LeBron's son Bronny James commits to play at USC

LOS ANGELES -- Bronny James, the 18-year-old son of NBA superstar LeBron James, announced Saturday he has committed to play at the University of Southern California.

In an Instagram posting, Bronny James displayed a photo of himself in the USC locker room with the caption "Fight On #committed."

The talented teen is ranked among the top US high school prospects and considered one of the top point guards in the nation.

He capped a stellar senior campaign at Sierra Canyon in Los Angeles with 15 points in an all-star game of top college candidates, sinking five 3-pointers.

His famous father -- the NBA's all-time leading scorer as well as a four-time NBA champion and four-time NBA Most Valuable Player -- has said he will join for whatever NBA team Bronny James plays on just for the chance to play alongside his son.

Teen star James could be eligible for the NBA Draft after one season for the Trojans, who are expected to have a strong squad next season.

Some analysts have already marked James as a likely top-10 selection in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Bronny James would turn 20 in October of 2024, the same month that the 2024-25 NBA campaign will start. His father would turn 40 in December of 2024.

Agence France-Presse

Louisiana State downs Iowa for first NCAA women's basketball crown

LOS ANGELES -- Louisiana State University blew past the University of Iowa and national player of the year Caitlin Clark 102-85 on Sunday to win the coveted women's NCAA collegiate basketball crown.

LSU scored the most points in the history of the women's title game, an early three-point barrage staking them to a 17-point halftime lead.

Jasmine Carson led the Tigers with 22 points, 21 of them in the first half, while Alexis Morris scored all 16 of hers after the break.

Star center Angel Reese scored 15 points, pulled down 10 rebounds and handed out five assists and was named the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player.

Reese, who set a record with 34 double-doubles during the season, wasn't shy about celebrating as the final moments ticked off in a game that saw LSU coach Kim Mulkey earn her sixth championship as a player or coach -- her fourth as a head coach after she led Baylor to titles in 2005, 2012 and 2019.

Clark had shot to prominence with a 41-point triple-double in a victory over Louisville and followed that up with another 41-point outburst on Friday as the Hawkeyes stunned the unbeaten South Carolina Gamecocks to reach the final.

Reese and Clark had helped drive massive interest, the womens' final drawing a sell-out crowd of 19,482 in Dallas.

But it was Carson who took charge early. She finished with five of Louisiana State's 11 three-pointers.

LSU also out-rebounded Iowa 37-26, their 14 offensive rebounds resulting in 14 second-chance points and Clark's 30 points just weren't enough.

Reese's "you can't see me" taunting of Clark in the waning seconds sparked criticism but Clark, a notorious trash-talker herself, insisted she wasn't aware.

Agence France-Presse