In N.Y., Pete Thamel profiled high school basketball player NERLENS NOEL, considered the "top-ranked high school senior in the country." Those "tied on some level" with Noel's recruitment include a low-level CAA NBA agent. If Noel is the first player selected in the '13 Draft, he "should receive a contract of about $20 million." If he is among the "top 10 picks, he can expect a deal worth at least $10 million." Any projected contract figure "does not include endorsements, which could be lucrative for a player who has nearly 14,000 followers on Twitter" (N.Y. TIMES, 3/11).
DEDICATED TO COVERAGE: Raleigh News & Observer sports columnist CAULTON TUDOR was awarded the Atlantic Coast Sports Media Association's Skeeter Francis Award on Saturday, which recognizes an individual with the media, conference office or member institution whose work has benefited coverage of ACC sports. Tudor previously served as ACSMA Chief Administrator and has spent over 40 years covering the ACC (Raleigh NEWS & OBSERVER, 3/11).
CHARITY STRIPE: In response to the outbreak of tornadoes across the central and southern U.S., Lowe's expanded its relief efforts by "matching the race earnings" of driver JIMMIE JOHNSON collected in yesterday's NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kobalt Tools 400. Johnson and Hendrick Motorsports also donated $48,000 in support of the American Red Cross Disaster Relief (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/11).
NAMES: Former President BILL CLINTON sat at center-court next to former DNC Chair TERRY MCAULIFFE at the Cincinnati-Syracuse Big East Tournament semifinal at MSG on Friday night (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 3/10)....Pro skateboarder RYAN SHECKLER was featured in the N.Y. Times Magazine's "Domains" section and said at his bedside in his San Clemente, Calif., home are his "computer, my phone, ChapStick and my Taser. It's powerful -- it will definitely shock you" (N.Y. TIMES MAGAZINE, 3/11 issue)...Former tennis player JOHAN KRIEK "plans to move to Charlotte with his family and open a junior tennis academy." He will partner with Charlotte Indoor Tennis Club in south Charlotte and teach between 24-32 students. The monthly program fee will range from $1,400-1,600 (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER 3/11).....Fenway Park next month will host a public auction of memorabilia from Baseball HOFer TED WILLIAMS' private collection. Pennsylvania-based Hunt Auctions will conduct the sale and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Jimmy Fund (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/10)....Mets P R.A. DICKEY and former MLBer TIM WAKEFIELD are among the featured subjects in the upcoming movie "KNUCKLEBALL!," which will be featured in the Spotlight division of the Tribeca Film Festival (NEWSDAY, 3/10)....Tennis player VENUS WILLIAMS later this month will give some of her friends a "sneak peek" of her new capsule EleVen Collection. Next up will be a U.S. Open-inspired line, "which will lead the way for the launch of a full lifestyle collection coming in September" (N.Y. POST, 3/12).
IN MEMORY: TIM BRYANT, longtime PR Director at FS Detroit, died over the weekend while on vacation in Florida. He is survived by his wife TERESA and his son DANNY.
