Williams Is Admitted to Miami

Star football recruit Willie Williams will be admitted to Miami despite a previously undisclosed arrest record, but he must abide by what the school says are tougher academic standards.

University President Donna Shalala said the school has “placed the bar high” for Williams, considered the top high school linebacker by many recruiting services.

“There will be academic conditions that he must meet,” Shalala wrote in a letter released Tuesday. “Additionally, he will participate in a program that we provide for all athletes that provides mentoring, constructive counseling and monitoring of their behavior -- both on and off campus.”

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Williams pleaded no contest earlier this summer in two separate episodes in Gainesville during his official visit to Florida, one of his many pursuers. He faced a felony count of setting off fire extinguishers at his hotel, along with a misdemeanor battery charge for hugging a woman without consent. Each plea resulted in a year’s probation for Williams, whose arrest record dates back to 1999, mainly for theft and burglary. What happened in Gainesville could have sent Williams to jail for a year; he was already on probation for a 2002 felony burglary charge.

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Pro Basketball

Center Mehmet Okur signed a six-year, $50-million deal to join the Utah Jazz.

The Turkish center signed the deal three days short of the deadline the Detroit Pistons had to match Utah’s offer. But knowing they wouldn’t be able to come up with the money, the Pistons let Okur go early.

Emeka Okafor sprained his right ankle during practice for the U.S. Olympic team at Jacksonville, Fla.

Okafor landed awkwardly and turned his ankle during a drill. He was taken for X-rays, which came back negative.

The Miami Heat signed top draft pick Dorell Wright to a three-year contract totaling about $3 million.... The Chicago Bulls signed first-round draft picks Ben Gordon and Luol Deng.... The New Jersey Nets signed 7-foot center Nenad Krstic from Serbia to a three-year contract, two years after they made him their No. 1 pick in the 2002 draft.

Tina Thompson scored 22 points to help the Houston Comets end a two-game WNBA losing streak with an 80-55 win over the Seattle Storm in front of 6,653 at Houston.

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Hockey

The Vancouver Canucks re-signed goaltender Dan Cloutier and center Brendan Morrison to one-year contracts, avoiding salary arbitration.

Cloutier’s deal is worth $3 million. Terms of Morrison’s contract were not released.

The Phoenix Coyotes signed defenseman Derek Morris to a $3.5-million, one-year deal, avoiding arbitration.... Defenseman Dale Purinton re-signed with the New York Rangers. Terms were not released.

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Miscellany

The U.S. advanced to the final of the women’s lightweight quadruple sculls in the first day of the World Rowing Championships at Banyoles, Spain. Also, the U.S. won its heat in the men’s lightweight coxless pair and moved into the semifinals.

Officials in Commerce City, Colo., announced plans to develop more than 360 acres of open land to house a 20,000-seat soccer stadium to be home to the Colorado Rapids of the MLS.

Long Beach State hired Anthony Stewart as assistant men’s basketball coach.

Dane Reynolds of Ventura and Patrick Gudauskas of San Clemente produced high-scoring rides in the closing minutes of their heat to advance to the second half of the round of 128 at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach.

Others who advanced included Dustin Cuizon, Jamie O’Brien, Jason Shibata, Dustin Barca and Pancho Sullivan.