Powe to Explore His NBA Options

After good news about his surgically repaired left knee, California forward Leon Powe made himself eligible for the NBA draft Wednesday but does not plan to sign with an agent yet, giving him the option to return for his junior season.

Powe announced the decision a day after he was examined in Colorado by Dr. Richard Steadman, who performed operations on Powe’s knee two years ago.

Powe has until June 18 to withdraw and go back to school.

The 6-foot-8, 240-pound Powe averaged 20.5 and 10.1 rebounds last season.

As expected, Gonzaga forward Adam Morrison, who led Division I in scoring with a 28.1 average, says he will skip his senior season and make himself eligible for the NBA draft.

Seimone Augustus, who led Louisiana State to the Final Four for the third straight season, won the Honda Award as the nation’s top female college basketball player for the second consecutive year. Augustus, the first pick in the WNBA draft, also signed with the Minnesota Lynx.

PRO FOOTBALL

49ers Obtain Second

First-Round Pick

The San Francisco 49ers added a second first-round pick in next week’s NFL draft by trading their second- and third-round picks to Denver for the 22nd overall selection.

The 49ers, who already have the No. 6 pick, sent the 37th and 68th overall choices to the Broncos. Denver still has the 15th overall pick, obtained from Atlanta.

Joey Harrington said he has reached a contract agreement with the Miami Dolphins and will join the team as the backup quarterback to Daunte Culpepper whenever the Detroit Lions trade or release him.... The Dallas Cowboys signed former Houston Texan safety Marcus Coleman, 32, to a one-year contract.... The Avengers’ game against the New York Dragons has been moved to Sunday at 7:30 p.m. to free Staples Center for the Clippers to open the NBA playoffs there Saturday against the Denver Nuggets.

SOCCER

U.S. Achieves

Highest Ranking

The U.S. moved up one spot into fourth place in April’s FIFA world rankings, the Americans’ highest showing.

Defending champion Brazil kept the top spot. The Czech Republic remained second, followed by the Netherlands.

Kolo Toure scored his first goal of the season in the 41st minute at London, giving Arsenal a 1-0 win over Villarreal in the first leg of the European Champions League semifinals.

TENNIS

Federer, Nadal Easily

Advance in Monaco

Top-ranked Roger Federer and defending champion Rafael Nadal cruised into the third round of the Monte Carlo Masters in Monaco.

Federer beat Alberto Martin, 6-0, 6-1, in 46 minutes, and Nadal defeated Jean-Rene Lisnard, 6-4, 6-1.

JURISPRUDENCE

Utah State Quarterback

Charged and Banished

Utah State freshman quarterback Jerod Walker was charged with aggravated sexual assault, then kicked off the team.

Walker, arrested last week after a woman accused him of raping her in his campus apartment April 9, also was cited by campus police Monday for misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

The drunk-driving trial of Cleveland Cavalier forward LeBron James’ mother, Gloria, was delayed until May 30 in Akron, Ohio, so one of her attorneys can recover from eye surgery. She was booked Jan. 20.

HIGH SCHOOLS

Compton Dominguez’s

Jennings Set to Transfer

Compton Dominguez sophomore guard Brandon Jennings, ranked the No. 1 point-guard prospect for his class by scout.com recruiting service, is transferring to national powerhouse Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, sources close to the family confirmed.

Russell Westbrook, a late-developing 6-foot-3 senior guard from Lawndale Leuzinger who averaged 25 points last season, has committed to UCLA.

MISCELLANY

Peterson Absolved

Over Car Buying

Oklahoma sophomore running back Adrian Peterson did not violate NCAA regulations by buying a car and returning it several weeks later, the school’s compliance department said.

Seven-time and defending world surfing champion Kelly Slater remained undefeated through two Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour events with a triumph at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach in Torquay, Australia.

Discreet Cat, who has not lost in three starts, will not run in the Kentucky Derby or any of the other Triple Crown races.

First Samurai is another 3-year-old who won’t be running in the Derby after a poor showing in the Blue Grass Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland. He hasn’t won since the Champagne Oct. 8 at Belmont Park.

-- Bob Mieszerski