Timberwolves' Robert Covington gives $75,000 to Tennessee State basketball team

The Tennessee State men's basketball team cashed in on a visit recently from Rob Covington, who made the largest single donation ever to the program.

The former Tigers player who is in his sixth season in the NBA gave the team $75,000.

Covington, 28, has remained close to the program since he graduated in 2013 and signed a free-agent deal with the Houston Rockets.

He also has remained good friends with Tigers coach Brian "Penny" Collins, who was an assistant on the staff when Covington was a freshman.

"I just wanted to give back," Covington said. "My guy, Penny, has been a great dude. I've been giving back continuously for years. I just felt like now is the time to make things happen. It's a time for change and progression. I'm in a great place to give back more than I normally have, and I feel like it was my calling."

Covington formally presented the check to Collins during the Blue & White spring football game Saturday at Hale Stadium. 

Covington, who began his career in the NBA G League, signed a four-year, $62 million extension with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017.

He was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves in November and is currently recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, which he had on April 1.

Covington was averaging 14.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 steals and 1.1 blocks with the Timberwolves before the injury.

"Robert is like a walking trophy for our program," Collins said. "He is somebody that we can actually reach out and touch and is an inspiration to our young men. We point to him and say, 'Look, your dreams can come true at Tennessee State.' They see the background that Robert had. He was not heavily recruited and came to Tennessee State and stayed all four years and got his degree and then moved on to the NBA to live out his dreams. He had to grind his way up, and our players can appreciate that."

Collins said he did not solicit the contribution from Covington.

"It was a complete surprise," Collins said. "We always want to give our athletes a top-notch experience, and this will definitely help us do that."

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Metro Sports Hall of Fame 2019 class inducted

The 2019 Metro Nashville Public Schools Sports Hall of Fame class was inducted Thursday. 

The class featured Glencliff's Tommy Springer, Madison's Lonnie Sadler and Alex Beavers, Whites Creek's David Vaughn, East Nashville's Junior Ward, Stratford's Sandy Carter Tinnon, Joelton's Patti Sue Falls and former McGavock baseball coach Mel Brown.

Springer, a guard, led the state in scoring (27.6 points) his senior year (1975-76).

Sadler was an All-State running back in 1971 and two-time All-Nashville Interscholastic League performer.

Beavers was one of the greatest multi-sport athletes ever to play in Nashville (1964-66).

Vaughn was a McDonald's All-American who led Whites Creek to a No. 1 national ranking in 1991.

Ward was the NIL Track Athlete of the Year who led East to the 1960 TSSAA state championship.

Carter Tinnon was the NIL Player of the Year (1972-73).

Falls was one of the top scorers in Nashville throughout and the Region V Most Outstanding Player (1950-51).

Brown won 582 games and three state championships (1975, 1984, 1986) at McGavock.

Bo Wallace leaves Giles County 

Former Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace has left his alma mater Giles County, where he served as offensive coordinator, to become the offensive coordinator at Fayette-Ware.

Wallace, 26, who passed for 9,534 career yards and 62 touchdowns at Ole Miss, spent just one season at Giles County.

He is also the boys and girls track coach at Fayette-Ware.

Ex-Vandy assistant lands at Ohio State

Former Vanderbilt men's basketball assistant Jake Diebler has reportedly been hired at Ohio State.

Diebler, who spent three seasons at Vandy, will replace Mike Schrage, who became the head coach at Elon, according to Stadium.

Diebler was the video coordinator at Ohio State from 2013-15.

Pelphrey hires two assistants at Tech

New Tennessee Tech men’s basketball coach John Pelphrey added two members to his staff this week.

Pelphrey hired Alex Fain as an assistant and Blake Gray as director of basketball operations.

Fain and Gray came from Alabama where Pelphrey served as an assistant.

Fain spent the last two seasons as the Crimson Tide's scouting and recruiting coordinator and was the video coordinator the three years before that.

He was a team manager at Alabama when he was in school and began his career as video coordinator at Indiana.

Before becoming Alabama’s video coordinator two years ago, Gray was the team’s graduate manager.

► More:John Pelphrey hired as Tennessee Tech basketball coach

Tech's starting center transferring

Speaking of Tech, center Micaiah Henry has entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Henry is a 6-foot-9 redshirt junior from Decatur, Ga. He was a starter who averaged 9.7 points and 4.7 rebounds this past season.

Henry tied for second with Eastern Kentucky's Nick Mayo in the OVC in blocked shots with 55. 

Ejiofor, Zapp win Moss-Oliver Award

Martin Luther King basketball standout Sam Ejiofor was the male recipient and Christ Presbyterian's Avery Zapp the female recipient of the 39th annual Moss-Oliver Award, which goes to the top scholar-athletes in basketball in Davidson County.

Finalists included McNeill Stout (CPA) and Stone Norton (David Academy), Abby Whitworth (Goodpasture Christian) and Sparrow Caldwell (MLK).

► More:Five area high school basketball players honored in annual Nipper/Hancock Awards

Logan Ryan hosting animal rescue fundraiser for foodies

Titans cornerback Logan Ryan will serve as host for The Chow Down: A Foodie Gala to Benefit Ryan Animal Rescue Foundation on May 31.

The inaugural event will be 7-10 p.m. at The Bell Tower.

Attendees will join several Titans by judging the best signature dishes from some of Nashville's top restaurants and catering companies.

Participating Titans Marcus Mariota, Kevin Byard and Ben Jones will join actress and singer Mayte Garcia on the panel along with Cathy Bissell of Bissell Pet Foundation.

The Chow Down Champion will take home the first "Dog-bardi Trophy," a custom replica of the NFL’s Lombardi Trophy.

Tickets ($125-$200) are available at The Chow Down. 

Wietecha to answer Nashville marathon questions

Six-time St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon winner Scott Wietecha from Hendersonville will speak at a race information session Monday at 6 p.m. at Fleet Feet in Brentwood.

Wietecha is a member of the Fleet Feet race team.

The event is free.

Wietecha will offer running tips, talk about the course, pace groups and answer questions.

On Wednesday at 6 p.m. former Olympic distance runner Ryan Hall, who is now a competitive weightlifter, will be at Fleet Feet signing his new book "Run the Mile You're In: Finding God in Every Step." 

► More:Injury won't keep Scott Wietecha from going for seventh straight Nashville marathon win

Former Hume-Fogg volleyball coach takes over at Trevecca

Emily Moore replaced Jayme Crowley as the Trevecca volleyball coach Thursday.

Crowley resigned after 10 seasons.

Moore, the former Hume-Fogg coach, spent last season as an associate head coach at Trevecca.

Crowley's career record at Trevecca was 187-173. The Trojans were 7-21 last season.

Former Columbia coach Hardy Loyd dies

Longtime Columbia High basketball coach Hardy Loyd died Thursday. He was 79.

Loyd, who played at Tennessee Tech, posted a record of 195-69 during his time as the Lions' coach (1964-74). The Columbia gym is named in his honor.

He also served on the TSSAA Board of Control for 15 years.

Football officials seminar at Lipscomb

The Middle Tennessee Football Officials Association will have a seminar for anyone interested in becoming a football official on May 11 at Lipscomb Academy’s indoor complex.

The free seminar will be from 10 a.m.-noon. Register at MTFOA.

FCA golf tournament in May 

The annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Golf Classic is May 6 at Richland Country Club.

Morning rounds begin at 7:30 a.m. and afternoon at 1:30 p.m.

To register or for more information call 615-889-8808 or visit fcanashville.org/golf.

Nashville Golf Open volunteers needed

Volunteers are needed to work at the fourth annual Nashville Golf Open benefiting the Snedeker Foundation from May 2-5 at the Nashville Golf & Athletic Club.

There is a need for walking scorers and in transportation, maintenance, refreshments and several other areas.

To volunteer, contact Charlie Clarkson at 615-574-9082 or cclarkson@tourvisionpromotions.com.

Free golf clinic

The free Charley Foundation Junior Golf Clinic, which is part of the Nashville Golf Open, will be April 28.

The clinic is for youth golfers of all ages and skill levels and will be from 2-4 p.m. at Golf House Tennessee in Franklin.

Tennessee PGA members will serve as instructors. Golf clubs will be provided, or participants may bring their own. Register at NGOgolf.com.

Sports on Nashville TV

The top five local ratings for sporting events from April 8-14:
1. NCAA Championship: Virginia-Texas Tech, 17.0
2. PGA: The Masters (final round), 10.6
3. PGA: The Masters (third round), 9.2
4. NHL playoffs: Predators-Stars (Game 1), 6.9 
5. PGA: The Masters (final round encore), 6.4 
Each rating point is equal to 10,218 Nashville homes.
Source: Mark Binda, WTVF-5 senior programming director

If you have an item for Midstate Chatter, contact Mike Organ at 615-259-8021 or on Twitter @MikeOrganWriter.