Williams expects his players to sit up straight in meetings, and to hit hard and run fast -- in practice. But he'll bring out the best in you. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- New Browns defensive coordinator Gregg Williams captured the attention of the media Thursday when he called them out on their posture during his introductory press conference.

"You know, I'm studying every one of you all, and some of you are slumped,'' he said.

To which everyone inched up a little and made eye contact.

But he did so to illustrate how he'll run his meeting room, and to provide a glimpse into his coaching style.

Here are five things we learned about the new sheriff in town and how he'll run the show in Berea.

1. He's no slouch

Williams expects the straight spines and square shoulders from his players that were missing when he scanned the media room. This might be a little bit of a culture shock, but Ray Horton was also big on players being well-rounded men.

"You're going to have your feet flat on the first day and we're going to talk about how you sit in your chair when I walk in the room, and how you focus and pay attention," he said. "You know, ADHD has been there for a long time and I've been coaching guys like that long before they medicated them. I'm going to medicate them, and get them to understand to pay attention.''

He stressed that someone else will take his job if he can't get the most out of his players.

"If you cannot affect change then you do not belong at this level,'' he said. "Change can be lots of different ways of change. It can be good. It can be tough. It can be nice. It can be smiling. But you have got to affect change. Mental toughness precedes physical toughness. It starts in the room.''

And it's not as easy as it looks.

"I can't tell you how many coaches, you guys think you can coach, you guys are out there talking all the time waiting to sit in my chair,'' he said. "We'll see how long you can hold their attention and see how you can affect production and set body language and all the other things.''

2. He's borderline obsessive-compulsive

He pays attention to detail, he's obsessively organized and he's addicted to the job. When it's over, you'll see him at Coaches Anonymous meetings.

"People say I have borderline (obsessive-compulsive disorder),'' he said. "I am not OCD. I am just organized, okay? We have to hit the ground running. I am a time manager, a pretty organized person.''

His substance of choice is the job, which is why he's coached five top five defenses in 15 years as a coordinator.

"You will never see me with a beer or two,'' he said. "No tobacco. No prescriptions, hardly at all. But I do not mind saying this, I am a competition-aholic. It will be from practice to meetings to games. I love to compete.''

He'll burn the midnight oil, and if you're the last one in the building, chances are you'll learn a thing or two from him.

"I am about staying in my lane,'' he said. "I also want to be able to mentor some of the other people in the building. I love coaching. I love mentoring young men.  I'm happiest during the season. I'm happiest when I am in the office. I'm happiest of all time when I am in between the white lines, competing.''

3. He's a father figure

The day Williams was hired, players such as James Laurainitis and Aaron Donald praised him on social media.

"I get 200 or 300 calls on Father's Day every year from former players that maybe they struggled in life with parental advice and stuff, and then once we have a relationship we have a relationship for life,'' he said. "I really do care a lot about them, and I do care a lot about how they build their resume and how they go about getting a chance to play at this level because it is so hard to play at this level.''

4. He'll keep it simple, but don't mess it up

Williams abides by the axiom "find ball, see ball, get ball.''

But "if the ball goes over our head in a hurry, I don't care who's coaching or playing, they don't get to do it. We've go to, in this wild, throwing league, limit the balls that go over our head in a hurry.''

Williams, who counts both Bill Belichick and Nick Saban among his friends, claims the ability to "accentuate the strengths and hide the weaknesses'' of each player, which is one reason they love playing for him.

"I'll keep it all straight, but how can I make it simple for you,'' he said. "The ability of me to keep it all straight helps the player. I want the player not to have to overthink. When the ball is snapped, it is find ball, see ball, get ball on defense.''

Browns close to signing Collins

5. The pads will be crunching in practice

Williams believes you play like you practice, and he plans to have his players running full speed and hitting during the week. In fact, he vowed to tackle even with no pads on until someone (the sports science guys) tells him he can't.

"We have to practice fast and we have to practice tough and we have to compete - and then when you get on gameday, it slows down, or maybe it does not slow down but it is not as shocking," he said. "If you can't keep up then they become a fat ass coach."

He'll bring out the best in you, but you must give him maximum effort.

"I will not compromise on their effort and their toughness,'' he said. "People will talk, everywhere I go and coach they say, 'Look how fast those guys play.' Some of it is not raw speed, it is effort. It is just effort. It is what it is on their speed, but they do not loaf, they do not take plays off. That is the hard part about them adjusting to me.''

Ohio State has managed back-to-back Big Ten wins despite some poor play against Michigan State and Nebraska. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Thad Matta saw a different kind of Ohio State basketball team in the second half of Wednesday's win against Nebraska.

There were multiple signs: Better defense, far better than the team that allowed the Cornhuskers to shoot 50 percent in the first half. Fewer turnovers, none in fact, compared to the 11 in the first half. A team that found a way to climb out of a hole, take a lead and win the game in the end.

That looked like progress for a team that had chances to win its first three conference games, and lost all three by an average of 5.3 points. That's sort of life in the Big Ten. Games are tight, margins of victory are small and the littlest mistakes can have big implications.

Ohio State has not been perfect in its last two games, though wins over Michigan State and Nebraska have helped the Buckeyes dig out of an 0-4 Big Ten hole. Their buzzer-beater win over Nebraska on Wednesday is the kind that can have a team riding high.

Matta's trying to knock his down a peg.

"I want to see how we continue to grow," he said. "We're not a team that can feel good."

The Buckeyes (12-7, 2-4 Big Ten) are performing a high-wire act of sorts heading into Sunday's game at home against surging Northwestern (1 p.m., Big Ten Network). They're living dangerously.

Most teams aren't going to turn the ball over 11 times in the first half, then zero times in the second half, or go into a 12-point hole and live to tell about it. Every team makes mistakes, that's sort of unavoidable in college basketball, but Ohio State's tend to pile on top of each other.

It's not just turnovers. Opponents are shooting 44.7 percent against the Buckeyes in Big Ten play. The last three games have featured one half where the opponent shot 50 percent or better.

"We talked about how our offense affected our defense," senior forward Marc Loving said. "We had 11 turnovers in the first half, and none in the second half. So possibly those turnovers led to easy transition buckets, which affected our defense, letting them get a rhythm and get some easy baskets to get their offense going."

Ohio State can still win some games playing that way, because most college basketball teams are capable of overcoming their flaws on a given night. But this doesn't feel sustainable. To achieve consistent winning and really get out of this hole, the Buckeyes' formula needs to change a bit.

They can't fix everything at once, but tightening up on the defensive end could go a long way in making sure that this little two-game winning streak is more than just a momentary spike.

There's a bit of a magic number our there: 70.

When Ohio State holds opponents under 70 points, its 10-1 this season. When an opponent scores more than 70, the Buckeyes are 2-6, including all four Big Ten losses.

Northwestern averages 75.6 points per game on the season, and 72.8 in conference play.

The Buckeyes have been top-50 in the country in Ken Pomeroy's adjusted defensive efficiency every season since 2009-10, some of those years spent in the top 20 in the country. This year they're No. 61, and in conference play they're No. 9 in the Big Ten. That's not a drastic drop, but enough of one with the majority of the teams in the conference seemingly on a level playing field.

Perhaps some of the drop can be attributed to Ohio State losing forward Keita Bates-Diop, its best defender, for the rest of the season.

"With how basketball has evolved, there's so much switching involved now," Matta said. "Keita could, guys have a really hard time shooting over him, as a lot of people in the Big Ten had his first two years here. There's no question that's a major blow to our defense."

That's a somewhat valid excuse, and just a harsh reality for Ohio State. This isn't a great defensive team without Bates-Diop. Players still find themselves out of position, and opponents are getting easy looks from all over the floor. There's no defensive stopper on the team, which puts a premium on team defense.

For much of Big Ten play, that's been a struggle. Aside from the second half against Nebraska, when the Cornhuskers shot 29.2 percent, Big Ten opponents have shot it well against Ohio State. Breaking it down by halves, opponents have shot 40 percent or better in nine of the 12 halves the Buckeyes have played in conference play.

That's fueled by turnovers, and momentary lapses in awareness on the defensive end.

The effort shown against Michigan State, and for most of the Nebraska game can help make up for some of that. But at some point the effort needs to be combined with smarter play.

Maybe that second half against the Cornhuskers was the start of something different.

"First half, we made some mistakes and they made us pay for the mistakes," Matta said of the Nebraska game. "We weren't as active off the ball, so many times it isn't the guy on the ball, it's the other four guys. That was something we talked about at halftime, being more aware, more active."

Focusing on the seven most-needed positions for the Browns, we propose various scenarios for the Browns' five picks in the first three rounds. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Seven positions should draw the focus of the Cleveland Browns this off-season.

Sure, a running back like Florida State's Dalvin Cook or LSU's Leonard Fournette would be nice, and a cornerback like Florida's Teez Tabor or Ohio State's Gareon Conley would add depth at a position of value.

But Isaiah Crowell and Duke Johnson are a reasonable NFL combo for an offense that often strayed from the run. And Jamar Taylor, Joe Haden and Briean Boddy-Calhoun aren't screaming for immediate replacements at corner.

There are needs everywhere and depth questions everywhere. There's the virtue of a best player available draft strategy and a need to target the premium positions where an advantageous draft position can provide the most value.

But you still have to fix your weak spots.

We previously covered where we think the Browns are actually OK on both sides of the ball.

That includes nine spots on offense.

And another six spots on defense.

So what should the Browns do with their Nos. 1, 12, 33, 52 and 65 selections, their five picks in the first three rounds that should yield five starters if things go according to plan?

Ideally, target the weakest spots. View the positions of greatest need, and draft candidates at those positions, in the video at the top of this post. 

Quarterback, through the draft or trading a draft pick, needs to be addressed. And defense needs to be the rest of the focus.

So here are five different ways the Browns' first five picks could go, hitting the seven positions of need. None of these methods would draw an argument here.

Chris Fedor mock draft: Version 1

Option 1:

1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, DE

12. Deshaun Watson, Clemson, QB

33. Budda Baker, Washington, FS

52. Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State, LB

65. Pat Elflein, Ohio State, C

Option 2:

1. Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina, QB

12. Derek Barnett, Tennessee, DE

33. Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt, LB

52. Ethan Pocic, LSU, C

65. Elijah Qualls, Washington, DT

Option 3

1. Jonathan Allen, Alabama, DT

12. Reuben Foster, Alabama, LB

33. Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech, QB

52. Marcus Williams, Utah, FS

65. Pat Elflein, Ohio State, C

Option 4

1. Myles Garrett, Texas A&M, DE

12. Malik McDowell, Michigan State, DT

33. Traded to New England for Jimmy Garoppolo, QB

52. Desmond King, Iowa, FS

65. Elijah Lee, LB, Kansas State

Option 5

1. Deshaun Watson, Clemson, QB

12. Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, S

33. Carl Lawson, Auburn, DE

52. Raekwon McMillan, Ohio State, LB

65. Pat Elflein, Ohio State, C

*****

Do any of those work for you?

Vote on which scenario you like best, then write in your own choices for the first five picks in the comments. We'll take the best suggestions and write about them more later.

Cleveland Browns may be signaling a new direction with the hiring of Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Maybe it's going to be all about defense.

The Cleveland Browns are close to signing linebacker Jamie Collins to a massive contract.

Will he be overpaid? Of course.

But Collins was a Pro Bowl player with the New England Patriots. He was a good player after being traded to the Browns at mid-season.

The Browns desperately need talent, and they have massive salary cap room. Even huge dollars makes sense when it comes to keeping Collins.

The Browns are combining Collins with new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. It's not hard to imagine Williams drawing up lots of schemes to maximize the talents of the athletic linebacker.

Then consider the draft.

The Browns have the No. 1 and No. 12 picks in the first round. They have five picks in the first 65.

I don't favor spending all five picks on defense.

But suppose Williams believes Texas A&M's Myles Garrett or Alabama's Jonathan Allen are impact pass rushers.

Perhaps the Browns pick one of those guys.

Or maybe they trade down ... it could happen ... and take a safety. Two names come to mind: LSU's Jamal Adams or Ohio State's Malik Hooker. The Browns desperately need a big-time safety.

I fell in love with Stanford pass rusher Solomon Thomas in a bowl game against North Carolina.

The Browns need speed and players who can pressure the quarterback.

This is not about ignoring a quarterback in the draft. But it is about finding impact players.

I'm not sold on the plan of, "Forget the quarterback in the first round, go with defense."

At least, not yet.

But I am thinking about it.

And I bet the Browns are, too. That's especially true after the additions of Collins and Williams.

Williams pressed so many of the right emotional buttons during his press conference, it's obvious why Hue Jackson hired the veteran defensive coordinator.

But the real reason is Williams makes defenses better.

LOOKING FOR A RATING SYSTEM

There are lots of ways to rate a defense. I'm making up my own easy stat. It's a combination of where a team ranks in yards allowed and points allowed.

For example: If a team ranked fourth in points allowed and sixth in yards allowed, the ranking would be 5 -- I added the two ratings together, then divided by two.

I like the combination of points and yards, because it gives a better overall look at a defense. Often, the focus is purely on yards allowed.

Points allowed is probably more important.

I compared how teams were before Williams took over the defense, then after.

Remember, this like golf -- the lower the score, the better.

His first coordinator position:

1. In 1996, the Houston Oilers had a combined rating of 11 with Williams as a linebackers coach.

2. In 1997, the team became the Tennessee Titans. Williams took over as defensive coordinator and the rating rose to 19.

3. By 2000, the Titans ranked No. 1 in yards allowed, No. 2 in points allowed.

4. Williams left after the 2000 season to become head coach of the Buffalo Bills (2001-03).

Head coach in Buffalo:

1. The Bills had a combined rating of 11 in 2000 before he arrived.

2. The Bills rose to 25 and 21 in his first two seasons as head coach.

3. The Bills dropped to 4 in 2003, his final season as head coach. He was fired after a combined 17-31 record as a head coach.

Next stop, Washington:

1. Washington had a combined rating of 25 in 2003 before Williams arrived.

2. In 2004, it was 4 ... a dramatic improvement.

3. He was there for four seasons, his last rating was 5.

4. Williams left when head coach Joe Gibbs retired.

One year in Jacksonville:

1. The Jacksonville Jaguars had a combined rating of 11 before he arrived.

2. The Jags were 19 in 2008, his only season.

Super Bowl Saints:

1. The New Orleans Saints were a combined 25 before he arrived.

2. In 2009, the Saints were 22 in his first season.

3. In 2010, it dropped to 5 as the Saints won the Super Bowl.

4. Williams was suspended for the 2012 season for "Bountygate," shortly after being named defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams.

Back to Tennessee:

1. The Titans were a combined 30 in 2012 before Williams arrived after his suspension.

2. They dropped to 13 in his only season with Tennessee in 2013. He left the Titans when head coach Jeff Fisher was fired.

Hired by the St. Louis Rams:

1. In 2013, the Rams had a 14 ranking before Williams arrived.

2. When Jeff Fisher was hired as head coach of the St. Louis Rams, he hired Williams to run the defense.

3. In his three years with the Rams, Williams had rankings of 16-18-16.

What does it all mean?

1. The average ranking is 16, so anything lower than that is below average. The worst is 32.

2. Williams often needed two years to really get his defense playing at a high level.

3. The general conclusion is that rarely does Williams have a bad defense two years in a row.

4. Williams takes over a defense that ranked 31 and 28 in the previous two years. Lots of room to grow.

ABOUT THE COACHING STAFF

The 1-15 record had a profound impact on Hue Jackson. When the Browns coach said he'd never go through something like that again, he had coaching staff changes in mind.

As I wrote before, Jackson had to scramble to put together his first coaching staff. He was hired on January 13, 2016. He was often picking coaches who had been left over, let go, or were not highly regarded.

Such is the plight of any new Browns head coach.

This season, he could quickly add coaches when they were let go. Williams came on the open market when Jeff Fisher was fired as the Rams head coach.
Williams was hired on January 6, 2017.

Jackson appreciated Ray Horton's effort as defensive coordinator, but believed Williams could make an impact. His track record shows that.

His other big hire was far more quiet -- offensive line coach Bob Wylie.

Here is how it breaks down:

1. The Browns led the league in sacks allowed. It's very possible former offensive line coach Hal Hunter didn't have much to work with after Joel Bitonio was injured in Game 5.

2. Hunter came over from the Indianapolis Colts with Pep Hamilton, who was Jackson's top offensive assistant. Hamilton has left for the University of Michigan. I sense Hunter was Hamilton's guy.

3. Wylie was the offensive line coach with Jackson in Oakland in 2011. The Raiders line improved, allowing 50 percent fewer quarterback hits than in 2010. They allowed the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL.

4. But Wylie was fired with Jackson. He surfaced in the Canadian Football League, where he had coached before. Wylie spent the last three years in Winnipeg. The Blue Bombers were 11-7 and allowed the third-fewest sacks in the CFL.

5. Wylie is 65. He has coached at five colleges and with six different NFL teams, along with stops in Canada. I've been told Wylie "is Hue's guy. Hue really trusts him."

6. The Browns had an excellent offensive line coach from 2009-2013. That was George Warhop. He was hired by Eric Mangini, and retained by Pat Shurmur and Rob Chudzinski. But after Chudzinski was fired, Warhop looked elsewhere. He landed in Tampa Bay, where he has coached since 2014.

7. The Browns have gone through three offensive coaches since: Andy Moeller (2014), George DeLeone (2015) and Hunter (2016).

8. It's critical the Browns find some stability on the offensive line. Jackson is counting on Wylie to deliver it.

In the summer of 2014, the Cleveland Cavaliers traded for Kevin Love. How has that deal for Andrew Wiggins worked out?

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Looking at the 2014 NBA Draft:

I still hear from fans who don't like the Andrew Wiggins-Kevin Love deal made in the summer of 2014. The Cavaliers drafted Wiggins with the No. 1 pick before LeBron James decided to return. The 2014 draft was held on June 26. James didn't sign until July 12.

As the 2014-15 season was about to begin, former Cavs coach David Blatt spoke about the uncertainty. "When I was interviewed (for the job), they never even mentioned LeBron's name. Now and then, they said, 'The Guy.' That was LeBron. But there was no idea if he'd come."

Which led to a discussion of the 2014 draft.

"If we knew we had LeBron, we never would have picked Wiggins," said Blatt. "They basically play the same position."

Here's a look at the top of that draft:

1. Wiggins was the No. 1 pick, with the Cavs planning to build around Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson, Tyler Zeller and Wiggins. They would have traded for some veterans to help.

2. The No. 2 pick (by the Milwaukee Bucks) was Jabari Parker. He is a power forward, so that would fit with the Cavs. But Parker was terrible defensively coming out of Duke after one college season. He had a very pedestrian workout with the Cavs, who believed it would take Parker a few years to develop into an impact player.

3. The No. 3 pick (by the Philadelphia 76ers) was Joel Embiid, but the medical reports on the 7-foot center were scary.

If the Cavs had known James was coming, they would have traded the No. 1 pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves before the draft for Kevin Love. It's what happened after James signed -- a three-team deal brought Love to the Cavs.

Here's what has happened:

1. The 6-foot-8 Wiggins is developing into a star. He is averaging 21.6 points, shooting .445 from the field (.340 on 3-pointers), but still needs work defensively.

2. Embiid missed two seasons with injuries. But this year he has been a force -- 19.9 points and 7.8 rebounds in 25.4 minutes.

3. Parker hurt his knee as a rookie and played only 25 games. In his first two seasons, he averaged 13 points and 5.3 rebounds. Now Parker is having a breakout year, averaging 20.4 with 5.9 rebounds.

It has taken Parker and Wiggins three seasons to begin to play up to their talent in the NBA. No surprise, since they came into the NBA after only one college season.

Defense is still a problem for both. ESPN has a category called "Real Defense plus/minus." There is a lot of debate about the merits of the rankings, so this is not gospel. But Wiggins and Parker both rank near the bottom at their respective positions.

Love ranked No. 11 among all power forwards in defense. A big reason is his defensive rebounding, which is highly valued by the plus/minus measure. I don't consider Love among the top third of defensive power forwards, but he is an elite rebounder.

ABOUT LOVE

From the moment James returned, the entire game plan changed. Forget collecting and developing young players. It was Win Now. James signed a "1-and-1 contract." It was a two-year deal, but it allowed him to leave after the first season.

As Akron Zips coach Keith Dambrot told me, "LeBron only was coming back if he was sure he could win a title." Dambrot was James' first high school coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary. The two men talk several times a year.

When the Cavs traded for Love, he was 26 and already a three-time All-Star. He had played with James on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team. He is a 6-foot-10 power forward who can rebound and shoot 3-pointers, something the Cavs considered important when assembling a team around James.

Rebounding is a major part of Love's value, something many fans and media people seem to take for granted. Parker averages 5.9 rebounds this season. Love has averaged exactly 10.0 rebounds since his arrival.

In his first two years, he was a 16.2-point scorer in Cleveland. More importantly, Love helped win the 2016 NBA title. Without a player such as Love, the Cavs would have had to trade for one. He should be named to the Eastern All-Star team this season.

Meanwhile, it's just so hard for young teams to win. In three years since Wiggins joined the Timberwolves, they are 60-147 entering this weekend. They are 15-28 this season.

From the moment James arrived, there was no waiting on young players to develop. It was time to win now. That's why the Love trade had to be made.

LOVE SHOULD BE AN ALL-STAR

The All-Star reserves will be announced on Jan. 26. The East starters are Kyrie Irving and James from Cleveland, Toronto's DeMar DeRozan, Chicago's Jimmy Butler and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo. Those are the right selections.

But Love should be named to the team. This season, he is averaging 20.7 points and 10.8 rebounds. He is the only Eastern player to average at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. There are four in West: Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis, Karl-Anthony Towns and DeMarcus Cousins.

The biggest surprise for the first half of the season was how the Cavs found a way for their Big Three to each average 20 points. A year ago, James (25.3) was the only Cavalier averaging at least 20 points. Then came Irving (19.6) and Love (16.0).

This season, it's James (25.5), Irving (23.7) and Love (20.7).

ABOUT SOME EX-CAVS

1. Matthew Dellavedova is starting in Milwaukee, averaging 7.4 points and 6.4 assists, shooting .375 from the field and .324 on 3-pointers. The point guard signed a four-year, $38 million deal after last season.

2. Timofey Mozgov is playing 21 minutes a game, averaging 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds for the Los Angeles Lakers. He's shooting .524 from the field. The 7-foot-1 center signed a four-year, $64 million deal.

3. The Cavs first-round pick in 2013, Anthony Bennett was just released by Brooklyn and is set to sign with a team in Turkey. It's not Blatt's team in Istanbul.

4. Dion Waiters is averaging 13 points and 3.7 assists for Miami. He's starting and playing 30 minutes a night, shooting .374 from the field and .310 on 3-pointers.

5. Tyler Zeller is playing 12 minutes a night for Boston, averaging 4.1 points and 2.9 rebounds.

6. Joe Harris is playing 23 minutes a night for Brooklyn, averaging 8.6 points and shooting .430. He was the Cavs' second-round pick in 2014.

7. Mike Dunleavy is averaging 7.0 points and shooting .409 in four games since being traded to Atlanta for Kyle Korver. He scored 20 points against the Bucks, but has eight points in 55 minutes in three other games.

8. Sergey Karasev was a first-round (No. 19) pick in 2013. He plays in Russia, averaging 17 points in St. Petersburg. Strongsville native Aaron White also is on that Russian team, averaging 8.8 points and 7.7 rebounds.

HEAR ME TALK

1. I will be talking about my Cavs book "The Comeback" and other things at the Dover Library on Jan. 25 at 6:30 p.m. I will be doing the program with Amanda Rabinowitz. We do commentaries together on WKSU. Call 330-343-6123 to register. All my library appearances are free. I will be happy to sign books after the event.

2. I will be speaking at the Stow-Munroe Falls Library on Feb. 7 at 7 p.m. It's free. You can register online or call 330-688-3295 to register.

3. I will be at the Bay Village Library on March 1 at 7 p.m. You can register online or call 440-871-6392.

4. I will be at the Kirtland Library on March 15 at 7 p.m. Call 440-256-7323 to register.

Andre Harris' performance in a boys basketball win at Madison showed how far the Brush sophomore has come.

MADISON TOWNSHIP, Ohio – The game no longer seems to fast.

That plagued Andre Harris last year as a freshman at Brush. The 6-foot-3 guard scored 18 points, grabbed 11 rebounds and played a starring role Friday night in a 76-67 win at No. 25 Madison.

Brush could not beat Madison last season in two tries and is now on top of the Western Reserve Conference with a team coach Chet Mason still thinks is a year away. His nephew is no different.

Harris admitted Friday to his first season of varsity basketball getting the better of him. He played in Brush’s backcourt with D.J. Dial, who started from Day 1 as a freshman at the school. Harris came off the bench, but now is playing alongside him.

How comfortable has Harris become?

“I feel like a senior,” he said.

Mason might not go that far in what he sees — an aggressive player that he hoped would use his size and strength.

“He was laid back,” Masom said. “We called it laziness as a player, but he attacks the game better now.”

See Harris in action in the above video.

Also check out Madison senior forward Corbin Anthony, whose 23 points and 14 rebounds kept the Blue Streaks in contention.

This WRC matchup is just part of a Friday night that included an upset, last-second shot and two debuts. Find out more below.

CLOCK STRIKES AGAIN

Luke Schaefer beat the clock and No. 18 Solon for a 78-76 Greater Cleveland Conference win. No. 14 Medina rallied from an early 12-point deficit and got 17 points from the senior guard.

Luke Schaefer gives Medina a 78-76 lead with 2.1 sec left 4Q pic.twitter.com/ov2HEEP7Tl

— Joe Noga (@JoeNogaCLE) January 21, 2017

Schaefer’s heroics — and a missed shot for Solon at the buzzer — marks the third time a shot in the final seconds decided a game at Medina.

Just last week Antonio Blanton beat the buzzer for Elyria.

And last month, Ben Geschke did the same for Medina against Maple Heights.

ELYRIA’S LOTKO IS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Speaking of that Elyria game, Pioneers senior forward Josh Lotko is the cleveland.com boys basketball Player of the Week. Lotko received 1,377 votes in the weekly Game Balls contest, edging Hawken junior point guard Hugh Brown in a close vote.

Brown received 1,327 votes, just 50 behind Lotko.

The 6-foot-5 Lotko provided a career-high 35 points on Jan. 10 to fuel a 77-76 comeback win at Medina.

See more of Lotko and the top plays of the week in the video below and click here to vote for your favorite.

PERFORMANCES OF THE NIGHT

• Holy Name junior guard Dwayne Cohill scored a career high 47 points, and the 11th-ranked Green Wave won at No. 24 Bay, 83-65.


• Junior guard Travon Williams scored 33 points, and Lincoln West left Collinwood with an 85-84 overtime win.


• Donald Johnson’s 31 points and 12 rebounds led Oberlin in a 60-50 win at Lutheran West. The Phoenix won their fifth straight since a holiday tournament loss Dec. 28 to Lorain.


• Junior Kyle Stefanski scored 31 point for Independence, which eked out a 54-52 home win vs. Cardinal.


• Midview needed 30 points from 6-5 junior Gage Carnes for a 57-52 win at North Ridgeville.

AWAITED DEBUTS

Christian Guess and Omari Peek made their debuts in another GCC matchup. Guess, who transferred from Glenville, scored 22 points to help Shaker Heights to a 75-71 win at Strongsville.

Fellow junior Dale Bonner led the Raiders with 28 points.

Peek, also a junior, provided 23 points and 11 rebounds in his debut for Strongsville.

Stats:
Beasley - 28pts, 6asts
Guess - 22pts, 4asts

Peek - 23pts, 11rebs
Csire - 26pts, 8rebs
Mocho- 10pts#NEO

— T.J. Peatross (@NEO_Spotlight) January 21, 2017

SCOREBOARD WATCHING

Some of Friday’s notable scores, starting with Top 25 matchups. Let’s begin by remaining on the GCC theme.

Brunswick 61, No. 3 Mentor 48: The Blue Devils scored another decisive road win against a GCC frontrunner. This time, Joe Mackey’s club turned away Mentor by holding the Cardinals to just three points in the fourth quarter.

Keith Simmons led Brunswick with 18 points. Sophomore Kyle Goessler added 16 and Zak Zografos provided 14.

Jack Korsok led Mentor with 22 points, as the Cardinals lost their second game.

No. 9 Benedictine 73, Lake Catholic 55: The Bengals pulled away in the second half on the road. Chris Jefferson and Marlon Moore each scored 19 points to lead Benedictine. Luka Eller also had 19 points for Lake Catholic.

No. 22 Central Catholic 67, Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas 60: The Ironmen turned away a Division III regional qualifier from last season, as Delshawn Jackson scored 17 points, Tyler Golphin added 14 and Miryne Thomas had 12.

Avon 70, Olmsted Falls 67: The Eagles kept their hold on the Southwestern Conference lead on the road and held back the Bulldogs’ comeback.

Woodridge 69, Streetsboro 66 (OT): Mason Lydic scored 26 points for the Bulldogs, who are 14-0. Keshun Jones had 27 points for Streetsboro.

CLICK HERE FOR FRIDAY’S SCOREBOARD

FAST FORWARD

Here is a look ahead at what is coming up this weekend.

No. 2 St. Ignatius (8-4) at No. 22 Central Catholic (7-4), Saturday: This is St. Ignatius’ only matchup of the week after a hectic weekend that included an overtime victory against rival St. Edward and a 19-point loss to North Canton Hoover. Coach Brian Becker’s Wildcats should be rested for this trip, while Central Catholic will be coming off a Friday matchup with Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas.

Revere (6-6) at No. 9 Benedictine (10-2), Saturday: The Bengals’ perimeter defense will test the Minutemen, led by junior guard Samson Albert and 6-7 Pete Nance. Revere is coming off a 55-54 loss Friday to Barberton.

CLICK HERE FOR SATURDAY’S SCHEDULE

Contact sports reporter Matt Goul on Twitter (@mgoul) or email (mgoul@cleveland.com). Or log in and leave a message below in the comments section.

Former Cleveland Indians outfielder Kenny Lofton fell off the Hall of Fame ballot after one year. That never should have happened, and I'm partly to blame.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- I owe Kenny Lofton an apology.

In 2013, Lofton appeared on my Hall of Fame ballot. I didn't vote for him.

I just blew it. I breezed right over Lofton's name, ignoring the impact he made on the game. I failed to put him in the context of playing clean in the age of steroids. The former Cleveland Indians center fielder made six All-Star teams, won five stolen base titles and four Gold Gloves.

There are times when I'm not sure a player is a Hall of Famer, but I will vote for him simply to keep his name on the ballot. History changes how we view players.

I should have done that with Lofton.

Lofton appeared on the 2013 Hall of Fame ballot. Only 18 people voted for him. That's 18 out of 569 votes. You need 75 percent to make the Hall of Fame. You need at least 5 percent to stay on the ballot, which in Lofton's case would have been 28 in 2013.

I did Lofton a disservice, and so did many others who vote for the Hall of Fame. It's an outrage he was wiped off the ballot in one year.

LOFTON AND RAINES

Tim Raines was finally voted into the Hall of Fame this week -- and I voted for him as I have for years.

I did not vote for Raines the first year he was on the ballot. I underrated his speed and how that impacts the game. I looked at him again, and I realized he deserved my support.

And I kept voting for him until he finally made it this year.

But is there any real difference between Lofton and Raines? Not a big one. Raines batted .294 (.810 OPS) with a .413 on-base percentage. Lofton batted .299 (.794 OPS) with a .374 on-base percentage.

If you are new school and like WAR (Wins Above Replacement), Raines was at 69.1 for his career. Lofton was at 68.2. About the same.

Lofton led the league in steals five times, Raines did it four times. Raines was successful on 85 percent of his stolen base attempts. Lofton was at 79 percent.

Raines was mostly a left fielder. Lofton was mostly in center. So Lofton played a more demanding defensive position.

Is Lofton equal to Raines? I'm not sure. But he's close -- and he deserved so much better than what happened in the Hall of Fame voting.

HOW I VOTED

This was my ballot. A player needs 75 percent of the vote to get in:

1. Jeff Bagwell (got in)
2. Tim Raines (got in)
3. Ivan Rodriguez (got in)
4. Trevor Hoffman (74 percent)
5. Vlad Guerrero (71.7 percent)
6. Edgar Martinez (58.6 percent)
7. Mike Mussina (51.8 percent)

I understand voters, such as my fellow Plain Dealer columnist Bill Livingston, who handed in an empty ballots as a protest of baseball's refusal to deal with the steroid issue. I have wrestled with it for years.

The most meaningful conversation that guided my voting was with Hal McCoy, the long-time Cincinnati Reds beat writer for the Dayton Daily News. This had to be more than 10 years ago, when steroid players were first coming on the ballot.

I asked McCoy's advice, and he said he didn't vote for anyone who was a "known" user. He meant players who have been suspended, or those whose tests were made public. So that wiped out the likes of Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Manny Ramirez and Sammy Sosa from my consideration.

It's possible I'll change my mind. I'd love the Hall of Fame itself to come up with a policy on steroids, but that has not happened.

Next year, Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel are on the ballot. They will get my votes.

And for the record, I voted for Albert Belle every year he was on the ballot. He had nine consecutive years of at least 100 RBI, and a 10th year with 95 RBI. Just an awesome hitter.

ABOUT THE INDIANS

1. Who is Nathan Lukes? He is the outfielder the Indians traded for Brandon Guyer. I looked up Lukes after hearing the news of Guyer's new two-year, $4.75 million contract -- with a $3 million option for a third season.

2. Guyer was very productive for the Tribe, batting .333 (27-of-81) with 2 HR and 14 RBI after joining the team at the end of August. Having spent most of his career with the Tampa Bay Rays, he is a career .289 hitter (.861 OPS) against lefties. It's .236 vs. righties.

3. The Indians have Guyer set to platoon in right field with Lonnie Chisenhall, who is a lefty hitter far more effective against right-handed pitchers. But Guyer also will play some center in spring training. That could set him up to platoon with Tyler Naquin.

4. Primarily a left fielder, Guyer has played 72 games in right and 52 in center in his six-year big-league career. In 2016, the Indians platooned the lefty-hitting Naquin with Rajai Davis, who has signed as a free agent with Oakland.

5. As for Lukes, he batted .282 with 6 HR and 37 RBI for three Class A teams in 2016. After being traded for Guyer, Lukes hit .194 in 67 at-bats for the Charlotte Stone Crabs in the Class A Florida State League. The 22-year-old outfielder is not considered a big-league prospect.

6. A comeback by Michael Brantley changes everything in the outfield. An All-Star when healthy, it's still uncertain how he will recover from his shoulder problems. That's why they wanted to keep Guyer around for a few years. It's why they are hoping Yandy Diaz has a big spring and hits his way on to the team, because he adds outfield depth.

7. Abraham Almonte is the likely platoon partner for Naquin in center. Almonte is a switch-hitter, but he is better against lefties (.279, .771 OPS) than righties (.254, .649 OPS). He can play all three outfield spots.

8. The Indians did inquire about Jose Bautista, but they were never seriously considered by the outfielder, who re-signed with the Blue Jays for $18 million. After signing Edwin Encarnacion to a three-year, $60 million deal with an option for a fourth season, the Indians are not planning any more major free-agent expenditures.

Here's where to watch, listen and stream the Cleveland Cavaliers' game vs. the San Antonio Spurs tonight.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers play Game 42 of the 2016 NBA season Saturday against the San Antonio Spurs. Here's how to watch, listen and stream the action online.

What: Cleveland Cavaliers (30-11 vs. San Antonio Spurs (33-9).
Where: Quicken Loans Arena.
When: 8:30 p.m.
TV: ABC.
Radio: WTAM 1100 AM; 87.7 FM La Mega.
Online: Watch ESPN.

San Antonio notable: The Spurs bench has outscored or matched production of the opposing reserves in 29 of the first 42 games.

Cleveland notable: The Cavs lead the East in three-pointers made (524) and three-pointers made per game (12.8). They are second in the East in three-point percentage (.384). The Cavs have hit at least 10 treys in 31 of 41 games and shot at least .400 from long distance 16 times (16-0).

Catch the coverage from before the game; join in the live chat starting at tipoff; and stick around for full postgame coverage. For all Cavs information, be sure to check out cleveland.com/cavs.

The warm winter weather has hurt ice fishing on Lake Erie, but boat fishermen are chasing walleye.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The odds of dazzling your friends with photos of trophy walleye caught through the Lake Erie ice are quite slim this winter. The warmer-than-normal weather, though, has a fleet of boat fishermen plying the frigid waters off Huron and finding success.

A few decades ago, only die-hard duck hunters could be found on the wide waters of Lake Erie in winter. How times have changed. Give the walleye crowd some fishable conditions and despite the chilly water temperatures - just a notch above freezing this week - they have been trolling diving plugs, catching walleye and showing off amazing photos on social media.

"To see a hundred boat trailers parked at the Huron River Launch Ramp this week has been a surprise," said Travis Hartman, recently named the Lake Erie Program Administrator for the Ohio Division of Wildlife. "Those walleye are still suspended and chasing baitfish, and obviously willing to chase a lure."

The best success has come while leisurely trolling between .8 and 1.3 miles per hour, reports Craig Lewis at Erie Outfitters in Sheffield Lake.

"Perfect 10s and Bandit lures have performed the best," said Lewis. "Some fishermen are jigging for walleye hanging around close to the bottom of Lake Erie, sort of ice fishing from a boat. In those instances, Jigging Rapalas and Swedish Pimple lures come into play."

With daytime temperatures forecast to be above the freezing mark for the next week, or so, expect the good walleye fishing to hang around. But do remember to bring extra safety gear.

The waters off of the Huron River and Cedar Point Amusement Park are free of ice this week and have been a top spot for hooking up with a trophy Lake Erie walleye. (Photo by D'Arcy Egan)Mike Starkey 

"I've been seeing guys at the launch ramp wearing typical rain gear and a life jacket," said Bob Hanko at Cranberry Creek Marina. "Lake Erie is really cold right now. If you are going on the water at this time of year, a full float suit is a much better choice. And make sure you have the ability to call for help and can give your position if something happens.

"We had fishermen beach their small boat along the shoreline at our marina this week. They got lost in a fog and had no clue where they were."

The walleye hot spot in recent days has been the dumping grounds about four miles north of the mouth of the Huron River in about 28 to 36 feet of water. Lewis expects to get positive walleye reports from other areas as anglers begin to launch from Marblehead to Avon Lake.

Hartman is sure the big walleye are waiting.

"This is a pretty neat time to be a Lake Erie walleye fisherman," he said. "This is going to be a fun fishery for at least the next four or five years. We've had consistently good hatches since 2007. If you combine the excellent 2014 and 2015 walleye hatches, they produced more walleye than the spectacular 2003 year class."

The 2003 class was the best on record, and those 13-year-old walleye still provide the potential for rounding up a 10-pound-plus trophy that deserves a place on an angler's wall. The 2003 bonanza, however, was followed by a few very poor hatches.

"The growth of the young Lake Erie walleye has been very impressive," said Hartman. "We are seeing walleye from 2014, two-year-old fish that have already grown to around 18 inches. And some of the one-year-old walleye are stretching 13 inches. It is proof that while the emerald shiner minnow population is in a slump, those fast-growing young walleye have plenty of bug hatches to feed on, as well as gizzard shad and small yellow perch."

(D'Arcy Egan, the long-time Plain Dealer outdoors writer who retired in 2015, will occasionally write columns to appear in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com. He can be reached at darcyegan@roadrunner.com)

Ohio State basketball is back on Sunday to host Northwestern at Value City Arena. Watch video

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio State basketball is back home on Sunday, looking to build off two straight Big Ten wins, when it hosts Northwestern. Here's everything you nee to know before tip-off:

GAME INFORMATION

Who: Northwestern Wildcats (15-4, 4-2 Big Ten) at Ohio State Buckeyes (12-7, 2-4).

When: Sunday, 1 p.m.

Where: Value City Arena (18,809).

TV: Big Ten Network, with Jeff Levering and Jon Crispin on the call.

Twitter: Follow cleveland.com's Bill Landis for updates from Sunday's game.

Series record: Ohio State leads the all-time series against Northwestern, 117-45. Northwestern has not won in Columbus since 1978.

PROJECTED STARTERS

Northwestern: G Bryant McIntosh (6-3, Jr., 12.3 ppg); G Scottie Lindsey (6-5, Jr., 15.8 ppg); G Sanjay Lumpkin (6-6, Sr., 6.4 ppg); F Vic Law (6-7, Soph., 14.2 ppg); C Dererk Pardon (6-8, Soph., 8.4 ppg).

Ohio State: G JaQuan Lyle (6-5, Soph., 12.3 ppg); G Kam Williams (6-2, Jr., 10.3 ppg); F Marc Loving (6-7, Sr., 11.4 ppg); F Jae'Sean Tate (6-4, Jr., 14.1 ppg); C Trevor Thompson (7-0, Sr., 10.6 ppg).

GAME NOTES

* Ohio State is coming off a 67-66 win over Nebraska on Wednesday night. Northwestern hasn't played since Sunday, when it beat Iowa 89-54. This starts a string for the Buckeyes in which they play three of their next four games at home.

* The Buckeyes have lamented a start to conference play in which they played four of their first six games on the road. They were 0-3 in those first three road games, and now 1-3 overall on the road in Big Ten play. Northwestern on Sunday will play its fifth road game in its first seven Big Ten contests, and so far is 3-1 away from Evanston, Ill. They've handled the road well.

* The Wildcats shot a season-best 59.7 percent from the field in their win over Iowa. Ohio State is allowing Big Ten teams to shoot 44.7 percent from the field in conference play.

* The Buckeyes are shooting 33.3 percent from 3-point range for the season, but 35.1 percent in Big Ten play. Northwestern has held opponents to a 30.3 mark from deep on the season, good for No. 17 in the country, and in league play it's holding opponents to a Big Ten low of 26 percent.

* If there's an edge for the Buckeyes, perhaps its on the inside. Ohio State has outscored its opponent in the paint in four of its Six Big Ten games. Northwestern has been outscored by its opponent in the paint four times in its six Big Ten games. Buckeyes center Trevor Thompson (10.6 pts, 9.0 rebs) could use a bit of a bounce-back game after battling foul trouble and early turnover problems against Nebraska.

PREDICTION

Bill's pick: Ohio State 73, Northwestern 69. The Wildcats' record on the road in Big Ten games is kind of ridiculous, so part of this is thinking they can't possibly sustain that kind of success on the road in this conference. Another part of it also is thinking something has flipped a little bit for this Buckeyes team. This stretch of three of four at home is important. When they needed to find a way to win against Nebraska, they did. Northwestern is better, but the home floor should help Ohio State.

The Cavs (30-11) host the San Antonio Spurs (33-9) in the first Saturday primetime game on ABC this season. The game's at 8:30. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cavs (30-11) host the San Antonio Spurs (33-9) in the first Saturday primetime game on ABC this season. The game's at 8:30.

Last meeting: This is the first game of the season between them; they split their season series last year.

Cavs fast fact: They're averaging 113.3 points per game on .498 shooting in their last three contests against the Spurs.

Cavs injuries: Kevin Love (lower back soreness) is questionable; J.R. Smith (right thumb surgery) and Chris Andersen (torn right ACL) are out.

Spurs fast fact: Only one team takes fewer than San Antonio's 22.4 3-pointers per game (Bulls), but no one makes a higher percentage of their 3s than the Spurs (41.5 percent).

Spurs injuries: Pau Gasol (broken left hand) is out; Tony Parker (left foot pain) missed Thursday's game.

Probable starters:

Cavs

F LeBron James (25.5 ppg; 7.8 rpg; 8.3 apg)

F Kevin Love (20.7 ppg; 10.8 rpg; 1.7 apg

C Tristan Thompson (7.1 ppg; 9.6 rpg; 0.8 apg)

G Iman Shumpert (7.6 ppg; 2.9 rpg; 1.6 apg)

G Kyrie Irving (23.7 ppg; 3.4 rpg; 5.6 apg)

Spurs

F Kawhi Leonard (25.1 ppg; 5.7 rpg; 3.1 apg)

F LaMarcus Aldridge (17.6 ppg; 6.9 rpg; 2.2 apg)

C David Lee (6.5 ppg; 5.2 rpg; 1.6 apg)

G Danny Green (7.6 ppg; 2.9 rpg; 1.9 apg)

G Tony Parker (11.5 ppg; 2.0 rpg; 4.8 apg)

Kevin Love participated fully in shootaround Saturday and could play against the Spurs.

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- Kevin Love participated fully in shootaround Saturday ahead of the Cavs' game against the San Antonio Spurs.

Though Love, who did not play Thursday because of lower back soreness, remains "questionable" for the Spurs' game, he is far more likely to play now that he could do all the drills and was moving better than at any time in the previous week.

Love worked with the starters during Saturday's shootaround. James Jones, who started in Love's place in Cleveland's 118-103 win over Phoenix Thursday, was wearing white -- the color the Cavs' second unit wears at practice.

Love is the only player in the East averaging at least 20 points (20.7 ppg) and 10 rebounds (10.8). He's missed five games this season.

The Spurs are without center Pau Gasol, who has a broken hand. David Lee started for them at center on Thursday, which could mean Love guards him and Tristan Thompson matches up with LaMarcus Aldridge Saturday night.

All of this is "questionable," of course.

LeBron James said Gregg Popovich's taking over as coach for Team USA basketball factors into his own decision to chase another Olympic gold. Watch video

INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- LeBron James said Gregg Popovich's taking over as coach for Team USA basketball factors into his own decision to chase another Olympic gold.

"It factors a lot," James said Saturday, before the Cavs play Popovich's Spurs. "I've said that before. He's just a great mastermind of the game of basketball."

On Thursday, James said Popovich was the greatest coach in NBA history. So, yes, James would like to play for Popovich.

James skipped the 2016 Olympics after his sixth consecutive run to the Finals. He already owns two gold medals and would be 36 when the 2020 Olympics unfold in Tokyo.

Because he missed Team USA's run to gold in Rio, he's no longer No. 1 in U.S. Olympics for games played (24, t-2nd) or points (273, 3rd), but is still first all time in assists (88).

Popovich, 67, is taking over for Duke legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski, who steered Team USA to three golds in 2008, 2012, and 2016. Popovich is a five-time NBA champion as coach of the Spurs.

The Ohio State football program signed early-enrollee Isaiah Pryor as part of its recruiting class for National Singing Day 2017

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio State football program signed early-enrollee Isaiah Pryor as part of its recruiting class for National Singing Day 2017. Here is an in-depth look at this member of the Buckeyes' recruiting class. 

Isaiah Pryor 

School: Bradenton (Fla.) IMG Academy

Position: Safety 

Height, weight: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds

247Sports Rating: Pryor is rated the No. 7safety and the No. 59 overall player in the 2017 class in the 247Sports composite rankings.

Other schools: Alabama, Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Miami (Fla.), Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Penn State, Stanford, TCU, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, UCLA, Virginia Tech and others. 

What's his deal? Though Pryor was a high-end four-star prospect in his class, he was kind of overshadowed by other defensive back commits in Ohio State's class. That's kind of what happens when five-stars Shaun Wade and Jeffrey Okudah are also already enrolled. But make no mistake about it: Pryor is the real deal. 

Pryor, who transferred from Georgia to IMG, committed to Ohio State in July of 2015 and remained loyal to that commitment in the time since. He was a regular visitor at Ohio State and the coaching staff never had to worry about him flipping. 

For a while it seemed as if there were a chance Pryor would switch to linebacker, and though that's still possible -- remember, Brendon White moved to receiver -- he was too good as a defensive back to expect that change to be made early in his career. 

How he fits into Ohio State's plans: Ohio State just lost three of its starting four defensive backs, so the 2017 class is Urban Meyer's way of filling the cupboard back up. Pryor is one of six defensive backs in the class, which means the Buckeyes are going to be set for the future. Whichever players end up starting from this class in two years will likely find their ways to the NFL. 

Projections for 2017: Pryor may not have the five-star rating, but he's an elite-level player that will likely play some in 2017. He won't be a starter in the secondary, but he has a developed body and could find his way on special teams as a true freshman. It helps that he'll get to participate in spring practice. 

Player comparison: Donte Whitner was a little smaller than Pryor, but both play the game fast, create turnovers and can lay a big hit. Pryor may be even a little more advance than Whitner was coming into college from a physical standpoint. Given he played at IMG, Pryor looks like he's been in a college weight room for two years already. 

Why he's important to the best class in Ohio State history: Ohio State wants to recruit Georgia well and they want to have a history of landing players who play at IMG. With Pryor, the Buckeyes were able to succeed at both. And while he may just be a name in Ohio State's 2017 defensive backs discussion, he could be a future star. You can tell a class is special when a player like Pryor -- a top-10 safety in the country -- blends into the crowd. 

Highlights: 

What we've written about Pryor: 

Meet Ohio State's 9 early enrollees

The Spurs coach, "the greatest of all-time." according to LeBron James, discusses his outspokenness and his position as America's Coach in international basketball.

CLEVELAND, Ohio - Asked how he was doing, "America's Coach," Gregg Popovich, walked off the basketball court at The Q after the San Antonio Spurs' shootaround Saturday and said, "He's still president, isn't he?"

In a divided time, on the day after President Donald Trump's inauguration, Popovich has not retracted or retreated from the criticism he made in his remarks on the day after the election.

"When you're a public figure and you say something, some people appreciate it and like it, and other people think it's awful and you should just be quiet and mind your own business," said the coach, who is universally known in basketball circles as "Pop."

"I don't worry about either reaction," Pop added. "If I feel something needs to be said and I'm passionate about it, I say it."

Popovich, whether you like his politics or not, is America's Coach because this year he takes over the U.S. National men's team from Duke's Mike Krzyzewski.

Popovich was one of Larry Brown's assistant coaches at the 2004 Olympics, the "LeBronze" team that won only the bronze medal in the summer after LeBron James' rookie year.

Coach K went to West Point, where he played for Bobby Knight. Popovich played at the Air Force Academy and later served in the military branch.

USA Basketball, Popovich's future employer, is a conservative group, politically. The right to dissent, however, is guaranteed in the First Amendment. It is buttressed in his case by the military service.

"Not a word," Popovich said when asked if he had been contacted by USA Basketball. "I've gotten positive and negative letters, emails, that sort of stuff, but nothing from anybody official, as far as basketball's concerned."

Popovich's record, including five NBA championships with the small-market Spurs, ought to be credentials enough to coach the national team.

LeBron James on Friday called Popovich "the greatest coach of all time."

"He's setting me up," said a smiling Popovich. "He owes me money. He's trying to get out of it. He's setting me up for the game. I always knew he was smart."

Saturday, Popovich was second-guessing himself for the broken finger center Paul Gasol suffered in pre-game warm-ups this week.

"As soon as Gasol was hurt, I thought, 'If Johnny Wooden was the coach, this never would have happened,'" said Popovich. "It was during a little bit of horseplay. Gasol was doing a layup, Kyle (Anderson) came over to try to screw with the shot, and (Gasol) got caught in the net and broke his finger."

Said Popovich of the late UCLA coach's meticulous preparation, "(Wooden) watched for every blister, every single thing, how to put your socks on. Why wasn't I, or somebody, out there watching? That wouldn't be a Johnny Wooden move."

Pop knows he can't be John Wooden. "I wish I could, but I curse too much. I've got to be me," he said.

When the interview ended, a questioner jokingly asked Popovich if his record would be good enough for a Cabinet post in the Trump administration.

"I can't be in the Cabinet. I didn't work for Goldman Sachs," Popvich said.

Love missed Thursday's game and the second half of Monday's loss to Golden State with the injury, but participated fully in shootaround this morning and it's no surprise he's playing.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Kevin Love (lower back soreness) will play against the San Antonio Spurs tonight.

Love missed Thursday's game and the second half of Monday's loss to Golden State with the injury, but participated fully in shootaround this morning and it's no surprise he's playing. 

"Not a concern," head coach Tyronn Lue said about Love's recurring back issues. "I mean, it happens. He gets back spasms and just part of it. Not really a big concern."

Lue also said Love's latest issue hasn't required any imaging. 

Love, who has missed five games this season, is the only player in the East averaging at least 20 points and 10 boards.

Get the latest updates and analysis from the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 42 against the San Antonio Spurs.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Cleveland Cavaliers face the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday in Game 42 of the 2016 NBA regular season.

Follow along in the comments section as Joe Vardon and Chris Fedor bring you observations and analysis throughout the game.

Make sure to follow Vardon and Fedor on Twitter.

Game 41: Cavs (30-11) vs. Spurs (33-9)

Tipoff: 8:30 p.m. at Quicken Loans Arena.

TV/radio: Fox Sports Ohio; WTAM 1100 AM; 87.7 FM (ESP).

Cavs probable starting lineup: LeBron James, Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson, Iman Shumpert, Kyrie Iriving.

Spurs probable starting lineup: David Lee, Kawhi Leonard, LaMarcus Aldridge, Tony Parker, Danny Green.

FREQUENTLY REFRESH this page to get the latest updates. If you're viewing this on a mobile app, click here

Help us improve your Cavs gameday experience on Cleveland.com!
CLICK HERE TO TAKE A SHORT SURVEY.

Head coach Tyronn Lue discusses the matchup during his pregame news conference. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Cavaliers (30-11) face Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs (33-9) for the first time this season tonight at Quicken Loans Arena.

The Spurs are led by forward Kawhi Leonard, who is averaging a career-high 25.1 points per game. They lost center Pau Gasol Thursday night when he broke his hand in pregame warmups.

Kevin Love participated in this morning's shootaround for the Cavs and will play tonight after missing Thursday's game with lower back soreness.

Head coach Tyronn Lue discusses the matchup during his pregame news conference. 

Stay tuned for postgame reaction from the locker room. 

Follow on Twitter: @CLEvideos

Adam Hadwin, coming off a third-round 59, leads the CareerBuilder Challenge entering the final round Sunday in California.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Adam Hadwin carded 59 in the third round and leads by one shot entering the final round of the PGA Tour's CareerBuilder Challenge 2017 on Sunday in California.

Canadian Hadwin's 13-birdie 59 Saturday put him at 17-under 199 through three rounds. Dominic Bozzelli is second. Four players are tied for third, two shots back.

CareerBuilder Challenge received a huge boost at the "last minute'' when Phil Mickelson decided Wednesday that he would compete. Mickelson, 46, had not played a round that counted since the Safeway Open in mid-October 2016. He underwent two sports-hernia surgeries in his offseason.

CareerBuilder tee times

Mickelson is ambassador for CareerBuilder, an event he has won twice. He finished tied for third last year. He has not won a tournament since the 2013 British Open.

Through three rounds, Mickelson is tied for 21st at 9-under.

Northeast Ohio native Jason Dufner is defending champion of CareerBuilder. Last year, he shot 25-under, then won a playoff against David Lingmerth.

Through three rounds this year, Dufner is tied for 53rd at 6-under.

Saturday's live leaderboard:

PGA TOUR

CAREERBUILDER CHALLENGE

Site: La Quinta, Calif.

Courses: TPC Stadium Course at PGA West (Yardage: 7,113. Par: 72); Jack Nicklaus Tournament Course at PGA West (Yardage: 7,159. Par: 72); La Quinta CC (Yardage: 7,060. Par: 72).

Purse: $5.8 million (First prize: $1,044,000).

Television: Golf Channel (Thursday-Sunday, 3-7 p.m.).

Defending champion: Jason Dufner.

Previous tournament: Justin Thomas won the Sony Open for his second straight victory.

Notes: Phil Mickelson is the headliner. ... Hunter Mahan, who hasn't finished in the top 50 in nearly a year, is playing this tournament for the first time since 2007. ... John Cook received a sponsor's exemption. Cook, 59, is a two-time winner of the Bob Hope Classic. Also playing is 55-year-old Mark Brooks, who won the Hope in 1996 -- the year he bagged his only major (PGA Championship). ... Harrison Frazar once shot 59 on the Nicklaus course during the fourth round of Q-school in 2008. ... Spencer Levin and Peter Malnati are in the field. They have not missed a PGA Tour event for which they have been eligible in the 2016-17 season. ... Americans have won this tournament all but three years since it began in 1960. The exceptions were Jhonattan Vegas of Venezuela (2011), Jesper Parnevik of Sweden (2000) and Bruce Devlin of Australia (1970).

Next week: Farmers Insurance Open.

Online: www.pgatour.com

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

Outspoken Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sharply criticized President Donald J. Trump and some of his senior staff members while praising the more than one million women who marched nationally in protest of the new administration on its second day. Watch video

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Outspoken Spurs coach Gregg Popovich sharply criticized President Donald J. Trump and some of his senior staff members while praising the more than one million women who marched nationally in protest of the new administration on its second day.

Popovich, who was already good for one diatribe against Trump shortly after his victory over Democrat Hillary Clinton, blasted the nation's 45th president for what he characterized as a failure to be inclusive or acknowledge the groups of people he offended during the campaign.

The Spurs coach went in on Trump after he was asked if he saw any of the protestors on TV Saturday. Women in major cities all over the country took to the streets on organized marches in support of women's rights.

"Their message is obvious," Popovich said. "That our president comes in with the lowest (approval) rating of anybody whoever came into the office. And there's a majority of people out there, since Hillary won the popular vote, that don't buy his act. And I just wish that he was more - had the ability to be more - mature enough to do something that really is inclusive rather than just talking and saying, 'I'm going to include everybody.' He could talk to the groups that he disrespected and maligned during the primary and really make somebody believe it."

A large pro-life march is planned in Washington for next week.

Popovich's rant lasted for several minutes. He listed off some of the more infamous mistruths from Trump, like his claim that former President Barack Obama was not born in the U.S., or that there were millions of illegal votes cast for Clinton, which is unfounded.

Popovich called out by name Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus, adviser Kellyanne Conway and spokesman Sean Spicer as people who "know who he is and actually have the cynical approach and disingenuous attitude to really defend him and try to make it look like he didn't say what he said.

"And so when he's mad at the media for them reporting what he said, that just boggles my mind," Popovich said.

In a press briefing Saturday, Spicer said Trump  "is committed to unifying our country, and that was the focus of his inaugural address.  This kind of dishonesty in the media, the challenging -- that bringing about our nation together is making it more difficult.

 "There's been a lot of talk in the media about the responsibility to hold Donald Trump accountable," Spicer said. "And I'm here to tell you that it goes two ways.  We're going to hold the press accountable, as well.  The American people deserve better."

Popovich also called the new president a bully and "thin skinned." He said Trump won the Oval Office "through the electoral college which is part of our system, and I hope he does some good things."

Trump won Ohio, a swing state, and Texas, where Popovich lives and works as San Antonio's coach, easily. He lost the popular vote to Clinton.

"I felt great today watching the march in protest to how he has conducted himself, because it tells me hey, I really do live in a country where a whole lot of people care," Popovich said. "And we have to be vigilant to make sure that, although we all hope that he does good things for our country, that we don't get, you know, embarrassed by him, and roll back liberties that have been worked for so long in so many different areas."

HUGE S/O #womensmarch

-- LeBron James (@KingJames) January 21, 2017