COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Henrico High defensive back/wide receiver Javion Randall announced Thursday on Twitter that he has committed to Old Dominion for the class of 2024.
The 5-11, 175-pounder, who is unranked by 247Sports.com and Rivals, had the Monarchs among his final four schools along with Virginia Tech, James Madison and Yale. He had Virginia, Duke, William & Mary and Richmond among other schools on his initial list.
Bluebloods honors two NSU players
Norfolk State defensive back R.J. Coles and wide receiver Tremayne Talbert have been selected to the Bluebloods Preseason MEAC second team.
Coles, an All-MEAC second-team selection last season, finished third on the team in total tackles with 63 and a sack and an interception.
Talbert was second on the team in receptions with 35 and had 343 yards.
W&M duo make Shrine Bowl 1000 list
William & Mary All-Americans Nate Lynn and John Pius have been selected to the East-West Shrine Bowl 1000.
The list recognizes the country’s top 1,000 all-star game-eligible players who will be considered for the 2024 NFL draft class.
Pius was runner up for the 2022 Stats Perform Buck Buchanan Award, which honors the national defensive player of the year in the FCS. He ranked fourth nationally in sacks (11.5) and fifth in tackles for loss (19).
Lynn earned postseason All-America honors each of the past two seasons and finished ninth in the final voting for the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award. He had 20 sacks, 26.5 tackles for loss and 10 forced fumbles the past two seasons.
YOUTH BASEBALL
York County team wins state tourney
The York County Little League 9-11 All-Star baseball team won the 9-11 State Tournament for the first time by edging West Springfield 7-6 in the championship game.
Ayden Allsbrook pitched a complete game, striking out six and walking two for York County.
The team will now compete in the Tournament of State Champions beginning July 29 in Wilson, North Carolina.
The team is managed by Nick Ham, who is also York High’s baseball coach.
PRO BASEBALL
Ex-UVA trio sign with MLB teams
Three former University of Virginia players who were MLB draft selections have signed contracts with their respective teams.
Third baseman Jake Gelof, a second-round selection of the Los Angeles Dodgers, signed for $1,334,400, according to MLB Pipeline.
Pitcher Connelly Early, a fifth-round pick of the Boston Red Sox, signed for $408,500.
Outfielder Ethan O’Donnell, a sixth-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds, reached a $307,500 deal.
WOMEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Report: Four-star player picks Hokies
Four-star recruit Lexi Blue, a 6-2 wing player from Lake Highland Prep in Orlando, Florida, has committed to Virginia Tech, according to ESPN.
She is ranked No. 31 in ESPN’s top 100 prospects for the class of 2024, making her the highest-rated recruit since Kenny Brooks has become the head coach.
- Janko Popovic has been promoted to UVA assistant coach/video coordinator for the women’s basketball team.
Briefly
- The Virginia and Virginia Tech men’s basketball teams have earned NABC Team Academic Excellence Awards. Meanwhile, six UVA players (Ben Vander Plas, Chase Coleman, Francisco Caffaro, Jayden Gardner, Kadin Shedrick and Tristan How) and two Virginia Tech players (Grant Basile and Hunter Cattoor) made the NABC Honors Court.
- The Norfolk Admirals signed forward Denis Smirnov to a standard player contract for the 2023-24 season. The 25-year-old played in 39 games with the Admirals last season, scoring nine goals and adding 12 assists.
- The Detroit Lions placed rookie quarterback Hendon Hooker (knee), a former Virginia Tech star, on the active/NFI list to open training camp.
