Roundup: Carrick Felix defies the odds to make NBA roster again
The NBA regular season begins Tuesday, and one of the best feel-good stories at the start of the year is that former Arizona State Sun Devil Carrick Felix defied the odds to make the Washington Wizards’ regular-season roster nearly three years after suffering a horrific kneecap injury in the G League with the Santa Cruz Warriors that could have ended his career. Candace Buckner of The Washington Post delivers us this feature on Felix’s road from being a special education student to the NBA. Personal aside – I was at the game that Felix snapped his kneecap in two and was on the bus that picked him up at the hospital that night before the 4-hour drive back to Santa Cruz from Bakersfield – he somehow had good spirits that night. Considering how team trainers weren't sure if he'd play another basketball game at any level, I didn’t think I’d see him in an NBA uniform again. This is awesome.
Washington left tackle Trey Adams and cornerback Jordan Miller are out for the season, head coach Chris Petersen announced Monday (ESPN). Adams tore the ACL in his right knee, while Miller broke an ankle.
Big loss – Cal inside linebacker Devante Downs is out for the year with a “lower body injury,” the school announced Monday. Downs is the team’s leader in tackles, interceptions, sacks, forced fumbles and fumble recoveries.
Washington State coach Mike Leach said he doesn’t have plans to follow Bill Moos to Nebraska (Associated Press). Moos, the former Washington State AD, took the same position at Nebraska on Sunday.
UCLA’s Hall of Fame Class of 2017 will be honored at halftime of Saturday’s football game against Oregon. The inductees are Toby Bailey (men’s basketball), Robin Beauregard (women’s water polo), Monique Henderson (track & field), Maurice Jones-Drew (football), Bob Larsen (track & field and cross country coach), Kristen Maloney (gymnastics), Brandon Taliaferro (men’s volleyball) and Gina Vecchione (softball) in addition to football coach and athletic department staffer Bobby Field.
Stanford running back Bryce Love is closing the gap on Saquon Barkley in the USA TODAY Network Heisman Survey, trailing the Penn State running back by just one point now (Love has been second for a few weeks now).
Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota was a “complete stud” in leading the Titans to a 36-22 Monday night victory over the Indianapolis Colts, according to his tackle Taylor Lewan (NFL.com). Playing with a hamstring injury that forced him to pretty much stay in the pocket all night, Mariota was 23-of-32 through the air for 306 yards.
Days after being released by the Atlanta Hawks, who acquired him in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, former Wildcat Richard Jefferson is signing a one-year deal with the Denver Nuggets, The Vertical reports.
Former Oregon State guard Gary Payton II signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, the team announced Tuesday. Payton played in six games with the Bucks at the end of the season last year.
Utah punter Mitch Wishnowsky was named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week, it was announced Monday. Wishnowsky averaged 46.8 yards per punt on six boots while pinning the Trojans inside the 20-yard line thrice.
Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated ranks Sam Darnold the No. 1 quarterback in the 2018 NFL Draft class. UCLA’s Josh Rosen is No. 2, while Washington State’s Luke Falk is No. 4.
Check out this Pac-12 Networks video feature on Colorado outside linebacker Derek McCartney, the grandson of legendary Buffs football coach Bill McCartney.