UCLA’s Ariza Hires Agent, Ending His College Career

Forward Trevor Ariza, who averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 25 games as a freshman for UCLA, has hired an agent, ending his Bruin career.

The 6-foot-7, 205 pound Ariza averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 25 games as a freshman.

Ariza signed with Todd Ramasar, who also represents former Bruin Baron Davis, a member of the New Orleans Hornets.

Ariza, 18, who attended Westchester High, is one of two Bruins who declared their intentions to turn professional. But swingman Dijon Thompson, UCLA’s leading scorer last season, has not retained an agent and is enrolled in classes, leaving open the possibility that he could return for his senior season.

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Utah’s Andrew Bogut, who has been considering starting a professional career, plans to return for his sophomore season, Coach Ray Giacoletti said.

The 6-foot-10, 233-pound Australian started every game as a freshman and averaged 12.5 points and 9.9 rebounds. He has been training with the Australian Olympic team.

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Florida State gave Coach Leonard Hamilton a three-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season and a raise of about $7,245 a year. Hamilton is 33-29 in two seasons at the school.

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Louisiana State Coach John Brady was given a $25,000 raise, but no extension to his contract, meaning he has four years left on his current deal. Brady is 120-92 in seven seasons at the school.

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C.J. Giles, a standout 6-foot-10 center from Seattle’s Rainier Beach High, announced that he would attend Kansas. He selected the Jayhawks over hometown Washington.

Tennis

Top-seeded Lindsay Davenport reached the Strasbourg Open quarterfinals in France by defeating Marion Bartoli, 7-6 (5), 7-5.

Davenport next plays Katarina Srebotnik, who routed Julia Vakulenko, 6-0, 6-0.

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Chanda Rubin lost in her return to the WTA Tour when she was upended by Alina Jidkova, 6-7 (2), 7-6 (3), 4-6, in the Vienna Grand Prix in Austria.

Rubin had not played since she injured her left knee at the Pan Pacific Open in February.

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The United States was eliminated at the World Team Cup, losing both singles matches in a 2-1 defeat to Argentina in Duesseldorf, Germany.

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Denmark filed an appeal to a ruling that kicked the country out of the Davis Cup until 2005 because the Danish Tennis Federation refused to send a team to play in Algeria because of security concerns.

Auto Racing

Rookie driver Mark Taylor spun out and hit the wall during practice for the Indianapolis 500. He was not injured.

Taylor qualified for his first Indy 500 last week.

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Robby Gordon, who last week qualified for the Indianapolis 500 and raced in two NASCAR events in Richmond, Va., said he will pass up Busch series races this week and next to give himself extra time to practice for his double May 30.

Gordon plans to drive in the Indianapolis 500 in the morning and Coca-Cola 600 that night.

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Chris Browning was hired as president of Darlington Raceway. He previously managed North Carolina Speedway.

College Football

The game between California and Southern Mississippi, originally scheduled for Sept. 18 in Hattiesburg, Miss., has been switched to Sept. 16, a Thursday night, so it can be televised by ESPN.

California defeated Southern Mississippi, 34-2, last season in Berkeley.

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Wisconsin tailback Dwayne Smith pleaded not guilty to charges that he sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman at a campus area apartment in February. No trial date has been set.

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Albert Trapasso, a punter for Ohio State, was arrested for the second time in less than a month on suspicion of underage drinking. A pretrial hearing is set for June 7

Miscellany

Mike Tyson has been granted a license to fight in Missouri in case promoters decide to bring his next bout to St. Louis. Although no date has been specified, Tyson handlers reportedly are trying to arrange a July 31 bout against journeyman Kevin McBride. Also reportedly in the running to play host to a Tyson bout is Louisville, Ky.

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The Oakland Raiders signed defensive end Bobby Hamilton, who had 46 tackles last season for New England.

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Receiver Eric Parker signed a one-year contract that will keep him with the San Diego Chargers.

He had 18 receptions for 244 yards and three touchdowns last season.

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The Chicago Blackhawks, who finished last in the Western Conference at 20-43-11-8, signed Coach Brian Sutter to a one-year contract extension.