenville coach Ted Ginn Sr. and St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle have met several times in big games in recent seasons, and now they will enter the Hall of Fame together.

Other inductees in this year's group are: former Cleveland Central Catholic and NBA player Earl Boykins; former Indians player and manager Mike Hargrove; tennis champion Dan Miller; squash champion Pat Morin; and former Glenville and Baldwin Wallace basketball standout and Cavs General Manager Harry Weltman.

The induction banquet is scheduled for Sept. 26 at Landerhaven in Mayfield Heights. For tickets and information, call 216-682-0141.

A look at the 2013 inductees (biographical information provided by the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame):

•Earl Boykins -- A 5-5 basketball standout at Cleveland Central Catholic, he went to Eastern Michigan and was second in scoring in Division I with a 26.8-point average. Although he wasn't drafted into the NBA, he played for 10 teams in 12 seasons, including two stints with the Cavaliers. He scored 32 points in a game while with Denver, making him the shortest player in NBA history to score 30 points or more.

•Ted Ginn Sr. -- The head coach at Glenville since 1997, Ginn has led the Tarblooders to eight consecutive East Senate championships and 11 playoff appearances. He sent several players to Ohio State, including his son, Ted Ginn Jr. In the fall of 2007, he opened The Ginn Academy for young men.

•Mike Hargrove -- He was the American League Rookie of the Year in 1974 with the Texas Rangers, then was traded to the Indians in 1979. He hit .290 in a 12-year playing career, then joined the Indians organization as a coach. He was named manager in 1991 and is the second-winningest skipper in team history, winning five straight American League Central titles and making World Series appearances in 1995 and 1997.

•Chuck Kyle -- A standout tailback on the undefeated 1968 city champs at St. Ignatius, Kyle became head coach at his alma mater in 1983 and has won 10 Division I state championships. His overall record is 301-69-1, and he has been named Coach of the Year four times.

•Dan Miller -- A tennis player at Cleveland Heights High and Colgate, Miller was away from the game for 25 years before starting again at the age of 50. He has since won 32 national tennis championships, including the "Gold Slam" of all four U.S. championships, a world championship in the 80-and-over class and several world No. 1 rankings.

•Pat Morin -- He played football, basketball and baseball at Bexley High in Columbus, then began playing squash at 35. He moved to Cleveland five years later and played the national circuit, winning the 55-and-over national championship in 1996 and the 60-and-over national title in 1999 and 2000.

•Harry Weltman -- A sharp-shooting guard at Glenville and BW, Weltman became general manager of the St. Louis Spirits, the Cavs and the New Jersey Nets. With the Cavs, he hired George Karl as head coach, then traded for World B. Free to key an improbable playoff run in 1984-85.

Look for Carlos Santana and Trevor Bauer to be in line to start both ends of Friday's doubleheader against Chicago eve though they're both at Class AAA Columbus.

Ubaldo Jimenez started for the Tribe in Baltimore on Monday night.Nick Wass, Associated Press 

BALTIMORE, Md. -- Monday's promotion of lefty T.J. House and demotion of right-hander Carlos Carrasco caused a few double takes until manager Terry Francona started talking.

By the way, T.J. stands for Tiger Junior after House's father. His given name is Glenn Anthony House Jr.

Francona said House will work out of the bullpen, even though he has made just one relief appearance in his minor-league career. House, in the big leagues for the first time, couldn't be happier.

Regarding Carrasco, Francona said if he's designated as the Indians' 26th player come Friday's doubleheader against the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, he could start one of those games. Carrasco could then be optioned to Columbus and recalled in time for his next big-league start July 3 or 4 against Kansas City.

Usually, a player has to stay in the minors for 10 days after being demoted unless there's an injury on the big-league team. MLB's new rule allowing teams to add a 26th player for doubleheaders is an exception to that.

Trevor Bauer, who started Sunday at Columbus, is the leading candidate to start the other game Friday against the White Sox.

"We have House for length," Francona said. "He was scheduled to start Tuesday, so he can be stretched out. We're just trying to keep our bullpen in order."

On Sunday, Francona felt he needed to return to an eight-man bullpen, with the Indians opening a four-game series against Baltimore at Camden Yards on Monday night. He relayed the message to General Manager Chris Antonetti and assistant Mike Chernoff, who put the plan together.

"That was Chris and 'Chernie' at their best," Francona said. "They lost me early in the process. But we knew in about the fifth inning on Sunday that . . . we had to do something. We were coming into Baltimore against this lineup and in this ballpark -- we weren't very comfortable."

Francona said this is a way to protect the bullpen.

"The bullpen isn't worn out, but we don't want it to get there, either," he said. "You don't mind going to guys in a row if you're winning. If you happen to be losing, that's where you get to a point where you can't catch up."

Just a thought: Nick Swisher entered Monday's game in a 6-for-60 slump during his past 16 games. Asked if had considered dropping Swisher from the middle of the lineup, Francona said he has thought about moving him into the No. 2 spot.

"I thought about it and talked to him a little bit about it," Francona said. "I still may do it. If he's scuffling, that might be a real good spot for him, with Michael Bourn [the leadoff hitter] getting on base." Impressive: It sounds as if shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera (strained right quadriceps) could be activated any day now.

He worked out at Camden Yards on Monday afternoon and impressed the Indians' trainers and coaching staff.

"I would be shocked if he's not back very soon," Francona said. "I was stunned by how good he looked today. He's running better today than he was running before he got hurt.

"He has literally attacked this rehab." Homecoming: Mark Reynolds, who hit 60 home runs in two seasons for the Orioles in 2011 and 2012, drew a crowd of Baltimore reporters before Monday's game.

"It's easy to say that this is just another game," Reynolds said, "but it's going to be a lot of fun playing against these guys because I have such good relationships with them."

The streaky Reynolds came into the game in a 13-for-74 (.176) skid during his past 21 games. Rehab central: Brett Myers (right elbow) and Blake Wood (right elbow) pitched Monday night for Class A Mahoning Valley on rehab assignments.

Closer Chris Perez (right shoulder) is scheduled to throw an inning tonight for Mahoning Valley. If Perez comes through that appearance with no problems, look for him to be activated soon. Finally: Three high school All-Star games will be played at Progressive Field today. The teams were selected by the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association.

Game times are 9 a.m., 11:45 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

Rafael Nadal went from French Open champion to first-round loser at Wimbledon in the span of 15 days.

Rafael Nadal would not blame a balky knee for his loss at Wimbledon.Thomas Lovelock, AELTC 

LONDON -- Just like that, in a span of 15 days, Rafael Nadal went from French Open champion for a record eighth time to first-round Grand Slam loser for the only time in his career.

Limping occasionally and slower than usual -- but unwilling afterward to blame an old left knee injury -- the two-time Wimbledon winner exited Monday, 7-6 (4), 7-6 (8), 6-4, against 135th-ranked Steve Darcis of Belgium in one of the most stunning results ever at the All England Club.

"Nobody remembers the losses. People remember the victories," Nadal said, shaking his head as he leaned back in a black leather chair. "And I don't want to remember that loss."

Everyone else definitely will.

It certainly belongs in the same category as his loss a year ago at Wimbledon, in the second round to Lukas Rosol, a player ranked 100th at the time. After that setback, Nadal missed about seven months due to his bad left knee. Since returning, he had gone 43-2 and reached the finals at all nine tournaments he entered, winning seven.

Most recently, in Paris, he collected his 12th Grand Slam trophy, tied for the third most in history, while extending his winning streak to 22 matches.

"Two weeks ago, I was in a fantastic situation, winning a fantastic tournament," Nadal said. "Two weeks later, I lost here in the first round. That's the positive and the negative thing about this sport."

His early defeat rendered moot all the debate in the preceding days about whether Nadal's No. 5 seeding was appropriate or whether Wimbledon officials should have bumped him higher because of past success at the grass-court tournament.

Nadal avoids discussing health issues in the immediate aftermath of a defeat -- he didn't reveal the left knee injury last year until weeks after the Rosol match -- and Monday was no different. Still, anyone who watched Nadal play Darcis could tell something wasn't right.

Nadal deflected three questions in English about his left knee, saying it's "not the day to talk about these kind of things" and that it would sound like "an excuse." When a reporter asked in Spanish about the knee, Nadal replied: "You're assuming I'm injured." He later repeated what he mentioned at Roland Garros -- that the knee is painful, at times.

"Maybe he was not in the best shape ever. Maybe he didn't play his best match," Darcis said. "But I have to be proud."

While Nadal was struggling, seven-time champion Roger Federer and second-seeded Andy Murray looked the way title contenders are supposed to in the first round. Federer, the defending champion, needed all of 68 minutes to beat 48th-ranked Victor Hanescu of Romania, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0, on Centre Court.

"I'm happy to get out of there early and quickly," Federer said. "Perfect day."

Reigning U.S. Open champion Murray, trying to become the first British man to win Wimbledon in 77 years, eliminated 92nd-ranked Benjamin Becker of Germany, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.

In the most noteworthy women's result, fifth-seeded Sara Errani, the 2012 French Open runner-up, lost, 6-3, 6-2, to Puerto Rican teenager Monica Puig. Maria Sharapova, the 2004 Wimbledon champion, won in straight sets. So did second-seeded Victoria Azarenka.

Gilbert served as media relations director for the Oakland Raiders last season

BEREA, Ohio -- The Browns announced the hiring of Zak Gilbert as their new director of communications Monday night.

Gilbert served as media relations director for the Oakland Raiders last season. The University of Colorado product replaces Neal Gulkis, who joined the Browns in 2009. Gulkis’ last day was Friday.

The Raiders fired Gilbert on June 1. The San Francisco Chronicle reported owner Mark Davis was unhappy with a story by Sports Illustrated in April that favorably portrayed Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie but was critical of Davis and his father, the late Al Davis. The newspaper cited team sources in its story.

Prior to working with the Raiders, Gilbert served as director of athletic media relations at Colorado State University for five years. He’s also had stops with the Green Bay Packers and Colorado Rockies as well as internships with the Denver Broncos (1997).

“We are thrilled to add someone with Zak’s skills and background to lead our communications department,” Browns CEO Joe Banner said in a news release. “He brings nearly 20 years of expertise on both the collegiate and professional level. We are happy to welcome him to the Browns organization.”

Michael Brantley drove in four runs as the Indians started an 11-game trip Monday night with a 5-2 victory over the Orioles.

 

BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Indians, a contender at home and a pretender on the road, may have found a way Monday night to take a little bit of Progressive Field with them when they pack their bags and leave town.

In beating the Orioles, 5-2, at Camden Yards, they used a little bit of Ubaldo Jimenez, a touch of a bullpen that seems to be re-asserting itself and a whole lot of Michael Brantley.

Brantley drove in four runs with a two-run single and two-run homer to give the Indians their fifth win in the last six games. The powerhouse Orioles, in second place in the AL East, have lost four straight.

The Indians started an 11-game trip with their third straight road victory. Overall, however, they are 15-21 away from the shores of Lake Erie.

Jimenez (6-4, 4.58) earned his second win in his last three starts. He pitched only 5 1/3 innings, but struck out six, walked two and allowed two runs.

The bullpen, in a state of turmoil for much of the first three months of the season, showed a sense of order. Rich Hill relieved Jimenez and took care of Baltimore's lefties followed by Bryan Shaw, Joe Smith and Vinnie Pestano. After retiring the first two batters, Pestano walked Ryan Flaherty and gave up a single to Nate McLouth before retiring Manny Machado on a liner to Mike Aviles at short for his fourth save.  

Lefty Zach Britton (1-2, 5.51) had the Indians talking to themselves for five innings. Brantley ended the conversation with a two-run single in the sixth for the Tribe's first lead of the game, 3-2.

Brantley made it 5-2 with a homer off Darren O'Day in the eighth. Brantley ended the night with a career-high four RBI. It's the third time he's done it in his career.

Jason Kipnis, with the Tribe tailing, 2-0, opened the sixth with a double to right. It was his 19th double of the season and nine in June.

Nick Swisher, who entered the game in a 6-for-60 slump, singled to center to cut the Orioles lead in half. If was Swisher's 25th RBI of the season, but only his fifth this month.

Carlos Santana followed Swisher with a double to left center as Swisher stopped at third. Santana came into the game hitting .282 (24-for-85) against lefties.

The Orioles intentionally walked Mark Reynolds to load the bases so Britton could face Brantley in a left-on-left match. Brantley stroked a two-run single between Britton's legs and into center field for a 3-1 lead.

The hit gave Brantley a .357 (20-for-56) average with runners in scoring position.

Tommy Hanson relieved with two on and no one out, but quickly quieted the Tribe. He struck out Ryan Raburn, retired Drew Stubbs on a fly ball to left and Michael Bourn on a liner to center.

Jimenez came out for the sixth with his first lead of the night, but he didn't hang around long. After he gave up a leadoff single to J.J. Hardy and retired Matt Wieters on a fly ball to right, Hill relieved with lefties Travis Ishikawa, Flaherty and McLouth due to bat.

Danny Valencia pinch-hit for Ishikawa, but was a strikeout victim as manager Buck Showalter complained from the Orioles' dugout. Flaherty popped out to short to end the inning.

Jimenez, in his first career start against the Orioles, threw 66 percent (65-for-99) of pitches for strikes. The MLB average for a starters is 63 percent.

The Orioles took a 2-0 lead on homers by Nick Markakis and Wieters.

Markakis made it 1-0 with a two-out drive in the first over the center field fence for his eighth homer of the season. Wieters opened the fourth with a drive to almost the exact same spot for his 10th homer. Wieters' drive stung a little bit more because it came on an 0-2 pitch.

Jimenez entered the game having allowed 10 homers, eight to left-handers. He left having allowed 12 homers, 10 to lefties.

Britton, making his just third start of the season, made the 2-0 lead stand through five innings. Britton, who opened the season on the disabled list with a impingement in his left shoulder, went 3-2 with a 3.28 ERA in 11 starts at Class AAA Norfolk.

He baffled the Indians for five, holding them to two hits, two walks and one hit batsman.

Hill, Shaw and Smith got the ball to Pestano with 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Columbus Clippers and Akron Aeros were handed decisive defeats in action Monday.

Francisco Lindor had a sacrifice fly for the Carolina Mudcats.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer 

Class AA: Harrisburg 7, Akron 1 The host Senators knocked around Aeros starter Brett Brach (4-4, 4.89) for four runs in six innings, then did the same to reliever Kyle Landis in the seventh, scoring three times as he went just of an inning.

Class A Advanced: Carolina 3, Frederick 2 After the visiting Keys grabbed a 2-0 lead in the top of the eighth, the Mudcats responded with two in the bottom half of the frame and the game winner in the bottom of the ninth. A sacrifice fly by SS Francisco Lindor (.308) and an RBI double by 2B Joe Wendle (.311) tied the game, while an RBI single by LF Luigi Rodriguez (.278) gave Carolina the victory.

Class A: Lake County 1, Bowling Green 0 The Captains were held to just two hits by the host Hot Rods, but they made it count in the top of the ninth. Dorssys Paulino struck out but advanced to first on a wild pitch by Bowling Green pitcher Nick Sawyer. Paulino was delivered home on a double by Joseph Sever. The Captains' pitching was stellar. Starter Ryan Merritt (4-7, 3.79) went eight innings, scattering five hits and no runs, while striking out four and walking none. Closer Louis Head gave up a hit and walked a batter in the ninth but held on to earn his fifth save.

Class A Short Season: Auburn 2, Mahoning Valley 1 The Doubledays held the host Scrappers to six hits and scored the winning run in the top of the seventh after Mahoning Valley had tied the game in the sixth on an RBI single by 3B Robel Garcia (.261). Reliever Robert Whitenack (0-1, 3.12) took the loss.

More news and statistics on Indians minor-league teams at cleveland.com/tribe

The Chicago Blackhawks cap a great season with a triumph in the Stanley Cup Finals.

Chicago Blackhawks center Dave Bolland, 36, celebrates his game-winning goal against Boston with Marcus Kruger during the third period of Monday night's game.Charles Krupa, Associated Press 

BOSTON, Mass. -- An NHL-record unbeaten streak to start the lockout-shortened season.

Three straight victories to clinch the title.

From beginning to end, the Chicago Blackhawks skated away from the rest of the league.

Bryan Bickell and Dave Bolland scored 17 seconds apart in 1:16 and the Blackhawks staged a stunning rally to win Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Final 3-2 on Monday night for their second NHL championship in four seasons.

Jonathan Toews returned from injury to add a goal, and Corey Crawford made 23 saves for Chicago in the first final round between Original Six teams since 1979.

"I still can't believe that finish," Crawford said. "Oh my God, we never quit."

Patrick Kane, whose overtime goal in Game 6 beat Philadelphia to win the 2010 championship, was voted the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as playoffs MVP.

Toews scored his third goal of the playoffs to tie it for the Blackhawks at 4:24 of the second of Game 6 -- exactly two minutes after teammate Andrew Shaw was penalized for roughing.

Boston, needing a win to extend the series to a deciding Game 7, came out aggressively and led 1-0 after one period on Chris Kelly's second goal of the playoffs. The Bruins outshot the Blackhawks, 12-6, in the first period but the margin dropped to 18-15 through 40 minutes.

Each team got one of its best players back when Toews and Boston alternate captain Patrice Bergeron returned to the lineup after leaving the Blackhawks' 3-1 win with injuries on Saturday.

Toews scored when he got past Boston defenseman Zdeno Chara along the boards in the neutral zone. Chicago's captain skated up the right side and fired a hard shot from the right faceoff dot that beat goalie Tuukka Rask between his pads.

It was Toews' second goal in three games. Of Chicago's last 10 goals, Chara was on the ice for nine.

Boston right wing Jaromir Jagr was shaken up in the first period. He returned for the second but left the bench, and Tyler Seguin replaced him on the second line with left wing Brad Marchand and center Bergeron.

The play that led to Kelly's goal began after a faceoff that rookie defenseman Torey Krug rushed in to tip toward a teammate. The puck went to Daniel Paille, standing about 40 feet on the left. He passed to Seguin, who caught the puck with his right glove in the slot and dropped it.

Seguin then passed to Kelly, who scored his second goal of the playoffs 7:19 into the game.

It came just seven seconds after a whistle stopped a scrum in front of the net that followed an extended period of pressure by the Bruins.

Just two minutes after the goal, Chicago had one of its best chances of the period when Michal Frolik skated in with the puck behind the defense and fired a 15-foot drive from the left, but Rask made the save.

Boston had another solid chance at 12:24 when Milan Lucic took a 15-foot shot from the slot that Crawford stopped.

After having no power plays in Game 5, the Bruins had four failed advantages in the first two periods.

With 4:01 left in the first, Shaw was struck in the face by a puck when it deflected off the shaft of his stick after Boston's Shawn Thornton shot it. He lay on the ice before getting up and skating off slowly.

Toews was on Chicago's first shift of the game. Bergeron had left Game 5 with an undisclosed injury after playing just 49 seconds in the second period.

Five of the last nine Cup finals have gone seven games, including in 2011 when the Bruins overcame a 3-2 series deficit and won their first championship since 1972 by winning Game 6 in Boston and Game 7 in Vancouver.

Despite earning Defensive Player of the Year accolades in his junior year with the Hoosiers, Oladipo still plays as if he's the same player no one heard of a year ago.

Indiana's Victor Oladipo burst onto the national scene this season thanks to outstanding defense that will help him become a top NBA draft pick.Jay LaPrete, Associated Press

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Chances are, you probably had no idea who Victor Oladipo was a year ago.

Probably you heard little about his aggressive defense, his explosive leaping abilities or his natural leadership.

And, probably, he should thank every last one of you for ignoring him.

"That's what drives him," said Oladipo's DeMatha (Md.) High School coach, Mike Jones. "He just kept working. Any time you're hammering away at a tree with an ax, it doesn't seem like you're making any progress. But on that 300th swing, you might break through."

Indiana's Victor Oladipo burst onto the national scene this season thanks to outstanding defense that will help him become a top NBA Draft pick.

Oladipo broke through with Indiana in his junior year. What once seemed to be unharnessed raw, athletic talent, suddenly became a driving force for the Big Ten champion Hoosiers.

His 13.7 points on 61.4 percent shooting was solid, but his true value was found in his attention to defense and his selflessness as a leader.

He was named National Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and his relentless nature on that end of the court surprised no one who knows him well.

"All my life, starting when I was a little kid, that's all I could do," said Oladipo at the pre-draft combine in Chicago. "I didn't have a skill package. I wasn't highly skilled at a young age. For me to get on the floor, I had to guard the opposing team's best player and play defense. That's what's got me this far. I'm not going to lose that."

Jones is one, for instance, who saw Oladipo's willingness to not only play defense but do whatever was necessary for his high school team to succeed. When he played for a high school team that featured five other players who went on to play Division I basketball in college, he volunteered to accept the substitute practice jersey because he didn't want dissension among his teammates. It's one of the many ways in which Oladipo's gregarious and natural leadership has manifested.

"Everywhere he goes, people love him because of his personality," Jones said. "He becomes the center of attention without even trying."

He has the kind of bubbly personality that led to him becoming an impromptu host for Indiana's Hoosier Hysteria in the fall, when the season kicked off.

But he also has the kind of serious dedication that has led to his reputation as a relentless defender.

"You're looking at a guy that's rapidly improved over three years," said analyst Fran Fraschilla. "A ridiculous athlete, plays with high energy, high motor, low-maintenance guy. Wants to be not just in the NBA, but wants to be an NBA player."

Oladipo, whose parents emigrated from Nigeria, taught him about hard work -- even though legend has it that his father, Chris, rarely attended any of his son's basketball games. Chris Oladipo had dreams of Victor attending Harvard or studying martial arts to learn discipline.

Victor Oladipo's dedication to discipline and hard work did appear -- but in basketball. He focused on defense from the moment he entered high school.

"He was always focused on being the hardest worker he could be," Jones said. "He had to do something to separate himself."

Still, he was lightly recruited for college, and still plays as if no one respects him.

"Honestly, I think he'll fit in with any team because he's unselfish," Jones said. "Victor is the type of player who will do anything to fit in to win. He wants to win, and he'll do whatever they need him to do."

After Oladipo worked out for the Cavaliers last week, Jones jokingly asked the dynamo, "Am I speaking to the No. 1 draft pick?"

Oladipo just laughed.

"Pretty much every interview I've had with teams, they ask me about it [being overlooked]," Oladipo said. "It drives me. I know what it feels like to be at the bottom. I'm going to use it as fuel."

UCLA's good pitching continued as the Bruins defeated Mississippi State, 3-1, in the first game of the College World Series finals on Monday night.

UCLA right fielder Eric Filia makes a leaping grab of a fly ball during Monday night's game.Francis Gardler, Associated Press 

OMAHA, Neb. -- Adam Plutko limited Mississippi State to a run on four hits in six innings, and UCLA survived some anxious moments to beat the Bulldogs, 3-1, in Game 1 of the College World Series finals Monday night.

Plutko retired nine straight to start, worked out of trouble twice and turned the game over to the bullpen in the seventh. The Bulldogs (51-19) left runners in scoring position four of the last six innings.

The Bruins (48-17) are one win from their first national championship in baseball. Mississippi State must win Game 2 on Tuesday night to keep alive its hopes for its first NCAA title in any sport.

UCLA made it 3-0 in the fourth on Eric Filia's two-out single off Chad Girodo, who replaced starter Trevor Fitts (0-1) in the second. That was the last of the Bruins' six hits.

Plutko (10-3) walked in the Bulldogs' run in the fourth.

Will the Mid-American Conference break a long dry spell and have a player taken in the NBA draft? Akron's Zeke Marshall hopes so.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - If an NBA team calls the name of Zeke Marshall during Thursday's draft, it will be the first time in 10 years that a Mid-American Conference player has been selected.

Yes, it's been that long for the league that had Ron Harper, Dan Majerle, and Wally Szczerbiak drafted by the NBA. Or the league that produced Hall of Famers Nate Thurmond and Wayne Embry.

The last MAC players picked were in 2003: Chris Kaman (Central Michigan) to the Clippers at No. 6 and Brandon Hunter (Ohio) to the Celtics in the second round.

That's been it, no one since 2003.

Marshall may change that.

The 7-foot center from the University of Akron has one major advantage.

"He's a legitimate 7-footer," said Cleveland State coach Gary Waters. "The NBA loves length and athleticism, and Zeke has that."

While Waters' team isn't a member of the MAC, his Vikings have faced Marshall.

"I have coached six guys who made the NBA," said Waters. "Zeke can help a team."

Waters mentioned another 7-footer, John Edwards from Hudson. He played for Waters at Kent State. While Edwards wasn't drafted, he made the Indiana Pacers in 2004, and played in 65 NBA games over two seasons. He has since had a long pro career overseas.

"Zeke is more of a shot blocker and an athlete than Edwards," said Waters. "He's worth a second-round pick for some team."

Growing up

Marshall has played the last four seasons for Keith Dambrot, the Zips' demanding coach.

"You should have seen him when he came to us," said Dambrot. "He could barely lift the (45-pound) bar on the bench press. In four years, he went from our weakest guy to our strongest guy. He can bench 300. He does 23 pullups. He's added 35 pounds of muscle. He's matured a lot physically and emotionally."

Marshall was recruited by several Big East schools and other major basketball powers. He picked Akron because it had a specialized computer program that he wanted, and it was close to his McKeesport, Pa., home.

When Marshall arrived at Akron, he seemed like one of those young men who had been pushed into basketball because he was a 7-footer.

"When Zeke first came to us, I don't think he really loved basketball," said Steve McNees, an Akron assistant coach who also was a teammate of Marshall's a few years ago.

McNees talked about how Marshall went from a guy "who considered practice a chore" to someone who became one of the team's hardest workers.

"We challenged him to be one of the first in the gym and the last to leave," said McNees. "We challenged him in the weight room. He's now very motivated to have a basketball career."

The expectations were enormous for Marshall. His skill set didn't match the hype. He had to learn how to score inside, how to battle for rebounding position. And he was a 7-footer who barely weighed 200 pounds.

As a freshman, he averaged only 5.1 points and 3.9 rebounds. He struggled with foul trouble, and at the foul line.

The game seemed too quick for him, and he was very frustrated at times.

"But Zeke never quit," said Dambrot. "That's important to understand. We pushed him hard. Nothing was given to him (in terms of playing time). He isn't a finished product, but he's a totally different player now from four years ago."

Making an impact

Marshall will have worked out for at least 15 NBA teams by Thursday's draft.

"Teams are interested in him," said Dambrot. "Will they take him? I don't know. But if someone does, they will get a guy who can come off the bench and change the game with his defense."

Most scouting services have Marshall as a low second-round pick, or a free agent who will receive invitations from several NBA teams.

Kent State coach Rob Senderoff is glad Marshall is gone, and hopes he does land in the NBA.

"We played him more than anyone, and he impacts the game on the defensive end," said Senderoff. "In the NBA, they want a 7-footer who can protect the rim. Well, Zeke will protect the rim."

Marshall averaged 3.78 blocks per game, fourth-best in Division I basketball. Top lottery pick Nerlens Noel led at 4.4 for Kentucky.

"It's not just the shots he blocks," said Senderoff. "It's the ones he alters, and the times you don't drive in there because he's at the rim. He has great feet, he can switch off and defend a guard when he's going to the rim."

Ohio's Jim Christian mentioned a game where Marshall's blocks, "changed the entire game, and he doesn't have a bad shooting touch. He's got NBA size and strength."

Marshall averaged 13.1 points and 7.0 rebounds this season, making 65 percent of his field-goal attempts.

"You'd like him to be a better rebounder," said Dambrot. "But I think that will improve. I know he's on the bubble to be drafted. I just hope he goes to the right team where they can work with  him -- because he can play in the league if he's coached and given time to develop."

See a DVD set and a pain reliever aimed to help your golf game in this week's product reviews.

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Here's a sampling of products The Plain Dealer's golf team discovered this week in its never-ending quest to reach single-digit handicaps.

"Roger Fredericks Reveals Secrets to Golf Swing" DVD set

The draw: The "Reveals" series is a three-DVD set that includes Roger Fredericks' secrets to a fundamental golf swing, a powerful golf swing and a flexible golf swing. Each carries endorsements from some of golf's greatest players such as Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. The stretching video caught my eye first, if only because Fredericks is pictured sitting on the ground, his legs spread eagle like those of a 12-year-old gymnast. He is leaning forward with his elbows touching the ground. I found all three videos helpful, but especially the flexibility program with its various levels: White Tee (beginner), Blue Tee (intermediate) and Gold Tee (advanced).

The scorecard: Set retails for $89.85 and is available through fredericksgolf.com. Amazon.com also offers individual DVDs.

-- Bud Shaw

Golf Pain Away

View full sizeTry Golf Pain Away, available in a roll-on or individual moistened sachets, to lessen pain and stiffness on the course or after a round.Special to The Plain Dealer

The draw: Many amateurs, especially those on the plus side of 50 who don't play regularly, might suffer pain and stiffness after an occasional 18 holes. While a pain reliever taken orally usually is sufficient in dulling the pain, it helps to apply an analgesic. Golf Pain Away is designed to relieve muscular aches and pains and also assist in recovery from injury. I used it before and after rounds with favorable results. The eucalyptus oil and vanilla mix offers a non-offending odor, unlike some conventional rub-ons. I used the roll-on as a "preventive medicine" before teeing off in last week's Summer Solstice Golf Challenge. Had no leg or arm pain in the 23 holes I played. Applied it immediately after finishing an earlier round in which I walked nine holes with same results.

The scorecard: Available in a 50 ml roll-on ($24.95) or a 7-day pack of individual moistened sachets you can keep in your golf bag ($9.95). Product is carried in many golf stores and is available online at golfpainaway.com.

-- Tim Rogers

The Tribe looks to win their second straight against the Orioles tonight in Baltimore.

 

Game 76: Indians (39-36) at Orioles (42-35)

First pitch: 7:05 p.m. at Camden Yards, Baltimore.

TV/radio: TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WMMS FM/100.7, WTAM AM/ 1100

Starting pitchers: RHP Justin Masterson (9-5, 3.48) vs. RHP Chris Tillman (8-2, 3.71).

» Box score | MLB scoreboard

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Some of the best women amatuers in Ohio are competing in Hudson.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Some of the top women amateurs in Ohio, including several from Greater Cleveland, have gathered at Lake Forest Country Club in Hudson for the playing of the 90th annual Women's Ohio State Amateur.

The event began Tuesday with the first of a possible five rounds of match play, with the finals in the Championship Flight set for Thursday at 1 p.m.

Players were placed in one of three flights through a round of medal play. Cincinnati's Allison Schultz, a former University of Toledo player, is the defending champion and was exempted into the Championship Flight. Hinckley's Jessica Porvasnik, Hudson's Natalie Goodson and Pemberville's Alyssa Shimel were the medalists in the qualifying, each with rounds of 1-over 74.

Goodson, a junior at Kent State, is the daughter of Lake Forest pro John Goodson. Porvasnik, a freshman at Ohio State, and Shimel, a Michigan graduate, are former Ohio high school state champs.

Kings of the Northeast: Westlake attorney Tom Cawley and Jackson Twp. salesman Joe Tornabene each won championships during the final rounds in the 83rd annual Northeast Ohio Amateur tournament that concluded Monday at Fox Meadow Country Club. Tornabene, 29, won the Championship Division with a birdie and par in a 2-hole playoff with Mansfield's Chad Scott after both finished at 6-over 292 for the 72-hole event. 

The final 36 holes were played at Fox Meadow after 18 holes at Lakewood Country Club and Shale Creek earlier this month. Cawley won the Senior Division by three shots over Solon's Marc Fried. The seniors only played 54 holes in the event conducted by the Northern Ohio Golf Association.

"Winning this was one of my goals," said Tornabene, who played four years at Baldwin Wallace. "I like what NOGA does and the charities it supports. That's why I play in their events."

Tornabene was one of five players able to break 70 at the three courses when he shot 69 in the third round at Fox Meadow. The others were Scott and Akron's Kevin Pikus, who also shot 69 in the third round and Rocky River's Matt Gerard and Medina's Austin Schreiber in the second round at Shale Creek.

Little wiggle room: Two qualifying spots to the 66th annual U.S. Junior Amateur Championship will be contested Thursday at The Country Club of Hudson. A field of 43 boys will play 36 holes with the two low scores advancing to the championship at Martis Camp Club, in Truckee, Calif., July 22-27.

An early start: The Ohio Girls Golf Foundation has been awarding college scholarships and providing training programs for high school girls since its formation in 1994. The organization will hold its annual kickoff to the high school season on July 15 with the OGGF Open at Avon Oaks Country Club. With LPGA Tour player and Parma native Barb Mucha serving as headliner, the event is open to all female high school players and includes an interactive clinic with area professionals, an 18-hole tournament and awards presentation for individual low gross and best team.  For more information or to register go to www.oggf.org. Deadline is Monday.

Home cooking: Kirtland Country Club's Sherry Robinson took advantage of playing on her home course last week to win the Cleveland Women's Golf Association's 36-hole Mary K. Browne tournament with a score of 2-under 138. Chagrin Valley's Joanne Vogt was second at 146. Robinson, a past president of CWGA, held the lead after an opening-round 68. Beechmont's Lynn Gross took low gross honors with a 169, making eight pars and three birdies. Midori Sato, playing out of Columbia Hills, provided one of the highlights of the final day when she eagled the par-5 18th hole.

There's still time: The Northern Ohio PGA will accept applications Wednesday until noon to compete in the 90th Minute Men Ohio Open Championship at Westfield Country Club next week. The championship is open to all golfers who have been Ohio residents for at least 120 days prior to the tournament, or any PGA Section member in good standing and employed for no less than 120 days at a recognized golf facility. Entrants must be able to provide prove of residency. Amateurs must show proof of a USGA index of 4.0 or less. Entry fee is $225 for amateurs, $255 for PGA professionals and $395 for non-PGA professionals. Call 216-765-1214.

The Indians are expected to activate shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera before Wednesday night's game against the Orioles. He's been on the disabled list since June 4.

Asdrubal Cabrera (center) has bounced back faster than expected from the quadriceps injury that forced him to be helped off the field on June 3 at Yankee Stadium.Kathy Willens, Associated Press 

BALTIMORE, Md. -- It's believed shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera went through his last day on the disabled list during Tuesday's batting practice. He's expected to be activated Wednesday and inserted into the lineup against the Orioles.

Cabrera has been on the DL since June 4 with a strained right quadriceps muscle. He was expected miss anywhere from three to four weeks, if not longer.

"I don't know when they're going to take me off the DL, but I had a conversation with (GM) Chris (Antonetti) and they're going to make a decision after the game," said Cabrera. "I've got to wait and see, but I hope it's soon."

Manager Terry Francona said the team would have some news on Cabrera before Wednesday night's game. When Cabrera is activated, the Indians will have to make a corresponding move to create a roster spot. Infielder John McDonald could be designated for assignment.

Cabrera wanted to avoid a rehab assignment if at all possible. It appears he has.

"I'll start playing here," said Cabrera.

Francona said Monday he was shocked at how quickly Cabrera has recovered. Said Cabrera, "I was supposed to be out four to five weeks. We're at just about three weeks now. I worked really hard every day to come back.

"I feel 100 percent. I ran the bases Monday and felt really good."

Mike Aviles has filled in at shortstop since Cabrera was injured on June 3 at Yankee Stadium. The Indians were 8-10 with Cabrera on the DL entering Tuesday night's games against the Orioles.

Tuesday night's lineups:

Indians (39-36): CF Bourn, SS Aviles, 2B Kipnis, 1B Swisher, LF Brantley, C Santana, DH Reynolds, 3B Chisenhall, RF Stubbs, P Masterson (9-5, 3.48).

Orioles (42-35): CF McLouth, 3B Machado, RF Markakis, CF Jones, 1B Davis, C Wieters, SS Hardy, DH Dickerson, 2B Casilla, P Tillman (8-2, 3.71).

Umpires: H DiMuro, 1B Barrett, 2B Little, 3B Barry.

LeBron James said Tuesday that he is not thinking about the possibility of becoming a free agent in 12 months, though he did acknowledge that the prospects of competing with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley for several more championships with the Miami Heat is more than a tiny bit intriguing.

MIAMI — LeBron James has this summer on his mind, and is already starting to plan for next season.

The summer of 2014, that can wait.

James said Tuesday that he is not thinking about the possibility of becoming a free agent in 12 months, though he did acknowledge that the prospects of competing with Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Erik Spoelstra and Pat Riley for several more championships with the Miami Heat is more than a tiny bit intriguing.

"That's the goal," James said. "That's the ultimate finish. And we all hope that can happen, obviously."

James' final interview session of this season revealed plenty in 17 minutes, including that he's already feeling an itch to get back on the basketball court after just a few days off, that he'll stop at nothing to give longtime girlfriend Savannah Brinson anything she wants on their wedding day in a couple months, and that he's making no secret of his hope that the Heat bring back at least the majority of this year's championship roster.

The most interesting news, however, was when he spoke of his short- and long-term plans. First, he's vowing to come back better next season, which is no small promise from someone with four MVP awards, two Finals MVP awards and who carries the tag of "best player in the world." And then next summer, it certainly sounds as if he's going to give the prospects of staying in Miami a good, long look.

"This is what we came here for, so that would be the ultimate," James said. "But you can never ... I don't know, life changes, things happen, and we have to be prepared for that. But this is what we all want to be here for, that's to be able to compete for a championship each and every year. And if we can do that, then it'd be awesome."

James scored 37 points in Game 7 of the NBA Finals against the San Antonio Spurs, carrying the Heat to their second straight championship in a season where he picked up his fourth MVP award. He's gotten to the championship series in all three of his seasons with Miami, falling to Dallas in 2011, then beating Oklahoma City last season and the Spurs this year.

Double-elimination tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 10 to determine East Side and West Side champions. Title game will be Saturday, Aug. 17 at Victory Sports Park.

Chris Morris, The Plain Dealer 

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The field is set for the inaugural Plain Dealer -Cleveland.com Softball Championship.

Eight teams are entered in the East Side Bracket, and eight in the West Side Bracket.

Those teams will play a double-elimination tournament on Aug. 10 at Victory Sports Park in North Ridgeville to determine the East Side champ and the West Side champ.

The following weekend, Saturday, Aug. 17, the winner-take-all championship game will feature the East Side champion vs. the West Side champion at Eastlake's Classic Park, home of the Lake County Captains.

The tournament was open to any team based in The Plain Dealer's seven-county coverage area: Cuyahoga, Geauga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties.

Wrestler Justin Lester makes sixth world team.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- When the U.S. women's national hockey team roster was announced Monday, Cuyahoga Heights native Kelli Stack was on it, but she was not with it.

Stack continues to rehab from January surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate knee ligament. Upon her return, she is expected to be on the final Olympic roster, which will be announced in December. The Winter Olympics are Feb. 7-23 in Sochi, Russia.

“She's one of the best players in the world. Having her back will be huge,'' said U.S. goalie Brianne McLaughlin of Sheffield.

McLaughlin was named one of three goalies Monday, which virtually assures her a spot on her second Olympic team.

Stack said she's about 60 percent recovered and resumed skating and running three weeks ago. The 5-5 center is known for her speed and agility.

“It was really tough at first,'' she said. “Being my first injury, I was absolutely devastated and heartbroken. I love playing ice hockey. It was the most pain I've ever been in and it was very emotional and mentally exhausting.''

Stack, 24, was USA Hockey's Women's Player of the Year in 2011-12 after centering the highly productive “Stacksicles” first line with twins Monique and Jocelyne Lamoureux-Kolls. At the 2012 World Championships, Stack was second on the team in scoring (five goals, seven assists) and the U.S. lost to Canada, 5-4, in the final.

“That line was just incredible together,'' McLaughlin said.

In April, the U.S. won the world title without Stack, beating Canada in the final.

Stack and McLaughlin played on the 2010 Olympic team that lost to Canada in the gold medal game.

“I find myself thinking about the Olympics and I've been waiting for Sochi for four years,'' Stack  said. “That time has flown by. I hit a bump in the road, obviously, but the focus has been trying to rehab and get back as strong as I can.''

View full sizeSheffield Village native Brianne McLaughlin smiles on the mound before a ceremonial first pitch at Progressive Field in 2010. McLaughlin is virtually assured a spot on the 2014 U.S. women's Olympic hockey team as a goalie.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer

McLaughlin was the clear No. 3 goalie in 2010, but was told Monday she'll be competing with veterans Jesse Vetter and Molly Schaus for playing time.

“Right now, I don't have as much experience, but I have been around and we'll see how it goes,'' McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin returns home soon and will marry Logan Bittle on July 13. McLaughlin and Bittle were assistant coaches on the Robert Morris women's hockey team this year.

Lester on sixth world team: Akron native Justin (Harry) Lester had to beat a former Olympic Greco-Roman wrestling teammate to make his sixth world team last weekend at the U.S. World Team Trials in Stillwater, Okla.

Lester beat Ellis Coleman, 1-0, 4-3, in the 145.5-pound final. Lester, a two-time world bronze medalist, heads to the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in September.

"I got healthy. I was really sick at the U.S. Open and wrestled up a weight class," Lester, 29, told themat.com. "I maintained my weight a lot better for the Trials. I'm feeling good and having fun again."

Ohio will send four freestyle wrestlers to Budapest, each of whom trains at the Ohio Regional Training Center in Columbus: Reece Humphrey (132 pounds), Keith Gavin (185), JD Bergman (211.5) and Tervel Dlagnev (264.5) were trials champs. The ORTC's Angel Escobedo (121) and Logan Stieber (132) placed second and third, respectively.

Tomasello second: Ohio State recruit Nathan Tomasello of Parma came within one win of making USA Wrestling's Junior World team in Stillwater. Tomasello lost in the 121-pound final to past Cadet World Team member Thomas Gilman, 6-1, 7-2. Gilman, an Iowa redshirt freshman, also beat Tomasello at the Junior National finals in April, and at last year's World Team Trials.

“It was disappointing, for sure,'' Tomasello said. “Gilman stays in good position and was tough to score on. He didn't do anything spectacular and was trying to defend my shot. He won a lot of the scrambles.''

Tomasello heads to Fargo, N.D., next month and and goes for his third junior national title there at either 120 or 126 pounds.

Moser's big kick beats teen: That was Munroe Falls native Treniere (Clement) Moser who won a memorable women's 1,500-meter final to 17-year-old sensation Mary Cain last week at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Iowa. Moser kicked hard the last 100 meters and caught Cain at the finish, winning by .14.

“I’m on cloud nine,'' Moser told reporters. “I’m 31 years old and I’m keeping up with a 17-year-old. I never thought I would have the energy to do that. I’m just so happy with where I’m at and what the future holds for me. I was kind of taking it year to year but now I’m starting to look long term and maybe to Rio now. It’s just such a great feeling. At this point all I can say is, never give up.”

Euclid native Jessica Beard was fifth in the women's 400 (51.06), an improvement on her 2012 Olympic Trials seventh-place finish (51.52).

Ashland hammer thrower A.G. Kruger (247-9) won his fifth U.S. Outdoor title, and first since 2009.

Two to watch: Two local rising discus throwers, Kentucky freshman Becky Famurewa of Brecksville and Kent State freshman Reggie Jagers of Solon, placed second at the U.S. Junior Nationals in Iowa. Jagers said in an email he has accepted a bid to participate in the Pan-Am Games in Columbia in August.

Noel, who could be the first pick in Thursday night's draft, needs to develop an offensive game but could be an elite defensive player.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Even after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in February and undergoing surgery in March, Nerlens Noel has maintained a favorite's status to be the first player selected in Thursday night's NBA draft.

The Cleveland Cavaliers own the first pick and the first chance to take or to bypass the center who entered the draft after playing one season at Kentucky.

The summary of a scouting report on Noel from Ed Isaacson's NBA Draft Blog:

Obviously, Noel's knee injury is going to set back his rookie season, but any team picking Noel isn't doing it for instant impact. Noel is still very raw as a player, especially on offense. Where Noel will make his greatest impact is on the defensive side, where his shot-blocking ability and ability to defend well in both the post and on the perimeter can make it tough for teams to score around the basket. Noel's biggest challenge will be to gain some much needed body strength to handle the rigors of the NBA post game, as well as continuing to develop some sort of consistent offensive options. Still, there is a lot of upside if put in the right system and with the right coaches to develop his skill set. Noel is a hard worker and known to be coachable, but teams will need to have some patience as he develops.

Nerlens Noel story links

Nerlens Noel's surgically-repaired left knee is fine, doctors say. (By David Sanchirico, Sports Illustrated, June 24)

The Cavaliers have a big decision to make on whether to take Nerlens Noel with the first pick in the draft. (By Bob Finnan, Lorain Morning Journal and News-Herald, June 22)

Guard Archie Goodwin, Nerlens Noel's teammate at Kentucky and a potential first-round draft pick, expects Noel to dominate in the NBA. (By Sean Deveney, Sporting News, June 21)

Nerlens Noel is working hard to strengthen his surgically-repaired left knee, but the injury threw the draft into some chaos. (By Jimmy Smith, New Orleans Times-Picayune, June 21)

Audio interview with Kentucky coach John Calipari talking about his former center, Nerlens Noel. (By Glenn Moore, cleveland.com, Sports Insider, June 20)

In defense of Nerlens Noel, who seems to be a polite, serious and businesslike young man. (By Mary Schmitt Boyer, Plain Dealer, June 19)

Nerlens Noel is working hard to recover from knee surgery. With videos. (By Mary Schmitt Boyer, Plain Dealer, June 1)

Nerlens Noel, inspired by a seven-year-old friend fighting leukemia, brings the youngster to the Kentucky Derby. With videos. (By David Astramskas, Ballislife.com, May 6, 2013)

Nerlens Noel, about to begin his freshman season at Kentucky, has two older brothers playing Division I college football. (By Larry Vaught, Central Kentucky News, Sept. 27, 2012)

Video: A DraftExpress scouting report video on Nerlens Noel:

Video: FoxSports highlights of Nerlens Noel's 2012-13 season at Kentucky:

Video: Nerlens Noel interviewed at the draft combine:

Growing up around the game, potential draft picks such at Tim Hardaway Jr. and Glen Rice Jr., have a leg up on some of their peers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- For Luke Walton, it was never a big deal. He grew up around NBA locker rooms, dribbled with NBA stars when he was a child and knew the ins and outs of the business before he was a teenager.

"That was my life," Walton said shrugging, when with the Cavaliers last season.

Following in the footsteps of his famous father, Bill, was natural. Luke Walton navigated the world of college basketball at Arizona, then was drafted by the L.A. Lakers 32nd in 2003. It was the start of a career in which he had both expectations to live up to and an intrinsic knowledge of how to manage the game and the business of basketball.

As the son of a former NBA player, Walton knows the unique challenges facing a handful of players in this year's NBA draft. Tim Hardaway Jr., Glen Rice Jr. and Phil Pressey all watched their dads play in the league, too. Shane Larkin watched his dad, Barry, play professional baseball.

They grew up around locker rooms, hobnobbed with superstars as children. And they have plenty of expectations about their games by whichever team drafts them -- even though everyone knows they are not their fathers.

At least one son of a former NBA player has been selected in the last nine NBA drafts, beginning with Mike Dunleavy Jr. in 2002.

Rice Jr. already has a headstart on playing prof basketball, and not just from hanging around his father's 15-year NBA career after an NCAA title run at Michigan. The guard was dismissed from Georgia Tech during his junior season for repeated violation of team rules and was drafted by the NBA Development League's Rio Grande Valley Vipers in 2012.

• Glen Rice Jr.'s D-League statistics | Glen Rice's NBA stats

Rice Jr.'s playing time was a roller coaster, but he still averaged 13.0 points and 6.2 rebounds in 42 games.

"I always had confidence in myself and my ability to play the game," Rice Jr. said at the Chicago pre-draft combine. "I feel like I’m ready. I’ve been working hard all my life. We’re just going to keep working to see where it takes us."

His father now helps promote MMA, but has continued to be involved in his son's life and career. He advised Rice Jr. to sign with the same agent he had, and together they worked out his plan to play in the NBDL.

NBA fathers have had to balance the tricky role of giving advice to their basketball-playing sons, while not channeling their past careers and expectations onto the next generation. Pressey, for one, said his father -- former Cavaliers assistant Paul Pressey -- struck a balance between giving advice and allowing the guard from Missouri to find his own way.

• Phil Pressey's Missouri stats | Paul Pressey's NBA stats

"As I got older, he allowed me to put things in my own hands and figure things out," Phil Pressey said recently. "He'd give me (advice) every now and then, but if something wasn't going right, he would allow me to figure it out myself. I really think that helped develop me as a player."

Letting their sons learn by experience is a familiar theme among NBA fathers. Tim Hardaway Sr. consulted his son, Tim Jr., about whether the Michigan guard should enter the draft last season. The father didn't think the son was ready. Now, he does -- but he let Tim Hardaway Jr. make the decision to turn pro on his own.

• Tim Hardaway Jr.'s Michigan stats | Tim Hardaway's NBA stats

"He has to do his own thing and be comfortable with doing his own things," Hardaway Sr. told The Detroit News. "He has to understand that this is his life. If it's the wrong decision, then we'll talk, but if it's the right decision for him, then we'll say we're glad to help. He has to live in his own footsteps and his own comfortable setting."

Sometimes, it's even easier for fathers to distance themselves completely from advising their sons. That's what Pressey did.

"My dad is as humble as they come," Phil Pressey said. "He's been in basketball so long, he hates talking about it. He's had enough. He doesn't even watch games at home. He'll turn on fishing or something. he knows he had a successful career and he let his actions do the speaking for him. He doesn't show too much."

After all, the sons of NBA fathers grew up around the game, they learned from observation and advice from the players who were teammates to their dads. What else is there to learn?