CNN
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Duke star Cooper Flagg has declared for the upcoming NBA draft after one season with the Blue Devils, both he and the school confirmed on social media.

Flagg said in an Instagram post: “Duke has always been a dream for me, but I’m excited to announce that I’ll be entering my name into the 2025 draft.”

Duke basketball posted a succinct message on its social media: “League next. Duke forever. Thank you, Cooper Flagg!!”

Despite entering the college game at just 17, Flagg cemented himself as one of the top players at that level and why he’s thought to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming 2025 NBA draft. He turned 18 in December, about a month after the season started.

Although Duke fell short in their hunt for a men’s national championship title – losing in the Final Four after Houston made a dramatic comeback in the final minutes – Flagg himself impressed, being named first-team All-American and named National Player of the Year in five of the six awards recognized by the NCAA.

In his one season with the Blue Devils, the Maine native played 37 games, averaging 19.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.4 blocks per game.

“Duke fans, my teammates, the brotherhood, everybody that was along for this journey, it was an incredible year, probably the best year of my life and I have so much gratitude and I feel so blessed for all the opportunities I was given,” he said on Instagram.

Flagg, who stands at 6-foot-9-inches and plays both guard and forward, could be a vital asset to any NBA franchise with his combination of height, size and ball handling skills.

His one and only season at Duke displayed his defensive tenacity, guarding both guards and big-men alike. He previously had been a five-star prospect out of Montverde Academy in Florida.

Flagg made college basketball history in Duke’s 70-67 defeat to Houston in the NCAA tournament semifinal. With his 27 points, seven rebounds, four assists, three blocks and two steals, he became the first player, since defensive stats became official in 1986, to lead a team in all five categories in a Final Four game.

“Today’s just the beginning, but I have that brotherhood with me for life,” Flagg said.

The 2025 NBA draft lottery will be held on May 12 where teams that missed the playoffs will find out which picks they have and who will have the opportunity to select Flagg.

CNN
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It’s been rocky times for quarterback Nico Iamaleava and the University of Tennessee football program.

The 20-year-old ended more than a week long speculation and drama surrounding his future after he announced on Sunday that he committed to play for UCLA next season.

“To the amazing people in Knoxville, thank you for embracing and uplifting me throughout my time there,” Iamaleava said in an Instagram post. “I’ll be forever thankful for the support you showed me every step of the way and I’ll always cherish the relationships I built there and the memories I created with my brothers. I believe with all my heart that I gave my all as a Volunteer. I’m truly grateful for the time I had at UT.”

The Bruins struggled in their first season in the Big Ten, finishing 5-7 under first-year head coach Deshaun Foster.

UCLA was in need of a quarterback after losing last season’s starter, Ethan Garbers, and former four-star recruit Justyn Martin who transferred to the University of Maryland.

Nico is officially a Bruin! Welcome to Westwood, @nico_iamaleava8! #DoMore #DRE pic.twitter.com/75gv4nkCUK

— UCLA Football (@UCLAFootball) April 20, 2025

Earlier this week, Iamaleava entered the NCAA transfer portal, according to On3’s Pete Nakos, with a do-not-contact tag. The designation typically means other schools and coaches should not contact the player as the player wants to initiate dialogue with other programs.

The move came as a surprise after the redshirt sophomore helped lead the Volunteers to the College Football Playoff a few months ago.

Last week, amid reports he wanted to renegotiate his NIL (name, image, and likeness) deal with the program, Iamaleava did not attend team meetings and practices, including the annual orange and white game, where head coach Josh Heupel had strong words for the former five-star quarterback.

“At the end of the day, no one is ever bigger than the program, that includes me too,” Heupel told the Vols Sports Network.

However, later on Saturday, Heupel expanded on the situation, calling it “unfortunate” but extended his gratitude for all Iamaleava has done for the team.

“I want to thank him for everything he’s done since he’s gotten here — as a recruit to who he was as a player,” Heupel told reporters. “And how he competed inside of the building. So we’re in appreciation for that side of it.

“Obviously, we’re moving forward as a program without him. … This program has been around for a long time with a lot of great coaches, lot of great players that came before that laid the cornerstone pieces, the legacy, the tradition that is Tennessee football is going to be around a long time after I’m done and after they’re gone,” Heupel said.

CNN has reached out to Iamaleava through his father but has not heard back.

Iamaleava, in his first full season as the starter, threw for 2,616 yards, 19 touchdowns and five interceptions, which culminated in a 42-17 loss to the eventual national champions, the Ohio State Buckeyes, in the first round of the CFP.

According to ESPN, Iamaleava’s representatives asked Tennessee to renegotiate their NIL deal, asking for somewhere in the $4 million range.

Per the report, if he had stayed with the Volunteers, Iamaleava would have made around $2.2 million next season.

The University of Tennessee football program referred Heupel’s previous comments when reached by CNN.

On3 was the first to report the financial dispute between Tennessee and the starting QB. Iamaleava’s father rejected the outlet’s claims in a post on X.

Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre are the two quarterbacks listed on the Vols roster. Merklinger, a true freshman last season, played in two games. Heupel added the program will look to bring in another quarterback via the portal.

The NCAA’s spring transfer portal opened Wednesday and runs through April 25.

Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
AP
 — 

Oscar Piastri has shown he has the pace to fight for the Formula 1 title. In winning the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix on Sunday, he showed he can win an argument, too.

For the first time this season, a penalty played a key role in deciding a race win as Piastri went top of the standings with his victory.

Piastri’s two earlier wins this season had been dominant drives from pole position. This time he had to get past four-time champion Max Verstappen.

Verstappen started on pole but went off the track when battling for the lead with Piastri at the very first corner. He stayed in front but got a five-second penalty. Piastri argued he had got in front of Verstappen on the inside of the corner and deserved the place.

“Once I got on the inside, I wasn’t coming out of turn one in second,” Piastri said.

“I tried my best. Obviously the stewards had to get involved. I thought I was plenty far enough up and that’s what won me the race.”

Charles Leclerc was third for Ferrari and Piastri’s McLaren teammate, Lando Norris, finished fourth thanks to a smart strategy and overtaking. Norris had started 10th following a crash in qualifying.

It was the second win in a row for Piastri, who took the victory in Bahrain last week and has three wins from five races this year. He’d only won two before this season.

Piastri leads the standings by 10 points from Norris, with Verstappen two points further back in third.

Piastri was three points behind Norris going into Sunday’s race, partly because of a costly spin at his home race in Australia, the first GP of the season.

He becomes the first Australian to lead the F1 standings since Mark Webber — who is now Piastri’s manager — in 2010 as a Red Bull driver. No Australian has won the title since Alan Jones in 1980.

Piastri said the penalty was what gave him the win. He had problems keeping up with Verstappen’s car before the pit stops without damaging his tires.

Piastri beat Verstappen off the line and was slightly ahead into the first corner, only for Verstappen to run wide across the chicane. Following a crash between Yuki Tsunoda and Pierre Gasly seconds later, Piastri and Verstappen argued their cases over the radio while lined up behind the safety car.

Verstappen accused Piastri of forcing him off but the stewards disagreed and gave the Dutch driver a five-second penalty for driving off-track and gaining an advantage. That was “lovely,” Verstappen reacted sarcastically. He had to serve the penalty parked at his pit stop before the crew could touch the car to change tires.

Asked about the incident after the race, Verstappen instead praised the fans and the track and said “the rest is what it is.”

Norris recovered to fourth after starting 10th.

Norris’ strategy was the opposite of most of the field, starting on the slower, longer-lasting hard tires. It meant he briefly led the race after most other drivers had pitted earlier and could have put him in a position to win if there was a incident requiring the safety car or red flag while he was leading.

There nearly was a big crash when Fernando Alonso and Gabriel Bortoleto banged wheels while battling for position near the back of the field. Two-time champion Alonso ran into a runoff area but kept his car under control.