Lady Raiders fall in Region Semifinals

Safety Tony Jefferson wants to come out of retirement and play in 2024, according to Bleacher Report. Jefferson, 32, last played for the New York Giants in 2022 and announced his retirement in May 2023. He spent last season as a scouting intern with the Baltimore Ravens, a team with which he spent four seasons. "Jefferson has stayed in shape, has been training, and wants to play again," per Tuesday's report. "He intends to start talking to teams in the near future." Undrafted out of Oklahoma in 2013, Jefferson appeared in 113 games (67 starts) with the Arizona Cardinals (2013-16), Ravens (2017-19, 2021), San Francisco 49ers (2021) and Giants (2022). He recorded 492 tackles, 9.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles and four interceptions. --Field Level Media

Croatian forward Igor Milicic has withdrawn from next month's NBA draft and will play at Tennessee in 2024-25, CBS Sports reported Tuesday. The 6-foot-10 Milicic is a two-time transfer who played the last two seasons at Charlotte after one year at Virginia. He averaged 12.8 points and 8.5 rebounds and sank 56 3-pointers in 31 games (30 starts) for the 49ers in 2023-24. He made the All-American Athletic Conference third team. Milicic has career averages of 8.5 points and 5.1 boards in 82 games (52 starts) at Virginia (2021-22) and Charlotte (2022-24). The 2024 NBA Draft is scheduled for June 26-27. Underclassmen have until Wednesday to withdraw their names from draft consideration. --Field Level Media

Two women sue K Brandon McManus, alleging sexual assault

Former Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus has been accused of sexually assaulting two women on a team flight last year. McManus and the Jaguars are named in a lawsuit by women identified as Jane Doe I and Jane Doe II, filed last Friday in Duval County, where Jacksonville is located. The women said the Jaguars did not provide a safe environment for staff on the flight, which took the team to London for consecutive games last fall. They allege McManus of rubbing and grinding against them during the flight. Jane Doe I said McManus tried to kiss her and Jane Doe II said McManus "smirked and walked away" after she confronted him about grinding against her. McManus and his attorney have yet to respond to the lawsuit, which is seeking more than $1 million in damages and a jury trial. "We're aware of the complaint, and we acknowledge the significance of the claims," the Jaguars said in a statement released Monday night. "As we continue to look into the matter, it bears emphasizing that we insist on an organization built by people who represent our community and game with the highest character and class." McManus was not re-signed by Jacksonville this offseason and has since joined the Washington Commanders on a one-year, $3.6 million contract. "Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus," the Commanders said in a statement. "We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon's representation, and will reserve further comment at this time." McManus, 32, spent the first nine years of his 10-year NFL career with the Denver Broncos and signed with the Jaguars in May 2023. --Field Level Media

Former Arkansas forward Trevon Brazile is withdrawing from the 2024 NBA Draft, Field of 68 reported Monday. The 6-foot-10 junior had entered the transfer portal May 1. He participated in the NBA draft combine earlier this month in Chicago and averaged four points, 1.5 rebounds and one assist in two scrimmage games. Listed in some projections as a second-round selection, Brazile reportedly was told by NBA team executives that he should stay in college and play at least one more season. Brazile started 23 of 26 games last season for Arkansas, averaging 8.6 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocks. He also missed seven games due to knee soreness. He had played in only nine games in the 2022-23 campaign when he sustained a season-ending torn ACL. He was averaging 11.8 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. The Missouri native had transferred to Arkansas from Missouri, where as a freshman he averaged 6.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 1.9 blocks. Brazile's former coach at Arkansas, Eric Musselman, is now at Southern California, while John Calipari has taken over in Fayetteville. --Field Level Media

Florida guard Walter Clayton Jr. withdrew from the NBA draft on Monday and will play another season in Gainesville, the university said. After multiple reports indicated Clayton was coming back to Florida, the rising senior appeared to confirm it with a minute-long highlight clip posted to social media. The deadline for early-entry prospects to withdraw from the NBA draft and retain college eligibility is Wednesday. Clayton completed a strong first season at Florida after transferring from Iona last spring. Clayton averaged 17.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.6 assists over 36 games (all starts) for the Gators, who made the NCAA Tournament as a No. 7 seed. Clayton also made 93 3-pointers on a 36.5 percent clip. In 100 college games (71 starts), he owns career averages of 14.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.2 steals per game, with a 38.5 percent rate from 3-point range and an 88.1 percent clip from the foul line. Back at Florida, he will be the centerpiece of a backcourt with returning starter Will Richard and Alijah Martin, who is transferring in from Florida Atlantic. --Field Level Media

Creighton starting guard Steven Ashworth will return for one more season in the program, he announced via Instagram on Monday. "Can't wait for year 2 as a Bluejay!" wrote Ashworth, who spent his first three college seasons at Utah State. Ashworth will be joined back in Omaha, Neb., by star center Ryan Kalkbrenner, who withdrew his name from the NBA Draft earlier this month. Ashworth averaged 11.1 points, 4.2 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game in his first season at Creighton. He shot 52.6 percent on 2-point attempts and 90.7 percent from the free-throw line. Ashworth started all 35 games as the Bluejays advanced to the Sweet 16. He transferred to Creighton off a highly productive year at Utah State that saw him average 16.2 points while shooting 43.4 percent from the 3-point arc. In 132 college games (77 starts), Ashworth has career averages of 10.8 points, 3.8 assists, 2.8 rebounds, 41.3 percent shooting from the field and 39 percent from 3-point range. --Field Level Media

Former five-star recruit D.J. Wagner reportedly is the latest player to follow coach John Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas. ESPN reported Monday that the 6-foot-4 guard from Camden, N.J., committed to the Razorbacks after considering Southern California. Wagner, the son of former NBA player Dajuan Wagner, started 28 of his 29 games as a freshman at Kentucky last season and averaged 9.9 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 rebounds. Wagner was ranked No. 6 nationally in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports and No. 4 by ESPN. Calipari departed the Wildcats to take over the SEC rival Razorbacks in April. Since then, former Kentucky players Adou Thiero and Zvonimir Ivisic have transferred to Arkansas and recruits Boogie Fland, Billy Richmond and Karter Knox have flipped their commitments. --Field Level Media

Former Texas standout Mike Cotten died Saturday after a brief illness, the university announced Sunday. He was 84. Cotten went 17-4-1 as the starting quarterback between 1959-61 and also played defensive back during his Longhorns' career. Cotten guided Texas to a 10-1 record and No. 3 final ranking in 1961. The Longhorns qualified for the Cotton Bowl and beat Ole Miss 12-7 with Cotten named the game's most outstanding player. Cotten was inducted into the Texas Athletics Hall of Honor in 1981. --Field Level Media

Career quarterback Malik Cunningham's future with the Baltimore Ravens is at wide receiver, as the team made it official during OTAs the past week. The Ravens had claimed Cunningham, then a rookie, off the New England Patriots' practice squad in December 2023. The intention was that he would develop into a backup at QB for fellow Louisville product Lamar Jackson, now a two-time NFL Most Valuable Player award winner. Cunningham, 25, had played six snaps at QB in one game for New England, which had moved the former undrafted free agent between the practice squad and active roster while trying to settle its quarterback situation. He took four snaps in one game for Baltimore last season and has yet to throw a pass. Baltimore's QB room includes Jackson, 38-year-old journeyman Josh Johnson, sixth-round draft pick Devin Leary and undrafted free agent Emory Jones. The Ravens' receiving corps includes veterans Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor as well as fourth-round pick Devontez Walker. In five seasons at Louisville from 2018-22, Cunningham threw for 9,664 yards and 70 touchdowns and ran for 3,182 yards and 50 touchdowns. He and Jackson share the school record for most rushing scores. --Field Level Media