Offseason workouts and team activities around the NFL are in full swing, and the Kansas City Chiefs are excited about what they've seen so far.

Plenty of new faces, both through free agency and the draft, are looking to make an impact in Kansas City. This has created an upswing in competition and depth thus far in the new season.

One of those additions is new backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, replacing the retired Chad Henne. Chiefs coach Andy Reid says Gabbert is the perfect fit to serve behind Patrick Mahomes.

Longtime offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy is now with Washington, and that means Matt Nagy is once again in charge of the Kansas City offense. Mahomes says that while the system is the same, the verbage and details are different with a new coach.

The Chiefs also have an exciting wide receiver room, wih free agents Kadarius Toney, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and John Ross, as well as young talents from the draft in Skyy Moore, Rashee Rice, and Justyn Ross.

Mahomes says the receiver room is deep, and he is excited for the competition that will unfold in training camp.

Kansas City will finish off 17 offseason team workouts before reporting to training camp in St. Joseph in the summer.

The Field Kindley High School girls' and boys' track teams see success at the State Meet.

The Nado sent 15 track athletes to compete at State and nine of those placed in the Top 10. Junior Dante Boykins won state in the Triple Jump at 45 feet eight inches breaking his own school record, which he set last week at the Regional Meet. Boykins also placed second in the Long Jump. Sophomore Aaron Tunstall, who recovered from a broken leg during football season, placed second in the 200-meter dash. Freshman Erin Lopez placed third in the 100-meter dash. Senior Chaunte Porter finished 7^th in the shot and discus.

The boy's 4x100 relay team of Boykin, Tunstall, Juniors Amanie, and Amir Luten finished 4^th. The girl's 4x100 relay team of Lopez, Senior Makayla Strickland, Freshman Jakayla Johnson-Jones and Sophomore Brooklyn White placed 6^th.   

One of the highest rated running backs in the Class of 2025 has made a fifth unofficial visit to Lawrence.

Running back Justin Thurman started his career in St. Louis before moving to Florida last season. Thurman was back in the area at the Six Star Football Camp in Kansas City, where he was named MVP of the camp.

Thurman has emerged as a top tier running back in his class, and has a number of offers, but it was the Kansas Jayhawks who offered the first scholarship to the young star.

Thurman says he's been impressed with both the vision and philosophy of the Kansas offense and how they implement running backs, as well as the authenticity from the coaching staff and how much they seem to care.

Thurman also holds offers from Tennessee, Auburn, Kansas State, Iowa, and Notre Dame. He is also scheduled to visit Alabama this summer.

Jerome Tang has been focused on adding a piece to play the wing all offseason, and the Wildcats may be zoning in on their choice.

Former Tennessee Volunteer Olivier Nkamhoua has made a visit to West Virginia and will visit Michigan later this week. However, Kansas State has emerged as a player in the sweepstakes after Nkamhoua made a visit to Manhattan over the weekend.

The forward is widely considered the best power forward available in the transfer portal, after he averaged 11 points, five rebounds, and two assits per game at Tennessee last season. 

Listed at 6-foot-9 and 235 poinds, Nkamhoua is still favored to end up in Ann Arbor with the Wolverines, pairing with former NBA forward Juwan Howard to boost NBA draft stock. But after an Elite Eight run, and looking to replace Keyontae Johnson, Desi Sills, and Ish Massoud on the wing, it may be Tang and the Wildcats who can offer the sweetest deal for the star forward.

Field Kindley holds a send-off for their track athletes competing in the State Meet this weekend.

The Nado send two new school record holders to State after their performances during the regional meet in Chanute.  Senior Makayla Strickland broke her record set last year for the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16 seconds flat.  

Junior Dante Boykins set the record for the triple jump at 45 feet and five inches.  15 members of track team members will compete over the next two days in multiple events at the State Meet.

Independence Community College has named a new head women's basketball coach. 

Former Assistant Coach Rob Beckmann has been named the new head coach for the Pirates.  ICC President Dr. Vincent Bowhay says Coach Beckmann is a man of integrity who puts student-athletes first and he is excited to see all that Coach Beckmann will accomplish in this new role.  In addition to serving as an assistant to former Head Coach Jim Turgeon, Beckmann also served as the recruiting coordinator for the past three seasons. 

During Beckmann's time as an assistant at ICC the Pirates have won 60 games, won the 2021 NJCAA Region VI Championship, the program’s first in 25 years, and won the 2022 Jayhawk Conference Championship with 20 wins over league opponents. ICC Athletic Director Melissa Anderson says Coach Beckmann has been pivotal in the success of the women’s basketball program and his competitive spirit, passion for the game and true belief in junior college athletics will help him continue to grow the program. 

A Kansas freshman baseball player has been named the first ever Conference Freshman of the Year in program history.

Kodey Shojinaga, a freshman infielder from Honolulu, Hawaii, was named the Co-Freshman of the Year in the Big XII conference this week. He is the first Jayhawk to ever receive this award, and was also named to the All-Freshman Team unanimously and the All-Big XII Second Team.

Shojinaga ranks seventh in all of Division 1 for true freshman with a .380 batting average, which is the second best mark in the conference. He led the Jayhawks with 70 hits, 19 multi-hit games, a .424 on-base percentage, and a .962 OPS.

Four other Jayhawks received all-conference honors with Jansen Reeder being named All-Conference First Team, and Collin Baumgartner, Cole Elvis, and Chase Jans All-Conference Second Team.

Kansas pulled off an upset of top seed Texas in the opening round of the conference tournament, and will take on the TCU Horned Frogs this afternoon.

The Kansas City Royals have rewarded a pair of left-handed pitchers for their strong starts to 2023, with promotions to the next level of the minor leagues.

Anthony Veneziano was promoted from Double-A Northwest Arkansas to Triple-A Omaha. Veneziano, a 10th round pick in 2019 out of Coastal Carolina, pitched to a 5-1 record with a 2.13 ERA and 48 strikeouts in eight games at NW Arkansas.

Naturals broadcaster Shawn Murnin says that it's Veneziano's command that makes him so tough, even when he doesn't have his top stuff.

Moving from High-A Quad Cities to Double-A is left-hander Noah Cameron. Cameron was a 7th round pick in 2021 out of Central Arkansas, and is a regional product from St. Joseph, Missouri, just an hour away from Kansas City.

Cameron has been dominant to start the year, with 58 strikeouts in just 35 innings pitched, the 2nd-most punch outs in all of Minor League Baseball. Murnin says the Top 30 prospect has all the makeup of a star thus far in his professional career.

Both pitchers made their debuts in their new spots last night, with Veneziano allowing five runs in two innings, and Cameron throwing seven scoreless innings in Tulsa.

One of the most dominant forwards of the Bill Self era will be suiting up for the Kansas alumni team this summer in The Basketball Tournament.

Thomas Robinson, who scored nearly 700 points as a junior in 2012 and led Kansas to a national title game appearance, was revealed as the newest member of the Mass Street alumni team.

TBT was created in 2014 and is a 64-team March Madness style tournament with teams of college basketball and NBA legends and stars. 

Robinson joins Tyshawn Taylor and Keith Langford on the Jayhawks alumni team. Langford is one of the greatest scorers in Kansas basketball history, while Taylor played with Robinson as the point guard in the early 2010s.

The Mass Street team will be coached by KU greats Marcus and Markieff Morris, who are ineligible to play due to active NBA contracts. Regionals for Mass Street will be between July 20-25.

The KJCCC East Division have released their annual end of season awards, with five Red Ravens earning all-conference honors.

Freshman second baseman Carson Schrack was named 1st-Team All KJCCC and 2nd-Team All Region. Schrack was also named KJCCC East co-Freshman of the Year, sharing the honor with Johnson County's Dagen Brewer.

Outfielder Jack Bell was 2nd-Team all KJCCC and earned a Region VI Gold Glove honor. Bell set a program record with 51 stolen bases on the season, and had a .993 fielding percentage in center field.

Both freshman Ricky Hernandez and infielder Quentin Platt were 2nd-Team all KJCCC. Hernandez led the team with nine wins on the mound and eight complete games, while Platt had 10 doubles and 25 runs batted in.

Shortstop and pitcher Mason Holton was an honorable mention, following a strong season in which he set a new program record with 65 runs batted in.

The Red Ravens finished the season 28-31, losing in the first round of the NJCAA Regional Tournament to Cloud County.

Coffeyville Community College finished a very successful 2023 season with a performance at NJCAA Nationals, including an individual winning a second consecutive national championship.

Sophomore Anthony Woods jumped a personal best of 7.86 meters (25' 9.50") in the Long Jump Finals to earn his second NJCAA Outdoor Long Jump National Title.

Red Raven Jumps Coach DJ Lilley says that Woods was in a slump entering the finals, but was able to lock in for his most important jumps of his career.

Woods is from Lousiville, Kentucky, and began his career at Barton County before ending a two-time champion at Coffeyville. Woods says his collegiate track journey has been everything he could have hoped for.

Full results of the NJCAA Division 1 Outdoor Track and Field Championships can be found on the Coffeyville Community College Athletic website.

*photo courtesy of Coffeyville Community College*

Field Kindley High School track and field athletes are heading to state. 15 Nado and Lady Nado runners, jumpers and throwers will be competing at state after their performances at the 4A regional competition in Chanute.

Brooklyn White and Erin Lopez will be competing in the 100-meter dash after finishing second and third. Audrey Cavaness will run the 400-meter dash at state after her third-place finish. Makayla Strickland finished third in the 100-meter hurdles. Chaunte Porter finished first in the discus throw and second in the shot put and Zyon Robinson-Turner finished third in the shot put. The 4x100 meter relay team of Strickland, Lopez, Jakayla Johnson Jones and White finished third. The Lady Nado finished fifth overall as a team.

Aaron Tunstall finished third in the 100-meter dash and second in the 200-meter dash. Amir Luten finished second in the 400-meter dash. Jake Horner was the region champion in both the 110 and 300-meter hurdles. Donte Boykin was the region champion in the long jump and the triple jump. Kainen White finished second in both the shot and discus throw. Keiton Jones finished fourth in the shot put. The 4x100 meter relay team of Boykins, Tunstall, Amir Luten and Amani Luten finished second and the 4x400 meter relay team of Tunstall, the Lutens and KeShawn Hayes finished fourth. The Nado boys as a team finished third.

The state meet will take place this Friday and Saturday.  

The Kansas City Royals have decided to part ways with their 2013 first round pick.

Third baseman Hunter Dozier was designated for assignment by the Royals yesterday, following seven seasons with the team. Dozier was the eighth overall pick in the 2013 MLB Draft out of Stephen F. Austin.

Dozier had a breakout season in 2019, hitting .276 with 26 home runs and an OPS approaching .900. However, since signing a four year extension in 2021 and suffering a thumb injury shortly after, the results have not been there.

Royals manager Matt Quatraro says this decision was in the best interest of the organization, and Dozier handled it with class.

This move allows the Royals to continue giving regular at-bats to young infielder and top prospect Maikel Garcia.

A new head coach has been named for the Field Kindley High School girl's basketball team. Coach Tyler Coots says the opportunity is something he is very passionate about.

Coots spent one year as an assistant under former coach Anita Walker and took over as the head volleyball coach last year. Coots says he already has a rapport with some of the players having coached them before.

Coots, who is keeping the head volleyball job, says he wants to build success in both programs. Coots will be the fourth Lady Nado coach in the last five seasons.

An active member of the Kansas State defensive line room has decided to retire from football with one year of eligibilty remaining.

Defensive end Jaylen Pickle announced his retirement from football on Saturday evening, after five seasons with the Wildcats.

Pickle gave health as the reason for stepping away from football, saying that his body couldn't handle it anymore and that he appreciates those who believed in him.

Pickle also made a remark to his hometown of Cimarron, Kansas, wishing that every kid that grows up in Cimarron sees his jersey and goes after their dreams.

Jaylen Pickle played in 31 games for the Wildcats, totaling 42 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks in his career.

A Red Raven assistant coach for cross country and track was given a prestigious award by the NJCAA this weekend.

Coach DJ Lilley was named the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and NJCAA Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year, following a very successful season in which the Ravens had athletes compete at nationals.

Lilley joined the program as a coach in 2021, following his own stellar track and field career, in which he was a multiple-time Division 2 All American and All South-Central Region.

Coach Lilley was the Great American Conference Long Jump champion, as well as 1st team All-Conference in both the 100m dash and 200m dash.

Lilley began his career at Rogers State before transferring to Texas A&M at Commerce. He is in charge of the Jumps Group at CCC.

A safety who became a superstar in his freshman season at Tyler Junior College has transfered to Kansas State to continue his career.

Daniel Cobbs of Keller, Texas, chose a scholarship from KSU over other offers from Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Old Dominion, and Texas State.

While Tyler J.C. had an up and down season, ending with a 5-4 record, the defense allowed less than 100 passing yards per game. Cobbs is slightly undersized compared to the modern hybrid safety, standing at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, but has elite instincts and coverage ability.

Cobbs becomes the fourth commit from the NJCAA in the last 18 months for Kansas State. Cobbs will team up with former teammates Kobe Savage and Justice Clemons.

Cobbs is the younger brother of current Boise State wide receiver Stefan Cobbs.

The Kansas Jayhawks currently have a trio of players with their names entered for the NBA Draft, and could see the first draft class with three KU players drafted since 2011.

Kansas basketball hasn't had three players selected in the same draft since Marcus Morris, Markieff Morris, and Josh Selby were all taken in the 2011 draft. However, Gradey Dick, Jalen Wilson, and Kevin McCullar Jr have a chance to change that come June.

Gradey Dick wasn't originally supposed to be a one year player, but played his way into a lottery pick projection this season. Bleacher Report has him being selected by the Dallas Mavericks 10th overall in the draft.

Jalen Wilson was a finalist for the college player of the year, but he is more undersized and physically underwhelming compared to Dick. Bleacher Report projects Wilson to be selected by the Denver Nuggets 40th overall, with many outlets considering Wilson an early-mid 2nd round pick.

McCullar is currently projected to go undrafted, but his defensive intensity and versatility could vault him into the later stages of the second round. It is important to remember that McCullar has not hired an agent, and could elect to Lawrence for another season of college basketball.

The 2023 NBA Draft will take place on June 22nd from the Barclay's Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Kansas State continues to bulk up the defense in an effort to defend their Big 12 championship, adding a defensive back from the transfer portal.

Tyler Nelome, formerly of Southeast Missouri State, commited to the Wildcats over other schools such as Louisville, West Virginia, Washington, Georgia Tech, and Western Kentucky. Nelome becomes the second defensive back to transfer to KSU this offseason, joining former Iowa Hawkeye Keagan Johnson.

Nelome had 25 tackles, five passes defensed, and an interception as he emerged as a star corner at the FCS level.

The newest Wildcat will make his debut against his former school, as Kansas State opens the 2023 season against SE Missouri State on September 2nd in Manhattan. Nelome will have two seasons of eligibility remaining.

Despite an up and down campaign that ended with a 28-31 record, and a loss to Cloud County in the region tournament, numerous Red Ravens broke program records this season.

Shortstop Mason Holton had a great season at the plate, with an OPS just under 1.000 and setting the school record with 65 runs batted in.

Freshman Carson Schrack, who was widely considered the strongest hitter on the team this season, set the program record with 22 doubles. Schrack also led the team in walks with 39, hit .404 on the season, and only struck out 17 times in 208 at-bats.

Outfielder Jack Bell shined on the bases all year, setting a new school record with 51 stolen bases, while only being caught five times.

Finally, freshman pitcher Ricky Hernandez tied the program record with nine wins on the mound in 14 starts. Hernandez and fellow freshman Ryan Leiker combined for a 15-9 record with a 4.04 ERA, and will look to lead the rotation next season.

Jerome Tang has three available scholarships to continue improving the Kansas State roster, but isn't in a hurry to make that happen.

Earlier this week at an event in Salina, Tang said he thinks the Wildcats can be a good basketball team with the ten active players on the roster. Tang added that if the team can add the right three players, it can become a truly special group.

Tang's top priority is to find a veteran scoring guard to pair with new Wildcat Tylor Perry, and returning guard Cam Carter. The team is also looking for a versatile forward that can contribute both offensively and defensively. Tang also mentioned looking for a wing player with length, athleticism, and shooting ability.

Two stars from last year's team are currently participating in the NBA draft process in Nae'Qwan Tomlin and Keyontae Johnson. Tang predicts that barring a surprise decision, he anticipates Tomlin to return for another season in Manhattan and for Johnson to remain in the NBA draft.

Following being struck in the head by a line drive, Royals left-handed pitcher Ryan Yarbrough will be sidelined for the next two months.

The Royals placed Yarbrough on the 60-day injured list with skull fractures, after he was hit by a line drive last week against the Oakland Athletics. The team announced that Yarbrough will receive follow-ups from the medical staff over the next month.

Yarbrough has pitched in 10 games this season for Kansas City, with three stars, pitching to a 6.15 ERA and 14 strikeouts.

The Royals also placed pitcher Amir Garrett on the family medical emergency list and called up right-handed pitcher Mike Mayers from Triple A Omaha.

*photo courtesy of KSNT Topeka*

Sports betting service OLBG released a list of the most marketable players in the NFL, based on a combination of factors such as social media followers, brand engagement rates, and audience reachability, with Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes landing in the top 5.

Mahomes finishes behind first place Odell Beckham Jr, and second place Aaron Rodgers. Mahomes finishes just in front of 49ers tight end George Kittle and Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams.

The star quarterback, considered by many to be the best player in the NFL, has one of the largest social media followings of any active player, with 5.6 million followers. Mahomes also placed very highly with audience reachability, audience authenticity, and audience quality, making him a dream client for many major brands.

Mahomes has major brand deals with Bose, Oakley, State Farm, and Electronic Arts. He also recently signed a massive ten year deal with Adidas which has resulted in him being one of the top stars in the league in off-field endorsements.

The Kansas Jayhawks added more size to their roster, landing a commit who is the older brother of a former Jayhawk star currently playing in the NBA.

6-foot-10 forward Parker Braun announced his intent to transfer to Lawrence, after spending the past two seasons with the Santa Clara Broncos. Braun is the older brother of former KU guard Christian Braun, who is currently playing with the Denver Nuggets.

Parker Braun began his career at Missouri, but did not log many minutes. He transferred to Santa Clara, where he spent the last two years and received his degree.

Braun is from Overland Park, and averaged 7.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, and two assists per game this past season, while leading Santa Clara to a third place finish in the West Coast Conference.

The top ranked basketball player in the class of 2024 has narrowed his list of schools down to six, with the Kansas Jayhawks making the cut.

Tre Johnson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Dallas, is widely considered the most skilled offensive player in the country, with the fastest path to the NBA. He announced earlier this week the top six schools he's considering, which includes Kentucky, Texas, Arkansas, Kansas, Alabama, and Baylor.

Johnson has already made a trip to Lawrence for a visit, and is expected to make his final decision before he competes in the Nike Peach Jam, which takes place July 3-9.

Johnson is averaging 18.2 points per game in his junior season at Lake Highlands High School in Dallas.

*photo courtesy of Dallas Morning News*

Coffeyville Community College Volleyball has had a pair of players commit to a Divison 1 program in the past two weeks.

Both Miyah Williams and Brooklyn Shook announced their intent to continue their playing careers at Mississippi Valley State University, a school out of the Southwestern Athletic Conference. Red Raven coach Deardin Kelley says that her players were excited about the opportunity of competing together at the top level of collegiate athletics.

Kelley is still inexperienced as a head coach, but takes pride in being understanding, honest, and emotionally available for her players. A former college volleyball player herself, she says she's honest about the goods and bads of college volleyball, and that allows for a genuine relationship.

The Red Ravens have numerous players on the current roster receiving interest from both D1 and D2 institutions.

Kansas State football is slowly becoming a developmental program for the Chiefs, as the world champions sign another former Wildcat.

Former KSU cornerback Ekow Boye-Doe has signed a one year deal with the Chiefs, according to his agency, VMG Sports.

Boye-Doe attended the Chiefs rookie minicamp last week after going undrafted last month. The former Wildcat appeared in 42 games for KSU, including 35 career starts. He started alongside Colts 2nd round pick Julius Brents last season.

The defensive back is a Lawrence product that will compete for a spot in the Chiefs secondary, after 74 tackles, 13 passes defended, and a forced fumble in his career in Manhattan.

The Kansas Jayhawks continue to build on their best season in two decades by adding a pair of Power 5 transfers from the portal.

Defensive end Dylan Brooks from Auburn announced his intent to play in Lawrence on Monday. Brooks was a four-star recruit in high school, and had seven tackles, one sack, and one fumble recovery in a backup role for the Tigers last season.

Lance Leipold and the Jayhawks also landed a quarterback commit on Monday, in former Nebraska Cornhusker Mike Pauley. Pauley was a three-star recruit in high school, and is originally from Overland Park.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 195 pounds, Pauley did not play with Nebraska last year after redshirting. He led Blue Valley Northwest to their first ever state football title in 2021.

A former star in Manhattan is working to earn a spot on the Chiefs roster, a year after retiring from football.

Wyatt Hubert was a seventh round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2021 NFL Draft, after a steller career at Kansas State, inflicting havoc as a top edge rusher. The Topeka native decided to medically retire from football shortly before the 2022 season, feeling that his body couldn't hold up playing high level football anymore.

Over a year later, Hubert realized how much he missed the game, and wanted a way back into the NFL. Hubert says until he called his agent, he was working a regular job and not focused on being an athlete.

Three teams showed interest in Hubert, including his hometown Kansas City Chiefs. Hubert says it's a surreal feeling to be playing football with a Chiefs logo on his jersey.

An incredible display of passion and perserverance, going from a hometown college star to a hometown NFL hopeful, with 12 months of retirement in between.

The Field Kindley High School baseball team is headed to the postseason. Head Coach Will Owens says they had three objectives they wanted to accomplish this season.

The Nado will take on one seed St. George-Rock Creek High School at 4:30pm tomorrow, which is an over four-hour road trip for the team. Owens says he is interested to see how the team handles the travel.

This postseason birth for the Nado is their first since 2019 and their 6-12 record is the most wins the team as had since 2015. Coffeyville finished as the 16 seed just keeping rival Independence out of the postseason.

One of the top 15 players in the Class of 2022 is in the transfer portal, and Kansas State is considered the favorite for his services.

Julian Phillips, a forward from Blythewood, South Carolina, played his freshman season at Tennessee, where he average eight points and five assists per game. The 6-foot-8 forward is also a naturally gifted defender.

Before Phillips committed to Tennessee, he considered Kansas State among his top options. With the return of Keyontae Johnson unknown at this time, Phillips could be the perfect player to fill that spot.

Other schools listed as contenders for Julian Phillips are Auburn, Texas, and LSU.

The NFL revealed the schedule for the 2023 regular season, and with it, the path to a repeat for the defending champion Kansas City Chiefs.

Kansas City will open the NFL season on Thursday Night Football against the Detroit Lions on September 7th. Although the Lions are an organization known for struggles, Chiefs coach Andy Reid says that they are much improved and to not take them lightly.

The Chiefs will travel to Jacksonville in Week 2, New York in Week 4 to battle new Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers, and will welcome the Philadelphia Eagles to Kansas City on November 20th in Week 11.

A rematch of the past two AFC Championships will take place on New Year's Eve at Arrowhead Stadium when the Cincinnati Bengals come to town. Following a dominant defensive performance by the Chiefs in January, Reid says he thinks the young defense is ready to take the next step.

Kansas City is the current betting favorite to repeat as both AFC and Super Bowl champions.

The Kansas City Royals have won four of their past five games, including a walkoff winner to clinch a series win over the Chicago White Sox yesterday.

Backup catcher Freddy Fermin dropped down a perfect sacrifice bunt to score Nick Pratto from third base and earn a 4-3 victory. Manager Matt Quatraro says with a tough right-hander on the mound, he just wanted to put the young catcher in the best position possible.

The Royals offense has flipped a switch since the beginning of the month, and become one of the league's best over the past two weeks.

According to Royals Director of Media Relations Nick Kappel, the Royals rank 1st in runs per game, extra base hits, slugging percentage, and OPS, and rank 2nd in the league in batting average and home runs.

Kansas City will look to win their fifth game in the past six as they travel to Milwaukee to take on the Brewers. Josh Taylor will get the start for the Royals, facing 2021 Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes.

*photo courtesy of Kansas City Star*

As the time to enter the transfer portal comes to a close, the eight member of the 2022-23 Jayhawks has decided to jump in.

Ernest Udeh Jr is a former McDonald's All-American and will continue his career elsewhere following a freshman campaign with Kansas. Both Udeh and Zuby Ejiofor have elected to enter the portal following the addition of former Michigan star Hunter Dickinson.

Udeh did not see much playing time in his freshman season, but emerged late in the year with high energy and effort with rebounding and interior defense, following an injury to Ejiofor.

The Jayhawks now have three open scholarship spots, although one may be filled later today with the looming decision of five-star forward Mackenzie Mgbako.

The Kansas State Wildcats are not wasting any time returning to the court following their unlikely run to the Elite Eight last season.

Jerome Tang and the Wildcats are planning an overseas trip in August for a series of exhibition games against professional teams in Israel and the United Arab Emirates.

The team would depart on August 10 and return on August 21st. Tang says it would give the team an opportunity to build chemistry and play elite competition overseas.

College teams are allowed to travel abroad and compete every four saeasons, according to NCAA rules. KSU has traveled to Italy and Switzerland in 2016 and Brazil in 2012.

The Kansas City Chiefs will continue their celebration of Super Bowl LVII, with a visit to the nation's capital next month.

The team announced that they will be welcomed to the White House by President Joe Biden on June 5th to commemorate the third Super Bowl championship in franchise history, and second in the past four years.

The Chiefs did not visit the White House after their Super Bowl LIV victory due to the COVID pandemic, and will be the first championship team to visit the White House since the 2021 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Los Angeles Rams didn't make an appearance in Washington D.C. last year.

Kansas City defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 38-35 in the Super Bowl in February.

The floor general of the Coffeyville Community College Red Raven offense has accepted an offer to play at the Division 1 level.

Point guard Camian Shell officially committed to North Carolina A&T University earlier this week, and will join an Aggies program that has made ten NCAA tournaments, but haven't qualified since the 2012-13 season.

Shell, a North Carolina native, appeared in 30 games for the Red Ravens last season, serving as the starting point guard in 27 of them. He brought high basketball IQ to Coffeyville, and Red Raven coach Jay Herkelman says he gave him comfort running the offense.

Shell averaged 7.3 points per game, but was a lethal 3-point shooter at 45% from beyond the arc. Shell also led the team in assists at 3.9 per game, and was an elite on-ball defender.

He will have three years of eligibility remaining when he reports to NC A&T.

*photo courtesy of Coffeyville Community College*

Bill Self is in the discussion for best head coach in college basketball, but a pair of Kansas assistants are also considered among the best in the country.

Both Kurtis Townsend and Norm Roberts were among the 50 assistant coaches named to the 2023 Most Impactful High Major Assistant Coaches in Division 1 Basketball list.

Townsend has been with the program for 20 years, and has been a part of two national championships, nine Big 12 tournament titles, and 16 regular season conference titles. He also has been the mastermind behind recruiting Jayhawk stars such as Jalen Wilson, Ochai Agbaji, Andrew Wiggins, and others.

Roberts has been part of the staff since 2012, and served as interim head coach for nine games last season, during a suspension and health issues from Self.

Kansas State associate coach Ulric Maligi alson made the list.

The full 2023 NFL schedule will be released tomorrow night, but the Kansas City Chiefs know of two major opponents upcoming in the new year.

The reigning Super Bowl champions will play the Miami Dolphins, and young stars Tua Tagovailoa, Jaylen Waddle, and Tyreek Hill, in Germany during Week 9. The game will be played at Frankfurt Stadium on November 5th.

The league also announced that 2023 will close with a rematch of the past two AFC Championship games. The Cincinnati Bengals will travel to Arrowhead Stadium and Kansas City on New Year's Eve for a Week 17 matchup that could determine the AFC's top overall seed.

Kansas City is slated to play the Bills, Eagles, Vikings, Packers, and Lions in 2023, and the full schedule will be revealed by the league tomorrow evening.

An impressive program-building first season of the Deardin Kelley era with Coffeyville Community College Volleyball has another milestone.

Sophomore outside hitter Miyah White announced her intent to commit to Division 1 program Mississippi Valley State University. White says there was an instant connection with the MVSU coaching staff, and that she's excited to start the next chapter of her volleyball career.

White is from San Antonio, Texas, and played her high school volleyball at Wagner before spending last season with the Red Ravens. She says that Coffeyville became a home away from home, and that her favorite memories are all of the time spent with her teammates, coaches, classmates, and teachers both on and off the volleyball court.

The Red Ravens were extemely successful offensively last season, with over 1400 team kills and a .167 hitting percentage. It would seem this won't be the last player that moves to the D1 ranks in the Deardin Kelley era.

One of the nation's top high school defensive backs is heading back to Lawrence for an official visit.

Damani Maxson, a safety from Clear Lake, Texas, took an unofficial visit to Kansas last month and will return to the Jayhawks facilities next month for an official trip.

Maxson mentioned that the college town feel of Lawrence stood out to him, and that he learned more about the vision and direction of the program.

The highly-ranked safety in the class of 2024 has interest from TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Houston, Miami, and USC, but is adament that his final destination will be a school and staff that supports him.

The Kansas City Royals made a move to acquire a young pitcher with upside from Philadelphia.

KC acquired right-handed pitcher James McArthur from the Phillies, in exchange for minor league outfielder Junior Marin and cash, per Royals beat writer Anne Rogers. Designated hitter Franmil Reyes was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the roster.

McArthur is 26 years old and has made five appearances at Triple-A this season. He stands 6'7" and has a career 4.36 ERA in 73 minor league appearances. He was a 12th round pick out of Ole Miss in 2018.

The organization's newest righty will report to Triple-A Omaha and pitch for the Storm Chasers.

A key role player for the 2022-23 Kansas State basketball team entered the transfer portal following the year, and has announced his new school for his senior season.

Ish Massoud, a 6'8" forward from New York, committed to the Georgetown Hoyas and new coach Ed Cooley, making a move to the Big East conference. The transfer spent two years at Wake Forest before spending the last two seasons with Kansas State.

Massoud was a sharpshooter for the Wildcats, hitting numerous clutch shots for the team over the season, including the eventual dagger against Michigan State in the Sweet 16.

The senior is a graduate transfer and will be eligible to play for the Hoyas immediately.

The Coffeyville Community College track and field teams competed against the best in the area in the 2023 Region VI Outdoor Championships hosted at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The men's team placed 3rd overall in the region, as well as a 2nd place finish in the KJCCC East Division. The women's team place 10th in the region, and 4th in the KJCCC East.

The Ravens had numerous top performers, including Nokoah Witt placing 1st in the 400 hurdles, Anthony Woods placing 1st in the long jump and triple jump, and Trevor Gunzell placing 1st in discus and shot put, including a facility record in the discus throw.

On the women's side, Gartasia Crawely placed 2nd in the high jump, Angela Sanchez placed 2nd in the discus throw, and Jalia Bunn placed 3rd in the 200 meter.

The track and field teams will be back in action at the NJCAA Division 1 Outdoor Championships from May 18-20 in Hobbs, New Mexico.

*photo courtesy of Coffeyville Community College*

Kansas State football is coming off of their best season in a decade, and are ensuring that the coach behind the program's resurgance stays in Manhattan.

Head Coach Chris Klieman is nearing a four year extension that will pay him an average of $5.5 million annually.

Klieman is 30-20 in four seasons with KSU, and has won at least eight games in each full season he's coached. The 2022-23 Wildcats defeated TCU and won their first outright Big 12 Championship since 2003.

The Wildcats were recently ranked #12 in the CBS Sports post-spring Top 25, and open the season against Southeast Missouri State on September 2nd.

A Royals legend, postseason hero, and one of the most recognized players of the 21st century in Kansas City will retire a Royal this weekend.

Lorenzo Cain will sign a one-day contract with the organization and officially retire from professional baseball prior to the game against the Oakland Athletics.

Approximately 30 minutes before first pitch, there will be an on-field celebration of Cain, with expected special guests in Royals Hall of Fame manager Ned Yost, former teammates Salvador Perez and Alex Gordon, and special assistant to the GM, Rusty Kuntz.

Cain played seven seasons in Kansas City, where he emerged as a fan favorite and consistent star with the most talented Royals teams of the 2000s. He is a two-time All Star, 2014 American League Championship Series MVP, four-time Wilson Defensive Player of the Year, and was a captain on the 2015 World Series team, finishing 3rd in MVP voting that season.

The Kansas State men's golf program continues to reach new heights, qualifying for the NCAA Regionals for the second consecutive season.

The Wildcats were named as the 5-seed in the Bath (Michigan) Regional, joining top seed Illinois, 2-seed Florida, and defending national champion Texas. The top five teams advance to the to the 2023 NCAA Championship, and the lowest scoring individual not on a top 5 team will also advance to the championship.

KSU is looking to rebound after a disappointing seventh place finish at the Big 12 Championship tournament. The team has won four different tournaments this season, and look to advance to their first NCAA Championship in program history.

The Royals have announced the organization's players of the month following the conclusion of April.

At the Major League level, Vinnie Pasquantino was named player of the month. Pasquantino was also the winner in September of 2022. New Royals lefty Aroldis Chapman was named pitcher of the month.

At Triple-A, left-handed pitcher Austin Cox was pitcher of the month, after posting a 2.21 ERA in 20 innings pitched. Utility player Samad Taylor was named player of the month, hitting .333 with 8 extra base hits and 11 stolen bases.

The Double-A level was awarded to left-handed pitcher Anthony Veneziano, who had a 2.08 ERA in five starts with 31 strikeouts and only three walks. Second baseman Peyton Wilson wins player of the month with a .351 average and .407 on base percentage.

High-A Quad Cities rewarded third baseman Cayden Wallace, who led the organization with 21 runs batted in and 13 walks drawn in the month of April. Right-hander Luinder Avila won pitcher of the month with 29 stikeouts and a 1.56 ERA in 17 innings.

And Low-A Columbia named shortstop Daniel Vazquez and left-hander Frank Mozzicato as players of the month. Vazquez hit at a .314 clip, and was a perfect 9 for 9 in stolen bases. Mozzicato, a top prospect in the organization, had 34 strikeouts and a 1.42 ERA in 4 starts during the month.

One of the potential stadium sites for a new Kansas City Royals stadium had a building demolished eariler this week.

The site of the AMF Bowling Alley between Highway 9 and Interstate 35 was demolished on Wednesday, opening the space for a potential MLB stadium.

County leaders confirmed in March that the site is one of five areas the team is considering to relocate a new ballpark. Earlier this spring, crews also demolished structures in the East Village, which is another potential spot for the Royals.

The Royals currently have not made a decision about where they'll put the new stadium, and the organization has no involvement in the demolition.

*photo courtesy of WDAF-TV*

The Kansas Jayhawks basketball program pays homage to baseball season, hitting a home run and landing the top player in the transfer portal.

Star forward Hunter Dickinson, perhaps the most accomplished player to ever enter the transfer portal, announced his intentions to transfer to Kansas earlier today.

The Jayhawks land the services of the two-time All Big Ten player, and 2021 Freshman of the Year, over schools such as Kentucky, Maryland, Villanova, Georgetown, and Michigan.

Senior college basketball writer Matt Norlander says that this addition makes the Jayhawks title contenders.

Kansas will enter 2023-24 as one of the favorites to win the Big 12, as well as advance to the Final Four.

*photo courtesy of On3 sports and recruiting*

The Red Ravens were able to put together a successful week going 4-0 against Highland, and their shortstop has been honored as the KJCCC Player of the Week.

Sophomore Mason Holton led the Ravens offensively with 10 runs batted in, while hitting .538 at the plate. Holton now has 61 runs driven in on the year, a Coffeyville program record.

The two-way star also started the final game of the weekend on the mound, giving up only one earned run.

CCC sits 27-27 heading into the final doubleheader of the regular season, where they will travel to battle Neosho County CC on Saturday afternoon.

*photo courtesy of Coffeyville Community College*

The Kansas City Royals displayed a bit of everything last night, with dominant pitching, timely hitting, and strong defense in a win over a tough Baltimore Orioles team.

The Royals had 13 hits and didn't strike out once as the offense showed one of the best plate approaches of the 2023 season. Vinnie Pasquantino homered and had three hits on the night to lead the Royals, and manager Matt Quatraro says his unique hitting approach is the reason why he's such a consistent presence for the team.

Zack Greinke threw five shutout innings, and the quartet of Taylor Clarke, Aroldis Chapman, Amir Garrett, and Josh Staumont combined to finish off the final four frames.

Quatraro called the performance easily the team's most impressive of the 2023 campaign.

Kansas City will look to take down the Orioles this afternoon in the series finale, before welcoming the Oakland Athletics to town this weekend.

The Kansas City Chiefs continue to revamp the offensive tackle position, signing a former Buccaneers left tackle to a one year deal.

Veteran Donovan Smith is in agreement with the defending Super Bowl champions on a one year contract worth up to $9 million.

The Chiefs are replacing two starting tackles from last season, after Orlando Brown signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and Andrew Wylie signed with the Washington Commanders. The Chiefs agreed to a deal with tackle Jawaan Taylor earlier in free agency, as well as drafted Wanya Morris of Oklahoma in the third round of the draft.

Smith is 29 years old and looking to rebound from the worst season of his career. He struggled with elbow and foot injuries, and won just 78.3% of pass snaps, and 64.9% of run snaps.

Smith was a second round pick in 2015, and has started 124 regular season games, sixth most in the NFL over that span.

Coffeyville Community College will be the site for the 2023 Region VI/KJCCC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Starting today, and continuing through Saturday, all 15 track and field schools in Reigon VI will compete from Veterans Memorial Stadium.

There will also be a stream of the Championships available to purchase on the KJCCC Sports Network.

A complete schedule of the Outdoor Track and Field Championships over the three day competition is available as well.

Live results can be found on the Coffeyville Community College athletic website.

*photo courtesy of Coffeyville Community College*

Former Red Raven star guard and national champion Tylor Perry was considered by many the top player available in the transfer portal, with offers from Kansas State, Ole Miss, Texas Tech, and Florida.

He appeared on the Field of 68 podcast with Jeff Goodman to announce his decision.

Perry was named Conference USA Player of the Year and led North Texas to an NIT championship, while also being named NIT Most Valuable Player. He averaged 17.3 points per game and ranked fourth nationally in 3-pointers made, while leading the Mean Green to a 31-7 record.

Perry had nothing but good things to say about the coach who believed in him first at the collegiate level, Red Raven coach Jay Herkelman.

The senior guard will play a large role for the Wildcats this season, helping replace the production of Markquis Nowell as Kansas State looks to build off of their Elite Eight run last season.

It's no secret that Kansas Jayhawk basketball creates some of the NBA's best players, and in the 2022-23 season, the NBA's best player.

Former Jayhawk and current Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid was named NBA Most Valuable Player, winning the league's top individual honor.

The third overall pick of the 2014 draft, Embiid missed the first the seasons of his career due to injuries before emerging as one of the league's most dominant players. He has become the face of the 76ers franchise, and guided the organization through a rebuild that has taken them from one of the league's worst teams to a championship contender.

Embiid averaged 33.1 points per game, which led the NBA, and also posted 10.2 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and 1.7 blocks per game.

The 76ers lead the Boston Celtics 1-0 in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and will look to take a commanding lead in Boston tonight, with Embiid slated to return from a right knee injury.

The Kansas Jayhawks are finalists for the top transfer big man in the nation, and Hunter Dickinson spoke about his recent visit to Lawrence.

The two-time first-team All Big Ten center entered the transfer portal on March 31, and has been deciding between numerous high caliber programs such as Kentucky, Georgetown, Maryland, Villanova, and Syracuse.

Dickinson's first official visit was to Kansas, and he says the program is impressive and along the lines of what he's searching for.

Speaking on the Barstool Roundball Podcast, Dickinson announced he will make his decision on the Barstool Sports Instagram account, and while no official date has been decided, it is presumed to be sometime this week.

Nearly a week following the 2023 NFL Draft, the Kansas City Chiefs 1st round pick spoke to the media for the first time.

Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah joins an emerging group of talented lineman including Defensive Player of the Year finalist Chris Jones, 2022 1st round pick George Karlaftis, and free agent signing Charles Omenihu.

Anudike-Uzomah grew up in Lee's Summit as a die hard Chiefs fan, and says he couldn't be more excited to stay home.

The former Kansas State star was rated the 3rd best edge rusher in this year's draft, behind Alabama's Will Anderson and Texas Tech's Tyree Wilson.

A trio of Kansas State football players have elected to enter the transfer portal, just two weeks after the conclusion of spring practice.

Offensive lineman Jalen Klemm, cornerback Omar Daniels, and linebacker Gavin Forsha will all be looking for new homes, searching for new opportunities and more consistent playing time.

Klemm is a redshirt freshman from Pennsylvania who did not see the field last season. It would have been a difficult battle for playing time this season, with all five starters on the offensive line returning for the Wildcats.

Daniels took the field in 10 games last season as a redshirt freshman, and recorded two tackles. The sophomore from Georgia was expected to be part of the cornerback rotation, replacing Julius Brents and Ekow-Boye Doe, but will instead enter the portal with three years of eligibility remaining.

Forsha is a junior from Nashville and transferred to KSU from the JUCO level. He was also expected to play a role at weak-side linebacker after appearing in nine games at linebacker an on special teams. He has two seasons of eligibility.