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Women like Boucek have already shattered barriers in the NBA. Many dream of not simply coaching in the NBA, but perhaps one day ascending to the ultimate front seat: head coach. But no woman has yet broken through that ceiling. The number of women in assistant-coaching roles soared just a few years ago, during the middle of Hammon’s tenure in San Antonio, when a record nine women served as assistant coaches during the 2019-20 season. “I was in uncharted territory,” says Niele Ivey, who was an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies that season and is now head coach of Notre Dame’s women’s basketball team. “I felt really empowered, and confidence was at an all-time high.” But the number of women who are NBA assistant coaches has quietly decreased over the past few seasons. In 2020-21, there were eight women coaches; in 2021-22, seven; in 2022-23, six. This season, there are just five: Boucek, Mery Andrade (Raptors), Brittni Donaldson (Hawks), Sidney Dobner (Bucks), and Sonia Raman (Grizzlies).
David Hardisty: Notre Dame guard Blake Wesley says he worked out for 11 teams. He listed 9 of them... Denver, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, Atlanta, New York, Miami, Charlotte, Washington.
Josh Robbins: Notre Dame guard Blake Wesley said he has upcoming workouts scheduled with the Grizzlies, Heat and Bulls. Wesley worked out for the Wizards this morning and said he previously worked out for the Nuggets, Spurs, Cavaliers, Hornets, Bucks and Pistons.
Does this mean he’s hiring Hammon? Of course not. Nor am I saying he should. That’s not the point of this story. Point is: Hammon is a fascinating candidate, and the Pacers have a history of being out in front on this issue. And the NBA is inching closer to its first female head coach. Eleven women were NBA assistants this past season, including former Notre Dame star Niele Ivey of the Memphis Grizzlies. She’s not there anymore; Notre Dame hired her in April to replace McGraw.
The Memphis Grizzlies have hired former Notre Dame women's associate head coach Niele Ivey among the new assistants on Taylor Jenkins' staff. There are now nine women working as coaches in the NBA.
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Jonathan Feigen: Rockets announce the 2-way contract with Demetrius Jackson for RGV. Former Notre Dame guard had solid yr with Maine in D-League last season.
Other inductees will be: Kansas coach Bill Self, UConn's Rebecca Lobo, Notre Dame women's coach Muffet McGraw, Fort Worth Dunbar coach Robert Hughes, Harlem Globetrotters owner Mannie Jackson, former NCAA executive Tom Jernstedt, Zack Clayton.
Previous finalists returning to the ballot include star point guard and Olympic gold medalist Tim Hardaway, winningest all-time boys high school coach Robert Hughes, Notre Dame women's coach Muffet McGraw, former Wisconsin coach and four-time Division III national champion Bo Ryan and 10-time AAU women's national champion team Wayland Baptist University.
Tony Jones: Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant interviewed with the Utah Jazz. Grant is intriguing because he can play both guard spots
Notre Dame guard Demetrius Jackson is returning to school next season, he told ESPN.
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Notre Dame guard Jerian Grant will not follow his brother to the NBA draft and intends to return to South Bend. The 6-foot-4 Grant averaged 19 points in 12 games last season before withdrawing from school for an "academic matter" in late-December. "Jerian is not in the NBA draft," Irish coach Mike Brey told ESPN.com. "He's returning to Notre Dame in June for summer school and we look forward to having him next season." Grant's brother, Syracuse sophomore forward Jerami Grant, declared for the draft earlier in the month. Grant's father is former NBA big man Harvey Grant.
Before the Bucks returned to the practice court Wednesday, they released three players from their training camp roster. The Bucks requested waivers on forward Keith "Tiny" Gallon, former Notre Dame guard Tory Jackson and guard-forward Billy Rush.
Jorge Sierra: Notre Dame guard Tory Jackson is expected to be invited to training camp by the Bucks, agent Chris Luchey told HoopsHype. Sadly, Jackson's mother died Saturday of a heart attack. Tory was the second youngest of her 14 children.
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