Notes

KANSAS Wiggins declares for draft

LAWRENCE, Kan. - Kansas freshman Andrew Wiggins made official Monday what he’s been telling folks all along: He’s headed to the NBA after his only season with the Jayhawks.

The 6-foot-8 forward, who was voted second-team All-America earlier in the day, is expected to go in the top three picks in the June draft. Many believe he could go first overall.

“It wasn’t an easy decision because the fans showed me so much love here,” said Wiggins, choking up briefly during a news conference at Allen Fieldhouse. “I just wish I had more time. College goes by so fast. I can see why people stay all four years.”

Wiggins was the top-rated recruit when he arrived at Kansas, and his brief career was a bit of a roller coaster. He struggled early in the season, caught fire midway through, and then flamed out when it mattered most in an NCAA Tournament loss to Stanford.

Wiggins only scored four points on 1-for-6 shooting in the third-round defeat. Afterward, he said despondently that he let his team down with his poor performance.

That ultimately didn’t have any bearing on his decision, though. He announced he was going pro while joined by Kansas coach Bill Self, his parents - former NBA player Mitchell Wiggins and Olympic silver medalist Marita Payne Wiggins - his older brother Mitchell Jr., and several of his teammates, including fellow freshmen Wayne Selden and Joel Embiid.

Selden has already announced he’s returning for his sophomore season. Embiid has not made a decision, even though he’s also expected to be a top-five pick in the draft.

Wiggins certainly had a historic season at Kansas. The Canadian averaged a freshman-record 17.1 points and nearly six rebounds per game, and was voted the AP’s Big 12 freshman of the year and first-team all-conference.

CALIFORNIA Montgomery retires

BERKELEY, Calif. - When Mike Montgomery walked off the court last week following an NIT loss to SMU, he had a sneaking suspicion that it was time to retire after more than four decades and 1,000 games as a basketball coach.

After waiting a few days to make sure his initial feeling wasn’t solely about the normal fatigue that comes at the end of a long season, Montgomery made it official on Monday when he retired after a remarkable coaching career.

“It’s all good, it’s all positive,” he said at a news conference. “It’s all for the right reasons. I feel really good about my decision at this time. I just think it’s time.”

Montgomery, 67, got emotional a few times during his retirement announcement, especially when talking about the commitment from his family, including son John, who was an assistant on his staff.

The Golden Bears went 21-14 and made the postseason for the sixth time in as many years under Montgomery but missed out on a return trip to the NCAAs. Montgomery’s final victory at Cal was a 75-64 triumph over Arkansas last Monday in the second round of the NIT.

Montgomery finishes his career with a 677-317 record - including a 130-73 record at Cal. He also spent 18 years at Stanford and eight at Montana. Montgomery had two disappointing seasons as head coach of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors in between his stints at Stanford and Cal.

WASHINGTON STATE Kent hired

Athletic director Bill Moos once hired Ernie Kent to turn Oregon around. He’s now done the same at Washington State.

Kent was hired Monday as the Cougars’ new men’s basketball coach, giving him another shot at leading a Pac-12 Conference program four years after he was let go by Oregon. Kent’s mission is significant: try to revitalize a program that has gone downhill in the past five seasons, both in terms of record on the court and interest in the stands.

Kent agreed to a five-year contract to leave behind his current job as an analyst for the Pac-12 Networks and re-enter the coaching ranks. He’ll be introduced at a press conference on the Washington State campus on Wednesday. The hiring may not bring the headlines Washington State got when Moos hired Mike Leach as his football coach, but Kent understands the situation he’s inheriting.

Kent replaces Ken Bone, who was fired on March 18 after five seasons during which the Cougars were unable to match the success they had under his predecessor, Tony Bennett. Bone was 80-86 overall and just 29-61 in the Pac-12, never making the NCAA Tournament.

But while the record was glaring, the empty seats in the arena stood out even more to Moos. The Cougars averaged less than 3,000 fans per game at home this past season as apathy overtook the program.

Moos saw firsthand at Oregon that Kent could create the kind of buzz and excitement he wants for the Cougars. Moos hired Kent in 1997 to take over the Ducks program after six seasons at Saint Mary’s.

During 13 seasons at Oregon, his alma mater, Kent took the Ducks to five NCAA Tournaments, including two trips to the Elite Eight. He’s the winningest coach in Oregon history, going 235-173.

SOUTH FLORIDA Antigua new coach

TAMPA, Fla. - South Florida hired Kentucky assistant Orlando Antigua as its new basketball coach on Monday.

Antigua has spent the past six seasons working under John Calipari, five of them at Kentucky, which is making its third trip to the Final Four in four years.

Antigua, 41, replaces Stan Heath, who was fired after compiling a 97-130 record in seven seasons. Heath coached at Arkansas in 2002-2007.

The hiring comes less than a week after the Bulls had an agreement in principle with Manhattan’s Steve Masiello. The deal fell apart because Masiello doesn’t have a college diploma, one of the requirements for the USF job.

• The Associated Press