BASKETBALL

JERRY WEST TO LEAVE POST WITH GRIZZLIES ON JULY 1

Jerry West left retirement and the comforts of California to see if he could transform the woeful Memphis Grizzlies. Five years later, the Lakers great decided to stop trying.

He said yesterday he will leave as the Grizzlies’ director of basketball operations July 1 at the end of his contract. Injuries, losses, weariness and uncertainty became too much.

“I’m not a youngster anymore,” said West, who turns 69 next month.

West oversaw the Grizzlies’ only three playoff berths, although he never got to enjoy a postseason victory. This season, there were problems on several fronts: The Grizzlies not only had the worst record in the NBA but were up for sale.

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GEORGETOWN’S GREEN SAYS IT’S ‘70-30′ HE’LL RETURN

Big East player of the year Jeff Green said yesterday there is a “70-30” chance he will return to Georgetown for his senior season.

Green and fellow junior Roy Hibbert submitted their names as early-entry candidates for the NBA draft last week. Neither has hired an agent, so both could return to fulfill their oft-stated goal of playing four years with the Hoyas.

“Right now, 70–30 — 70 coming back,” Green said. “It depends on whether I’m ready. I still have a lot of things I need to work on to play at that level.”

Both players are potential lottery picks, and both said they want to get a gauge of what their NBA value is now and what it might be if they stay in school another year.

“Do I want to go eight-through-14, or do I want to go top three next year?” Hibbert said. “That does play a factor in my decision.”

Hibbert put his odds of returning at 50–50, even though he said Green is the more NBA-ready player.

USC’S NICK YOUNG ENTERS NBA DRAFT

Southern California’s Nick Young decided to pass up his senior season and enter the NBA draft because of what it means to his family.

“I want to buy my mom her first house. That’s one of the main reasons I made this decision,” Young said yesterday at a news conference on campus. “It was tough for us. They’ve been behind me all the way.

“The opportunity was there to help them have a better life. It’s a blessing. I’m very grateful for everything that’s going on.”

LAWYER: POKEY CHATMAN DID NOT FREELY GIVE UP JOB

Pokey Chatman was given two hours to resign or be fired, says her attorney, arguing the former Louisiana State University women’s basketball coach is entitled to damages and compensation for the final two years of her contract.

“I don’t believe her consent to the resignation was fairly obtained or freely given,” attorney Mary Olive Pierson said.

In an April 13 letter to LSU general counsel Raymond Lamonica, Pierson wrote Chatman will sue the university if an amicable resolution cannot be reached. Pierson valued the remainder of the contract at $850,000 to $900,000 but did not specify damages.

Chatman resigned March 7, after assistant coach Carla Berry raised allegations of improper conduct with a former player or players.

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BIG TEN ADDS TWO CONFERENCE GAMES TO NEXT YEAR’S SCHEDULE

The Big Ten basketball schedule is about to get longer.

Conference officials have approved an 18-game conference schedule starting next season, although details of how it will be implemented have not yet been released.

“The coaches know about it,” conference spokeswoman Robin Jentes said yesterday.