Briefs | College basketball: Isiah Thomas mulls offer to coach Florida International

College basketball

Hall of Fame guard is a former New York Knicks coach: Isiah Thomas reportedly is on the verge of starting his coaching career over at Florida International.

The Hall of Fame point guard and former coach of the New York Knicks is deliberating whether to take over FIU's program, a person with knowledge of the school's search told The Associated Press. Thomas, 47, fired as Knicks coach last year, remains under contract with the NBA team but has permission to seek work elsewhere.

Florida International coach Sergio Rouco was fired after five losing seasons in a row. Rouco's record at FIU was 55-94, including a 13-20 season this year.

Memphis' Taggart to explore NBA draft options: Memphis junior forward Shawn Taggart has submitted his name for this year's NBA draft.

Taggart said in a statement from the university that he wants to test the waters and evaluate the feedback. He is to graduate in May but has one season of college eligibility remaining.

The 6-foot-10 Taggart will not immediately hire an agent, giving him the option to return for a final college season. Taggart averaged 10.4 points and a team-high 7.6 rebounds last season.

Huertas leaves Mississippi program: Guard David Huertas, Mississippi's leading scorer and a second-team all-Southeastern Conference selection, has quit school and returned to Puerto Rico.

A Puerto Rican newspaper, El Vocero, reported Huertas has signed to play with a professional team, the Quebradillas Pirates of the Superior National Basketball League.

Huertas, a transfer from Florida, averaged 18.1 points this season.

Jayhawks staying put: Junior guard Sherron Collins and 6-foot-11 sophomore Cole Aldrich announced they are staying at Kansas rather than entering the NBA draft.

Ex-Hawaii women's coach Bolla sues: Jim Bolla, recently fired Hawaii women's coach, filed a wrongful-termination lawsuit, alleging he was ousted in retaliation for complaining female athletes were being discriminated against.

WNBA

Carey retires: Connecticut Sun guard Jamie Carey has retired from the league to pursue work in coaching and marketing.

Carey, 28, played four seasons for the Sun, averaging career highs of 4.2 points and 1.4 assists last year.

Auto racing

Jury in Castroneves case asks for transcripts: Jurors deliberating the fate of Brazilian driver Helio Castroneves and two other people charged with evading U.S. taxes asked for transcripts of testimony by two tax lawyers who were called by the prosecution to describe how Castroneves' finances were structured.

The request, which was granted by U.S. District Judge Donald Graham in Miami, came after a question Friday from jurors about an aspect of tax law. The 12-person jury began deliberations Friday, did not reach a verdict Monday and will continue to deliberate today.

Castroneves, a two-time Indianapolis 500 winner; his sister and business manager, Katiucia; and Michigan lawyer Alan Miller each face more than six years in federal prison if convicted on conspiracy and tax-evasion charges.

Prosecutors say Castroneves failed to pay more than $2.3 million in taxes from 1999 to 2004.

Horse racing

Equine-retirement group raises money to care for allegedly neglected horses: A group that finds homes for retired racehorses is raising money to care for 177 allegedly neglected horses seized from prominent breeder Ernie Paragallo and offering to oversee rehabilitation and placement of the animals.

Diana Pikulski, executive director of the Thoroughbred Retirement Foundation, says the group is working with horse breeders, the New York Racing Association and other racing entities to raise money for the care of horses that were on Paragallo's farm in New York.

Paragallo was charged with 22 counts of animal cruelty Friday.

Soccer

Clemson coach is charged with assaulting daughters: Clemson men's coach Trevor Adair has been arrested after police say he attacked his two teenage daughters over the weekend.

Clemson Police Chief Jimmy Dixon said Adair, 48, was released on a $10,000 bond. Adair is charged with two counts of assault and battery.

Track and field

Coach says Liu is doubtful for worlds: Liu Xiang's coach said he is doubtful the former Olympic champion hurdler will recover from surgery in time to defend his title at the world championships in Berlin in August.

Liu, a 2004 Athens gold medalist, recently resumed training after undergoing surgery on his right foot in December. The injury kept him from defending his 110-meter hurdles title at last year's Beijing Games, where he withdrew at the start line in the heats.

Coach Sun Haiping said August might be too early for Liu, 25, to return. A September or October return "is a better choice," Sun said.

Greek walker to face doping charge: Olympic champion race-walker Athanasia Tsoumeleka, 27, of Greece was charged with using an illegal performance-enhancing drug. She tested positive in January for CERA, an advanced version of the blood-booster EPO. The offense carries a maximum sentence of two years in jail.

Tsoumeleka won the 20-kilometer walk at the 2004 Olympics.

Seattle Times news services