USF women's basketball coach Jose Fernandez, already ahead of the recruiting curve with two commitments for 2011, has moved even farther ahead, picking up a pledge this week from Shavontae Naylor, a rising junior at Southwest Atlanta Christian School.

"I wanted to play in Florida, and they're in the Big East. That type of opportunity doesn't come around easy," said Naylor, who was named co-MVP of USF's Elite basketball camp this weekend.

Naylor, a 5-foot-10 guard who will likely play shooting guard or small forward at USF, said she chose the Bulls over offers from Miami, Georgia, Georgia Tech and Auburn. After playing her freshman year at Ocala Forest, her family moved to Atlanta last summer -- she attends the same school that Magic star Dwight Howard went to -- his father Dwight Sr. is the school's athletic director. She has two more years before she'll get to USF, but said her commitment is firm.

Naylor said her strength is on defense, and Kenny Kallina, her coach with FGB (Florida Girls Basketball) said Fernandez has compared Naylor to former Bulls guard Rachael Sheats, another stout defender. ... Read more

There's more offseason change for USF baseball, as pitching coach Lazer Collazo, a part of Lelo Prado's staff since his days at Louisville, has resigned to spend more time with his family.

"It's been 26 years that it's always been about me. It's time to dedicate time to my wife and kids," said Collazo, who is moving to Miami and said he did not expect to take another job coaching baseball.

Collazo, 46, helped cultivate two of the Big East's top pitchers in 2010 in juniors Randy Fontanez and Andrew Barbosa, who both were drafted this month but haven't signed with their pro teams. Barbosa has said he's returning for his senior year, and Prado has been optimistic Fontanez will do the same.

Prado said he told most of his pitchers Tuesday about Collazo's decision, and that he'll be missed by the Bulls after four seasons on staff.

"He did a good job for us. We wish him and his family the best of luck," Prado said. "We have a lot of guys who will miss him. Lazer brought a lot of energy to the team, but it's over and we have to move on." ... Read more

There is good news and bad news to update on the ankle injury suffered by USF sophomore receiver Sterling Griffin on Monday morning. First, the bad news: Griffin dislocated his ankle and fractured the bottom of his fibula during a voluntary workout, in an injury that sent him to the hospital.

The good news: USF coach Skip Holtz said he fully expects Griffin to recover in time to play for the Bulls this fall, perhaps for a good part of the season.

"He's going to be a while, and we don't know the extent of it all at this point," Holtz said. "The bone is a six-to-eight week deal, right about the beginning of the season. I don't know how much damage (there is) until some of the swelling (goes down), but very definitely, he'll play for us this season." ... Read more

USF coach Skip Holtz continues to build on his 2011 recruiting class, picking up the Bulls' fifth commitment, from Sebring defensive end/linebacker Zack Bullock.

Bullock, 6-foot-3 and 205 pounds, has played mostly at defensive end at Sebring, but could start his Bulls career as a linebacker until he adds more to his frame.

"I think they're going to try to use me as a hybrid, as a third-down pass-rushing defensive end," said Bullock, who said he committed to Bulls coaches nine days ago, two days after getting a scholarship offer.

Bullock chose the Bulls over offers from Iowa State and Western Kentucky, and he's excited about the chance to play college football in a major conference just 90 minutes from home.

"At all the home games, my family gets to come see me play," he said. "And I love the coaching staff. I really wanted to be there. It's big-time Division I football and you're playing in an NFL stadium." ... Read more