News Nuggets, 05.23.06
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Compiled from staff reports and electronic dispatches

Hart may nix FSU recruit's grant after arrest

The Tallahassee Democrat has reported that five-star basketball recruit Jon Kreft has been arrested on drug charges in South Florida, jeopardizing his future at Florida State.

Kreft was arrested by Coral Springs police and charged with felony cocaine possession. The 7-foot, 240-pound center was also charged with misdemeanor marijuana possession and drug-paraphernalia possession.

Ranked by Rivals as the No. 29 prospect in the 2006 recruiting class, Kreft starred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. He committed to FSU almost two years ago, before his stock began to soar. Now he's in danger of losing his scholarship.

''We'll wait until the police report and all the details are on our desk, and then we'll make a decision based on those facts,'' FSU athletic director Dave Hart told the Democrat.

FSU rules prohibit student-athletes from competing while under felony charges. Hart, formerly AD at East Carolina, said he would not support admitting a student-athlete facing felony charges.

''If it warrants retracting the scholarship, we have done that and would do that,'' Hart said. ''In that case, we don't assess sport or talent or anything else. We just do the right thing.''

Memphis, Rice players take weekly awards

Memphis junior first baseman Adam Amar and Rice junior shortstop Brian Friday have been named the Conference USA baseball hitters of the week for the period ending May 21, the league office announced Monday. Rice junior relief pitcher Bryce Cox was named pitcher of the week.

Amar was 11-for-19 (.579) in four games last week, leading the Tigers to a sweep of East Carolina and the No. 4 seed in the C-USA Tournament. He hit safely in all four games and homered in three. Amar had four total home runs, drove in seven runs and scored five times. He finished one hit shy of tying school and conference records with a 6-for-6 outing on Saturday in which he drove in the game-winning run in the bottom-of-the-ninth inning.

Friday extended his hitting streak to 20 games by recording at least one hit in four Rice road victories last week. He homered in three of the contests and drove in at least two runs in each outing, finishing with four homers and 14 RBI. He scored seven times, had a double, drew a pair of walks and closed the week with a 1.111 slugging percentage.

Cox earned a pair of wins in relief on the road last week, winning at LSU and Marshall. In five combined innings, he did not allow a hit and struck out six with just one walk. Cox struck out four LSU batters in two flawless innings on Tuesday before fanning a pair of Marshall hitters in three innings of relief on Friday.

Lady Vols coach rewarded with fat new deal

Tennessee officials announced Monday that women's basketball coach Pat Summitt was awarded a six-year contract extension with increased compensation, according to ladyvols.com.

The new agreement increases Summitt's annual total compensation package to $1.125 million for the 2006-07 season and runs through the 2011-12 basketball season. Summitt's base salary rises from $300,000 to $325,000.

Summitt also receives monies for radio and television commitments of $350,000, an endorsement fee of $300,000, and a public relations fee of $150,000. Over the life of the new contract, Summitt's compensation will average $1.3 million.

Summitt, who just completed her 32nd season at the helm of the Lady Vols, has kept her elite program in the winner's circle for over three decades. During her tenure, the Lady Vols have won six NCAA titles and 25 Southeastern Conference tournament and regular season championships. They have made 25 consecutive appearances in the Sweet 16 and produced 12 Olympians, 19 Kodak All-Americans and 65 All-SEC performers. Summitt currently has the most wins in Division I basketball with 913.

News Nuggets are compiled periodically based on material supplied by staff members; data published by ECU, Conference USA and its member schools; and reports from other sources. Copyright 2006 Bonesville.net and other publishers. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Page Updated: 02/23/2007 12:48 PM