Men’s Basketball’s Luka Garza Tuesday, September 3, 2019 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. (Brian Ray/hawkeyesports.com)

IOWA CITY, Iowa — Luka Garza, the 2020 National College Basketball Player of the Year by six national news outlets and Big Ten Player of the Year, announced on Sunday that he is returning to the University of Iowa for his senior season.

“My heart is in Iowa City,” said Garza. “I love this place too much to leave it. I love my teammates, coaches, community, fans, and university. It would have been way too hard to close the book without the last chapter.”

Garza is one of five players since 1975, and first since 2008, to return to school after being recognized as the Sporting News National Player of the Year. The other four players are Tyler Hansbrough (2008), Dee Brown (2005), Michael Jordan (1983), and Ralph Sampson (1982).

The Washington, D.C., native had a historic season in 2019-2020, leading the nationally-ranked UI men’s basketball team to 20 victories and a likely NCAA Tournament berth if not for the COVID-19 pandemic. A unanimous consensus first-team All-America selection, Garza became the first UI men’s basketball student-athlete to earn National Player of the Year distinction (Sporting News, Basketball Times, ESPN, FOX, Stadium, Bleacher Report). The center was also named the Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, USBWA District VI Player of the Year, and Big Ten Men’s Basketball Player of the Year.

“Luka’s decision is incredibly unselfish and heart-warming,” said head coach Fran McCaffery. “Luka has an opportunity to advance himself professionally, but instead, he is thinking more about the program and his teammates. His goals are team-oriented. He has an incredible bond with his brothers in the locker room and believes in this group.”

Garza finished the 20-game conference schedule averaging a staggering 26.2 points per game, becoming the first player to average at least 26 points in Big Ten play since Purdue’s Glenn Robinson in 1994 and first true center since Minnesota’s Tom Kondla (28.3 ppg) in 1967. Garza scored a school-record 740 points in 2019-2020, breaking the program’s 50-year old record previously set by John Johnson in 1970. Garza became one of three Big Ten players to ever to total 740+ points and 300+ rebounds in a single season. He scored 20 points or more in a school-record 16 straight Big Ten games, the longest streak by any player in the Big Ten since Ohio State’s Dennis Hopson (16) in 1987.

Last season, Garza ranked second nationally in 20-point games (25); third in total field goals made (287), fifth in scoring (23.9), 19th in double-doubles (15), and 34th in rebounding (9.8). He produced against top competition all season, averaging 26.7 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in 12 contests against AP ranked opponents, including recording 11 straight 20-point performances.

Garza enters his senior season with 1,559 points, 660 rebounds, 104 blocked shots, 99, assists, 47 steals, and 20 double-doubles. He ranks 10th in Iowa career blocked shots and double-doubles, and 12th in scoring. He is 558 points from surpassing Roy Marble as the school’s all-time leading scorer. He has reached double figures in scoring 70 times, including 20 points or more 37 times.

“He is willing to bet on himself, which shows tremendous confidence,” McCaffery said. “I am excited to be part of it and thrilled to have an opportunity to coach him again. There is no better feeling than having student-athletes here for the right reasons, who want to be great and do it in our program.”

With the announcement of Garza’s return, Iowa returns seven players with significant starting experience. The Hawkeyes are coming off a 20-win season, and a fifth-place conference finish.

Iowa is an unofficial preseason Top-10 team for the 2020-21 season. In addition to All-American Luka Garza, the Hawkeyes return upperclassmen all-conference honorees Jordan Bohannon and Joe Wieskamp. Redshirt junior Connor McCaffery led all Division I players in assist-to-turnover ratio, while CJ Fredrick was honored on the All-Big Ten Freshman Team a year ago.

“With the overall depth, length, and experience that we have returning I believe we have a group determined to make the most of this season,” Garza said. “We have goals of where we want to be, but right now it’s not about winning championships; it’s about taking it one day at a time so we can be the best team possible.”

Here is the latest Mid-America sports news from The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gio Gonzalez made his first start for the Chicago White Sox more than 16 years after drafting him, and the left-hander responded by holding Kansas City scoreless into the fourth inning in an 11-5 victory Saturday night. Eloy Jimenez hit a three-run homer and finished with a career-high four hits, and rookie Luis Robert had four while finishing a triple shy of the cycle, leading a White Sox barrage of 21 hits in all. Leury Garcia also had four hits for Chicago. Whit Merrifield hit a two-run homer and Ryan O’Hearn also had two RBIs for the Royals.

UNDATED (AP) — The coronavirus has forced baseball’s 17th postponement in 10 days, prompting at least two more players to opt out and casting doubt the league can complete the 2020 season. A Cardinals-Brewers game in Milwaukee was postponed for the second straight day after one more player and three staff members with St. Louis tested positive for the coronavirus, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press. Milwaukee then announced that Gold Glove center fielder Lorenzo Cain will not participate in the rest of the 2020 season. Miami Marlins second baseman Isan Díaz also announced he is opting out.

GARDEN CITY, Kan. (AP) — A Kansas community college has reached a settlement with the New Jersey family of a football player who died of heatstroke after team conditioning drills in 2018. Garden City Community College announced the settlement late Friday with the family of Braeden Bradforth. Details of the settlement were not announced. Bradforth, a 19-year-old from Newton, New Jersey, died after being found unconscious after the first day of football conditioning on Aug. 1, 2018. College President Ryan Ruda said in a news release the settlement was recently approved by a court. He said the school has made several improvements to athletic protocols since Bradforth’s death.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Denzel Mahoney and Damien Jefferson announced they are withdrawing from the NBA draft and returning to Creighton for their senior seasons. Mahoney averaged 12 points and three rebounds after becoming eligible in December. He scored in double figures in 14 of 21 games, helping the Bluejays win 16 of those games. Jefferson averaged better than nine points and five rebounds while starting 29 of 30 games. Creighton finished 24-7, won a share of the Big East title and was ranked No. 7 in the final Associated Press Top 25.

(Updated 11-a.m.) A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the St. Louis Cardinals-Milwaukee Brewers game Saturday has been postponed. One more player and three staff members for the Cardinals have tested positive for the coronavirus. Two Cardinals players were flagged for positive tests on Friday, leading to the postponement of the series opener in Milwaukee. The teams had hoped to resume play Saturday and make up Friday’s game as part of a doubleheader Sunday.

w/ Chris Parks

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Saturday, August 1

Class 1A, 10:30 a.m.

#5 Don Bosco, Gilbertville (19-1) vs. #6 Newman Catholic, Mason City (19-5)

Class 2A, 1:30 p.m.

#1 Van Meter (22-2-1) vs. #6 Des Moines Christian (17-6)

Class 3A, 4:30 p.m.

#4 Norwalk (19-5) vs. #3 Gilbert (22-3)

Class 4A, 7:30 p.m.

#1 Johnston (23-3) vs. #2 Ankeny (21-8)

Class 3A Semifinals

Friday, July 31

#3 Gilbert 14, #2 Dallas Center-Grimes 7

#4 Norwalk 10, #8 Marion 0 (6 innings)

Class 4A Semifinals

Friday, July 31

#2 Ankeny 9, #3 Dubuque, Hempstead 8

#1 Johnston 3, #4 Urbandale 1

Dozens of team employees across Major League Baseball have been entrusted to carry out the critical task of contact tracing, a pillar of the league’s plan to operate a 60-game season while COVID-19 continues to assail much of the United States. St. Louis Cardinals assistant general manager and appointed contact tracer Moisés Rodríguez told The Associated Press early this week the role requires sensitivity, diligence and trust.

Rodríguez was thrust back into tracing duty Friday, when two Cardinals players tested positive, leading to the postponement of a scheduled game in Milwaukee.

 Today’s scheduled game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the St. Louis Cardinals at Miller Park has been rescheduled as part of a traditional doubleheader on Sunday, August 2^nd at 1:10 p.m. (CT).  The rescheduling as a result of two positive COVID-19 tests in the Cardinals’ organization is consistent with protocols to allow enough time for additional testing and contact tracing to be conducted.

Saturday’s game between the Clubs will remain as scheduled for 6:10 p.m. (CT).   Major League Baseball will continue to provide updates as appropriate.