Former Marshall menÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s basketball forward Obinna Anochili-Killen will get his chance in the NBA Summer League with the Dallas Mavericks, reported first by the Athletic on Friday morning.
ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœHuge congrats to OB,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ Marshall menÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s basketball coach Corny Jackson said on X. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœGetting invited to play in the NBA summer league with the Mavs is a big step and a great opportunity to showcase his skills on the big stage. Wishing him the best as he makes the most of this moment.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ
The Mavericks rolled into the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA Draft lottery and selected generational prospect Cooper Flagg from Duke on Thursday. He was the only draft pick for the Mavs.
Mavericks general manager Nico Harrison infamously said that defense wins championships after trading Luka DonÄić, and the pickup of Anochili-Killen certainly furthers that identity by giving an opportunity to one of the most prolific shot blockers in Division I last season.
Anochili-Killen ranked fifth nationally in block rate at 13.1% while also finishing No. 2 in the country in blocks at 102 in 32 games, trailing only Youngstown StateÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s Gabe Dynes, who had 104 in 34 games.
Anochili-Killen and Dynes were the only two players to finish with more than 100 blocks, and Anochili-Killen was one of two in the top five to stand under 7 feet tall.
Dallas also picked up Gonzaga guard Ryan Nembhard, brother of Pacers standout Andrew Nembhard. He was signed as an undrafted free agent. SMU forward Matt Cross has also been listed as a Summer League pickup.
The NBA Summer League opener will be between the Mavericks and the Los Angeles Lakers on July 10 with an 8 p.m. start on ESPN. The Lakers, of course, will be headlined by Bronny James. The Lakers drafted Lachlan Olbrich in the second round and did not have a first-round selection.
Mourning loss of Lee-McNelis
Former Southern Miss womenÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s basketball coach Joye Lee-McNelis died on Tuesday, announced by the Golden Eagles.
ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœWeÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™ll forever cherish the life of coach McNelis and all she gave to Southern Miss and her Lady Eagles,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ Southern Mississippi posted on X. ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœHer story was an inspiration to countless people around the world.ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ
Lee-McNelis was first diagnosed with lung cancer in 2017 and was honored with the 2024 Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award. She was also announced as the first member of the 2025 Memphis Sports Hall of Fame a day before her passing.
Lee-McNelis, 63, was the coach of the Golden Eagles for 21 seasons. In her 34-year coaching career, she amassed 550 career wins. She retired after the 2024-25 season.
In her time at Memphis, Lee-McNelis was the second-winningest coach in Tigers history and led them to four NCAA tournaments.
Lee-McNelis was an athlete at Southern Miss and accumulated 339 wins as coach, reaching the WNIT five times.
ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬœOur thoughts are with our Southern Miss WBB family on the loss of coach McNelis,ÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ MarshallÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s womenÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s basketball account posted.
Wheeler to coach
Former Marshall and Middle Tennessee State womenÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s basketball star and 2019 Kentucky Miss Basketball Savannah Wheeler will join the coaching staff at Johnson Central High in Paintsville, Kentucky.
Wheeler scored 3,621 points in high school at Boyd County and played at Marshall for three seasons. She was an all-Conference USA selection as a freshman and junior and is still the HerdÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s all-time leader in free throw percentage.
Wheeler played two seasons at Middle Tennessee State and was the Conference USA Player of the Year in 2023-24. She was also a first-team Mid-Major All-American and the Conference USA Female Athlete of the Year that season. Wheeler remains the all-time leader in made free throws in the conference. The Blue Raiders reached the round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament that season.
Wheeler played professional basketball overseas before returning home to coach for Johnson Central. The Golden Eagles won the 15th Region tournament last season.
Zerkle crushing in AUSL
Marshall softball coach Morgan Zerkle continues to lead the AUSL in homers, now at five on the season in 12 games. She currently holds a .432 average, ranked fourth among players with 10 or more starts.
The Bandits are tied atop the league standings at 9-3 with the Talons, home of Alabama and East Carter High alumna Montana Fouts.
Zerkle has four doubles and 13 RBIs in her league-leading 19 hits, also stealing a base.
As for Fouts, she holds a 3.00 ERA for sixth in the league. In five appearances and two starts, she has allowed just 12 hits and has struck out 12 batters in 14 innings of work.
The Bandits will next play the Volts (4-8) on Monday, July 7, at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 in a doubleheader that features each of the leagueÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s four teams.
Bodine wins Posey
Coastal Carolina baseball catcher Caden Bodine was named the winner of the Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Award on Thursday.
Bodine had four All-America nods and was the first Gold Glove Award winner in Chanticleers history. Coastal had a nation-leading 56 wins, also a school record, and reached the MenÈËÑýÉ«ÇéƬ™s College World Series finals, losing in two games to LSU.
Bodine hit .318 with a .454 OBP with 42 runs and 24 extra-base hits. Bodine also threw out 19 runners on 44 attempts and tied the Coastal record with 46 runners caught stealing.
