College Basketball notes

Former Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey, who worked as an analyst on the SEC Network last season, was hired as Alabama’s associate head coach Wednesday.
Former Arkansas Coach John Pelphrey, who worked as an analyst on the SEC Network last season, was hired as Alabama’s associate head coach Wednesday.

ALABAMA

Pelphrey hired

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- Alabama has hired former Arkansas coach John Pelphrey as associate head coach.

Crimson Tide Coach Avery Johnson announced the hiring on Wednesday. Pelphrey was head coach at South Alabama from 2002-07 before spending four years leading the Razorbacks program.

He's also had two stints as a Florida assistant, including from 2011-15.

Pelphrey worked as an analyst for ESPN and the SEC Network last season.

The former Kentucky player was inducted into the Wildcats' Hall of Fame in 2005 and had his jersey retired after his senior season, in 1992.

He replaces former assistant coach Scott Pospichal.

Utah

Poeltl to enter draft

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah center Jakob Poeltl announced Wednesday that he is leaving school to enter the NBA draft after a spectacular sophomore year in which he improved his game in virtually every way.

Poeltl made his plans known during a news conference at the Utah basketball practice facility. The 7-foot Austrian said he enjoyed the college experience, making the decision more difficult, but said this is the next step in his basketball progression. He has yet to hire an agent.

"I don't regret anything about coming here, about staying a second year," said Poeltl. "I really wanted to stay for two more years, but I think it's a necessary step for me. At the end of the day it was a decision that was logical to me."

Poeltl was named a second-team All-American and was the Pac-12 Player of the Year. He ranked No. 2 in the Pac-12 with 17.2 points per game, No. 4 with 9.1 rebounds per game and No. 1 with a 64.6 shooting percentage. Poeltl was the first Ute to surpass 600 points in a single season since Andrew Bogut in 2004-05.

The Utes advanced to the Sweet 16 during his freshman year and Poeltl returned despite being expected to be a first-round pick. He is now projected as a lottery pick.

Poeltl was honored at the end of the season as the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year and the NABC's Pete Newell Big Man of the Year.

OKLAHOMA

Kruger's son joins staff

NORMAN, Okla. -- Oklahoma Coach Lon Kruger has added his son to his staff.

Kevin Kruger, 32, returns to Norman after spending the past two seasons as an assistant coach for Northern Arizona. Before that, he was a graduate assistant for the Sooners during the 2013-14 season.

Kevin played at Arizona State from 2003-06. After earning a criminal justice degree there, he transferred to UNLV to play for his father, who was the head coach for the Runnin' Rebels before moving to Oklahoma. In his one season at UNLV in 2006-07, Kevin earned All-Mountain West third-team honors and helped the squad reach the Sweet 16.

Oklahoma still has one assistant coaching position to fill after Lew Hill and Steve Henson left to take head coaching jobs.

MIAMI

Australian guard signs

CORAL GABLES, Fla. -- Australian guard Dejan Vasiljevic has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball for the Miami Hurricanes.

The 6-2 Vasiljevic was born in Canada but grew up in Melbourne, Australia, and has extensive international experience. He has played in the FIBA World Championships the past three years and was named to the all-tournament team in 2014.

Vasiljevic won a national title with the Victorian U-18s team, was the captain of the U-17 Australian team and played in the 2015 Basketball Without Borders Camp.

FLORIDA STATE

Mutombo nephew signs

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Mfiondu Kabengele, the nephew of former NBA standout Dikembe Mutombo, has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball at Florida State.

Kabengele, a 6-foot-9 forward from Burlington, Ontario, averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds this past season at Don Bosco Prep in Crown Point, Ind. He also had offers from Wisconsin, Georgetown, Kansas State, Georgia and Boston College.

During the early signing period this past November, the Seminoles added Jonathan Isaac, who is considered one of the top forwards in the nation, along with guards Trent Forrest and CJ Walker. Florida State was 20-14 this past season and made it to the second round of the NIT. It hasn't made the NCAA Tournament since 2012.

Sports on 04/14/2016

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