Kokrak has surgery, out until August

Kokrak has surgery, out until August

WARREN

Warren native Jason Kokrak had surgery for a sports hernia and is hoping to return for the PGA Championship in early August, Rotoworld reported.

Kokrak has not played since he missed the cut at the Players Championship on May 9. Kokrak has not qualified for the season’s final major but should earn a spot through a special money list in late July, the website reported.

Farmers Bank creates YSU endowment

YOUNGSTOWN

Farmers National Bank has created a scholarship endowment for Youngstown State athletics.

It will begin with the 2014-15 academic year.

The recipient will be a minority student-athlete who displays dedication, commitment and pride in competition. The student-athlete, who will be good academic standing, must be committed to the community and give back through community service.

The YSU soccer and track and field complex located across the street from Stambaugh Stadium is named Farmers National Bank Field. Farmers National Bank contributed $500,000 to the project in December 2012.

Cavaliers hire Lue as assistant

CLEVELAND

A person familiar with the hiring says Clippers assistant Tyronn Lue, who had two interviews to be Cleveland’s coach, will join new coach David Blatt’s staff.

Lue will be an associate head coach under Blatt in Cleveland, said the person who spoke Monday to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team is not publicly commenting on the move.

Lue played guard for 11 seasons with seven NBA teams. He spent the past five years working on Doc Rivers’ staff in Boston and Los Angeles and is regarded as one of the league’s rising young coaches. The 37-year-old was one of the finalists to get Cleveland’s job, which went to Blatt last week.

Lue’s experience will be beneficial to Blatt, who has never coached in the U.S. but built a strong resume as one of Europe’s top coaches over the past 20 years.

Cavs to host Blatt’s former team

CLEVELAND

New Cavaliers coach David Blatt will face his former team from Israel in an exhibition game.

One of Europe’s top coaches, Blatt was hired last week by the Cavs. He’ll coach against Maccabi Tel Aviv on Oct. 5 as this year’s Euroleague champions begin their U.S. tour against Cleveland at Quicken Loans Arena. Maccabi will play at Brooklyn two nights later.

Blatt spent six seasons coaching at Maccabi. He signed a three-year deal with the Cavs on Friday, ending the club’s 39-day search for their third coach in three years. The 55-year-old Blatt will be introduced at a news conference Wednesday.

Blatt is the first European coach to make the jump to the NBA. He led Russia to a bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics.

Duncan back for Spurs in 2014-15

A person with knowledge of the decision tells The Associated Press that Tim Duncan is exercising the option on his contract for 2014-15 and will return to play for the San Antonio Spurs next season.

Duncan turned 38 in April and won his fifth championship with the Spurs in June. That led to some speculation that he could retire after 17 seasons in the league.

But many also expected Duncan to return next season because he continues to play at a high level. Duncan will make $10.3 million next season as part of a contract designed to allow the Spurs to surround him with top-flight talent. The person requested anonymity because an official announcement has not been made. Yahoo! Sports first reported the decision.

Staff/wire reports