Iverson expected to sign with Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies confirmed Wednesday they have agreed in principle to a contract with Allen Iverson, hours after the guard said on Twitter he was heading to Memphis. The team scheduled a news conference today at FedExForum.

Iverson would become the highest-profile player ever to put on a Grizzlies uniform.

“We anticipate signing him to a contract very soon,” Grizzlies General Manager Chris Wallace said.

The New Orleans Hornets agreed to trade reserve point guard Antonio Daniels and a 2014 second-round draft pick to Minnesota in exchange for forward Darius Songaila and guard Bobby Brown.

Ronny Turiaf had a double-double and Tony Parker had 17 points to help France beat defending champion Russia, 69-64, and finish the group phase undefeated at the European basketball championship in Warsaw.

The Russians managed to squeeze into the next round despite Latvia’s beating Germany, 68-62, to force a three-way tie in the group behind first-place France. In Group C, world champion Spain beat Slovenia, 90-84. Both teams will move into the next round.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Gillispie reported to be in rehab

A television station is reporting that former Kentucky coach Billy Gillispie said he has checked into an alcohol-related rehabilitation program since his arrest on a drunk-driving charge last month.

Houston station KRIV reported that Gillispie said he was taking responsibility “by going to spend some time with John Lucas in Houston. He’s got the John Lucas Athletes After Care Program. He’s going to deal with some alcohol issues for me.”

Samford basketball player Jim Griffin, 23, was found dead in his dorm room.

The body of the senior from Chicago was discovered Tuesday morning in his room. A university news release indicated Griffin, a reserve forward, died in his sleep after playing in a pickup game and lifting weights Monday night.

The Jefferson County, Ala., coroner’s office said results of an autopsy would be released in about two weeks.

BOXING

Mosley-Clottey bout in the works

Promoters for Pomona’s World Boxing Assn. world welterweight champion “Sugar” Shane Mosley and respected contender Joshua Clottey have struck an oral deal for a fight, but when and where the bout will be staged remains unclear, according to boxing sources, including Clottey’s promoter Bob Arum.

Mosley and his promoter, Golden Boy Promotions, want the bout to be Dec. 26 at Staples Center, and a Staples executive said Wednesday that AEG has cleared the date for the bout. Mosley has won two title fights at Staples, beating Oscar De La Hoya in 2000 and Antonio Margarito in January.

But cable TV powerhouse HBO doesn’t like the idea of a boxing card one day after Christmas, and wants the Mosley-Clottey fight to be in January -- in Los Angeles or Las Vegas. The decision is now with Mosley and Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, neither of whom were available for comment Wednesday.

-- Lance Pugmire

CYCLING

Valverde holds on to Vuelta lead

American rider Tyler Farrar won the 11th stage of the Spanish Vuelta, and Spanish rider Alejandro Valverde remained the overall leader in Caravaca de la Cruz, Spain.

Thor Hushovd of Norway won the third stage of the Tour of Missouri, outsprinting the pack in the final meters in Rolla, Mo. The race concludes Sunday in Kansas City.

MISCELLANY

Rallying around a Grant teammate

Members of the 1986 City Section champion Van Nuys Grant High baseball team are expected to take part in a pay-for-play softball game 1 p.m. Sunday at the school, with proceeds going toward medical therapy for Pat Chawki, who was an outfielder on that team. Chawki has a rare disorder that has left him fully cognitive but unable to speak, eat or walk. Information: www.goodgirlsgive.org or (818) 355-3549.

Ice Edge Holdings has pulled out of bidding for the bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes but hinted it may try to buy the team later. The partnership issued a statement that it was withdrawing because of the inability to reach a lease agreement with the city of Glendale.

Former world and Olympic champion Stacy Dragila, 38, has ended her 14-year pole vaulting career with a second-place finish at the DecaNation track and field meet in Paris.