SPORTS digest

YSU’s Hartfield named freshman of week

Indianapolis

Youngstown State freshman Braun Hartfield has been named the Horizon League men’s basketball Freshman of the Week.

Hartfield just missed the first double-double of his career with eight points and a career-high 11 rebounds and three blocks in the Penguins’ double-overtime win against Milwaukee last Thursday.

He shot 66 percent from the field added nine points and grabbed six rebounds against Green Bay.

For the week, Hartfield averaged 8.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and two blocks per game.

Scourge will play games in Campbell

CAMPBELL

The Western Reserve Scourge minor-league football team will play home games at Campbell High School this spring.

The Scourge are part of the Ohio Football League. The opening game will be May 6 at 4:30 p.m. against the Ohio Gladiators.

Their nine-game season has five home games and ends on July 15 against the Clarion Renegades.

The team will practice at Youngstown State’s Watson And Tressel Training Site.

For more information, contact co-owner Jim Craven at 330-502-9402 or wrscourge.craven@gmail.com or co-owner Jason Eggleston at 330-261—3623 or wrscourge.jason@gmail.com.

Ohio State’s Hooker leaving for NFL

COLUMBUS

Ohio State All-America safety Malik Hooker is entering the NFL draft after one sensational season as a starter with the Buckeyes. The New Castle, Pa., native redshirted in his first year at Ohio State and played sparingly in 2015.

This season he stepped into the starting lineup and led the Buckeyes in interceptions with seven, including a school-record three returned for touchdowns. He also made 74 tackles, third best on the team, and had 11 passes defended.

Hooker announced his intentions Monday with a post on Twitter. He thanked teachers, coaches and teammates for his growth “both as a football player and as a person.”

He said after talking with his family, “we have decided its best for me to forgo my remaining two years of eligibility and declare for the 2017 NFL draft.”

Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Greg Schiano has compared the 6-foor-2, 205-pound Hooker to former NFL All-Pro safety Ed Reed.

Hooker is the first of several key Buckeyes players who will be making stay-or-go decisions in the next two weeks.

Most notably, All-America H-back Curtis Samuel, cornerbacks Marshon Lattimore and Gareon Conley and linebacker Raekwon McMillan could be early round NF draft picks if they give up their remaining eligibility.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett is not considered a top NFL prospect but there has been some speculation about him turning pro instead of returning for a fifth season at Ohio State.

Duke’s Krzyzewski needs back surgery

DURHAM, N.C.

Hall of Fame Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski is stepping away from the team to have lower back surgery.

The school announced Monday that the procedure is scheduled for Friday, with an anticipated recovery time of four weeks. Krzyzewski will coach Wednesday night’s game against Georgia Tech before handing off to associate head coach Jeff Capel for Saturday’s home game against Boston College.

The 69-year-old Krzyzewski will have a fragment of a herniated disk removed. The school says Krzyzewski tried several treatment options during the past month before deciding on surgery.

The winningest men’s coach in Division I history had four surgeries during the offseason to replace his left knee, repair his left ankle and fix a hernia.

Capel previously took over for Krzyzewski when he missed a trip to Georgia Tech last February because of dehydration and high blood pressure.

Staff/wire report