Shaq’s son takes his game to UCLA
UCLA has landed forward Shareef O’Neal, the son of retired NBA great Shaquille O’Neal, as the younger O’Neal signed a grant-in-aid to attend the school this fall. He will enroll in summer school this month.
The 6-foot-10, 220-pounder from Los Angeles played the last two seasons at Crossroads High in nearby Santa Monica. As a senior last season, O’Neal helped the school win the CIF Division II state title for the first time since 1997. He had 29 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks in the title game. O’Neal averaged 27 points as a senior while Crossroads finished with a 25-9 record.
UCLA coach Steve Alford says O’Neal brings a “terrific combination of size, skill and athleticism.” ...
Thirteen North Carolina football players face early season suspensions for selling team-issued shoes. UNC said nine players received four-game suspensions for the secondary NCAA violations. Two players will sit two games and two others will be sidelined for one contest. The list of players include sophomore quarterback Chazz Surratt, who is suspended the first four games . ...
Michigan State cornerback Josiah Scott is expected to miss about two months of the football season after a non-contact injury . . . .
William & Mary says football coach Jimmye Laycock will retire after his 39th season. The 70-year-old Laycock has guided the Tribe to 245 victories, five conference titles and 10 trips to the NCAA playoffs.
Devers powers up with Lowell Spinners
Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers (hamstring injury) had a solo home run and knocked in another run with a groundout while going 1-for-4 at the plate in a rehab appearance with the short-season ClassA Lowell Spinners at LeLacheur Park. Devers also made one error as the Spinners won, 11-3, over the Vermont Lake Monsters.
Venus Williams advances in Rogers Cup
Venus Williams advanced to the second round of the Rogers Cup after a 7-5, 6-1 victory over Caroline Dolehide in Montreal . . . .
Russian qualifier Daniil Medvedev upset 13th-seeded American Jack Sock 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the first round of the Rogers Cup in Toronto . . . .
Russian teenage swimmer Kliment Kolesnikov added a gold and a silver to his European Championships medal haul in just over an hour’s time. Kolesnikov dominated the men’s 100-meter backstroke for his third gold, and returned to the pool shortly afterward to help Russia take silver in the 4x100-meter medley relay. It raised his total to four . . . .
Tom Heckert, a former personnel executive for the Denver Broncos who also served stints as general manager for the Cleveland Browns and the Philadelphia Eagles, has died following a long illness, the Broncos said. He was 51 . ...
The defending Stanley Cup champion Washington Capitals filled out new coach Todd Reirden’s staff by hiring Scott Arniel and Reid Cashman as assistants . . . .
Los Angeles FC has acquired goal-scoring forward Christian Ramirez from Minnesota United FC. LAFC traded $550,000 in cash in a deal that includes a potential $200,000 more depending on future performances by Ramirez, the leading goal-scorer in Minnesota United’s franchise history.