Jalen Hood-Schifino Signs his contract with the Los Angeles Lakers
Former Indiana basketball guard Jalen Hood-Schifino has officially signed his rookie contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. The team announced the addition of Jalen Hood-Schifino and fellow draft pick Maxwell Lewis on Saturday night. Hood-Schifino is in line for a four-year contract worth up to $17.9 million, according to the rookie salary scale. His contract includes $3.7 million in year one, with the assumption he signs for 120 percent of the standard rookie scale, which according to Hoops Rumors ‘virtually every first-rounder does’. Hood-Schifino was the 17th overall selection in the 2023 NBA Draft last month. In his lone year at Indiana, he averaged 13.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game.
In his first game in the Las Vegas Summer League Hood-Schifino started and played 29 minutes as the LA Lakers beat the Golden State Warriors 103-96. Hood-Schifino scored 9 points on 3-11 shooting 0-1 from three-point range 3-6 from the free throw line. 5 Rebounds, 3 Assists, 4 Steals and 1 block. On Sunday he started and played 31 minutes as the LA Lakers beat Charlotte 93-75. Hood-Schifino scored 15 points on 5-10 from the field 2-2 from 3-point range and 3-6 from the free throw line. he had 3 rebounds, 5 assists,1 block and 1 turnover. The Lakers play the Celtics Wednesday Night at 10pm on ESPN at the Thomas and Mack Center on the UNLV Campus.
Former Indiana University Basketball Player Race Thompson to miss NBA Summer League
Former Indiana forward Race Thompson’s next basketball move is uncertain. The Minnesota native signed a summer deal with the New York Knicks, and he was supposed to play for the franchise this week in Las Vegas. But according to multiple reports, Thompson is dealing with right knee soreness, and he’ll miss the Knicks summer league action throughout the duration of the summer league which goes through July 17. Thompson also injured his right knee in January and missed four games. The 6-foot-8 forward could have used the summer league to land a training camp invite and perhaps a contract with a G-League team. He’ll likely still try to pursue those routes, and he should also have a wide range of options overseas if Thompson wants to look that direction.
Thompson spent six years at IU, including a redshirt freshman season. He was a team captain in 2022-23 and started in 29 of 30 games he played. Thompson averaged 8.4 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game and shot 49.2% (97-of-197) from the floor. For his Indiana career, Thompson scored 997 points and added 718 rebounds, 131 assists, 117 steals and 107 blocks in 131 games. Thompson’s friend and teammate at IU Trayce Jackson-Davis has also missed the early part of the summer league with a hamstring injury but is expected to make his summer league debut later this week.
Franklin HS Outfielder Max Clark Selected by the Detroit Tigers 3rd overall in the MLB Draft In most drafts, a five-tool player like Franklin outfielder Max Clark would be a surefire pick to go No. 1 overall, but the 2023 MLB draft has been touted as one of the deepest draft classes in recent memory. With rumors swirling leading up to Sunday’s draft that Clark could be the pick for Pittsburgh at No. 1, ultimately the Pirates chose to go in a different direction, selecting LSU pitcher Paul Skenes. Clark didn’t have to wait long, however, as the left-handed outfielder was selected third overall by the Detroit Tigers. Clark said he plans to sign an under-slot deal with the Tigers for a $7,698,000 bonus, which is the value of the No. 4 overall pick. The No. 3 overall pick came with a bonus slot value of $8,341,700. The Tigers’ selection makes Clark the state’s highest draft pick since Bryan Bullington (Ball State) went No. 1 overall in 2002. The highest an Indiana player was drafted straight out of high school was when Kokomo’s Pat Underwood, Detroit, went No. 2 to Detroit in 1976.
Clark has been viewed as a potential first-round pick before he ever played an inning of high school baseball. He’s ranked as the No. 1 or No. 2 high school prospect in the 2023 class by most publications. He hit .646 with nine doubles, five triples, six home runs, 52 walks and five strikeouts in 28 games as a senior at Franklin. He also stole 35 bases. His performance led him to Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year honors. Getting selected in the MLB draft is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, but it’s also the first step in what the Tigers are hoping is a fruitful major league career. Tigers’ scouts have been watching Clark for several years, and this past winter, there were at least two trips to the local facility in Indiana where he trains. A trio of Tigers Harris, assistant general manager Rob Metzler and scouting director Mark Conner set the groundwork for a long-term relationship through in-person meetings and the Tigers hosted Clark for a workout at Comerica Park on June 13.
Indiana University Volleyball announces new Assistant Coach and Staff Promotions
Indiana volleyball head coach Steve Aird announced the addition of Kevin Hodge as a full-time assistant coach for the program along with promotions for the other three members of his 2023 staff. In accordance with an NCAA proposal put into effect July 1, which increases the number of countable coaches in specific sports, women’s volleyball programs are allowed three paid assistant coaches beginning in the 2023 season, eliminating the previously designated volunteer role.
Rachel Morris was promoted to associate head coach while continuing her duties as the team’s recruiting coordinator. Brett Agne was elevated to a full-time assistant coach while also serving as the program’s technical coordinator. Hallie Enderle now assumes the title of director of operations. “I’m excited to finalize our staff and get to work on the 2023 season. I am grateful for IU Athletics and their continued support of the volleyball program,” Aird said. “Our staff has a great mix of experience and energy. We will work hard to give this group every opportunity to succeed as we continue to grow and develop. We feel good about the trajectory of the program and the quality of the people within it. I’m thrilled to add Kevin to the mix and very proud of all the hard work the staff has put in this spring and summer. They are bright, hardworking, loyal people that truly love what we are building in Bloomington.”
Kevin Hodge | Assistant Coach – Dublin, Ohio
Hodge joins the IU program after working as the Director of Girls Indoor Recruiting at WAVE, California’s premier club volleyball program, since 2015. He took on a variety of roles for the club, most notably being named 2019 National 17’s Club Coach of the Year. At Penn State, Hodge played four seasons Nittany Lion Men’s Volleyball team from 1998-2002 where he was a teammate of Aird’s. Hodge helped lead Penn State to four consecutive Final Four appearances and was named to the EIVA All-Tournament team in 2001.
“First and foremost, I would like to thank Head Coach Steve Aird and Athletic Director Scott Dolson for giving me the incredible opportunity to be a part of this amazing athletic department, volleyball program and conference,” Hodge said. “I am beyond grateful to be a part of the Indiana University Volleyball staff. I truly believe that with this staff, group of athletes and support of the entire athletic department, Indiana Volleyball will continue to climb the ranks of the B1G and make waves on a national level. I have always believed in person before athlete and intend to bring that same mentality to Bloomington.”
Following his playing career, Hodge served three years as a volunteer assistant coach under legendary Penn State women’s volleyball head coach Russ Rose. The Nittany Lions won three-straight Big Ten titles (2003-05) in those three seasons. He would serve one year as an assistant coach in 2006 at the University of Cincinnati, overlapping with Aird once again in the Queen City. Hodge began his club coaching journey in 2007 with Team Z out of Cincinnati before moving out to Southern California. Hodge has spent time working with the Junior Volleyball Recruiting Association (JVRA) as the Advisory Board Chair and has helped coach some of the nation’s premier talent at WAVE. Often regarded as one of the top coaches in the region, Hodge will assume his role in Bloomington effective immediately ahead of the 2023 season.
“I have known Steve for over 25 years. From being teammates at Penn State, to coaching club volleyball at multiple clubs around the country, and now having children the same age, I don’t have the words to truly express how excited I am to be able to work alongside him once again,” Hodge said. “He has been one of the great mentors throughout my career and he is far more than just a friend, he is family. I have also had the privilege of working side by side with Rachel at the club level, both coaching and administratively, and I hold her in the highest regard not just as a coach, but as a leader of young women in our sport.”
Rachel Morris | Associate Head Coach and Recruiting Coordinator- Manhattan Beach, Calif.
Morris, entering her second year on staff, has been named associate head coach while continuing her duties as the recruiting coordinator. A graduate of the University of Oregon, Morris works directly with the setters, helping Camryn Haworth to First Team All-Big Ten honors in 2022. An AVCA Regional Coach of the Year and recipient of the AVCA’s 30 under Thirty award, Morris has expansive coaching experience at the high school, club and collegiate levels. She worked with Hodge at WAVE and helped coach sophomore opposite hitter/middle blocker Avry Tatum in club and high school volleyball from 2018-2021.
“I am beyond grateful to Steve for this promotion to Associate Head Coach. This program, department, university and all of Hoosier Nation have impacted my life in ways I could have only imagined when I took this job last winter,” Morris said. “Steve is someone who truly has a gift of seeing just how great people can be, well before they can see it in themselves. He continues to give us all, staff and athletes, the space to grow and make a difference at the highest level.”
During the 2022 campaign, Morris helped lead the Hoosiers to a 16-16 record including a 9-11 finish in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers won nine conference matches for the first time since 2010 and finished eighth in the Big Ten, the highest team’s finish since the conference expanded to 14 teams. IU beat No. 5 Ohio State and No. 25 Michigan on the road, marking the first season in program history with multiple road victories over ranked teams. The win over the Buckeyes was the first over a top-five team on the road in program history and the second-highest ranked win in the team’s history.
Brett Agne | Assistant Coach and Technical Coordinator- South Lyon, Mich.
Agne, who enters his third year on staff at IU, has been promoted to assistant coach for the first time in his career. He will continue his duties as technical coordinator as well. “I’m extremely excited to get started as an assistant coach with IU and continuing the great progress we made last season and into the spring,” Agne said. “I wouldn’t be in this position without Coach Aird and I’m super grateful for him and this program.”
A graduate of Bowling Green in 2018, Agne got his start in the club game working extensively with Premier Volleyball Academy in Ohio. During his time at PVA, he worked as a coach and academy league coordinator while serving as one of the most important figures in the club. From 2019-2020, Agne served as the technical coordinator for the Toledo volleyball program helping to run practices, create scouting reports and breakdown film for athletes and coaches.
“It’s a really big moment for the NCAA and volleyball community,” Agne said. “To see tech people take over assistant jobs at some of the top places in the country is really cool. If you’re behind the scenes, you know how important those people are and how much volleyball IQ they have. It’s really good for the sport.” Agne began as IU’s technical coordinator in 2021 before being elevated to Director of Volleyball Operations in 2022. He has served in a variety of roles during his time in Bloomington including as assistant coach through the spring season in 2023. He will continue his current role while taking on an expanded on-court coaching presence for the Hoosiers during the 2023 fall season.
Hallie Enderle | Director of Operations-Mankato, Minn.
Enderle, who enters her second year on staff, has been promoted to Director of Operations where she will continue to oversee travel coordination, equipment management, meals and all day-to-day athlete and coach needs for the Hoosiers. A four-year player at Central Michigan, Enderle works full-time for the Indiana volleyball program while also pursuing her PhD in School Psychology from IU. She graduated from CMU with a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation in 2016.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and honored to continue my journey with Indiana Volleyball as the Director of Volleyball Operations,” Enderle said. “I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Aird and IU Athletics for the opportunity to be a part of this program. Working with this staff and these athletes has been one of the greatest joys of my life. I am beyond excited for my second season.”
In 2021, Enderle served as Head Coach for Northern Indiana Volleyball Association’s 18-1s, bringing home a USAV National Championship at the 18 Patriot Division. Previously, Enderle served as the head coach for ages 14-16s for Krush Volleyball Club for four seasons and head varsity coach for Beal City High School for one season. Currently, Enderle is in her second-year coaching and overseeing operations for BTown Volleyball Club. “Hallie is so passionate about her role and cares very deeply about the staff and the athletes in this program,” Aird said. “Her energy is incredible, and we are so fortunate to have her on board. I know she will continue to do amazing things and work extremely hard in this role.”
2023 Staff Roles:
Steve Aird – Head Coach, Rachel Morris – Associate Head Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Kevin Hodge – Assistant Coach
Brett Agne – Assistant Coach/Technical Coordinator and Hallie Enderle – Director of Operations
Four Indiana University Women’s Golfers earn WGCA All-American Honors
Four members of the Indiana women’s golf program were acknowledged on the 2022-23 WGCA All-American Scholar Team, the Women’s Golf Coaches Association announced. Senior Valerie Clancy, junior Morgan Dabagia, graduate transfer Alexis Florio, and sophomore Beatriz Junqueira were recognized with the prestigious honor after displaying excellence in the classroom and on the golf course.
The criteria for selection to the All-American Scholar Team are some of the most stringent in all of college athletics and continue to demonstrate the high-level academic achievements of our players. To be selected, a student-athlete must hold an overall cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher, be an amateur and on the team’s roster through the conclusion of the team’s season, and have played in 50% of the college’s regularly scheduled competitive rounds during the year nominated through the team’s conference championship.
Dallas Wings hand the Indiana Fever their Seventh Straight Loss
In a game featuring 13 lead changes, the Indiana Fever (5-14) had another close matchup end in defeat on Sunday to the Dallas Wings at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 77-76. All-Star rookie center Aliyah Boston was the leading scorer for Indiana in the loss as she notched 18 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the court. Forward NaLyssa Smith followed close behind in the scoring column with 17 points, while All-Star reserve Kelsey Mitchell added 12 points and a team-high four assists. In addition, Erica Wheeler contributed nine points, Lexie Hull pitched in seven points and Grace Berger came off the bench to record a career-high in the scoring column on 2-of-2 shooting for 5 points to go along with three assists. Berger the Former IU Star played 14 minutes, missed a free throw attempt, pulled down a rebound and had a steal. Five Fever players recorded at least six rebounds in the loss, highlighted by Boston’s eight rebounds. Smith, Wheeler, Hull and Victoria Vivians recorded six rebounds each. The occasion marked the first time five Fever players had recorded at least six rebounds in a game since Indiana beat the Seattle Storm on August 20, 2020.
Though opening the game shooting 55.6 percent (5-of-9) from the court, the Fever offensive pace slowed midway through the quarter as they finished the first frame shooting 8-of-19 (42.1 percent) from the floor. Boston added six points on a perfect 3-of-3 shooting clip within the first ten minutes of play, and Mitchell dished out three assists in support. Dallas shot 60 percent from the field and finished the first frame ahead, 27-17, in the midst of what would extend into a 23-8 scoring run in the beginning of the second quarter. The Wings extended their lead to as many as 13 to start the second quarter, but a 12-0 Indiana run lasting three minutes allowed the Fever to reduce the deficit to one point. The Indiana scoring run, which eventually expanded to 19-6 after another three minutes, was capped off by a Smith three-point play that allowed Indiana to take the lead with 22.1 seconds remaining in the half. In addition, the Fever held the Wings to a season-low 11 second quarter points as they outscored Dallas, 21-11. A Natasha Howard completed layup sent the teams into the locker room tied, 38-38, at the half.
The third quarter was efficient out of the locker room for the Fever as an 8-of-13 shooting clip in the first eight minutes of the half-allowed Indiana to extend to as many as eight points. Mitchell caught fire and guided Indiana in the scoring attack as she notched 10 of her 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting from the floor and 2-of-3 shooting from behind the arc. The Wings caught up to the Fever with an 8-0 scoring run and tied the matchup going into the final frame, 59-59. Though Indiana took possession of and held the lead for the first five minutes of the fourth quarter, it was Wings guard Arike Ogunbowale that helped to take back the lead and propel Dallas to the win as she rattled off 14 of her 20 second half points in the last six minutes of play alone. Indiana was just shy of regaining the lead after a made layup from Smith brought the Fever within one point with 35.7 seconds remaining in regulation, but the Fever were unable to convert on their last possession following two missed free-throws from Teaira McCowan.
For the Wings, Dallas was led by Ogunbowale, one of its two All-Star starters, who netted 28 points on 10-of-20 shooting from the court. Ogunbowale also recorded five assists and shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. Forward Natasha Howard pitched in 16 points to the win to go along with eight rebounds. Dallas, who entered the matchup leading the league in both offensive rebounds and total rebounds, was held to 33 total rebounds and nine offensive rebounds. The Wings also shot a season-low 15.4 percent (2-of-13) from behind the arc. The Fever play the last home game before the WNBA All-Star break on Wednesday afternoon against the New York Liberty at Noon ET. Wednesday’s game will be broadcast on the official Indiana Fever Facebook page.
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