Paced by his 33 points last week against Colorado State, Colorado sophomore Cory Higgins on Monday became the first member of the CU men’s basketball team to earn Big 12 player of the week honors in almost three years — since Richard Roby received the award in back-to-back weeks in January 2006.
“(Higgins) had a special game, at a special time,” Colorado coach Jeff Bzdelik said Monday.
Also, sophomore forward Casey Crawford (ankle sprain) was able to participate in some parts of practice Sunday and could be ready for CU’s home game Friday against Prairie View A&M, Bzdelik said.
Former South star Willhite dies.
Nick Willhite, a star pitcher at Denver South High School in the late 1950s who went on to play for the L.A. Dodgers, died of cancer Sunday in Salt Lake City. He was 67.
Willhite was a mainstay at South under coach Dick Yates. The Rebels won state championships in 1958, 1959 and 1960. “Nick Willhite was awfully good,” teammate Wally Livingston said. “He was among the first pitchers from here, along with Stan Williams at East, to sign with a major-league team.”
Willhite signed with the Dodgers’ organization for a reported $50,000 bonus after his prep career. Services are scheduled for Monday in Salt Lake City.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
Rockies will play two in Las Vegas.
The Rockies will finish off their 2009 Cactus League season in Las Vegas. The club said its final two exhibition games will be against Seattle on April 3-4 at Cashman Field. After leaving Las Vegas, the Rockies will return to Arizona to open the regular season April 6 against the D-backs.
