By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

The dish

Rays at Red Sox

When/where: 7:10 tonight, Fenway Park, Boston

TV/radio: Fox Sports Florida; 620-AM, 680-AM (Spanish)

Starting pitchers

RAYS: RHP James Shields (0-1, 4.72)

RED SOX: RHP John Lackey ( 1-1, 15.58)

Rays information: Toll-free 1-888-326-7297 (FAN-RAYS)

Watch for …

Slacky Lackey: Lackey has been roughed up in both of his starts, allowing 22 baserunners, and a .395 average, in 82/3 innings. He is 11-4, 3.75 in 16 starts against the Rays, though 2-2, 6.26 since coming to Boston from the Angels.

Big Game James: Shields finally won at Fenway last April, but overall has ugly numbers, 1-7, 7.71. He had a no-decision in his last start, having allowed three homers and getting no strikeouts.

Key matchups

Rays vs. Lackey

Johnny Damon 18-for-50

Dan Johnson 4-for-20, HR

B.J. Upton 3-for-21, HR

Sox vs. Shields

J.D. Drew 11-for-35, 2 HRs

David Ortiz 12-for-33, 3 HRs

Dustin Pedroia 13-for-30,

2 HRs

On deck

Thursday: vs. Twins, 6:40, Sun Sports. Rays — Wade Davis (0-2, 4.38); Twins — Carl Pavano (1-1, 6.00)

Friday: vs. Twins, 7:10, Sun Sports. Rays — Jeff Niemann (0-2, 8.31); Twins — Nick Blackburn (1-1, 0.77)

N.H.'s own

Sam Fuld was the first New Hampshire-born player to homer at Fenway since Phil Plantier in 1992, and the fourth overall.

#legendofsamfuld Tweets of the day

USF is changing its name to Univ. Of Sam Fuld

@BBiser83

Team officials have renamed the stadium Tropicana Fuld

@Turbidity

Sam Fuld is bored by The Most Interesting Man In The World

@JB_Long (of BHSN)

Sam Fuld has only been thrown out at home once, by Sam Fuld.

@GatorTee:

Superman wears Sam Fuld pajamas

@BobVorwald

He gets Chick-Fil-A on Sundays

@jasoncollette

Sam Fuld just divided by zero!!!!!

@ bcreeker

They will rename the movie to Fuld of Dreams.

@uberfreude

By Antonya English, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

GAINESVILLE — Over the past two weeks, Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan lost his entire assistant coaching staff. On Tuesday, he replaced two of the three vacant positions with coaches who have a combined 19 years' head coaching experience.

Former Florida assistant John Pelphrey will return to the position he held from 1996-2002. Donovan also added former St. John's coach Norm Roberts. They replace Richard Pitino, who is rejoining his father's staff at Louisville, and Rob Lanier, who is rejoining his former coach Rick Barnes at Texas.

"Having John back will be a great addition to our program,'' Donovan said. "Obviously, he has a level of familiarity with me and with the University of Florida and that makes this a great fit."

Pelphrey was fired last month after four seasons as coach at Arkansas. Roberts was fired last season at St. John's, where he went after serving as an assistant under Bill Self at four schools.

Donovan has one vacant position remaining — that of former associate head coach Larry Shyatt, who left this month to become coach at Wyoming.

ex-gator werner charged: Former UF basketball player Dan Werner was charged with DUI early Tuesday in Gainesville though his blood alcohol level was below when a driver is presumed drunk. Werner, 23, acknowledged participating in a drinking game, beer pong, and said he was driving because his girlfriend was intoxicated. Police said he performed poorly on sobriety tests.

MORE BASKETBALL: Guard Kemba Walker, who led Connecticut to the national title this month, confirmed he is leaving for the NBA draft. He said he has not hired an agent, but has been talking to them. … UCLA guard Malcolm Lee is leaving school to enter the NBA draft and plans to hire an agent.

Sister of ex-USF DB Raymond found dead

Myslene Gabriel, the sister of former USF defensive back Mistral Raymond, was found dead in her Bradenton apartment Monday. She was 25. Raymond, who completed his senior season in December, has been working out for NFL teams in the hopes of being drafted this month. According to police Bryan Stanford, a former boyfriend of Gabriel's, was arrested on a domestic violence charge related to Gabriel, who had two young children.

Miami hires AD

Miami hired Wisconsin deputy athletic director Shawn Eichorst as its AD, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported. Eichorst, 44, will take over UM's search for a men's basketball coach, which acting AD Tony Hernandez had led. Hernandez was told Monday that he would not keep the position. Eichorst replaces Kirby Hocutt, who left in late February to be Texas Tech's AD. Eichorst had worked at Wisconsin under AD Barry Alvarez, who was the Badgers' football coach when Miami president Donna Shalala was chancellor in Madison.

SOCCER: USF signed three players from two-time national champion Tyler Junior College, including Dom Dwyer, the national junior college player of the year after scoring 37 goals in 21 games last fall. Dwyer, from London, chose the Bulls as did his best friend and teammate since childhood, midfielder Kyle Nicholls, and All-America defender Brenton Griffiths of Jamaica. Together, those three went 41-0-1 in two seasons at the Texas college, winning two national titles.

FOOTBALL: Mississippi junior linebacker D.T. Shackelford will miss six to eight months with a torn ACL in his right knee.

BASEBALL: Junior right-hander Hunter Scantling had seven shutout innings and gave up three hits as host Florida State, ranked 11th in Baseball America's poll, defeated No. 4 Florida 3-1.

Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report, which used information from Times wires.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

BOSTON

Super Sam Fuld and Johnny Damon delivered the Rays just enough runs on Tuesday. David Price provided the strong outing they expected. But it was what they got from the relief duo of Joel Peralta and Kyle Farnsworth that was the biggest reason they went home happy.

In their first real test since the reconstruction of the bullpen, the veteran newcomers combined to get the final four outs as the Rays beat the Red Sox 3-2, logging their second straight win and third of the season.

"That was awesome," said Price, who snapped a personal four-game losing streak. "They faced four hitters and got four outs. That was exactly what we needed."

Price did just about all he could, holding the Sox to two runs while working into the eighth on another chilly night, throwing 116 pitches. "Love his tenacity," manager Joe Maddon said.

Price would have finished the eighth had Elliot Johnson, who had just moved from shortstop to second, not booted what should have been an inning-ending double play grounder. When Price couldn't finish off Kevin Youkilis, hitting him after being 0-and-2, Maddon decided to open the bullpen gate and see what happened.

Peralta needed just three pitches, getting Jed Lowrie to fly to center then getting a big hug from Price when he got to the dugout.

"That's a great feeling," Peralta said.

Then Farnsworth, who Friday got his first save since June 2008, came on for the ninth, facing three left-handed pinch-hitters.

He struck out Jacoby Ellsbury on three pitches, fell behind J.D. Drew 3-and-0 then came back to get him looking at strike three, then got David Ortiz to fly to right on a nasty 0-and-1 cutter.

"That's a lot of fun," said Farns­worth, who hadn't had more than one save in a season since 2006. "That's what you look forward to in a situation like that, go out there and compete against the best, go out there and have fun. You just have to stay relaxed and stay within yourself. …

"We definitely know what we're doing out there, we just have to keep it going."

So for all the winter wondering, the first reviews on the pen couldn't have gone better.

"I think you're the only one that has any doubts," catcher Kelly Shoppach said. "We feel pretty good about 'em. Yeah, we hadn't put them in a tight spot yet, but we saw what they were able to do in spring training. … We're pretty confident in what they capable of.

"They're competitive. They have (fortitude). They attack. They throw strikes. That's how you have to pitch in the bullpen."

"I thought Joel and Kyle came through in really sterling fashion," Maddon said. "They're veterans, they have good stuff. Sometimes it's just about opportunity to really realize your ceiling. With both of those guys, you're going to get plenty of high-leverage moments. They really handled it emotionally very well. I liked their look. I liked their demeanor. And they threw strikes."

Fuld didn't have quite as big a night as his Monday Fenway debut, but he had a hand in the Rays' three-run fifth off ace Jon Lester. Consecutive one-out singles by Nos. 7-9 hitters Shoppach and the Johnsons, Dan and Elliot, loaded the bases, then Fuld hit a roller toward first just slow enough for Shoppach to race home. Damon, continuing his hot streak, slapped a 1-and-2 pitch to center for two more runs.

Granted it was a meeting to stay out of last place — the first between 2-8 or worse teams since 1918 (Brooklyn Robins vs. Boston Braves) — rather than a battle for first, but it was still Price and Lester, and Rays and Red Sox.

"That's AL East baseball right there," Price said. "Anytime you win, it's fun. But that was fun."

Times wires
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

NEW YORK — Derrick Rose and the Bulls stayed in the race for the NBA's best record, beating the Knicks 103-90 on Tuesday night for their eighth straight victory.

Rose scored 26 for the Bulls, who opened the third quarter with a 26-2 spurt over seven-plus minutes and improved to 61-20.

"We came out kind of soft," Rose said. "Second half, Tibs (coach Tom Thibodeau) came in at halftime and talked to us, and we changed things."

The Bulls, who have the East's best record, were a half-game behind the Spurs for homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. The tiebreakers are even, so a random drawing will be held if they finish with the same record as the Spurs, who played late at the Lakers.

"That's something special," former Florida Gators standout Joakim Noah said. "It's definitely something that we want, but we have to look at the bigger picture. For us, it's all about improvement and just focusing on the next opponent, and the results will take care of themselves."

Knicks star Amare Stoudemire sat out a third straight game with a sprained left ankle.

Around the league: Lakers center Andrew Bynum hyperextended his right knee in the second quarter of the late game against the Spurs. Bynum, who walked to the locker room, will have an MRI today. … Bucks center Andrew Bogut had arthroscopic surgery to remove loose particles and scar tissue from his right elbow, which he injured in a fall last season. … Hornets forward David West had successful surgery on a torn left ACL and will be out six to eight months.

Bulls 103, Knicks 90

CHICAGO (103): Boozer 5-19 4-5 14, Deng 9-16 3-4 23, Noah 3-4 7-7 13, Rose 10-19 4-5 26, Bogans 3-6 0-0 8, Brewer 0-1 0-0 0, Watson 4-6 0-0 9, Gibson 1-4 2-2 4, Asik 1-2 0-0 2, Korver 0-6 4-4 4. Totals 36-83 24-27 103.

NEW YORK (90): Anthony 8-19 4-4 21, Sha.Williams 4-11 0-0 10, Turiaf 2-2 2-4 6, Fields 4-9 0-0 8, Billups 4-10 1-1 10, Jeffries 1-1 0-1 2, Douglas 4-15 4-4 13, Walker 6-12 3-3 18, Carter 1-4 0-0 2, Brown 0-0 0-0 0, She.Williams 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 34-83 14-17 90.

Chicago 24 28 32 19— 103

New York 27 28 18 17— 90

3-Point Goals—Chicago 7-20 (Deng 2-4, Bogans 2-5, Rose 2-6, Watson 1-2, Korver 0-3), New York 8-31 (Walker 3-7, Sha.Williams 2-7, Billups 1-2, Anthony 1-6, Douglas 1-7, Fields 0-1, Carter 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Chicago 59 (Boozer 22), New York 43 (Anthony, Douglas 5). Assists—Chicago 20 (Deng, Boozer 4), New York 19 (Billups 8). Total Fouls—Chicago 18, New York 20. Technicals—Sha.Williams. A—19,763 (19,763).

Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

BROOKSVILLE — Hernando has heard it all this season. It is supposed to be an "All-Star" team, but chemistry doesn't appear out of nowhere. It takes time.

When Land O'Lakes met the Leopards and upset them more than a month ago, that chemistry was just starting to form. Tuesday night, Hernando won the rematch 19-9 and the Gators found out the Leopards are meshing as a unit.

Hernando (17-4), which went into the bottom of the fourth inning trailing 9-5, scored 14 unanswered runs, including home runs from Matt Brady, Ian Townsend and Brett Maggard.

Land O'Lakes (15-5) edged its rival 8-7 in early March, and on Tuesday a young Gator lineup brought out the big bats against Leopard starter J.T. Simpson.

"We tried to turn J.T. around on three days rest," Hernando coach Tim Sims said. "He got two strikes on a lot of guys but couldn't put them away."

In the top of the third, Trae Urban and Gino Pepenella each hit homers for the visiting Gators, putting them up 5-1. Staked to that lead, Land O'Lakes starter Steven Rosario (three innings, six walks, two hit batters, six earned runs) couldn't hold it. He gave up the big hit, a grand slam by Cody Gillis in the third, to tie it at 5.

The slugfest went back and forth as the teams combined for seven home runs.

Sims also called on Gillis (two strikeouts, two walks, one hit) in relief and he pitched two shutout innings to get the win.

"Tonight was a good sign for us," Sims said. "We need to be able to play that way down the stretch."

Derek J. LaRiviere, Times Correspondent
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

BROOKSVILLE — Hernando has heard it all this season. It is supposed to be an "All-Star" team, but chemistry doesn't appear out of nowhere. It takes time.

When Land O'Lakes met the Leopards and upset them more than a month ago, that chemistry was just starting to form. Tuesday night, Hernando won the rematch 19-9 and the Gators found out the Leopards are meshing as a unit.

Hernando (17-4), which went into the bottom of the fourth inning trailing 9-5, scored 14 unanswered runs, including home runs from Matt Brady, Ian Townsend and Brett Maggard.

Land O'Lakes (15-5) edged its rival 8-7 in early March, and on Tuesday a young Gator lineup brought out the big bats against Leopard starter J.T. Simpson.

"We tried to turn J.T. around on three days' rest," Hernando coach Tim Sims said. "He got two strikes on a lot of guys but couldn't put them away."

In the top of the third, Trae Urban and Gino Pepenella each hit homers for the visiting Gators, putting them up 5-1. Staked to that lead, Land O'Lakes starter Steven Rosario (three innings, six walks, two hit batters, six earned runs) couldn't hold it. He gave up the big hit, a grand slam by Cody Gillis in the third, to tie it at 5.

The slugfest went back and forth as the teams combined for seven home runs.

Sims also called on Gillis (two strikeouts, two walks, one hit) in relief and he pitched two shutout innings to get the win.

"Tonight was a good sign for us," Sims said. "We need to be able to play that way down the stretch."

Times wires
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Astros 11, Cubs 2

HOUSTON — Brett Myers improved to 11-3 against the Cubs, and Angel Sanchez tied a career high with four hits for the Astros. Houston scored three off Chicago starter James Russell in the first and two in the second and built a 7-0 lead after Sanchez's two-run single in the fourth.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Twins 4, Royals 3

10 innings

MINNEAPOLIS — Danny Valencia hit a bases-loaded single with one out in the 10th for the Twins. Robinson Tejeda gave up a one-out single to former Ray Delmon Young and walked Michael Cuddyer. Jason Kubel crushed a pitch to right-center where Jeff Francoeur nearly made a running catch but dropped it, loading the bases for Valencia.

Times wires
Tuesday, April 12, 2011

White Sox 6, Athletics 5

10 innings

CHICAGO — Alexei Ramirez hit his second homer of the game with two outs in the 10th for the White Sox. Ramirez also hit a three-run shot in the second and scored after drawing a walk in the sixth. Daric Barton had four hits and a run for Oakland.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Angels 2, Indians 0

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Dan Haren pitched a one-hitter, allowing only Shin-Soo Choo's clean single in the fourth inning, and the Angels snapped the Indians' eight-game winning streak. Haren (3-0) struck out eight and walked two in his third major-league shutout. Choo's single to centerfield came with one out in the fourth. Peter Bourjos and Mark Trumbo both hit their first homers of the season for Los Angeles, which won despite getting just four hits, all off Indians starter Fausto Carmona, who was otherwise impressive.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Mariners 3, Blue Jays 2

SEATTLE — Rookie Michael Pineda dazzled in the first home start of his career, taking a shutout into the eighth inning for his first major-league win. The 22-year-old, making just his second start, was clocked as high as 99 mph on the stadium radar gun and worked in nasty off-speed pitches. Pineda went 71/3 innings, giving up five hits and one earned run and striking out seven. Ryan Langerhans hit a two-run homer in the third off Blue Jays starter Ricky Romero, who retired 14 straight at one point.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

D'backs 13, Cardinals 8

PHOENIX — Justin Upton and Juan Miranda each hit a three-run homer to lead the Diamondbacks, who scored seven of their runs with two outs. Chris Young added a two-run homer, and Armando Galarraga earned the win.

Times wires
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Giants 5, Dodgers 4

SAN FRANCISCO — Aaron Rowand tripled leading off the seventh and scored the go-ahead run on Blake Hawksworth's wild pitch moments later. Rowand, filling in for injured centerfielder Andres Torres, added an RBI single in the fifth. Brian Wilson struck out the side in the ninth for his first save in two chances.

By Stephen F. Holder, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

There are multiple reports indicating Alabama running back and former Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram is visiting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today.

Ingram might not be the highest-profile player to have visited Tampa Bay in advance of next week's draft -- players like Cameron Jordan of Cal have visited and are projected to be drafted earlier -- but Ingram is one of the more interesting prospects to come to town. That's because his presence here suggests that the Bucs recognize running back is not a position of great strength, though they certainly have a talented back in LeGarrette Blount.

Consider: Cadillac Williams is a free agent and arguably on the down side of his career, even though he undeniably an important asset to this team in 2010 as both a runner and receiver on third downs. Earnest Graham, who also is aging, has been strictly a fullback lately, and that doesn't figure to change.

The Bucs will get back Kareem Huggins from a torn ACL this fall, but he has no track record despite having shown tremendous upside in the past two preseasons. In short, the Bucs have practically no regular-season film to analyze when it comes to Huggins and projecting how he might help them. The same applies to seldom-used Kregg Lumpkin, who was added to the roster last season at the same time as Blount.

And, as we've learned around these parts, you just can't have enough backfield talent. Running backs absorb an extreme amount of punishment and that results in numerous injuries.

The fact that the Bucs would spend one of their prospect visits on a running back expected to be drafted in the first or second round tells us they're probably serious in considering an addition in the backfield.

Will it be Ingram? I'd say the odds are stacked heavily against that considering the major needs the Bucs need to address early in this draft (pass rusher, cornerback, etc.). But it would be surprising if the Bucs didn't come away from this draft with a running back prospect would could contend for playing time immediately.

The draft is a week away, so stay tuned.

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Two-time champion Tom Watson dropped out of the Outback Steakhouse Pro Am on Wednesday afternoon due to a death in the family. He is replaced by Leonard Thompson.

Watson, who won in 2007 and 2008, was on the range Wednesday morning, but left soon after. Watson was scheduled to play in a Thursday pro am, but will also be r eplaced by Thompson.

Times staff
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Youth sports expo set for April 23: The Skills Center has added Bucs coach Raheem Morris to its lineup for the inaugural Tampa Bay Youth Sports Expo, set for April 23 at the Tampa Convention Center. The keynote speaker will be Nick Bollettieri, who has coached 10 No. 1 tennis players in the world including Andre Agassi, Maria Sharapova, and Venus and Serena Williams. He will share his approach to building athletes on and off the court. The interactive event also will offer kids a chance to connect with Bucs, Rays and FC Tampa Bay players during skills clinics and demonstrations. In addition to football, baseball and soccer, other zones will feature top trainers and professional athletes in hockey, tennis, golf, cheer/dance, volleyball and more. Meanwhile parents, coaches and youth program administrators will have the opportunity to attend a series of educational workshops. Admission is $5 to $15. For more information, visit tbyse.com.

Lacrosse tournament at FishHawk complex: The FishHawk Coyotes play host to the U.S. Lacrosse Gulf Coast chapter/Coyote Invitational on Saturday. The tournament will be held at the FishHawk Sports Complex and includes recreation, youth and middle school divisions for girls and boys teams. It's expected to draw more than 30 teams and 700 players. For more information, visit fishhawkcoyoteslacrosse.com.

Students to meet faculty on the court: The second annual Beef 'O' Brady's Student/Faculty Basketball Game is May 6 and will pit Bloomingdale High faculty members against students. The game will benefit Lyrics For Life and pediatric cancer research. Tickets for the event are $5, and there also will be halftime shooting contests for prizes and raffle prizes. Last year, the students overcame a 22-point deficit to defeat the faculty while raising more than $1,300.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tonight's game between the Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park has been rained out.

It has been raining pretty much all day in Boston – along with temperatures in the low 40s — and the forecast gets only slightly better later on, with the chances of precipitation dropping to 30 percent from 5-7 p.m. and then going back up to 60 percent until after midnight.

No word yet on a makeup date. The Rays return to Boston Aug. 16-17 and Sept. 15-18.

Presumably the Rays will just pitch their pitchers back, so James Shields would open the homestand on Thursday against the Twins, with Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann and Jeremy Hellickson working the next three games.

By Marc Topkin, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

BOSTON — Having won two in a row, the Rays were eager to play on Wednesday.

But if they were going to get rained out, they were pleased that it was decided early and figured it could turn out to be a benefit to their pitchers.

RHP James Shields, who was to start Wednesday, instead will face the Twins tonight at home (where he is 31-22, 3.59 compared to 25-30, 5.04 on the road), and the other starters will move back a day, with David Price now pitching Monday's opener of the White Sox series.

"Actually it might be a good thing," manager Joe Maddon said. "David threw (116 pitches Tuesday) so this gives him an extra day. So it just kind of works out okay. I'm fine with all that."

The decision to call the game was made by 3:30, and with Continental unable to get the Rays an earlier plane, travel director Jeff Ziegler arranged for a Delta charter flight that could leave by 8:30 and get them home by around 11, a much better scenario than the usual 3-4 a.m. arrival following a night game in Boston.

"We were expecting to have to sit around a little longer, so that's kind of nice," Maddon said.

No makeup date was set, though Aug. 15, an off day for both teams the day before a scheduled two-game series at Fenway, seems a likely choice. The Rays also return Sept. 15-18.

SAM'S WORLD: OF Sam Fuld left Fenway saying the two games and three days of attention far surpassed anything the New Hampshire native and childhood Red Sox fan could have imagined for his first visit, from stepping on the hallowed field to hitting a home run around the Pesky Pole.

"There's so many memories to take away from these two days, it feels like two weeks to me," Fuld said. "I've seen tons of family and friends I haven't seen in a while, and they haven't seen me play in a long time. It's been really hectic but just a beautiful trip."

J.P. DUTY: LHP J.P. Howell looked good Wednesday in Port Charlotte in the first of three scheduled batting practice sessions before starting a minor-league rehab assignment leading to a planned mid May return from shoulder surgery.

"He ended up throwing 26 pitches because the 25th one was not a strike so he wanted to throw another pitch," Maddon said. "Everything was sharp. The word sharp was used a lot. Crispy fastball, breaking ball with good break, he looked good and without any kind of issues, so it was a good day."

Howell will throw again on Saturday at the Trop.

MISCELLANY: Price on Friday will receive his Players Choice Award as the 2010 Outstanding AL Pitcher, and injured 3B Evan Longoria on Saturday will be presented his Gold Glove. … All Rays will wear No. 42 on Friday in honor of Jackie Robinson. … There is a Tampa Chamber of Commerce lunch on Friday at the Marriott Waterside hotel (see tampachamber.com for info) and a St. Petersburg Area Chamber lunch on Tuesday at the Hilton in Carillon (see business.stpete.com).

By Damian Cristodero, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

With the Tampa Bay Rays rained out Wednesday, Game 1 of the Tampa Bay Lightning's first-round playoff series with the Pittsburgh Penguins has been moved to 620-AM.

By Greg Auman, Times Staff Writer
Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Point guards Blake Nash and Anthony Collins signed with USF on Wednesday, wrapping up a four-member recruiting class that Bulls coach Stan Heath said "may be our best" in his four years in Tampa.

Nash, who comes from Williston State College in North Dakota and will have three years of eligibility at USF, is perhaps the best scoring option of USF's four point guards for next season, having averaged 22.3 points and shot 42 percent on 3-pointers this past season.

"Blake is an outstanding leader from the point guard position," USF assistant Jeremy Cox said in the Bulls' announcement. "... He's a guy that has played for quality teams in big games and he found ways to win. That was something we needed. He's a pass-first guy, but he can score the ball ... He's going to be a welcome addition and asset to our team."

Collins, a four-year starter from Houston's Westbury Christian School, led his school to two state championships for private schools, returning to the state championship game his senior year. As was the case with Nash, the Bulls cited his leadership skills as a strength.

"(Collins) is a guy who can lead and run the team," assistant Reggie Hanson said. "His basketball IQ is off the charts, and he has amazing speed. In games, he's full speed ahead and he makes everyone around him better. He's a great passer and he creates shots for all the other guys. He loves to defend and he understands winning."

The two guards join a pair of big men signed in the fall -- 6-foot-11 junior college center Andre Jackson and 7-foot-3 prep center Jordan Omogbehin, as well as 6-foot-8 guard Victor Rudd, who transferred last summer from Arizona State and is now eligible with the Bulls.

"This may be our best recruiting class," Heath said in USF's release. "We've addressed the areas we felt we needed to improve in, and in a big way. The guard play will be extremely strong next season with the addition of these two players and Victor Rudd ... Then we added two gigantic players who are going to give us a physical presence inside."