Cory Higgins, a 6-foot-4 shooting guard and son of Golden State Warriors general manager Rod Higgins, will sign to play basketball at Colorado this fall, Rod Higgins confirmed Tuesday.
Higgins starred at Monte Vista High School in Danville, Calif., before transferring during the winter to the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.
Rod Higgins, who played collegiately at Fresno State, played 13 seasons in the NBA, averaging 9.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 779 games with seven teams.
Said Chris Mullin, the Warriors’ vice president of basketball operations: “The kid can really play. I’ve been working with him on his game since he was 4 years old.”
Another player reportedly sought by first-year CU coach Jeff Bzdelik, 6-8 forward Michael Sanchez from Springdale, Ark., canceled a scheduled visit to CU this week and signed Tuesday with Arkansas.
Colorado lacked an open roster spot when Bzdelik arrived in Boulder last month. But 6-11 Marc Van Burck, 6-10 Sean Kowal and 6-3 James Inge are expected to leave the program.
DU sets captains
Three homegrown players will serve as assistant captains for the University of Denver hockey team next season, coach George Gwozdecky announced.
Senior forward Geoff Paukovich (Englewood), junior forward-defenseman J.P. Testwuide (Vail) and sophomore Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood) will wear “AC” patches and serve under captain Andrew Thomas. Thomas, a hard-hitting senior defenseman from Bow, N.Y., has played in 120 of 122 games at DU.
The Pioneers could lose Paukovich to the NHL. The rugged, 6-foot-4 center has been negotiating with the Edmonton Oilers, who selected him in the second round of the 2004 draft.
Wyoming kicker to CU?
CU football coach Dan Hawkins may not have a shortage of candidates to replace Kevin Eberhart after the senior place-kicker completes his eligibility following the 2007 season.
Former Cherry Creek High School all-state pick Aric Goodman was recently granted his release from Wyoming, and Rivals.com is reporting he will transfer to CU. Goodman, who made 10-of-16 field goals with a long of 52 yards last fall as a freshman, must sit out the 2007 season as a transfer under NCAA rules. He would have three seasons of eligibility with the Buffaloes.
CSU adds two transfers
New Colorado State men’s basketball coach Tim Miles added two players to his roster: forward Andy Ogide and guard Willis Gardner.
Ogide (6-8, 245 pounds) played at Mississippi last season and will have to sit out one season but will have three years of eligibility. He played in five games last season as a freshman.
Gardner (6-1, 175) will enroll this fall and can play immediately with two years of eligibility. He played at Ohlone College in Fremont, Calif., averaging 11.0 points and 4.2 assists. He was named the Coast Conference MVP.
