A cornerback has flipped sides of the Floyd of Rosedale rivalry.

John Nestor left the Iowa Hawkeyes to go into the NCAA transfer portal on March 25 and pledged to the Gophers on Sunday.

“Committed,” Nestor wrote on social media, sharing a photo of him wearing a maroon No. 7 jersey and pants.

Nestor played in 20 games for the Hawkeyes across the 2023-24 seasons. Listed at 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds, he totaled 14 tackles and recovered a muffed punt in a win over Nebraska a year ago. He was awarded Iowa’s “Team Hustle Award” for his effort on special teams.

Pro Football Focus tracked him for 109 total snaps at wide cornerback and more than 200 on special teams in 2024. In 2023, he saw the field for more than 140 special teams plays but zero on defense.

Nestor, who has two years of eligibility remaining for the U, was a three-star prospect coming out of Marist High School in Chicago. The Gophers offered him a scholarship in the class of 2023.

Nestor is the first addition to the Gophers’ roster in the spring transfer portal window.

Minnesota is moving on from three key cornerbacks who ran out of eligibility after last season (Justin Walley, Ethan Robinson and Jack Henderson) and need experienced depth. Za’Quan Bryan and North Carolina Central transfer Jaylen Bowden are penciled in as the U’s starters coming out of spring practice.

— Andy Greder

Orono guard picks Texas Tech instead of Gophers

The Gophers men’s basketball program had a visit with a top in-state recruit scheduled for Monday. They didn’t make it that far.

Orono guard Nolan Groves committed to Texas Tech on Saturday. The reigning Gatorade Player of the Year in Minnesota shared the news on social media while visiting Lubbock this weekend.

The Gophers appeared to have a shot at Groves after the 6-foot-5 shooting guard de-committed from Yale last week. Minnesota, Wisconsin and Texas Tech quickly offered scholarships to Groves, who led the state of Minnesota at 34.1 points per game during last season.

Texas Tech has now snagged a player away from the Gophers in consecutive years, with Elijah Hawkins transferring to the Red Raiders before last season. The point guard then helped Texas Tech reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament in March.

— Andy Greder

NBA

Wolves’ Edwards up for clutch player of the year

The NBA released the three finalists for its major trophies on Sunday night, with Milkwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo on the MVP list alongside Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Denver’s Nikola Jokic, the runaway frontrunners for the award.

Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is a finalist for clutch player of the year along with Jokic and New York guard Jalen Brunson.

The finalists for coach of the year are Cleveland’s Kenny Atkinson, Detroit’s J.B. Bickerstaff and Houston’s Ime Udoka.

Rookie of the year is down to San Antonio guard Stephon Castle, Atlanta forward Zaccharie Risacher and Memphis forward Jaylen Wells.

Atlanta guard Dyson Daniels, Golden State forward Draymond Green and Cleveland center Evan Mobley are the finalists for defensive player of the year.

College sports

Coach, player killed when truck hits team bus

An Oregon college softball team traveling from a game was involved in a two-vehicle crash that killed an athlete and coach, authorities said Saturday.

The driver of a pickup crossed a center line and crashed head-on into a bus carrying 10 members of the Umpqua Community College team Friday night in Coos County, Oregon State Police said.

Jami Strinz, 46, described on the school’s website as the head softball coach, was driving the Chevrolet Express bus. Police said she was later declared dead at a hospital.

Kiley Jones, 19, was declared dead at the scene. The freshman from Nampa, Idaho, played first base, according to the athletics department’s website.

The other eight occupants of the bus suffered “moderate to serious injuries and were provided emergency medical services,” according to police, and some staff and students remained in hospitals in Eugene and Portland on Saturday, according to the school.

The driver of the truck was also seriously injured and was taken to an emergency medical center.

“Impaired driving is considered a primary cause of the crash,” police said, and a criminal investigation was ongoing.

golf

Thomas ends 3-year drought with victory

Justin Thomas ended nearly three years without a victory Sunday by making a birdie putt from just outside 20 feet in a playoff at Harbour Town to beat Andrew Novak in the RBC Heritage.

Thomas played bogey-free in dry, fast conditions for a 3-under 68, making a 25-foot birdie putt on the 16th that looked like it might be the winner until Novak, who grew up in South Carolina, matched him with a big birdie of his own for a 68.

Lindblad wins LPGA LA Championship

Ingrid Lindblad won the JM Eagle LA Championship on Sunday in her third start as an LPGA Tour member, avoiding a playoff when fellow rookie Akie Iwai bogeyed the final hole at El Caballero Country Club.

Playing a group ahead of Iwai, Lindblad shot a 4-under 68 to finish at 21-under 277. The 25-year-old from Sweden made the last of her six birdies on the par-5 11th and parred the final seven holes.

Briefly

Minor league baseball >> The St. Paul Saints were postponed again Sunday in a planned road series finale against the Iowa Cubs.

Formula 1 >> For the first time this season, a penalty played a key role in deciding a race win as Oscar Piastri went top of the standings with his victory in the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

college football >> Nico Iamaleava says he’s heading to UCLA, a week after Tennessee announced the quarterback who helped the Volunteers reach last season’s College Football Playoff was no longer with the program.

— From news services