Sports update

Coach Les Miles secured nine commitments for his 2020 recruiting class at KU football’s final June recruiting weekend, according to the Lawrence Journal-World, bringing the total for next year to 21 high school seniors-to-be, including 15 rated three-star talents by Rivals.com. Analyst Jon Kirby cited defensive lineman Kenean Caldwell, who also had offers from Texas A&M, TCU and Oregon, as a potential standout in the group, according to the Journal-World. KU opens the Miles era at 11 a.m. on Aug. 31 with a home game against Indiana State. …

After winning the Big 12 Tournament, the tennis team opened NCAA play at the Jayhawk Tennis Center with victories over Denver and Florida. In KU’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 1998, the Jayhawks on May 10 fell 4-3 at Stanford. “This team has so much to be proud of,” says coach Todd Chapman, “and also has so much to look forward to in the future.” After the NCAA team event, singles specialist Anastasia Rychagova and the doubles tandem of Nina Khmelnitckaia and Janet Koch, all seniors, advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA’s Women’s Tennis Individual Championships in Orlando, Florida. …

The Boston Red Sox, defending World Series champs, selected two Jayhawks in the June 4 Major League Baseball draft: junior right-hander Ryan Zeferjahn in the third round and junior catcher Jaxx Groshans in the fifth. “I am thrilled for both of them,” said coach Ritch Price. “To be picked by the world champions and such a historic franchise as the Boston Red Sox is special. Both are completely prepared and ready to chase their dreams.” …

Late Night in the Phog, which opens the season for both men’s and women’s basketball, is set for Oct. 4, the evening before the home football game against Oklahoma.