Missouri coach Haith takes job at Tulsa

* Tulsa hired Frank Haith, of Missouri, as its men's basketball coach yesterday, landing a major-conference coach to lead the Golden Hurricane's transition from Conference USA to the American Athletic Conference this summer.

Haith, 48, said he was contacted Thursday and was particularly interested by Tulsa's upcoming move to the "basketball league" of national champion UConn and teams such as Memphis and Cincinnati.

Haith was 76-28 at Missouri, which plays in the SEC. He replaces Danny Manning, who left for Wake Forest after two seasons in Tulsa.

Haith was suspended for the first five games of last season by the NCAA after it was found that he inadequately monitored his former assistants' interactions with disgraced Miami booster Nevin Shapiro and then tried to cover up a five-figure hush money payment to keep potential violations hidden. Haith has said he "strongly" disagreed with the report but did not appeal the findings.

Tulsa went 17-16 last season, winning the Conference USA championship and earning an NCAA Tournament berth.

* A day after teammate Jabari Parker declared for the NBA draft, Duke sophomore Rodney Hood said he would forgo his final years of college eligibility and enter the draft. He averaged 16.1 points after sitting out last year following his transfer from Mississippi State.

* Mississippi continued its roster overhaul with the signing of Tennessee State transfer M.J. Rhett. The 6-9 Rhett averaged 10.9 points and a team-leading 9.1 rebounds per game last season at Tennessee State. He is expected to graduate from Tennessee State in May, which would make him eligible to play immediately for his senior season.

* In a change of mind that took about 2 weeks, sophomore Chris Obekpa decided not to transfer from St. John's. Obekpa led the Big East in blocked shots the last two seasons.

* Contract talks are on hold between the 49ers and quarterback Colin Kaepernick while police investigate an incident of possible sexual assault earlier this month at a Miami hotel that may have involved Kaepernick. Miami police said last week Kaepernick, wide receiver Quinton Patton and Seattle wide receiver Ricardo Lockette were named in a report in which a woman claimed she found herself in a hotel without knowing how she got there. She reportedly has said she had a prior relationship with Kaepernick. In another matter, the 49ers reportedly will not pick up their contract option on linebacker/defensive end Aldon Smith, who last week was charged with making false bomb reports at a Los Angeles airport.

* The Mets traded slumping first baseman Ike Davis to the Pirates for minor league pitcher Zack Thornton and a player to be named. Davis was hitting .208 with one home run and five RBI in 12 games for the Mets.

* Reds closer Aroldis Chapman was cleared to throw batting practice for the first time since he was hit in the face by a line drive during an exhibition game on March 19, suffering fractures of his nose and and a bone above his left eye.

* Oakland reliever Sean Doolittle, a product of Shawnee High in Medford, N.J., has received a 5-year contract that contains a pair of club options that could extend the agreement through the 2020 season. He is 7-6 with a 3.10 ERA and four saves in 122 relief appearances.

* The second round of the RBC Heritage in Hilton Head, S.C., was cut short because of rain, with K.J. Choi shooting a 4-under-par 67 for a one-stroke lead over Robert Allenby.

* Miguel Angel Jimenez made a dramatic Champions Tour debut, setting a tournament record with a first-round 65 in the soggy Greater Gwinnett Championship in Duluth, Ga. He is three shots ahead of defending champion Bernhard Langer, Steve Pate and Kenny Perry.