NBA
Two players from state schools were chosen Thursday late in the second and final round of the NBA draft.
Liberty’s Taelon Peter was chosen by the Eastern Conference champion Indiana Pacers with the 54th overall selection. He led the NCAA in “true shooting percentage” at .724, compiling averages of 13.7 points and 4.0 rebounds per game, as well as 45.3% shooting from 3-point range.
Three picks later, at No. 57, Atlantic 10 Player of the Year Max Shulga of VCU was chosen. According to the ESPN broadcast, the Ukrainian wing player will get a chance with the Boston Celtics, who acquired the pick in a trade with the Orlando Magic.
Shulga, a versatile offensive player, hopes to prove his defensive mettle to become an NBA regular.
Earlier, former VCU and Florida State player Jamir Watkins went 43rd overall to the Washington Wizards as their second-round pick.
COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL
Moore named VaSID Player of Year
Brian Moore Jr., then playing for Norfolk State, was named the Virginia Sports Information Directors state University Division Player of the Year. He will play next year as a graduate student for Grand Canyon. Liberty’s Ritchie McKay and George Mason’s Tony Skinn shared Coach of the Year honors.
Moore was joined on the first team by VCU’s Max Shulga, George Mason teammates Jalen Haynes and Jared Billups (the Defensive Player of the Year) and Virginia’s Isaac McKneely.
The second team included Liberty teammates Taelon Peter and Kaden Metheny, Rookie of the Year Bryce Lindsay and his James Madison teammate Mark Freeman, and George Mason’s Darius Maddox.
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL
Grafton players earn all-state honors
Grafton senior third baseman Lantz Williams and senior outfielder Luke Wilz were first-team selections in VHSL Class 3 all-state balloting.
Also making the first team were New Kent senior pitcher Matthew Gentry and senior first baseman Michael Hetzel. Tabb senior outfielder Jayden Farley was a second-teamer.
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER
Jamestown, Warhill standouts named all-state
Several area players gained VHSL all-state honors. Jamestown senior forward Cassidy Liebler, senior midfielder Layne Mills and sophomore defender Kara Kinsman, as did Warhill junior defender Taleah James.
Warhill sophomore forward Ava Alves and sophomore goalkeeper Melody Menker were second-team selections.
BASEBALL
Holly Springs rallies past Pilots in 10th
The Holly Springs Salamanders ended the Peninsula Pilots’ three-game winning streak, overcoming a three-run deficit for a 4-3, 10-inning triumph Thursday night in North Carolina.
Three relievers combined to pitch four scoreless innings for Holly Springs (10-10), yielding just two hits.
Carlos Pena hit his 11th home run of the season in the sixth inning for the Pilots (14-8), and Scotty Young scored on a wild pitch in the seventh for a 3-0 lead.
The Salamanders’ Parker McCoy replied with a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, and Rom Kellis clubbed a tying homer in the ninth.
In the 10th, the Pilots stranded the bases loaded before Holly Springs’ TJ Sunderhaus scored the winning run on an error by pitcher Dylan Morrill.
The Pilots fell despite four shutout innings by starter Curry Sutherland. They saw their Coastal Plain League East Division lead trimmed to a half-game over the Wilson Tobs.
COLLEGE BASEBALL
Former Cavalier named among nation’s top freshman
Tomas Valincius, who pitched for Virginia in 2025 but is rejoining coach Brian O’Connor at Mississippi State next season, was named a first-team Freshman All-America by Perfect Game.
SOCCER
Ivy shuts out Virginia Beach United women
The Virginia Beach United women’s season ended with a 1-0 loss to the host Richmond Ivy at City Stadium. Maci Landel scored in the ninth minute, and that goal stood up as the winner.
VBU (6-4) is second in the USL W League’s five-team Chesapeake Division with 18 points, trailing only Annapolis Blues FC (8-0-1) with 25. The Ivy (4-2-3) has 15 points for third.
COLLEGE WOMEN’S SOCCER
Hampton reveals schedule
Hampton announced an 18-game schedule that includes nine games at the Pirates’ home field, Powhatan Field in Norfolk. The first of those is at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 against Delaware State.
Hampton then will face Howard at Audi Field at 3 p.m. Aug. 17 in the inaugural HBCU Women’s Soccer Invitational. The Pirates’ Coastal Athletic Association schedule will start at Towson Sept. 18.
MORE COLLEGES
UVA’s Walsh nominated for ESPY
Virginia swimmer Gretchen Walsh was among the nominees announced Thursday for the 2025 ESPY Awards, which will take place at 8 p.m. July 16 in Los Angeles on ABC.
She is one of four nominees for Best College Athlete – Women’s Sports, joining Kate Faase (North Carolina soccer), Olivia Babcock (Pittsburgh volleyball) and JuJu Watkins (Southern California basketball).
TENNIS
Ex-Cavalier earns Wimbledon berth
Former Virginia Cavaliers star Chris Rodesch, ranked 163rd in the world, qualified for a Grand Slam event for the first time, winning three rounds in Wimbledon qualifying at Roehampton, England.
Thursday, he beat Marton Fucsovics, the qualifying bracket’s top seed, 6-3, 6-4, 0-6, 7-6 (7-4) to ensure a spot in the 128-man bracket. Fucsovics, 33, has been ranked as highly at No. 31 in the world (in 2019).
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