The Rock Chalkboard

Where KU basketball targets sit in updated 2022 247Sports rankings
Starting with the most relevant name, Gradey Dick, KU's lone commitment in the 2022 class, jumped from No. 39 in the 247Sports staff rankings to No. 35. That corresponds with a gradual increase in his 247Sports Composite listing, which now has him up at No. 24.

Five-star Mark Mitchell breaks down official visits
OVERLAND PARK, Kans. -- Five-star forward Mark Mitchell isn't having the summer that he expected to have, but he is certainly making the most of it as he tries to figure out which college option will be best for him. Thursday night, 247Sports had the opportunity to speak with him and get the latest on the No. 11 ranked player in the class of 2022's recruitment.

New KU commit Zuby Ejiofor: 'Bill Self is a really genuine dude'
"Bill Self is a really genuine dude," Ejiofor told 247Sports' Eric Bossi. "We had a talk at the end of my visit for like 35 minutes where he described how I would best fit on the team and I loved it. I loved every minute of it, and I saw myself fitting on the team."

Four-star big man Zuby Ejiofor makes his college choice
Ranked No. 41 overall in the class of 2022 by 247Sports, Ejiofor is an athletic and tough 215 pounder who always plays hard. He runs the floor extremely well, can play above the rim in traffic and is consistently one of the most energetic players in the rising senior class. He loves to attack the rim from the elbow and while his athleticism certainly stands out, he has a good base set of skill.

Chris Simpson outlines plan for 'player-led program' at Kansas
“Unfortunately, we didn’t probably do as much as we normally would, quite honestly, with some of these camps,” Simpson said. “We did feel it was a priority, walking in the door, that we take some time with the roster here at KU and we were going to emphasize and stress that, especially that first week.”

2022 OT Jackson Brown building relationship with Kansas' Scott Fuchs
"I really like the new coaching staff," Brown said. "I've seen an opportunity that I could play early there. That really intrigued me with a new great staff. Coach Fuchs is an amazing guy, amazing coach. It definitely intrigued me to take a visit to see what they've got going there."

Three questions entering the summer: Kansas football cornerbacks
The Lance Leipold-era of Kansas football is fully underway. Announced as the Jayhawks' new coach one day before the spring game, Leipold has assembled a staff in Lawrence with five former Buffalo assistants and five previous Kansas staff members.

Bits o Chalk

BYU -- Athletes seeking to profit off NIL must adhere to the school's honor code
BYU athletes seeking to profit off of their name, image and likeness still must follow the university's honor code standards, which prohibit alcohol, tobacco and even coffee.

Phil Mickelson says he won't enter Detroit tournament again after newspaper report
Mickelson said he won't return because of a story published this week by The Detroit News, which obtained federal court records from 2007, detailing how a Michigan-based bookie allegedly cheated Mickelson out of $500,000.

Serena Williams awaiting results on injured leg, but walking, which is a 'good sign,' coach Patrick Mouratoglou says
"We don't know for the moment, we are expecting the result of the clinical assessment," Mouratoglou told TennisMajors.com. "The manual test gave us an idea of the nature of the injury, not how serious it is. We're waiting to see how long she's supposed to be resting and, obviously, the consequences in terms of preparation for the next one (the US Open). Time will fly. She's walking, which is a good sign, and it excludes very bad possibilities."

Atlanta Hawks dominated in paint, seeking answers after Game 5 loss to Bucks
MILWAUKEE -- Even if superstar guard Trae Young hadn't sat out for a second straight game, the Atlanta Hawks wouldn't have been able to stop the Bucks' relentless assault on the rim Thursday night in Milwaukee's 123-112 win in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals.

American sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson apologizes for positive test
"I apologize," Richardson said on NBC's "Today" show. "As much as I'm disappointed I know that when I step on the track I represent not only myself, I represent a community that has shown great support, great love ... I apologize for the fact that I didn't know how to control my emotions or deal with my emotions during that time."

Eraser Dust

Boy Scouts offer sexual abuse victims historic $850 million settlement
The Boys Scouts of America more than doubled its initial offer of compensation to sexually abused Scouts late Thursday to $850 million, setting the stage for an historic settlement as part of the youth organization's bankruptcy proceedings.

U.S. Leaves Its Last Afghan Base, Effectively Ending Operations - The New York Times
With little fanfare and no public ceremony, American troops left the base on Thursday night, U.S. and Afghan officials said. The closure effectively means that major U.S. military operations in Afghanistan are all but over.

Walmart Employee Wrangles Deer Loose in the Store - YouTube
Working at Walmart might mean you’ve got a lot of different responsibilities, but we’re willing to bet wrangling wildlife wasn’t in the job description! A deer that wandered into a Walmart and wreaked havoc was pinned down by a dedicated employee. This isn’t the first time a deer has gotten inside. A deer pranced right through the automatic doors of a grocery store in Wisconsin before being herded out the back by customers. And we’ve all had strange classmates, but a deer in school?

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Airport expansion to include Flathead's only escalator | Daily Inter Lake
Glacier Park International Airport’s $100 million upgrade, dubbed “the biggest project in the history of the airport” by Airport Director Rob Ratkowski, will include Flathead County's only escalator.

Admit It: Grilling Food Is Bad. Cook Inside Instead.
Your grill is dirty, has poor temperature control, and allows fat to drip into the flame and flare up. So instead of grilling, just cook indoors.

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