Continued: U's Hoffarber gets cast removed from arm

What's the connection between a celebrity home run contest and Blake Hoffarber's injured right elbow? Doctors aren't sure, but Hoffarber's participation in a home run derby before a recent Twins game might have contributed to extreme swelling on his right elbow.

Hoffarber, who shoots lefthanded, recently had a cast removed from his right arm after his elbow swelled up to twice its normal size more than three weeks ago, according to his father, Bruce. The Gophers' top three-point shooter this season as a freshman, Hoffarber has since returned to team workouts, but he will have to wear a sleeve to keep his elbow stabilized.

Hoffarber's dad said weightlifting, not the hitting contest, might have contributed to the swelling. The good news: Hoffarber beat out mascot T.C. Bear along with teammate Al Nolen to win the derby.

Hoffarber's teammate Lawrence Westbrook recently underwent surgery on his right hand to correct ligament damage he played with all season. Westbrook said recently that he will be unable to play for the next four months.

Tubby to be inducted

Tubby Smith will be inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame today, along with former University of Kentucky star Jamal Mashburn. Sportswriters, announcers and commentators select Hall of Fame inductees from a list of nominees submitted by the public.

Smith also plans to stay the weekend to watch the Kentucky Derby.

Decision soon

Verdell Jones III, a point guard from Champaign, Ill., who is being recruited by Minnesota, Indiana, Tennessee and other Division I schools, will hold a news conference Monday to announce what school he will attend next season, according to his father, Verdell Jones Jr. Jones decided to wait until the spring to sign, although most preps signed last fall.

Jones is scheduled to visit Arizona on Friday. His father said he enjoyed his visit to Minneapolis last week.

Williams waiting

Once again, rumors surrounding Rodney Williams began flying recently. This time, the Cooper junior was supposedly ready to verbally commit to a school in the coming weeks, after good friend Royce White verbally committed to the Gophers last week.

However, Williams said earlier this week that the rumors aren't true. He does not plan to commit to a school until his senior year.

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