Local basketball stars are making moves as fast-happening hardwood news continues unabated. Basketball coaches are also on the move. Football players get in the fast lane. Offers, commitments and transfer news of all sorts; it’s all here in the fastest 1,000 words in sports.
RONDON NOW AT NEWPORT
Standout junior point guard Yamil Rondon has transferred from Cooper to Newport after returning from spring break in Puerto Rico. Rondon’s mother was born in Puerto Rico and lives in the Boone County school district. His father resides in Newport.
Rondon was a member of the Puerto Rico U-17 national basketball team in 2023. He said he began taking classes at Newport this week. Newport is the two-time defending 9th Region champion. The Wildcats expect the return of four other players holding Division I college offers. They are sophomore point guard Tay Kinney, junior forward James Turner, freshman center Griffin Starks and freshman guard Amontae Lowe. Rondon averaged 13 points per game as a junior and was a Division I all-conference selection by local coaches.
LONGTIME COOPER COACH RESIGNS
Cooper High School boys soccer coach Doug Flesch has stepped down after 11 successful record-breaking seasons.
“I did resign,” Flesch said. “I love this community and everything Cooper represents. My wife and I moved to Union in 2020 because we wish to raise our family in this wonderful community. We are expecting another child this year and it’s for this reason that I can’t commit 100% to the program.”
Flesch, who works outside the school, said it’s the right decision from a family standpoint and also what’s best for the players.
“We have a lot of talent coming up which is exciting for the future and I trust the judgment of Cooper’s administration to guide the program in the right direction,” he said.
Cooper athletic director Randy Borchers recently posted the open job position, saying the school prefers a new soccer coach with experience as head of a program. The Jaguars finished 7-8-5 in 2023 with seven losses decided by a single goal. They made it to the 33rd District tournament final and were eliminated in the regional opener in double-overtime.
A new coach, the fifth in program history, will have big shoes to fill. Flesch leaves as the program’s all-time victory leader with a record of 123-78-25. His 11 seasons and 226 games coached are also program records. No other Cooper boys soccer coach lasted more than two seasons. The program began with the opening of the school in 2008. Flesch guided the Jaguars to a pair of 33rd District tournament championships and four region tournament wins. He nailed down Cooper’s first win in program history against perennial power Covington Catholic with a September victory in 2022.
“This decision was extremely challenging,” Flesch said. “My wife and I are expecting our second child in late August. I cannot fully commit the time needed to be in this position. The past 11 years have been a blessing and I cherish all the memories that I walk away with. I am beyond thankful for all the support I have received over the years. Our program has an amazing culture and support system. I will do everything I can to help with the transition of a new coach.”
COVCATH STANDOUT HEADING TO PREP SCHOOL
Covington Catholic senior basketball player Caden Miller announced he is taking a post-graduate year while playing basketball at Moravian Academy in Hudson, North Carolina. Miller is the local coaches’ association’s Division I player of the year. He joined the 1,000-point club and averaged 15.3 points and 10.5 rebounds per game for the Colonels.
The 6-10 Miller holds college offers from DePaul, Eastern Kentucky, Mississippi State and Missouri. He has generated interest from Cincinnati and Xavier. He played one season at CovCath after being named an Arkansas Class 6A all-state player as a junior.
WARRICK WHITTLES LIST TO FIVE FINALISTS
Northern Kentucky University transfer Marques Warrick cut his list of desired college destinations to five schools, according to his agent. The list includes Cincinnati. It also includes Missouri, Penn State, Seton Hall and USC. The 6-foot-2 guard has one year of eligibility remaining after becoming NKU’s all-time leading scorer. He averaged 19.9 points per game in 2023-24, ranking fourth in the Horizon League. He was a first-team all-Horizon League selection.
NKU PICKS UP A TRANSFER
Michigan Tech transfer Daniel Gherezgher has committed to Northern Kentucky University, according to The Portal Report. Gherezgher, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound point guard, has two years of eligibility remaining. He entered the NCAA transfer portal March 13. He’s originally from Wisconsin, where he was an all-state performer.
Gherezgher is a three-level scorer. He also possesses solid across-the-board shooting percentages. The sophomore averaged 15 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in 2023-24. He shot 47% from the field, 33.8% from 3-point range and 75.7% on free throws. Michigan Tech is a Division II school in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Gherezgher tied his season high 26 points in Michigan Tech’s final game in the quarterfinals of the GLIAC tournament. He was a second-team all-GLIAC selection as a freshman and sophomore. Michigan Tech finished 11-17 in 2023-24.
COMMITMENTS
Ryle junior football player Dillon Smith has committed to Louisville. It’s the Cardinals’ fourth commitment in the Class of 2025. Smith, a 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end, visited Louisville several times. He ranks No. 11 among Kentucky defensive linemen in his class. Smith is the No. 103 defensive lineman in the nation, according to 247Sports. He registered 56 tackles last season. He also had eight sacks and three interceptions.
Dixie Heights junior soccer player Abby Parsons announced a verbal commitment. She will play soccer at Eastern Michigan. Parsons had 10 goals and 11 assists her junior season for the Colonels.
OFFERS
Newport sophomore basketball player James Turner received an offer from Penn State. Turner, a 6-foot-7, 195-pound forward, averaged 8.8 points and 5.8 rebounds this past season.
Cooper junior football player Isaac Brown received his first NCAA Division I offers from Southeast Missouri State and Eastern Kentucky University. He had four interceptions his junior season as a defensive back. He added 24 total tackles.
Beechwood junior lineman Mattox Kelly received his second Division I football offer from Eastern Kentucky. He also has an offer from Illinois State.
Conner junior lineman Dylan Stewart picked up his fifth Division I football offer from Air Force Academy. Stewart also holds offers from Army, Eastern Kentucky, Eastern Michigan and Troy.
NORSE GREAT NAMED HEAD COACH
Former NKU basketball player Ethan Faulkner was named head coach at Youngstown State University. He is the 14th head coach in program history. Faulkner is in his sixth season with the Penguins. He joined the YSU staff in 2019 and was named associate head coach in 2022.
Faulkner was a key coaching component of the program’s first-ever Division I regular-season conference championship and its first NIT berth. He helped put together Youngstown State’s best five-year stretch at the Division I level. YSU and NKU play each season in Horizon League play.
Faulkner spent three seasons as an assistant coach at the University of the Cumberlands. He spent one season as an assistant at Mount Vernon Nazarene and one season as an assistant at NKU (2014-15). Faulkner ranks in the top 12 in NKU program history in career assists and all-time free throw shooting percentage. He’s a former Norse team captain.
THOMAS MORE CELEBRATES NEW COMPLEX
Thomas More University celebrated the opening of its state-of-the-art softball complex with a ribbon cutting ceremony Saturday prior to the Saints’ doubleheader against Ursuline College. The school said extensive renovations feature on-field enhancements including replacement of outfield grass with turf and side fencing. There are additions of four turfed batting cages and two turfed bullpens. There is a new scoreboard.
Additionally, netting along the third-base line, the outfield fence and windscreen, the backstop and netting are new. Set bleachers, concrete walkways and a concessions building are also new features. There is a new free-standing locker room. The athletic facility enhancements are part of the school’s “Strategic Plan – Lighting the Way.”
SPEED READS
Two more local small-school girls basketball programs are making changes at the head coach position. Villa Madonna is looking for a new coach after parting ways with Katie Kortekamp after three years. Villa Madonna finished 6-21 this past season.
Dayton girls basketball coach Dave Hinton has left the bench after three years. Dayton finished the recently completed season with a record of 8-21.
Beechwood, Ludlow and Newport Central Catholic are also undergoing head-coaching changes while St. Henry has already made a hire with Dan Trame.