C6 Sunday, april 26, 2020 ••• richmond TimeS-diSpaTch

SPORTS BRIEFS colleGe Wake Forest moves on from Manning

RALEIGH, N.C. — Danny Manning never built a winner at Wake Forest. Now the school is looking for a new coach and direction. Wake Forest fired Manning on Saturday after losing seasons in five of his six years with one NCAA tour- nament appearance. The move came more than six weeks after the Demon Deacons lost to Pittsburgh in the opening game of the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament, ending the season shortly before the coronavirus pandemic led to a shutdown of college and professional sports. The decision came after what athletic director John Currie called an “overall evaluation” of a program with two winning seasons in the past decade going back to the days of Jeff Bzdelik. Manning, a former No. 1 overall NBA draft pick, went 78-111 in Winston-Salem with a 30-80 mark in ACC regular-season games. Those league struggles included a 6-49 mark in league road games and 1-6 in the ACC tournament. nBa Players allowed to return to team facilities ANDREW SHURTLEFF/THE DAILY PROGRESS MIAMI — NBA players will be allowed to return to Virginia forward threw down a reverse alley-oop from in a 60-42 victory over Columbia in team training facilities starting Friday, provided that Charlottesvile. The 7-foot-1 forward averaged 8.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2 blocks this past season. their local governments do not have a stay-at-home order prohibiting such movement still in place as part Teel big star.” of the response to the coronavirus pandemic. Huff’s star turns in February and Any workouts that take place would be voluntary From Page C1 March were years in the making. and be limited to individual sessions only, according He scored 16 points in his UVA to a person familiar with the league’s decision. The basketball career that has tested his debut, a November 2017 rout of person spoke to The Associated Press on Saturday on patience and faith. Family, team- Austin Peay, but only 25 the rest of condition of anonymity because the directives from mates, friends and coaches are the season. He appeared in a scant the league were not released publicly. among those he has leaned upon 12 games and logged just 13 min- Group practices would not be allowed yet, and whether riding the bench against utes in four ACC cameos. teams will not yet be permitted to organize in-person North Carolina Greensboro in 2017 Huff’s potential was much more workouts. or blocking 10 shots against Duke evident during his redshirt sopho- But as certain states and municipalities began loos- two months ago. more season. He scored in double ening restrictions on personal movement, the NBA The reigning national champi- fi gures three times against con- decided it was time to let players return to their prac- ons ended this past regular season ference opponents, most notably tice courts — if only on a limited basis. Georgia and on an eight-game winning streak, at Louisville, where his 12 points, Oklahoma are among the states that have allowed transforming from January enigmas seven rebounds and two blocks some businesses to reopen and some cities in Florida to March contenders. Huff was a helped the Cavaliers overcome a 10- are expected to loosen their stay-at-home policies centerpiece, averaging 14.3 points, point halftime defi cit. in the coming days, even though health officials are 7.7 boards and four blocked shots in But Huff did not start a game, warning that such moves are being made too quickly. closing victories over Duke, Miami and when Bennett shortened his For those teams in cities where stay-at-home or- and Louisville. rotation during the NCAA tourna- ders still make such a return impossible, the NBA said His emergence wasn’t shocking. ment, Huff’s minutes virtually van- it would work to find “alternative arrangements,” the Indeed, during the 2016-17 season ished. As always, life away from person with knowledge of the matter said. an NBA scout projected that Vir- the court, intellectual and spiritual This move does not mean that a resumption of ginia’s two best NBA prospects were pursuits, trumped any basketball games is imminent. Still, the decision to let teams freshmen sitting out the year as red- disappointments. back into facilities is a significant step. shirts: De’Andre Hunter and Huff. A national championship ring Hunter was the fourth overall didn’t hurt either. BaSeBall pick of last year’s draft, and Huff, a “Putting Christ fi rst has been the 7-foot-1, 243-pound forward, could focus for him,” Weiglein said, “and I Official says Manfred tried to blackball ump well be a fi rst-rounder in 2021. think he’s cared a lot about his wit- “I’ve always thought that was the ness on the team and at UVA in gen- NEW YORK — A major league official testified he goal,” Huff said of the NBA, “and felt eral, regardless of how much playing suggested Ángel Hernández be removed from consid- like I had a chance at that.” time he was getting.” eration for the 2015 because he did not Little wonder, given his size, DANIEL SANGJIB MIN/TIMES-DISPATCH With four starters departing from think Commissioner Rob Manfred would approve the bounce and shooting touch. But the title group, Huff had ample op- to work baseball’s premier event. though Huff’s self-confi dence never “He gets it. He gets that portunity to earn additional minutes Hernández sued in 2017, al- wavered, there were long stretches there’s this outward in 2019-20. He took full advantage, leging race discrimination and cited his failure to be when he played sparingly and/or starting 18 of 30 games and averag- assigned to the World Series since 2005 and MLB’s ineffectively. expression of our faith ing 24.9 minutes, 8.5 points, 6.2 re- failure to promote him to crew chief. He lacked strength, consistency bounds and two blocks. Documents and depositions from pretrial discov- and defensive acumen. But he ... We take those church Huff recorded his fi rst UVA dou- ery were filed late Friday night and early Saturday in didn’t lack support, the essential ble-double with 11 points and 12 U.S. District Court in Manhattan as part of Hernán- reason he didn’t join the legions of walls into a community.” rebounds in an opening victory at dez’s motion for a partial summary judgment. college athletes who transfer at the youth pastor Brad Turnage, Syracuse. He fi nished a shy A member of the big league staff since 1993, the fi rst hint of adversity. on Jay huff ’s outreach in the community of a triple-double with 15 points, Cuba-born Hernández worked the World Series in “Stay ready,” UVA coach Tony nine boards and the aforemen- 2002 and 2005. He was not picked after Joe Torre was Bennett tells reserves, a mantra that nator of sports performance at the tioned 10 blocks against Duke. His hired in 2011 to head baseball operations. can grow stale. Duke human performance lab that fi nal rejection, of Vernon Carey Jr., Steve Palermo, an umpire supervisor, sent an email “I would not say I’m a naturally carries Krzyzewski’s name. preserved the Cavaliers’ 1-point lead on Oct. 16, 2015, to Randy Marsh, the director of um- patient person,” Huff said. “I get But Huff was sold on the Cava- in the waning seconds. piring, recommending Hernández for the World Se- road rage in traffi c, just like most liers, in large measure because he Four nights later, Huff scored Vir- ries along with , , , people.” and Bennett bonded over faith. ginia’s fi rst 17 points at Miami and Dale Scott, and . Palermo copied Older teammates who had red- “That’s obviously everyone’s own added nine rebounds. Though he Torre and Peter Woodfork, the senior vice president shirted — Devon Hall, and individual journey,” Bennett said, didn’t score again, his contributions of baseball operations. — offered encour- “what they believe in their faith walk, were vital in a 46-44 win. Woodfork forwarded the email to Matt McKendry, agement, as did Bennett and his staff. but … for both of us, that is obviously “He’s always had the talent and senior director of umpire operations, and wrote on Huff’s parents helped immeasur- the most important thing in our life.” athletic ability,” Salt said. “To see top: “Four new umpires and the guy in the middle of ably, their counsel rooted in not only Huff quickly found spiritual homes him put those together this year has the largest debacle.” love but also experience. Kathy Huff at UVA’s Chi Alpha Christian Fellow- been awesome to watch. It’s hard Woodfork sent a text message to Torre, the chief played at West Vir- ship and Charlottesville’s Meadows here. You don’t play straight away baseball officer, on the afternoon of Oct. 16 that read: ginia, Mike Huff at Pacifi c Lutheran, Presbyterian Church. He met his girl- usually, and you really have to put in “Angel is going to be a no for Rob.” and they instilled in Jay abiding de- friend, Lindsay Knights, through Chi the hours, and Jay’s done that.” Rich Rieker, director of umpire development, sent votion to God and basketball. Alpha and connected at Meadows Huff was stronger, more con- an email to Woodfork later that day, stating: “I do not But there were many others. courtesy of Turnage — Meadows’ as- fi dent and, perhaps most impor- know the totals. They are just suggestions. Put who “I think his being part of the big- sociate pastor for congregational life, tant, more instinctive on defense, you and Joe want in from the suggestions. Take Ángel ger college community and the big- Mike Weiglein, was a Duke Divinity whether hedging on a perimeter ball out if you want. Any supervisor or director that told ger Christian culture at UVA has classmate of Turnage’s. screen or blocking a shot at the rim. any umpires about any lists should be disciplined.” really kind of carried him though Even as he redshirted as a fresh- “I thought it was really good, per- During a deposition last June 21, Woodfork testi- those diffi cult times,” Turnage said. man, Huff, who carries a double- sonally speaking,” Huff said of the fied he did not recall Manfred telling him he did not Turnage inspired Huff’s post-bas- major in religion and youth and season. “I’d like to think the defense want Hernández in the World Series. Woodfork testi- ketball ambition to serve as a youth social innovation, occasionally spoke for itself, and the way I was fied “I took a presumption on the situation.” pastor. The two met at Blacknall joined local teens who played bas- able to help the team was impactful.” Hernández’s suit alleges violations of the Civil Memorial, the Huff family’s home ketball on the makeshift court in Huff submitted paperwork to Rights Act of 1964, New York and Ohio state law and church, when Jay was in middle Meadows’ parking lot. the NBA’s Undergraduate Advi- the New York City administrative code. MLB has de- school, and for all of his teen play- “I wish it could happen more,” sory Committee, but the coronavi- clined comment. fulness, there was a very mature Huff said. “Basketball for me was rus pandemic may cancel the draft spiritual foundation. always something fun growing up, combine, limiting his ability to get auTo racinG Huff read the Bible passages Tur- and I still like to take the opportu- an accurate gauge. Turning pro is an nage suggested and mentored other nity when I can to play ball for the intensely personal, and often fl uid, F1’s Norris wins in IndyCar iRacing debut Blacknall students. His warmth was sake of playing ball. There is also decision, but returning to Virginia especially evident in 2016 when, as the hope that this might be a way for a fi fth season seems the most Formula One driver Lando Norris embarrassed a chaperone for a youth-group trip to reach young people who might probable course. the field in his IndyCar iRacing debut by dominating to a Florida campground, he be- not otherwise come to church, and Regardless of his next basketball Saturday’s race at virtual Circuit of the Americas in friended an injured camper. while that wasn’t the motivation at journey, Huff will be comforted and Texas. “I remember that trip well, and I the time, I truly do think that it can guided by faith, his aspiration to The 20-year-old British driver is a skilled iRacer and remember that student who broke be a way to reach people.” serve as a youth pastor foremost. competed in the virtual event for Arrow McLaren SP, his leg,” Huff said. “I think part of Huff’s touch with young folks isn’t “He gets it,” Turnage said. “He an IndyCar team that McLaren partnered with for this it was that I had gotten hurt a lot as limited to teenagers. He quickly be- gets that there’s this outward ex- season to enter the American series. a kid, such as broken fi ngers and came a big brother to Weiglein’s two pression of our faith, that we don’t His victory snapped a three-race iRacing winning things of that nature, so I recognized children, attending birthday parties build churches and put up signs streak for Team Penske that included consecutive vic- that he would be really bummed out or just hanging out. and say be part of our community, tories by Simon Pagenaud. not being able to do everything. I Indeed, Weiglein’s 7-year-old son, but we take those church walls into Norris overcame a spin after his pit stops, then tried to take that opportunity to get Presley, recently told his dad among the community. And I think that’s a a challenge from Arrow McLaren rookie Patricio to know him and make it as enjoy- the worst parts of coronavirus home large part of youth ministry. He gets O’Ward. able as possible for him.” quarantine is no wrestling with Huff. that. He gets that ministry is about IndyCar had planned to compete next race at “a Huff committed to Virginia in “It’s great watching him with moving toward people and building dream track” not currently on the circuit for what is May 2015, prior to his senior year at kids,” Weiglein said. “They just those friendships and connections supposed to be the series’ iRacing finale. Instead, the Voyager Academy, where he played swarm to him. For a kid who’s 3-feet and relationships and sharing that series announced after the race it will compete next for his father. Days before his an- tall to have this 7-foot guy bend love of Christ.” weekend at Indianapolis Motor Speedway in a 175- nouncement, Duke assistant coach down and talk to you and lay down Is Huff wise beyond his years? mile event for a 33-driver field. The league will give Nate James texted requesting a fi nal on the ground and let you jump on “In some ways,” Turnage said. “In guaranteed spots to all full-time IndyCar entrants, as chance for the Blue Devils to make him — what a great thing. … other ways, he’s a complete goof- well as any winner of a previous iRacing event, which their case. “He’s just a really humble guy. ball. In so many ways, he’s such makes Norris, Australian V8 SuperCars champion Duke had just won the national There’s no sense of conceit about a kid. And in so many ways really Scott McLaughlin and part-time IndyCar driver Sage championship, its fi fth under Mike him in any way. … He’s just Jay. wise and thoughtful and caring. I’ve Karam eligible. Krzyzewski, and Mike Huff had He’s part of this church community. never met anybody like him.” — The Associated Press worked seven years as the coordi- … There’s no sense of him being the @ByDavidTeel