Earlier this month, Michigan defeated UConn in the NCAA men’s basketball national championship game. 

Shortly after the Wolverines captured the program’s first title since 1989, Michigan forward Morez Johnson Jr. announced he would enter the NBA Draft.

Despite declaring for the NBA Draft, Johnson has maintained his NCAA eligibility throughout the process. However, he has until May 27 to withdraw if he plans to return for his junior season. 

Johnson played for Illinois during the 2024-25 season before transferring to Michigan last offseason.

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Michigan’s Morez Johnson Jr. walks on the court against UConn at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated)

After joining Michigan, Johnson quickly emerged as a key contributor, averaging the second-most points on the team. He also led the Wolverines in rebounding, averaging 7.3 per game.

Michigan head coach Dusty May eventually dubbed Johnson “The Enforcer” and “Junkyard Dog,” a nod to his tenacity on the defensive end. Johnson was named to the Big Ten’s All-Defensive Team.

RANKING THE TOP 20 PLAYERS IN THE MEN’S COLLEGE BASKETBALL TRANSFER PORTAL

But Johnson’s offensive prowess didn’t take a back seat to his defensive strengths. His shooting from beyond the 3-point line showed improvement as the season progressed.

Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines cuts down the net after defeating the UConn Huskies 69-63 in the 2026 NCAA national championship game in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Many early NBA projections gave Johnson a first-round grade. It’s unclear how much name, image and likeness (NIL) compensation he would command if he returns to Michigan or transfers elsewhere.

Johnson has been active on social media, interacting with teammates as they consider returning to Michigan for another championship push.

Morez Johnson Jr. of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates after scoring in the second half against the UConn Huskies during the 2026 NCAA national championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis April 6, 2026. (Jamie Schwaberow/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

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Michigan added a key piece this week, with Jalen Reed transferring from LSU, On3 reported. Reed was limited during the 2025-26 season by an Achilles injury.

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Six-division world champion and Golden Boy Promoter Oscar De La Hoya has not fought since 2008 but has revealed that he would be willing to make a return for one man.

De La Hoya is a modern pound-for-pound legend, being one of just two six-division champions in the history of the sport – joined by Filipino fan-favourite Manny Pacquiao, who reached eight, in that extremely elite club.

Whilst De La Hoya has moved into the promotional side of the sport, ‘Pac Man’ recently made his professional comeback, as he challenged Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title last July in an attempt to break his own record as boxing’s oldest 147lbs ruler.

Pacquiao could only muster a draw in that fight, but is now set for an even bigger fight – at least in terms of money – having signed for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who famously defeated him in ‘The Fight of the Century’ back in 2015.

It remains to be seen whether that bout could impact Mayweather’s famous 50-0 record or not, with ‘TBE’ seemingly looking to change the fight contract to an exhibition bout despite signing for a sanctioned contest.

Should that fight go ahead in September and Mayweather come out on top once again, De La Hoya told FightHype that he would also be willing to rematch Mayweather.

“I am a fighter. I will always be a fighter. If Mayweather beats Pacquiao, Floyd, you owe me a rematch! Let’s go!”

Mayweather defeated De La Hoya via split-decision to claim the WBC super-lightweight world title in 2007, with De La Hoya still maintaining that he deserved the victory in that fight.

Devdutt Padikkal’s comeback continued to gain steam as his impressive 55 off 27 balls set the stage for Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s five-wicket victory over Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Friday. Reflecting on his return to form, Padikkal emphasised the effort behind the scenes. “Feels great. I’ve been working hard to get where I am, and I’m glad it’s paying off. I think a lot of this is thanks to the self-belief that the management has given me. At the same time, I’ve made some technical changes over the past few years. You have to stick to those changes. Now I am seeing the results.”

Chasing a tough target of 205, RCB needed a strong start, and Padikkal delivered just that. He took on the pace of Kagiso Rabada and Mohammed Siraj with confidence, hitting boundaries and maintaining the required run rate. One shot stood out – a beautiful lofted drive over extra cover – which he highlighted: “It was probably my favourite shot of the day for sure.”

Padikkal approached the innings with a clear strategy rather than recklessness. “At the end of the day, I need to play according to the situation and assess what’s happening out there. We were chasing 210, so we needed to make the most of the Powerplay and keep the momentum going for the next few overs,” he explained. This clarity showed as he dominated the middle overs, taking apart Prasidh Krishna and applying pressure on Rashid Khan with a mix of sweeps and lofted shots.

While Virat Kohli steadied the chase with a smooth 81, Padikkal’s aggressive innings ensured RCB stayed ahead of the required rate. Even after his dismissal, bowled by a clever googly from Rashid, the foundation he laid proved crucial.

Looking ahead, Padikkal expressed his desire to contribute more significantly. “I want to help finish games, so hopefully I can do that soon,” he said, while also recognising the depth of talent that gives him freedom at the top. “We’ve seen what Tim, Romario, and Jitesh can do down the order, so with that kind of firepower, you can feel free to go out and express yourself.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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All along, the discussion had been between opting for the best player available versus filling a need. Think of these details as the quick jabs or maybe the body blows.

What wasn’t expected was the uppercut punch.

The Vikings’ front office opted for DT Caleb Banks at No. 18 in the 2026 NFL Draft. Doing so happens to fulfill both criteria above — best player available and filling a roster need — and yet there’s a tangible sense of shock (and disappointment, depending on who gets asked). Why is that the case?

The Vikings’ Front Office Rolls in with a Slobberknocker

Understanding the Banks selection requires reframing the discussion.

Indeed, a single axis isn’t sufficient to capture the rationale behind Minnesota’s decision. As mentioned, the selection looks like a terrific decision if the sole criteria rests in exploring best player available, sinking the pick into a need, or finding a balance of both. Fully fulfilling each end of the spectrum means people should be elated by the Caleb Banks decision.

Rob Brzezinski, the long-time executive tasked with filling the GM position after the firing of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, was quite adamant that Banks was Minnesota’s highest-ranked player. Filling a glaring roster need was basically a happy accident.

“So, as we’re analyzing Caleb and we’re stacking our board,” Brzezinski explained, “we just stack the board based on the way we see the talent. You’re analyzing everything and including everything, and we just felt really comfortable where he was on our board. The board fell, and he was the best player on the board and we took him, and it was pretty easy.”

Later on, Brzezinski doubled down with an adamant declaration, “he was the best player there when we selected him, and we feel outstanding about [the] selection.”

The executive says things were easy. Others see things differently. The reason is due to the risk of the pick. Mr. Banks has had a pair of foot injuries, creating questions about his ability to contribute in 2026 and onward from there.

Check out the benefit of adding another axis within the explanatory criteria. Look at this somewhat clunky chart:

In the all-too-simple schema above, the BPA v. Need debate has been brought into harmony. Taking Brzezinski at his word means seeing that Banks was the BPA; just a basic understanding of the roster means realizing that he fills a need. Success?

Not so fast. There’s the risk/reward proposition that’s taking place.

To be sure, the risk/reward dynamic was worked into the mix in Brzezinski’s presser. He knows that there were medical issues. Likewise, he knows that there is massive potential. Many words were said covering these realities.

What appears to be catching many people off guard is that Minnesota followed a restrained, patient free agency with a huge swing in the draft. Playing it safe was assumed, but the reality that arrived was one that is welcoming huge risk. Onlookers are therefore wobbling a bit after getting clobbered with the surprise development.

As of Friday, April 24th, nobody knows with complete certainty whether choosing Caleb Banks was the correct decision. Only the future can offer that kind of knowledge. What isn’t up for the debate is that the BPA/need binary was insufficient within the pre-draft prognosticating since it didn’t adequately corral the possibility of a risk/reward decision.

The 2026 NFL Draft continues later on tonight. The Vikings are sitting atop picks No. 49, No. 82, and No. 97.

We’ll see if the Vikings’ front office keeps hitting onlookers with unexpected decisions.

Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.

A London teacher, who underwent heart surgery 10 weeks ago, is set to run the London Marathon this Sunday to honour her daughter who died after being diagnosed with a heart syndrome.

Sophie Martin, 31, aims to complete the race with her recently healed heart, hoping to demonstrate to her pupils that resilience can be found even in the face of profound grief.

Mrs Martin described her heart feeling “broken in more ways than one” after losing Olive. Her daughter was diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome – where the left side of the organ is underdeveloped – during Mrs Martin’s 12-week scan.

Born in autumn 2024, Olive was “really strong” but suffered a cardiac arrest and died two days later.

This devastating loss left Mrs Martin, her husband, and their four-year-old son, Arthur, with “a lot of grief, sadness and shock”. She stressed the importance of discussing Olive for her own healing.

The Christian family explains difficult times to Arthur using a book about “the moon is always round”, symbolising that goodness persists even in darkness.

Coincidentally, Mrs Martin was diagnosed with heart arrhythmia during Olive’s labour, undergoing corrective surgery just 10 weeks before the marathon. Running, which she took up during the Covid pandemic, became an outlet for processing her grief.

Mrs Martin, PE lead at St James’ Roman Catholic Primary School, is among 39 educators running for Team TCS Teachers.

Last year, nearly a year after Olive’s death, she ran the Royal Parks marathon, raising £5,000 for Demelza Hospice, which supported her family.

“For me, this marathon is a new chapter,” Mrs Martin said. “Running with a newly healed heart is my way of honouring Olive and showing my students, and myself, that even after immense grief, you can find strength and joy. It’s a reminder that life keeps going and I’m ready to see how much further I can go.”

“I never thought I’d get in (to the marathon),” Mrs Martin told the Press Association.

“I honestly was really surprised when the email came in. I’d just had my heart surgery, and then it must have been about two weeks later I found out that I’d got in and I thought ‘I don’t know if I can even physically do this’.”

Despite the significant challenge, she hopes her journey will inspire her students, teaching them that even the hardest tasks are not impossible.

The star midfielder said he was ‘feeling like 05’

Manchester United star Kobbie Mainoo was seen enjoying himself at a Manchester venue as he celebrated his 21st birthday.

The Stockport midfielder joined the Red Devils four years ago and has built up a reputation with fans for his technique on the pitch. Mainoo also plays for the England national team and became the youngest England player to ever play a semi-final of a major tournament during the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-finals against the Netherlands.

This week, Mainoo, who is the brother of model and former Love Island contestant Jordan Mainoo-Hames, celebrated his 21st birthday by booking out renowned Manchester pasta spot Onda, on Circle Square off Oxford Road.

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The restaurant opened its doors in 2024 and became the first permanent venue for the concept, which had previously served as a pop-up in the Northern Quarter. Known for its pizza, pasta, and focaccia – all made fresh in front of customers each day – its current menu includes the likes of Cavatelli pasta with anchovy butter, chicken stock, chilli and pangrattato, Vodka sauce lumache with ‘Nduja, and a beef shin ragu mafaldine.

Onda has also gone viral in the past over its Tiramisu, which is served from its own designated drawer. Being shared around the world, even by the likes of Hollywood actress Florence Pugh, love for the dessert saw the restaurant booked out for months in advance.

Earlier this week, the venue catered to Mainoo and his friends and family for the private event which featured live DJs, platters of food and even rounds of BuzzBallz cocktails. Supposedly taking on a throwback theme, the event saw Mainoo attend in an oversized fur coat and a New York Yankees baseball hat.

One clip shared on social media also showed Mainoo singing a rendition of JAY-Z and Kanye West’s Otis with friends, whilst the event also featured a performance from Mainoo’s favourite rapper Asco. Rumours online have suggested the artist was paid a five-figure sum for his appearance.

The party, which was attended by numerous celebrities and footballers, also saw Mainoo take part in a nostalgic-themed photo shoot with his fellow players including Bryan Mbeumo, Ayden Heaven, Patrick Dorgu, Leny Yoro, and Joshua Zirkzee. Posting the shot on Instagram, Mainoo wrote ‘Feeling like 05’.

Posting on social media of the group shot, fan account Risingballers wrote: “This is cold… Kobbie Mainoo was throwing it back to ’05 with the United team on his recent Insta dump. The United ballers came out to show love to Kobbie on his birthday whilst he was “feeling like 05”… the fit checks out.”

Responding to the photo, one fan wrote on Reddit: “MU-Tang Clan.” Another said: “I love this picture so much!” One other said: “Look like 90′ rap group cover album.” Another said: “The fact that they’re throwing it back to 05 is wild. That’s not that old.”

It has been recently reported that Mainoo is gearing up to sign a new five-year contract with United, with the MEN’s Senior Manchester Football Writer Tyrone Marshall describing the player as ‘a key member of the side going forward.

It is understood Mainoo is ready to put pen to paper on a long-term deal worth £120,000-a-week, which will keep him at Old Trafford until 2031. Just a matter of months ago, the midfielder had been on the verge of departing United on a six-month loan until the end of this season, but managed a reversal of fortunes.

When Michael Carrick was appointed as interim replacement, he restored Mainoo to the starting line-up, and the midfielder has since played a pivotal role in helping United climb to third in the table.

Sky Stadium will play host to Saturday’s
Round 8 NRL game between New Zealand Warriors and
Dolphins. The game kicks off at 6:05 pm with New Zealand Warriors heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers. Continue reading for our in-depth preview of the New Zealand Warriors vs.
Dolphins
game and give you our free tips and bets.

When: Saturday April 25, 2026 at 6:05 pm

Where: Sky Stadium

Bet 💰: Bet On This Match HERE

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins Odds

New Zealand Warriors vs Dolphins Preview

The Warriors return home with a clear blueprint built around ruck control and disciplined ball movement. Wayde Egan’s influence at dummy-half is central to that approach, giving their halves time and space to attack. The Dolphins showed encouraging signs last week but continue to struggle for sustained control through the middle. If New Zealand dominate possession, they should create enough opportunities out wide to get the job done.

A draftee celebrating with his family and friends after hearing his name called is one of the best parts of the NFL Draft. But few get to celebrate with a new teammate, and even fewer get to celebrate with a new teammate who’s also a family member.

That’s the case for cornerback Avieon Terrell, though: The Falcons took him with the No. 48 overall pick Friday, pairing him with older brother A.J. Terrell in the Atlanta secondary.

Brothers playing together isn’t super rare — Cameron and Connor Heyward did it last year for the Steelers, as did Quinnen and Quincy Williams for the Jets — but two playing the same position for the same team is.

A.J. has been a constant for the Falcons ever since they drafted him No. 16 overall in 2020. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2021, and he signed a four-year, $81 million extension ahead of the 2024 season. Now, he’ll be lining up alongside his brother. Interestingly, though, A.J. previously said he hoped not to play with his little brother.

“I want to play against him and see him walk on the sideline,” A.J. told ESPN a few weeks ago. “I want to see him play and I want him to have his own story somewhere else. I don’t want the narrative to be the Terrell brothers.”

If it can help the Falcons’ defense improve, though, A.J. should be all for it. Avieon, like A.J., starred at Clemson, and he started 31 straight games to finish his career. He has inside/outside versatility, and he forced eight fumbles over the past two seasons. Though he doesn’t have the size of his brother (Avieon is 5’11” and 180 pounds; A.J. is 6’1″ and 200 pounds), Avieon has earned plaudits for his tackling, aggressiveness, transition skills and ability to diagnose plays quickly. CBS Sports NFL Draft analyst Mike Renner had Avieon as the No. 10 overall prospect in his prospect rankings.

“I would say he was competitive as a mentor,” Avieon said of his brother, per ESPN. “He’s been a mentor my whole life. So, somebody I can look up to, been looking up to since I’ve been knowing football, first since I was 5. And then the competitive part, we’re still competitive to this day. I want to do everything he does. We got that type of relationship.”

Already brothers and a mentor/mentee pair, they now add NFL teammates to their connections.