New Houston boys basketball coach Charlie Leonard comes full circle to Memphis

So much of coaching is built on relationships. So it seems natural that someone with as much time in the game as Charlie Leonard would have his latest job thanks to a connection with a former player.

Leonard — who most recently served as LSU's director of basketball operations under Johnny Jones before retiring on May 31 — was named last week the boys coach at Houston. He replaces William Buford, who coached the Mustangs for the last seven seasons.

"The challenge is part of it," he said. "And I've had a 30-year affinity for Memphis. When it's all said and done, high school basketball is about teaching. One of the things I saw at LSU was a lack of preparedness that a lot of players had coming into college."

Houston's athletic director is Chad Becker, who played basketball for Leonard at CBU.

"He just called and asked me what I was doing," Leonard said, laughing. "I think it's going to be a lot of fun."

For Becker, the timing couldn't have been better.

"It was just one of those serendipitous things," he said. "I don't think you could find a more accomplished person ... he's coached freshmen of the year, (league) MVPs, first-round draft picks. And it's all predicated on player development.

"We're wanting to build a program, not just a super team. If you look at it with our other sports ... that's they way we've done it."

Leonard began his career at now-closed Memphis Prep in 1975 before moving to CBHS, where he spent 12 seasons and won the school's last state championship in 1987. From there he coached CBU for seven seasons before working as an assistant at Memphis, North Texas and LSU.

Crawford commits to Crimson Tide

It's always nice to be wanted. And Alabama made it abundantly clear that it wanted Gabby Crawford.

The 2018 standout from Munford recently announced her commitment to the Crimson Tide. The 6-2 forward had nearly 40 offers, including virtually the entire SEC, Memphis, Louisville, Miami and Georgia Tech.

"I just felt really comfortable there and I didn't want to go to a place where I didn't feel comfortable," she said. "They were at most of my AAU games ... and they checked on me on an off during the season. There was always somebody there.

"They expect me to come in and work hard ... work for everything."

Crawford will bring and advanced skill set to Tuscaloosa. She has a strong inside-out game, uses her size to crash the boards well and plays with a high motor. She was a Commercial Appeal Sports Awards player of the year finalist this past season after leading the Cougars to their most successful season ever. They won district and region titles before losing to eventual state runner-up Central in the AAA sectionals to finish 26-7.

Crawford, who averaged 19 points and 12 boards per game, joins Whitehaven's Jasmine Carson and Ridgeway's Elizabeth Dixon (both Georgia Tech) and Northpoint's Lauren Gross (North Florida) as seniors who have announced their commitments.

Former standouts on watch lists

'Tis the season for ... college football watch lists.

Ole Miss kicker and former MUS star Gary Wunderlich is of 30 players named on the Lou Groza Award. Wunderlich led the NCAA and set an Ole Miss record by converting 22 of 23 field goals in 2016, with the only miss coming from 55 yards.

He heads into his final season third in school history in points (265), field goals (47) and extra points (124). 

Navy linebacker D.J. Palmore — who starred at CBHS — is one of 42 candidates for the Ronnie Lott IMPACT Trophy. The award — named for the San Francisco 49ers Hall of Famer — goes to the college player who best combines defensive excellence on the field with exceptional character off.

IMPACT stands for integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity.

The 6-3, 235-pound Palmore certainly checks all those boxes. He led the Midshipmen in both sacks (six) and tackles for loss (11.5) while being elected co-captain for this season. Temple safety Sean Chandler and Houston lineman Ed Oliver are the other AAC players on the list.

Also named were Tennessee safety Todd Kelly Jr. and Ole Miss defensive end Marquis Haynes. Michigan's Jabril Peppers won the award last year.

Tiger star continues career in France

Valerie Sanderson — the all-time leading scorer in the history of the University of Memphis women's soccer program — has signed with FC Metz, a professional team  competing in France's second division.

"To go right after college and get a chance in one of the top leagues is the best opportunity I could have gotten," she said in a statement. "I'm proud, happy and excited. The language of soccer is universal but being able to communicate and make my way around will be easier because I speak the language."

The native of Quebec ended her Tiger career with 52 goals and 70 assists while earning all-conference mention all four years. She joins Vendula Strnadova — the previous all-time scorer — and Christabel Oduro as former Tigers playing professionally in Europe.

Hutchison lax finishes second

Hutchison's lacrosse team rarely finishes second in anything, but the Sting will be happy to take this runner-up honor.

Coach Dave Gearhardt's squad — which won its seventh straight Tennessee Girls Lacrosse Association state championship in May — ended the year ranked second in the Southern Region, according to U.S. Lacrosse magazine. It's the program's highest year-end ranking.

Hutchison was 20-1, losing only to Walton (Ga.). The Sting have won 64 consecutive games against in-state opposition and will be the favorites again in 2018 with Sports Awards player of the year Griffin Gearhardt (104 goals, 77 assists) leading a strong returning cast.

Milton, the state champs in Georgia, ended the year ranked first.

Ex-Bulldog headed to London

A former area track and field standout has qualified for the upcoming World Championships.

Erica Bougard — a native of Byhalia, Miss., who was an eight-time All-American during her career at Mississippi State — will represent the United States after finishing second in the USTAF heptathlon. The 23-year-old totaled 6,557 points last month in Sacramento, finishing just seven points behind Georgia's Kendall Williams.

The worlds take place Aug. 4-12 in London.

Tigers make the grade

More than 200 University of Memphis athletes earned all-conference academic awards for this past school year, the most since the Tigers joined American Athletic Conference.

The 204 athletes are an improvement from last year's total of 185. The baseball team led the way with 26, followed by football and women's soccer (23).

Kicker Jake Elliott earned his second Scholar-Athlete Sports Excellence Award, the only Memphis athlete among the 26 chosen by the league.

Local shooters on target

Several Shelby County shooters have earned all-state recognition from the Tennessee Scholastic Clay Target Program.

CBHS led the way with six honorees: Christian Aldridge, Nick Cicinelli, Patrick Koch, David McNamara, Garrett Stallings and Will Wolbrecht. Also selected were Bartlett's Griffin Black, Drake Fenwick and Jake Taylor; Matthew Mitchell and Lauren Thomas of Houston and St. Agnes' Grace Franklin and Ainsley Harrington.

Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com.