College basketball notebook: Ex-Georgia coach Fox takes Cal job

[March 30, 2019]  California has hired Mark Fox as the Golden Bears' next basketball coach, the school announced Friday.

Contract length and terms were not announced.

"Mark Fox is a man of unparalleled integrity with a proven record of success as a head basketball coach," athletic director Jim Knowlton said in a prepared statement. "He is an inspiring leader, a teacher and an exceptional communicator who has displayed a strong commitment to developing the entire student-athlete on the court and off the court. We had an exceptional pool of candidates, and through the entire process, one person clearly rose to the top."

Fox, 50, who was fired by Georgia following the 2017-18 season, spent last fall serving with USA Basketball as an assistant coach to Jeff Van Gundy for the World Cup Qualifying team. He also coached Nevada from 2004-09, compiling a 123-43 record and earning three NCAA Tournament berths. In nine seasons at Georgia (2009-18), his teams went 163-133 with two tournament appearances.

--Former Chicago Bulls and Iowa State head coach Fred Hoiberg might be landing on his feet in his hometown, after he had discussions with the Nebraska Cornhuskers about becoming their next men's basketball coach.

According to sources at ESPN, Hoiberg, who was born in Lincoln, Neb., was first approached about the position in February, when Tim Miles was still coaching the team. The two sides have had talks about the position throughout the week.

Sources told ESPN that an agreement with Hoiberg, 46, could be reached before next week. He was expected to be at the NCAA Tournament in Washington, D.C., on Friday, when his son Jack's Michigan State team faces LSU in the East Regional.

--St. John's guard Shamorie Ponds will bypass his senior season to enter the NBA draft, the school announced.
 

Ponds said that he will hire an agent. That will prohibit him from later deciding to return to school.

Ponds finished his career as the fifth-leading scorer in school history with 1,870 career points. He averaged 19.7 points, 5.1 assists and 2.6 steals this past season.

--After flirting with the NBA last year, Tyus Battle stuck around for his junior season at Syracuse.

This time around, Battle says it's time to move on as he thanked fans in a farewell letter. "I have made the decision to embark on the next chapter of my life to pursue a professional basketball career. I am confident that I am ready because of you," the letter reads, in part.

Battle, who averaged 17.2 points per game this season, has been Syracuse's leading scorer the past two seasons.

--Field Level Media

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