Sports briefs: Ex-NBA All-Star Chris Gatling admits theft, forgery

NBA • A former All-Star accused of squatting at a Paradise Valley home and then trying to list the house for rent on Craigslist has pleaded guilty to theft and forgery charges. Chris Gatling entered the guilty pleas to one count of theft and one count of forgery on Thursday in Maricopa County Superior Court.

His sentencing is set for Oct. 4. Gatling was accused of breaking into the key box at the home and living there for about a year. Police say the homeowners lived in California but had left the power on at the Arizona home.

Gatling averaged 10.3 points in 11 seasons with Golden State, Miami, Dallas, New Jersey, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Denver and Cleveland.

Manziel's status for opener uncertain

collegE football • Johnny Manziel is practicing with Texas A&M. Whether he starts the season opener is another question. Coach Kevin Sumlin said in College Station, Texas, that he would not speculate on whether Manziel will be his starter Aug. 31 against Rice following an ESPN report that the NCAA is investigating whether the Heisman Trophy winner was paid for signing hundreds of autographs last January.

"There's a lot of people involved in that decision," Sumlin said without being specific.

If Manziel was paid for his autograph on memorabilia, it could violate NCAA amateurism rules and put his eligibility in question.

Majerus' assistant leaves Saint Louis

college basketball • Jim Whitesell, the associate head coach at Saint Louis University for the past two years, has been hired as an assistant coach at St. John's. Red Storm coach Steve Lavin said Monday that Whitesell would replace Darrick Martin as an assistant. Martin, in his second year at St. John's, takes over as the program's director of operations.

Before being hired at Saint Louis by the late Rick Majerus, Whitesell was the head coach at Loyola, Ill. for seven seasons.

The Associated Press