Cleveland Cavaliers are quickly adapting to the faster pace of Coach Tyronn Lue, and that makes them a stronger contender.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- How about that!

I kept saying that to myself while watching the Cavs demolish the San Antonio Spurs.

In fact, I never thought I'd write any sentence about the Cavs doing a demolition job on the Spurs -- even a San Antonio team without Tim Duncan.

The final score was 117-103, and it wasn't even that close.

This is not to write off the Spurs as a legitimate championship contender. No one should ever do that to a Gregg Popovich team as long as the coach has his stars still glimmering.

And the Spurs are extremely talented.

But it is to write in the Cavs on the ballot of big time contenders, along with San Antonio.

The Cavs put up 37 points in the first quarter against the Spurs.

That's right, 37 points in 12 minutes. Even more remarkable: Only two of those points belonged to James.

San Antonio came into Quicken Loans Arena allowing only 90 points a game. The Spurs are the NBA's premier defensive team, at least according to the stats.

They've had a miserable week, losing 120-90 to Golden State on Monday along with the 14-point defeat to the Cavs.

In between, the Spurs wiped out Houston, 130-99.

But two losses in three games by a total of 47 points will give Popovich plenty of practice material to keep his team's attention. The veteran coach talked about not having Duncan, who is like a defensive coordinator on the floor.

That's true.

Nevertheless, the Spurs are 8-2 minus Duncan this season. The Cavs are now 4-1 since Tyronn Lue replaced David Blatt as the head coach.

The gap between the two teams is closing after appearing very wide only a few weeks ago.

THE DIFFERENCE

As I write this, keep in mind that I've always believed Blatt is a good coach. Nothing that has happened this week changes that opinion.

But what is clear is that David Griffin's instincts were right. He believed the Cavs would be an even more powerful team with a high-octane offense.

 The general manager also had all the analytics to support that opinion, as I wrote last week.

Blatt appeared more comfortable coaching a slower, defensive style. It served the Cavs well in the playoffs last season when they dealt with various injuries. Defense had to be their identity.

But now with Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving healthy, the Cavs have enough scoring and athleticism to run some teams right out of the gym.

After their 96-83 loss to Chicago in Lue's first game as coach, the Cavs have scored 114-115-114-117 points.

Look at those numbers.

"We just keep pushing and pushing (the tempo)," said LeBron James. "Coach Lue gets on us every day."

In the last four wins, he's averaging 35 minutes a game. James is attempting only 14 shots. He is 35-of-56 from the field, averaging 24 points a game.

That's what the faster pace is supposed to do, spread out the shots and the burden to the other players.

Since Lue became coach, James is averaging 8.4 assists and only 2.2 turnovers. He is often the trigger man on the offense and the fast pace is creating more passing opportunities.

James said it would take him about a week to get into shape to play this style, and that seems to be true.

Meanwhile,  Lue keeps yelling "Attack...ATTACK!" to Irving, wanting the guard to roar down the court and drive to the rim. Irving is blending into a role as a shooting guard, scoring 49 points in the last two games.

Having Irving feel free to score and go to the rim has "added juice" to his defense, as one member of the Cavs told me. When Irving first came back from his knee surgery, he was almost a swinging door defensively.

Now, more confident in his knee and more excited about his role in the offense, his defense has improved.

GOTTA LOVE IT

In the five games since Lue took over, Kevin Love is averaging 19.2 points, shooting 50 percent from the field. It's a big jump from the 15.7 points and 42 percent shooting before the change.

Lue has put in more plays for Love to play at the high post -- often called the "elbow" in today's coaching vocabulary. Rather than have him standing on the 3-point line waiting to take long jumpers, Lue has Love around the foul line/top of key area. That not only sets him up for closers shot to the rim -- and drives to basket -- but also enables him to pass the ball to cutting teammates.

Right now, everything favors Lue.

Many of the players wanted the coaching change, and they are working hard to make it look good. His pell-mell style of playing is more demanding physically on the players, but also more fun because it creates more easy baskets.

James is especially engaged, as Cleveland.com's Joe Vardon pointed out in his story after the Spurs game. Over and over, James kept referencing what "Coach Lue" wanted the team to do.

James delivered two statement blocks against the Spurs. One was a magnificent long run down the court to swat away a Manu Ginobili layup from behind. It was an amazing athletic feat, but it started with pure hustle on the part of James.

Lue talked about this game being "a confidence builder," then quickly talked about how the Cavs still had a lot of room to grow and improve.

And guess what?

Lue is right. These guys can indeed get better as they grow more accustomed to the new system.

The Buckeyes had chances on Sunday against Maryland, but couldn't pull off the upset.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Thad Matta wanted to see what his Ohio State basketball team was made of in Sunday's rematch with No. 8 Maryland.

The last time these teams met, the Terrapins won by 35, so anything better than that could be considered progress. The Buckeyes were much better on the defensive end, but again struggled to find consistent offense and couldn't pull off the upset even when presented with plenty of opportunities.

Maryland escaped Value City Arena with a 66-61 win, denying the Buckeyes their second win over a ranked opponent this season.

Jae'Sean Tate led Ohio State with 16 points, but 10 of those came in the first seven minutes of the game. Kam Williams added nine points off the bench.

The Buckeyes (14-9, 6-4 Big Ten) had their chances to pull off the upset.

Marc Loving, who started the game 0 for 7, picked a good time to hit his first bucket. He pump faked Maryland's Jake Layman, then got fouled while hitting an awkward runner. His bucket and free throw gave Ohio State its first lead of the second half at 49-48 with 6:55 left.

The teams swapped leads twice after that. Then the Buckeyes came out of the under-4 minute timeout with a chance to take the lead down 54-53.

Loving was called for a travel on the next possession, then Rasheed Sulaimon hit a 3-pointer on the other end to put Maryland up 57-53 with three minutes left. Melo Trimble hit another 3 on the next possession.

Loving hit a pair of free throws to cut Maryland's lead to 60-57 with 49 seconds left, but Robert Carter hit a pair on the other end to keep the Terps ahead. When it turned into a free throw game, it didn't help that Ohio State shot 58 percent from the line for the game.

Some good news the Buckeyes can take away is that the collapse that hit Ohio State the last time against Maryland never game. In fact the Buckeyes were the aggressor early, opening a 20-13 lead in a frantic first seven minutes of the game.

Tate had 10 of his points during that span, but then the Buckeyes went cold. Ohio State finished 2 for its last 14 at the end of the first half, while Maryland closed on a 6-0 run and led 37-31 at the break.

When it was over

When Sulaimon and Trimble hit those back to back 3s. Ohio State couldn't find any offense in the game's final two minutes and that small cushion was enough for Maryland to hold on.

What it means

The Buckeyes have to be happy with holding a team like Maryland to 64 points, and for most of the night the defensive effort was about as good as it could've been. The offense continues to be Ohio State's problem.

A.J. Harris started at the point again, but it was JaQuan Lyle who finished the game when things got tight. Thad Matta trusts him more, but the offense wasn't very good with either guy out there on Sunday. The Buckeyes shot 35 percent on the day.

Ohio State also lost the rebounding edge 40-35, and is now 0-9 in games in which it gets outrebounded.

What's next

The Buckeyes are back on the road on Thursday, when they travel to Wisconsin (12-9, 4-4 Big Ten) for a 7 p.m. tip.

The power of effective communication is an integral part of how Tyronn Lue has boosted the morale in the Cleveland Cavaliers' locker room.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The power of effective communication is an integral part of how new head coach Tyronn Lue has boosted the morale in the Cleveland Cavaliers' locker room.

Lue is an honest, candid straight shooter, and his players respect that. He has eliminated uncertainty to the best of his ability. His approach is if players are informed of their roles ahead of time, they might not agree with how they're being used, but they appreciate not being caught off guard.

For a player who has been out of the rotation for well over a month, that straightforward dialogue is essential.

"I really appreciate that, and it's very important because you're not playing, so obviously it's a different focus, a different emotional level," Cavs guard Mo Williams explained to cleveland.com. "If I know I'm not going to play, I emotionally try to stay out of the game and just focus on helping my teammates, because the more emotions I get, the more sensitive feelings I get. So I take my emotions out so therefore, it's a different focus when you know you're going to play."

Williams has handled this period with professionalism and class, but he admitted it's the most difficult challenge of his professional career. Lue's considerate handling of the situation has helped eased the pain.

"A lot of coaches just don't know how to communicate, so therefore they don't and it causes different problems," Williams said. "The better you communicate with your players, it goes with years in the league. The younger guys, you just go out and do your job and do what [the coach] says. It's almost like a parent-child [relationship]. The older you get, the more years you get, the more experience you have, it's more of a partnership."

Lue gets it.

"I know everyone wants to play, but I'm not able to play everyone," Lue said. "We had that talk and discussion and they were fine with it. So on a game-to-game basis, if I know I'm going to need those guys, I'll try to give them a warning before the game to let them know so they can prepare themselves in a different way than they probably usually do."

Lue's job includes the tasks of challenging, motivating and sometimes criticizing his star players. Player accountability can't just be for players five through 15. That can cause rifts internally and if it continues to grow, the corrosion builds to the point of ruining chemistry on the court.

That's why in practices, film sessions and one-on-one meetings, players have been getting an earful.

"He told me that he was going to stay on me about pace and about being a better point guard," Kyrie Irving told cleveland.com. "Just facilitating, knowing our plays, knowing when people need to be at the right spot offensively and defensively. He's been on me.

"Before, it felt like Coach [David] Blatt was the leader and now he comes into it and doesn't hold back, which is what we need and he's a player's coach.

"So, that right there speaks for itself. He knows the connection that we need in order to be successful. His honesty is going to stay where it is. Even when he was the associate head coach, he still said things, but it was in bits and pieces. But now as a head coach, he can say whatever the [expletive] he wants."

Power forward Kevin Love has been playing exceptionally as of late, but most of his season has been filled with inconsistent play and inconsistent effort. Since Lue has taken over, he has put Love in favorable offensive positions, but he also got on Love to bring it himself.

"He basically said that I need to go back to being more in the post, a power player, more demonstrative down there," Love told cleveland.com. "He just said I need to be aggressive every game and play hard. He said I'm only going to get the best out of myself if I play hard every night."

With telling it like it is, no one is offended. These are accomplished million-dollar athletes who probably haven't been talked to in this way since college. But for some reason they understand that it's nothing but love. And it appears it's easier for these players to digest knowing Lue played 11 seasons in the league and captured two championships while a member of the Los Angeles Lakers.

"I think it's because T-Lue played this game at all different positions," Cavs big man Tristan Thompson told cleveland.com. "He was a sixth-man, playing heavy minutes, being a veteran guy that played rotational minutes. I think he understands the psyche of a player and for myself, at the end of the day, I'm going to be ready for when my number is called whether that's starting or coming off the bench, but he's going to be upfront with me on my role. That's huge."

Most players in Williams' shoes would request a trade behind the scenes. He left a lot of money on the table to return to Cleveland to chase down a ring.

"Nah, man. I've moved my family around enough," he said. I'm sticking this thing out."

Lue is only 6 feet tall, but when he sits on the bench, he sticks out over his assistants and players.

He sits on a pad to elevate him. He explained to cleveland.com that he does that because the chairs the team sits on are below the court. So their feet rest on the court in an awkward incline position. Because he had three surgeries on his knees during his playing days, the pad allows him to stretch out his legs. He can't keep his knees bent for long periods of time.

Phil Jackson, Lue's former coach with the Lakers, was also known to stick out over his staff and players on the bench. Jackson sat in a high chair due to having hip-replacement surgery. Players called it "The Throne." I was curious if Lue was inventing his own throne.

"Ah, hell nah. I'm not at that status yet," Lue said with a laugh.

Cleveland is riding a four-game winning streak, the offense is moving at an accelerated pace, players are motivated, but most importantly Lue's guys are all on the same page.

The power of effective communication and no surprises go a long way. They have a ways to go before they're where they want to be, but this has been immediate progress for Lue and his team.

"He's a guy that's been through what we've been through so he's going to keep it honest and keep it real with us and I think that's a great quality to have as a coach," Thompson said. "What he'll say when you're not around, he'll tell it to your face. I think his method has worked for us right now and guys have been receptive to it. It's all good."

Ohio State had chances to pull off an upset on Sunday, but the a recurring problem kept them from the win. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In the end, the thing that kept Ohio State from pulling off an upset of No. 8 Maryland on Sunday is a problem the Buckeyes already knew existed.

Perhaps there's some solace for Thad Matta in the fact that some new problem didn't arise in another loss to the Terrapins. His team showed up and played hard, which in itself was a small victory compared to what happened the last time these two teams met.

You would expect Ohio State to put up a better fight against Maryland on its home floor, and it did. Maybe you didn't expect the Buckeyes to actually be in a position to win the game.

They were, but they didn't.

Instead they left Value City Arena with a disappointing 66-61 loss. Five points between them and a top-10 team would be a good thing on most nights, but the Buckeyes missed chances thanks to stagnant offense will have them thinking about missing out on what would've been their best win of the year.

"We just gotta make sure that we're on the same page," forward Jae'Sean Tate said. "When we do get the stop, we can't relax. It's a two-sided game and even though we were playing good defense, we kinda slowed up the tempo and I think that hurt us. We gotta continue to get better in practice when we do get the stop, to execute on the other end."

Tate led Ohio State with 16 points, and like most nights brought the bulk of the energy for the Buckeyes. But his 6 for 18 day from the floor was more indicative of the greater problem.

Ohio State just could not make shots, even when it had good looks. The Buckeyes finished a season-low 35.6 percent from the field.

Forget the first seven minutes of the game when the Buckeyes led 20-13 and made seven of their first 13 shots. That wasn't going to carry over. The pace slowed and so did Ohio State's offense.

On a day when the Buckeyes defense was about as good as it could have been against one of the best offensive teams in the country, the Buckeyes couldn't find the few answers needed on their offensive end to steal a win.

"We had some point blank layups, and their size affects you, but those are the ones we have to finish," Matta said. "I liked where we were getting the ball that's for sure."

The Buckeyes offensive problems have been wide-ranging all season. On Sunday it was failure to make open looks even when they did a better job protecting the ball. Ohio State had eight turnovers, a good number for a team that came in averaging 13.2 per game.

On some nights the issue is that the Buckeyes can't get into any kind of offensive flow. And on other nights it's that guys who should be shooting the ball aren't.

Most if it feels like it comes back to inconsistent point guard play, where Matta still can't seem to figure out what he wants to do with A.J. Harris and JaQuan Lyle.

Harris started again on Sunday for the third straight game, but Matta rode Lyle in the second half with the game in doubt. It's clear through three games that Lyle can't get into the flow of the offense if he's not starting. Lyle has attempted just nine field goals in three games off the bench, and made just two.

If he's hesitant to shoot the ball, Ohio State isn't going to have much of a chance to beat teams like Maryland. In this new role, he seems to be pushing more for assists than buckets. Twice on Sunday he drove the lane late in the shot clock, appeared to have an open look but instead passed to a teammate for a more difficult shot that didn't fall.

Matta didn't have a real strong answer for why he chose Lyle over Harris late.

"There's so many factors," Matta said. "So much of it just a gut of what we're feeling and what we're seeing out there."

What perhaps stood out most on Sunday is that Ohio State still doesn't know who its go-to guy is. It seems to fluctuate, and there's hasn't been any one player to set himself apart.

Kam Williams, who's been Ohio State's most consistent offensive player in Big Ten play, got some chances on Sunday and hit the shot that gave the Buckeyes their last lead at 51-50 with 6:04 left.

From that point on Marc Loving, Keita Bates-Diop and Lyle -- the three guys Ohio State needs shooting and scoring to have consistent offense -- had one combined field goal attempt.

Assertiveness on the offensive end has been Ohio State's biggest problem all season. The Buckeyes have had defensive lapses in a few games, but that's been a strong point and the offense has almost always been a few steps behind.

To win games like Sunday's, or in the few remaining attempts they have against the Big Ten's best teams, something needs to change with the Buckeyes offense.

"We learned a lot about ourselves over the course of a three-week span," Matta said. "This team has grown up a lot. You think back to where we were in late November to where we are today, you gotta find some positives. But we had a chance to win the game, and I give Maryland all of the credit, they did a heck of a job of making some big plays down the stretch."

And Ohio State didn't.

 

One Twitter user is leading a movement to go mute on Johnny Manziel in the month of February.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Johnny Manziel's latest off-field incident -- the one that involved a police helicopter -- may have finally been the last straw for Browns fans still hanging on to hope that the quarterback could turn into a reliable starter. It's led one Twitter user to start a movement known as Johnny Free February, or #JFF (which, of course, stands for something else Johnny-related as well).

The Twitter user goes by McNeil and his user name is @Reflog_18. He briefly took over the local Twitter-sphere with a '90s band tournament in early January that was inexplicably won by the Dave Matthews Band. That aside, he's rallying his 13,000+ followers to stop talking about Manziel beginning on Monday. The movement's even gone national.

The list he's keeping of #JFF participants is, as of about 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, at 469. He describes the list as "People who pledge not to Tweet about Johnny Manziel until the end of February or he is not a Brown."

This is what it's come to for Browns fans and their relationship with Manziel. May 2014 seems so long ago.

Related: Browns must cut ties with Johnny Manziel as soon as the NFL allows them

Enforcer John Scott scored twice during the NHL's new All-Star Game 3-on-3 tournament and was named MVP by fans after captaining the Pacific Division to a 1-0 win in the championship Sunday night.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Fans sent enforcer John Scott to the NHL All-Star Game by voting him captain of the Pacific Division.

Then they made him tournament MVP.

Scott scored twice during the league's new 3-on-3 All-Star tournament, bringing cheers from fans and smiles from teammates, and was named MVP as a write-in candidate after captaining the Pacific to a 1-0 win in the championship Sunday night.

The career journeyman was not listed among the three MVP candidates for a Twitter vote late in the final game, but fans took it upon themselves to select him once again, casting their vote for the 6-foot-8 forward with five goals in 285 career games.

"I'm sure he won over a lot of people, and got even more fans," Chicago forward Patrick Kane said of Scott.

Fans at Bridgestone Arena booed the MVP options and yelled for Scott. Teammates lifted him on their shoulders while fans chanted "MVP!" and then Scott was announced as the winner and presented with a Honda Pilot Touring SUV.

Scott then posed with his teammates behind their $1 million check.

"I think it's the best possible outcome right?" Scott said. "We had a good weekend. ... We left winning, so it was great."

The NHL changed the format after last year's All-Star Game featured 92 shots and a combined 29 goals for the biggest offensive display in the showcase's 60-year history. This time, these All-Stars combined for 116 shots and 23 goals.

This event looked much more like the hockey the league plays the rest of the season. Their inspiration was the 3-on-3 overtime approach for a tournament pitting the four divisions against each other in 20-minute games. The winners of the first two games advanced to a third-period championship.

"I broke a better sweat than last year for sure," Philadelphia Flyer and Metropolitan Division forward Claude Giroux said.

Goalies split the work with a 10-minute portion each and actually got the chance to stop shots rather than be targets in the net. Florida's Roberto Luongo and Jonathan Quick of the Kings each made great saves to keep the first 10 minutes of the championship game scoreless, and Quick stopped Jagr in the final seconds before intermission.

Scott, the personable enforcer who is now also a minor leaguer, stole the show.

A fan campaign made Scott captain of the Pacific Division before the Arizona Coyotes traded him Jan. 15 to Montreal who assigned him to the AHL. He returns to Newfoundland in Canada with lots of prizes after fans took it upon themselves to vote for Scott over the three finalists offered by the league's hockey operations -- Luongo, Calgary forward Johnny Gaudreau or Edmonton forward Taylor Hall.

Anaheim forward Corey Perry scored the lone goal in the championship at 13:38.

Pittsburgh defenseman Kris Letang blocked a shot, and Montreal defenseman P.K. Subban sprawled out on the ice to help protect a 4-3 lead in the final seconds of the Atlantic Division's 4-3 win over the Metropolitan. Tampa Bay goalie Ben Bishop stopped a couple shots by Letang and his Penguins teammate Evgeni Malkin inside the final minute to preserve the win.

Goalies also got into the offensive action, taking advantage of more room on the ice. Corey Schneider of New Jersey, Nashville's own Pekka Rinne, Bishop and Anaheim's John Gibson all had assists.

Florida forward Jaromir Jagr, captain of the Atlantic Division, skated in his 10th All-Star Game and became the third-oldest to take part in the event behind only Gordie Howe (51 in 1980) and Doug Harvey (44 in 1969). That left a big gap between Jagr, who turns 44 on Feb. 15, and the next most experienced All-Stars. Predators captain Shea Weber, Luongo and Kane all made their fifth career appearances.

Jagr scored his fifth career goal in this event to help the Atlantic beat the Metropolitan 4-3. The Pacific beat the powerful Central 9-6 to advance.

The Cavaliers finally earned a showcase victory, dominating San Antonio throughout Saturday night.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers entered Saturday's game with a 0-5 record against the San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors and Chicago Bulls.

"I don't put a lot of emphasis on it," head coach Tyronn Lue said before tipoff. "I just want to make sure our style of basketball is what we want to play. I know it's a big game because it's the San Antonio Spurs, but it's only one game for us. If we take care of our business and do what we're supposed to do, we don't have to beat this team until June."

They didn't have to wait that long. The Cavaliers got off the schneid, defeating the Spurs 117-103 at The Q to claim their fourth consecutive victory. The Big 3 combined for 71 points.

LeBron James recorded 29 points, five rebounds, seven assists, two steals and two blocks. Kevin Love continues his stellar play, going for 21 points, 11 rebounds and a block. Kyrie Irving served up 21 points and dished out six assists.

San Antonio (39-10) was without Tim Duncan, who is nursing a knee injury, and absorbed another blow in the first half when LaMarcus Aldridge picked up his third foul with 3:09 left in the opening quarter. Kawhi Leonard picked up his second personal two minutes later. Leonard returned in the second quarter, but Aldridge was forced to sit the entire half.

Cleveland (34-12) got the ball up the floor in a flurry, surprising the slow-footed Spurs. They pushed the ball on makes and misses. Lue has assigned James the task of being the facilitator to allow Love and Irving to be aggressive offensively.

The move appears to have placed The Big 3 in a comfort level. Irving doesn't have to overthink at the point guard position as it frees him to attack and Love is getting more inside touches and operating around the elbow.

In finding a groove, their developing an identity and reestablishing an edge. J.R. Smith nailed a difficult, contested buzzer-beating jumper to end the first quarter with a 37-30 lead. After sinking the shot, he turned towards the fans and gave a couple of high-fives to courtside attendees.

The Cavaliers were in control, building a double-digit lead early in the second quarter. When Tony Parker tried to assert himself by maneuvering around Irving for a layup, James skied out of nowhere and swatted it into the stands.

That got the fans out of their seat.

A couple possessions later, Manu Ginobili pulled down a defensive rebound late in the second and Love came from behind and snatched the ball away and fired it to Thompson for a two-handed flush to go up 14, the Cavaliers' biggest lead at the time. Love hit four 3-pointers in the half, having 18 points at the break.

Cleveland held San Antonio to 5-of-16 shooting for 19 points in the quarter, leading 66-49.

The Spurs jumped out to an 8-0 third-quarter start but couldn't sustain the momentum as James got into the middle of the San Antonio zone and repeatedly overpowered the Spurs, keeping the lead between 12 and 16 points.

Later in the quarter, Ginobili found himself in the paint with Tristan Thompson draped over him. The guard tried numerous pump-fakes, but it didn't work. Ginobili finally went to a fadeaway and Thompson blocked it and passed it up court to James who went in for a transition layup.

Ginobili's miseries continued. He stole the ball from James and was off to the races. He had Iman Shumpert beaten and went up for a layup on the right side of the basket when James came with the chase-down, glass-spanking block.

Ginobili just shook his head. It wasn't his night, as Love also had a block on him during the game. He finished the evening 2-of-10 from the field. The Spurs were down 19 heading into the fourth quarter.

The Spurs had one more run left in them as they cut it to 12 three minutes in, but Irving put on a dazzling dribbling show for 10 points and Matthew Dellavedova scored 10 of his 15 points in the quarter to put the game out of reach.

Kawhi Leonard scored 24 points and pulled down six boards. Aldridge chipped in with 15 points.

Cleveland improved to an Eastern Conference-best home record of 19-3. The last time the Spurs won in Cleveland was in March of 2010.

On deck

The Cavaliers begin a mini two-game road trip with the Indiana Pacers up first on Monday at 7 p.m. on Fox Sports Ohio. Cleveland defeated Indiana 101-97 on Nov. 8 at The Q.

The top four teams in this week’s cleveland.com boys basketball Top 25 will meet this week, starting with Tuesday’s Lorain at Garfield Heights game and continuing Friday with St. Vincent-St. Mary a...

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The top four teams in this week’s cleveland.com boys basketball Top 25 will meet this week, starting with Tuesday’s Lorain at Garfield Heights game and continuing Friday with St. Vincent-St. Mary at St. Edward.

Benedictine also continues its rise with a 10-game win streak.

Read below for this week’s rankings. Records are listed in parenthesis, followed by previous ranking.

1, Garfield Heights (14-3, 1)

Comment: The Bulldogs have not lost at home, but that will be put to the test Tuesday by Lorain in one of the most anticipated regular-season games of the year.

Next up: Tuesday vs. No. 4 Lorain, Saturday at North Canton Hoover.

2, St. Vincent-St. Mary (12-3, 4)

Comment: Dru Joyce’s bunch rebounded from their loss to New Concord John Glenn with a 21-point home win Saturday vs. Shaker Heights. Three tough matchups await this week.

Next up: Tuesday at No. 10 Archbishop Hoban, Friday at St. No. 3 Edward, Saturday vs. Columbus Walnut Ridge.

3, St. Edward (11-5, 2)

Comment: The Eagles suffered an 11-point road loss Saturday at Toledo St. John’s Jesuit.

Next up: Friday vs. No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary, Saturday vs. Euclid.

4, Lorain (14-2, 6)

Comment: The Titans have won six straight since their rare two-game skid. A balanced effort Saturday sent Scott back to Toledo with an 83-52 loss.

Next up: Tuesday at No. 1 Garfield Heights, Friday vs. No. 24 Maple Heights.

5, Benedictine (15-2, 9)

Comment: It might be safe to call the Bengals the hottest team in Cleveland. They have won 10 straight since a 56-54 loss to Warrensville Heights at the Scholastic Play By Play Classic.

Next up: Friday vs. Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin, Saturday at Gilmour.

6, St. Ignatius (11-4, 3)

Comment: It’s important to note the Wildcats’ 54-46 loss Saturday at Benedictine came without Austen Yarian or Jimmy Berger in the lineup. Therefore, their fall this week is not a significant one.

Next up: Saturday at Columbus Northland.

7, Bedford (13-4, 7)

Comment: Speaking of win streaks, you have to go back to Dec. 22 to find a Bedford loss against another school from Ohio.

Next up: Friday at Warrensville Heights.

8, Beachwood (14-2, 8)

Comment: The Bison face two Top 25 teams for the rest of the regular season: Feb. 6 at Walsh Jesuit and Feb. 12 at Garfield Heights.

Next up: Tuesday at Geneva, Friday vs. Wickliffe, Saturday at No. 17 Walsh Jesuit.

9, East Tech (15-3, 13)

Comment: Junior point guard Markell Johnson added a scholarship offer from Ohio State. The Scarabs are coming together just in time as the Senate League championship will be held this week.

Next up: Wednesday vs. TBD in Senate League semifinals (finals Friday).

10, Archbishop Hoban (13-3, 5)

Comment: Last week was not kind to the Knights, who lost at Benedictine and at home to Walsh Jesuit. As a result, they are now looking up to the Bengals in the North Coast League Blue Division.

Next up: Tuesday vs. No. 2 St. Vincent-St. Mary, Friday vs. Lake Catholic.

11, Brecksville (14-1, 14)

Comment: A few losses by teams ahead of them have allowed the Bees and Copley to move up this week.

Next up: Tuesday at Valley Forge, Friday at North Royalton.

12, Copley (17-0, 15)

Comment: The Indians are chasing perfection. Highland is their only Suburban League foe left with a winning record.

Next up: Tuesday vs. Wadsworth, Friday vs. Highland.

13, Central Catholic (11-5, 11)

Comment: Tervell Beck reached 1,000 career points last week. He must wait a few day to add to that total.

Next up: Friday at Trinity.

14, Brunswick (14-4, 12)

Comment: Take away the Blue Devils’ loss Tuesday at Elyria – which came by just two points in overtime – and there’s no question they would be the Greater Cleveland Conference’s hottest team.

Next up: Friday at Euclid.

15, Elyria (11-4, 17)

Comment: Brett Larrick’s Pioneers have won eight straight, including vital victories against Medina and Brunswick.

Next up: Tuesday at Vermilion, Friday vs. Mentor.

16, Medina (13-5, 10)

Comment: The GCC now as a logjam with the Bees, Elyria and Brunswick tied at the top.

Next up: Friday vs. Shaker Heights.

17, Walsh Jesuit (11-5, 16)

Comment: The Warriors handed Archbishop Hoban its second loss of last week facing a full-strength Knights squad while doing it on the road.

Next up: Friday vs. Padua, Saturday vs. No. 8 Beachwood.

18, Villa Angela-St. Joseph (12-4, 18)

Comment: The Vikings left no doubt Saturday in their 78-43 win against Lutheran East, a matchup of two top area teams in Divisions III and IV.

Next up: Friday vs. Warren JFK, Saturday at Mentor.

19, Bay (13-2, 20)

Comment: In seven games since Jan. 1, the Rockets are averaging 95.0 points. Their worst output? An 86-77 win against Lakewood. By the way, Bay is 7-0 in that stretch. Senior John Koz also picked up his 1,000^th career point along the way.

Next up: Tuesday vs. Rocky River, Friday at Normandy.

20, Olmsted Falls (11-4, 19)

Comment: The Bulldogs are on top of the Southwestern Conference, but it’s close with Avon, Midview and North Olmsted separated by two games.

Next up: Tuesday at Berea-Midpark, Friday vs. No. 21 Midview.

21, Midview (12-5, 21)

Comment: Troy DiFranco’s Middies bounced back from a one-point loss to Avon with a 65-50 win vs. Berea-Midpark. Of the four teams mentioned above, the Middies are two back with a chance to make up ground this week. That setback to Avon is their only loss in 11 games.

Next up: Tuesday at Westlake, Friday at No. 20 Olmsted Falls.

22, Elyria Catholic (12-4, 22)

Comment: Senior Jake Kuchta’s performance Friday at Holy Name, an 84-81 overtime win, maintained the Panthers’ standing atop the Great Lakes Conference. Kuchta scored 21 points, including the tying 3 in the final seconds of regulation and 13 points in overtime.

Next up: Tuesday vs. Parma.

23, North Olmsted (12-4, 23)

Comment: The Eagles still control their destiny in the SWC, a game back of Olmsted Falls.

Next up: Tuesday vs. North Ridgeville, Friday at Amherst.

24, Maple Heights (9-5, 25)

Comment: The Mustangs’ season sweep of Warrensville Heights keeps them in the Top 25.

Next up: Thursday vs. Lincoln West, Friday at No. 4 Lorain.

25, Stow (14-3, NR)

Comment: The Bulldogs are back after a brief time on the bubble. Nathan Bower-Malone and Co. have helped Stow to seven straight wins. The Bulldogs could be considered road warriors after the week ahead.

Next up: Tuesday at Massillon Washington, Friday at Hudson.

DROPPED FROM TOP 25

Warrensville Heights (7-8, 24)

ON THE BUBBLE

Avon (11-6), Chagrin Falls (12-4), Firestone (10-5), Hudson (12-4), Lutheran East (11-4).

The finalists for the January 2016 Person of the Month contest are in. Get to know the candidates and then cast your vote in new cleveland.com contest.

"It'll be close," Bosa's father told cleveland.com on Monday. "He's doing fantastic. Part of it is having the best surgeon in the world, part of it is great genes and part of it is his sick work ethic.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Five-star defensive end Nick Bosa posted on his public Twitter account last week that he feels good enough to play right now.

It's not like he can because he is coming off a torn ACL that ended his high school career at Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas, but his father said that his surgery and physical therapy are going great.

Here's the question everyone wants to know: Will Bosa, the younger brother of former Ohio State defensive end Joey Bosa, be ready for fall camp when Ohio State begins practice in August?

"It'll be close," Bosa's father told cleveland.com on Monday. "He's doing fantastic. Part of it is having the best surgeon in the world, part of it is great genes and part of it is his sick work ethic.

"He hasn't missed a day a day with the physical therapist three times a week, and he works the upper body three times a week. So he's doing great."

Rated the No. 1 strongside defensive end in the country in the 247Sports composite rankings, Bosa tore his ACL in November. Shortly after, he had surgery to repair it by Dr. James Andrews, a respected surgeon with a deep history with successful operations with athletes.

John Bosa said that as far as ACL injuries are concerned, Bosa's was a best-case scenario for something that serious.

"The best part of the bad situation was, he tore his ACL and no other damage," John Bosa said. "No soft tissue damage. ACL these days, he'll be stronger than God made him. The things that hurt guys is the soft tissue, the meniscus, different things inside the knee that tend to get get damaged. The great thing about his injury, if you can say it that way, was that there was no other damage."

Given his recruiting rankings and what his brother accomplished -- Joey started as a freshman and could be the top-overall pick in this year's NFL Draft -- many expected Nick to compete for a starting job as a freshman. Ohio State, of course, has some open spots up front to fill in the fall.

John said that it isn't unreasonable to expect that Nick could be ready to compete for one of those spots.

Bosa is nine weeks into his rehab and will continue on that track until he reports to Ohio State in June. When he does, Ohio State will evaluate him and decide the best course of action before the team puts pads on in August.

Ohio State defensive line coach Larry Johnson had a recent visit with Bosa, and John said Johnson was pleasantly surprised by how Nick looked.

So for now, Bosa's recovery is right on schedule, if not ahead.

"He's very motivated," John said. "He certainly has goals that he wants to accomplish this year, and he wants to be in the mix and compete for a job. That's really where his mindset is.

"This is a speed bump in his plan, obviously, it was a shame that one of the decorated high school players at St. Thomas, he had to end his unbelievable four-year starting career that way. But things happen for a reason and he has a great attitude. From the day he knew he needed surgery, he just said, let's get it done."

Injuries to guards Xavier Pollard, Jaylin Walker and Deon Edwin have hit Kent State hard, just after taking sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- They are running out of crutches at Kent State putting a potential championship basketball season in serious jeopardy for the Golden Flashes.

One position is taking the hit as 6-4 senior guard Xavier Pollard and 6-3 freshman guard Jaylin Walker suffered foot injuries last week and are out indefinitely, possibly for the season. Both are on crutches and wearing boots.

Pollard is scheduled for foot surgery on Tuesday. Normal recovery is six weeks. Walker sees a specialist Wednesday. Pollard (12.4 points) and Walker (7.8) combined to average 20 points a game this season.

"We were starting to play our best basketball in league play so far this season, particularly X (Pollard) and now this,'' Kent coach Rob Senderoff said. "I must say X gave a very emotional talk in our Sunday team meeting, so we'll see how our guys respond."

Still another issue is 6-5 junior swingman Deon Edwin had to have his knee drained in order to play Kent's last game on the road, a 72-62 loss at Ohio University without Pollard-Walker. Edwin's status is day-to-day.

Those three players for KSU -- two starters and the sixth man -- gave Kent the perimeter size and versatility to have three big guards on the floor at the same time against some competition.

Combined with its strong baseline, Kent had been winning this season with power. Now that perimeter element on offense and defense is nearly wiped out. And, with marginal 3-point shooting, Kent's challenge to win going forward is magnified, as it stays on the road Tuesday night at Central Michigan.

This happens just when the Flashes are sitting at the top of the Mid-American Conference at 15-5, 6-2. To put their losses in perspective, the Pollard-Walker tandem scored 39 points in Kent's first OU matchup, an 89-82 win.

Last Friday, Kent played better defense, had more rebounding, and watched OU's inside tower Antonio Campbell (28/21 points) do basically the same in both games, just as Kent's Jimmy Hall had a double-double in both contests.

The difference was the absence of production from Pollard and Walker. KSU's only remaining guards are 6-0 redshirt junior Kellon Thomas, 6-2 senior Galal Cancer, and 6-0 freshman Jalen Avery.

Thomas has been a starter all season, averaging 12 points a game, but so far this is the first season in his career without injury. Cancer is a defensive specialist and Avery has only seen limited duty. With 10 games left in the season it's doubtful Senderoff takes a redshirt off 6-6 freshmen Rosel Hurley or Alonzo Walker, especially considering neither is a premium ball handler.

Clearly, the rest of this season will be a challenge for the Golden Flashes.

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 4-1 since Tyronn Lue took over as head coach. But how much credit does he deserve? Michael Reghi, Chris Fedor, Bud Shaw and Dan Labbe discuss Lue's impact. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers have won four straight games and are fresh off their biggest win of the season against San Antonio.

Since head coach Tyronn Lue took over, the Cavs are playing faster, averaging 115 points during the stretch. Lue has also helped Kevin Love regain his early-season form, as Love has reached 20-plus points in three straight. 

How much credit does Lue deserve for the Cavs' recent play? Michael Reghi, Bud Shaw, Dan Labbe and I discussed Lue's impact.

Watch the video above.

The 36-year-old veteran is ideally suited for role of spot starter and full-time confidante

BEREA, Ohio - Josh McCown won only one game with the Browns last year and was better than many expected.

In some ways that's life in Cleveland, where if your quarterback isn't trapped under a giant American flag on opening day or hunted by police with a helicopter he might be worth keeping for another season. The post-1999 bar has been set low since the Steelers intercepted Tim Couch's first NFL pass.

McCown could help raise it assuming the franchise's new regime opts to keep him on the roster. The 36-year old is expected to meet with Hue Jackson this week and his future with the Browns figures to be a major topic of discussion.

Maybe Jackson wants his own veteran quarterback as another organization reboot begins. McCown, who's played for seven franchises, is aware that's a possibility. Retaining the team-first journeyman, however, would be a wise move and not only because he has two years remaining on his deal.

McCown could be the Browns' starter in September if they draft their quarterback of the future in the first round. He's also shown a genuine willingness to mentor a young signalcaller as he did in 2015 with Johnny Manziel.

"Honestly, I want to be here and see this thing get turned around," McCown told Cleveland.com Thursday at the 16^th annual Cleveland Sports Awards. "As long as I'm a member of this team I'm going to do everything I can to help us win football games and move in that direction. I look at Derek Andereson in Carolina going to the Super Bowl and helping Cam Newton. I'm for whatever it takes."

McCown is ideally suited for the role of spot starter and full-time confidante. He posted a 1-6 record last season, but delivered a 93.3 passer rating - the highest for any Browns quarterback appearing in at least four games since Bernie Kosar (95.4) in 1987.

It's not to suggest McCown is anyone's idea of the future here, but he's a capable placeholder should the club need time to groom a first-round pick such as Jared Goff, Carson Wentz or Paxton Lynch.

McCown took a beating last year (concussion, ribs, broken collarbone), often holding the ball a fraction too long to give his receivers a chance to flash open. He never complained.

He cost the team a win against the Broncos and his late interception versus the Raiders was a killer. But his record was more the byproduct of a leaky defense and non-existent running game than the play of a quarterback who threw 12 touchdowns to four interceptions.

"That man is a fighter," Pro Bowl center Alex Mack said of McCown. "I respect the hell out of him."

It's also his work with the troubled Manziel that should make Jackson realize what a valuable asset he possesses.

Related: Police investigating Johnny Manziel for possible assault

Manziel's latest domestic incident, which included a helicopter search for his whereabouts over the weekend in suburban Dallas, almost certainly spells his end in Cleveland. His on-field improvement, though, was tied to McCown's assistance and support.

The veteran revealed Thursday night he remains in contact with Manziel. Like any good friend, he declined to give any details of their correspondence. Every quarterback preaches togetherness, yet not all carry though on their pledges in the hyper-competitive NFL, where no contracts are fully guaranteed.

Imagine the impact McCown could have on a quarterback who's committed on and off the field. He would provide Jackson some continuity and an established passer who could carry the club for short stretches.

A year ago, the decision to sign McCown was met with howls of protest based on a career 17-32 mark. He didn't provide wins, but gave the Browns a competent quarterback loaded with intangibles.

If the braintrust elects not to draft a quarterback in the first round and decides instead to dip into free agency then all bets are off. McCown could be jettisoned.

He should have a clearer idea of the organization's plans this week.

In an NFL precinct where few quarterbacks have played to expectation McCown offers the Browns a viable option. He's a winner no matter what the record reflects.

Get the latest updates and analysis on the Cleveland Cavaliers game against the Indiana Pacers.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers won in Indiana for the first time since 2010, beating the Pacers in overtime, 111-106. 

Kyrie Irving scored 25 points, including eight points in overtime. LeBron James added 24 points. 

Scoring Summary:

End of 3rd Quarter - Pacers lead, 79-75. LeBron James leads the way with 18 points for the Cavs. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson have each added 14 points. The Pacers are led by George Hill, who has a game-high 20 points. 

End of 2nd Quarter - Cavs lead Pacers, 60-49. LeBron James leads all scorers with 17 points. Kevin Love has added 12 points. The Pacers are led by George Hill, who has 15 points. 

End of 1st Quarter - Cavs lead Pacers, 33-26. Kevin Love and Tristan Thompson each have eight points. Kyrie Irving has chipped in with six points. The Pacers are led by George Hill, who has five points. 

We've come a long way since May 2014. Plus, Carson Wentz shines at the Senior Bowl and why Sashi Brown having final control over 53 from the start was so important.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It really did feel like everything was coming up Cleveland back on May 8, 2014. The Browns stole the spotlight, trading up to No. 22 in the first round to pick Johnny Manziel, the most controversial and most intriguing prospect in the draft.

We all knew the risks that came with drafting Manziel. A lot of us tried to ignore them. He didn't match the profile of an NFL quarterback, physically or mentally. His calling card was making magic out of nothing. A reputation for partying followed him from Texas A&M to the draft green room, where he waited for his name to be called.

Manziel wasn't drinking a beer during the draft -- that photo was doctored -- but he spent the lead-up to his first training camp living the Johnny Football life, and defended his actions by reminding everyone that he loves to have fun.

We were all complicit in looking the other way, too. Even the most cynical had to hope that maybe Manziel was the guy who would be different -- the unique player who could overcome being too small and too undisciplined to survive at football's most unforgiving level. Every little positive was treated like a giant leap. Each transgression was met, by some at least, with "just let him live his life."

It has become clear with each step along the way that Manziel is battling more than just years of NFL history that tell us how the quarterback position is supposed to be played to maximize a player's success and longevity. He spent ten weeks in rehab, but the alarming signs continued, even as he appeared to progress on the field and, in some ways at least, off.

There's no "I told you so" here. I didn't, actually. I was excited and said so when the Browns made the pick, even though, in the back of my mind, there was a nagging feeling that it wouldn't work. It was the same nagging feeling I'm sure the Browns front office had as they were turning in the card on draft night; the same nagging feeling every time they sent Manziel off for a bye week or the offseason; the same nagging feeling that comes when a player has so much potential in our imaginations but can't meet that standard for reasons that are all too obvious.

Less than two years after Browns team shop registers were lighting up with sales of No. 2 jerseys, Manziel was involved in yet another off-field incident and will likely get sent packing, either via trade or, most likely, just waived. It will be best for an organization craving stability and finally in a position to have it. Manziel will hopefully get his life in order and salvage what's left of his NFL career -- if there's anything there to begin with.

Much has changed since May 8, 2014, for the Browns and Manziel especially. The lessons both learn moving forward will go a long ways towards determining how bright or bleak their futures will be.

Spinning towards the draft: Carson Wentz is the hot quarterback name coming out of the Senior Bowl. There was plenty of buzz around Wentz and his fit in Cleveland at No. 2 overall. The draft, though, much like the NBA season, doesn't really get interesting until April.

I mentioned the typical profile of a quarterback above and Wentz certainly fits that mold. So does Jared Goff. Paxton Lynch is bigger than both and, in typical NFL Draft fashion, will likely get overanalyzed to the point where folks wonder if he's too big.

There is, of course, the contingent of fans adamantly opposed to picking a quarterback high, even though the Browns haven't done it since 1999. Regardless, the key is to pick the guy, commit to the guy and put the pieces around the guy -- on the field and in the front office -- to make it all work.

What can Brown do for you?: We've known the structure of the Browns front office for a while. The hiring of Andrew Berry means we now know the who. We also know just how important Sashi Brown's role will be to the whole thing.

Jackson's coaching career started as a graduate assistant at Pacific in 1987, the same year that new VP of player personnel Andrew Berry was born. Jackson and his staff get to play the role of football lifers, the men who have been through the wars and seen everything. Berry is the new school, the one who is making some football lifers angry. 

The key cog in all of this is Brown's final say over the 53-man roster. There will and there should be disagreements as the roster is put together, and it will be up to Brown to bridge the gaps that may exist between those that have been in the game for what seems like forever and those who seem relatively new. Some wondered why Brown's control over the roster happened. Maybe we have some clarity on that now.

See the Ohio state AP boys basketball for week of Feb. 1, 2016.

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Here's how a state panel of sports writers and broadcasters rates Ohio high school boys basketball teams in the fourth weekly Associated Press poll of 2015-16. With won-lost record and total points (first-place votes in parentheses).

DIVISION I

1. Huber Hts. Wayne (11) 17-0 233

2. Lima Sr. (10) 15-0 230

3. Cin. Moeller (2) 16-1 182

4. Gahanna Lincoln 18-1 134

5. Wilmington 17-1 124

6. Garfield Heights 14-3 120

7. Warren Harding (2) 14-1 90

8. Cols. Northland 16-1 64

9. Westerville S. 16-3 63

10. Cin. Elder 15-3 25

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Dublin Coffman 21, 12. Mason 19, 13. Cols. St. Charles 14.

DIVISION II

1. New Concord John Glenn (21) 17-1 236

2. Chillicothe Unioto (4) 16-0 214

3. St. Vincent-St. Mary 12-3 177

4. Defiance 15-3 116

5. Trotwood-Madison 15-2 114

6. Upper Sandusky 16-0 111

7. Napoleon 12-2 102

8. Lexington 16-2 73

9. Poland Seminary 13-3 29

10. McArthur Vinton County 13-3 19

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. McConnelsville Morgan 15, 11. Johnstown-Monroe 15, 11. East Tech 15, 14. Alliance 14, 15. Franklin 13, 16. Central Catholic 12, 16. Byesville Meadowbrook 12.

DIVISION III

1. Lima Cent. Cath. (16) 16-1 232

2. Massillon Tuslaw (8) 16-0 210

3. Day. Northridge 17-1 164

4. Berlin Hiland 16-2 140

5. Worthington Christian 15-3 114

6. Cin. Purcell Marian 15-3 95

7. Villa Angela-St. Joseph 12-4 92

8. Beachwood 14-2 89

(tie) Casstown Miami E. 15-2 89

10. Milan Edison 14-2 33

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Proctorville Fairland (1) 24, 12. Leavittsburg Labrae 17, 13. Van Buren 12.

DIVISION IV

1. Van Wert Lincolnview (23) 18-0 245

2. Defiance Ayersville 15-1 204

3. Sandusky St. Mary 15-1 192

4. Jackson Center 16-2 142

5. Mogadore 14-1 117

6. Gorham Fayette 15-1 109

7. New Madison Tri-Village 15-3 84

8. Cols. Africentric 14-5 60

9. Waterford 11-3 38

10. Glouster Trimble 13-3 31

Others receiving 12 or more points: 11. Russia 20, 12. McDonald 19, 13. Cols. Wellington 18, 13. Bristol (1) 18, 15. S. Charleston SE 14, 16. Lutheran East 13, 17. Lisbon David Anderson (1) 12.

Rated the No. 14 cornerback in the 2016 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Hamlin was one of Ohio State's top-remaining targets.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Four-star cornerback Damar Hamlin of Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic announced his intentions to commit to Pittsburgh on Monday evening during a local newscast.  

"I wanted to get my city back to where it should be," Hamlin said during the broadcast. 

Rated the No. 14 cornerback in the 2016 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Hamlin was one of Ohio State's top-remaining targets.

Hamlin chose the Panthers over the Buckeyes and Penn State, his other two finalists. 

The 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect took an official visit to Ohio State the weekend of Jan. 15, after which he said the Buckeyes set the standard. 

However, Hamlin took an official visit Penn State the following weekend, then followed it up with one to Pittsburgh this past weekend. That's when the Panthers sealed the deal on the elite cornerback prospect. 

Hamlin was the first of two high-profile defensive back prospects set to announce on Monday evening, the other being four-star athlete Jordan Fuller of Westwood (N.J.) Old Tappan. 

Four-star athlete Jordan Fuller of Westwood (N.J.) Old Tappan announced his commitment to Ohio State over Michigan and Notre Dame less than an hour after Damar Hamlin chose Pittsburgh.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State was probably upset for a few minutes when four-star cornerback Damar Hamlin of Pittsburgh (Pa.) Central Catholic announced his commitment to Pittsburgh on Monday evening.

But feelings of sorrow were quickly replaced with elation.

That's because four-star athlete Jordan Fuller of Westwood (N.J.) Old Tappan announced his commitment to Ohio State over Michigan and Notre Dame about 10 minutes later.

Rated the No. 8 athlete in the 2016 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Fuller has been a major Ohio State target for quite some time. When the Buckeyes initially started recruiting him, former Buckeyes defensive coordinator Chris Ash was his main recruiter.

When Ash took the head coaching job at Rutgers, he continued to recruit Fuller, but the Buckeyes kept the bond strong.

This is a particularly big get for Ohio State, not only because Fuller is a talented defensive back, but because it was a victory for Urban Meyer and his staff in its three-way battle with Michigan and Penn State attempt to recruit New Jersey.

Fuller is commitment No.23 in Ohio State's 2016 recruiting class, which is now No. 1 in the 247Sports composite team rankings behind after passing LSU.

Below is the video that was produced for Fuller's announcement:

Shoutout to my family, coaches, and community for all the support[?] I'm truly blessed[?] [?] Here's my commitment[?]https://t.co/C5VnxPx3El

-- Jordan Fuller (@j__fuller1) February 2, 2016

[enhanced link]

Phoenix Suns new interim head coach Earl Watson will sign with Klutch Sports Group/Universal Management for representation, league sources informed cleveland.com.

Earl WatsonAP 

INDIANAPOLIS - Phoenix Suns new interim head coach Earl Watson will sign with Cleveland-based Klutch Sports Group/Universal Management for representation, league sources informed cleveland.com.

Wendy Cohn heads the coaching division of Klutch Sports and will handle Watson's affairs. Rich Paul, the agent for LeBron James, owns the company.

Watson's move to Klutch was in the works for weeks, I'm told. He recently parted ways with Kauffman Sports.

Watson, 36, was promoted after Jeff Hornacek was fired after the Suns lost 19 of their last 21 games. Yahoo! Sports first reported the promotion. Paul also represents their franchise point guard Eric Bledsoe.

Watson, a former NBA point guard who played 13 seasons, is viewed in league circles as a rising star. He was an assistant coach last season for the San Antonio Spurs' D-League team, and then Hornacek hired him to join his coaching staff.

Klutch Sports recently signed Washington Wizards point guard John Wall.

Burns admits that he's having thoughts of flipping his commitment back to Louisville, telling the Louisville Courier-Journal that "it weighs on me every day."

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State flipped three-star cornerback Rodjay Burns of Louisville (Ky.) Trinity from Louisville on Jan. 24, and it was considered a big get for the Buckeyes as they try to load up in the secondary. 

But that commitment isn't safe. 

That's because Burns admits that he's having thoughts of flipping his commitment back to Louisville, telling the Louisville Courier-Journal that "it weighs on me every day." 

Does Louisville have a legitimate shot to get Burns back in its class? 

"I just don't have an answer for that question," Burns told the Courier-Journal. "I'm still thinking things over. I get so many phone calls that people don't even give me time to think about it."

Rated the No. 72 cornerback in the 2016 recruiting class in the 247Sports composite rankings, Burns earned his Ohio State offer on Dec. 4. He then took an official visit to Columbus the weekend of Jan. 22, then flipped to Ohio State two days later. 

But now that Burns has had some time to think since publicly announcing in favor of the Buckeyes, he's had some second thoughts as to whether leaving home is actually the right decision. 

"I'm just going to wait, and everyone is going to see (what I decide) on signing day," Burns told the Courier-Journal. 

Ohio State has a good group of secondary players committed to its 2016 class, including four-star athlete Jordan Fuller of Westwood (N.J.) Old Tappan, who announced his pledge Monday evening. 

The Buckeyes are also recruiting four-star cornerback Carlos Becker of Kissimmee (Fla.) Osceola and three-star safety K'Von Wallace of Highland Springs, Va. 

To read Burns' full interview with the Courier-Journal, click here.