Sophomore Chauncey Billups Leaves Colorado for NBA

Colorado point guard Chauncey Billups confirmed Friday that he will skip his final two years of college eligibility to make himself eligible for the NBA draft.

Billups, an Associated Press second-team All-American who led Colorado to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1969, is projected to be one of the top 10 players drafted this summer.

The Boston Globe reported that Providence point guard God Shammgod would turn pro, but he issued a statement saying he’s staying in school.

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Dan Buie, 25, who overcame personal problems to become a high-scoring forward for Washburn, gave up his senior year to enter the NBA draft.

Buie briefly attended USC, but struggled academically and in basketball and wound up at Washburn.

Buie and his wife have six children--three of theirs and three of hers from a previous marriage--and he had said previously that he was having a difficult time financially.

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Six of the nine women eligible to play next year at Maryland are considering leaving the school, citing intimidation by Coach Chris Weller, who was reprimanded by the school.

Weller had been accused of “mental abuse,” including complaints she withheld meal money from one player and belittled her in front of teammates, according to the player’s father. Athletic Director Debbie Yow said Weller had agreed to change her coaching style.

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Cincinnati point guard Charles Williams said he has received anonymous phone messages containing racial slurs and might not return to school next season.

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Arizona’s Mike Bibby and Eugene Edgerson apologized for comments they made during a victory rally at the university’s football stadium.

Edgerson, a freshman reserve forward, said, “I just want to tell all those critics who didn’t believe in us to go to hell.” Bibby thanked the fans for coming out, and said, “Anybody who didn’t think we were going to win, go to hell.”

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Billy Kennedy, who spent the past four years as associate head coach at California, was hired as head coach at Centenary College.

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One day after Kevin Bannon left to become the coach at Rutgers, Rider University promoted associate coach Don Harnum to head coach.

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Ticket orders received at the Pond of Anaheim for the 1998 NCAA Division I men’s West Regional have exceeded the number of available tickets, according to Big West Conference and Pond officials. Those who have applied will be notified about the status of their orders within three weeks.

Football

Free-agent cornerback Cris Dishman is leaving the Houston Oilers after nine years to play for the Washington Redskins. Dishman, 31, reportedly signed a four-year deal. . . . The Pittsburgh Steelers traded defensive lineman Brentson Buckner to Kansas City in exchange for the Chiefs’ seventh-round draft choice this year. . . . The Green Bay Packers and quarterback Steve Bono have reportedly agreed to a deal that will allow him to join the team after the Kansas City Chiefs release him.

Wide receiver Nate Singleton and running back Corey Croom, both unrestricted free agents, signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. . . . The New England Patriots announced linebacker Todd Collins has re-signed with the team. . . . The Chicago Bears signed tight end Keith Jennings to a one-year contract.

Jurisprudence

A former Texas football player was sentenced to six months’ confinement for his role in a bank fraud scheme. Craig Curry, 34, of Houston, who once played for the Longhorns and currently is a financial advisor to professional athletes, was ordered to spend three months in a halfway house and three months at home under electronic monitoring.

Jay Davern, a starting linebacker for Texas Christian, has been kicked off the team. The junior was arrested Thursday and faces charges of assault by threat and public intoxication.

Miscellany

Greg Clancy scored 1:46 into overtime to give Team Canada a 5-4 victory over Team USA in the World University Championship at Detroit.

The United States won both its matches in the World Cup of Freestyle Wrestling at Stillwater, Okla., defeating Germany and Cuba.

Alex Zanardi is in contention for a record sixth consecutive PPG CART series pole position after the first round of qualifying at the Australian IndyCarnival at Surfers Paradise.

Continuing rain caused NASCAR to declare the first-round qualifying for Sunday’s Interstate Batteries 500 at the Texas Motor Speedway a washout.

Former UCLA football coach Terry Donahue was named the winner of the Robert R. Neyland Memorial Trophy, given in honor of the longtime Tennessee coach and athletic director. The award will be given April 19 in Knoxville.

Australian boxing trainer Cec Waters, awaiting trail on a murder charge, died of a heart attack in Sydney, Australia. He was 70.