Sports briefs

UK BASKETBALL

OHIO FRESHMAN CHOOSES CATS

Billy Gillispie has apparently added another future player for the Kentucky basketball program. Scout.com reported Monday that Vinny Zollo, a 6-foot-8 high school freshman from Greenfield, Ohio, has verbally committed to UK.

Zollo, who is scheduled to graduate from high school in 2011, follows last week's commitment from Michael Avery (class of 2012).

AUTO RACING

HAMLIN LIMPS INTO CHARLOTTE TESTING

Just when Denny Hamlin thought things couldn't get any worse, he fell hard on his left hip playing basketball and could hardly walk when he arrived Monday for testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, N.C.

"I'd like to say I was going up for a dunk, but I think everybody knows that ain't true," Hamlin said. "It popped and it doesn't feel good at all. ... I couldn't lay on it last night, and it ain't getting much better."

The injury came roughly 24 hours after Hamlin led a record 381 of the first 382 laps at Richmond International Raceway.

NHL PLAYOFFS

STARS MOVE ON AFTER 4OT VICTORY

After Dallas won the first three games against San Jose, advancing to the Western Conference finals was just a matter of time.

A lot of time, it turns out.

The Stars lost two games, then needed four overtimes to finally pull out Game 6 and the series. Brenden Morrow scored the final goal by deflecting a pass from Stephane Robidas on a power play 9:03 into the seventh period, giving Dallas a 2-1 victory early Monday morning.

UK BASEBALL

CATS HOST WRIGHT ST.

Kentucky will try to snap a three-game losing streak when it hosts Wright State at 6:30 p.m. at Cliff Hagan Stadium. UK (34-14, 11-13 SEC) had won two consecutive series over top-25 foes before being swept by Louisiana State.

HORSE RACING

CHELOKEE HAS SURGERY

A Michael Matz-trained horse that broke down on Kentucky Oaks day made it through surgery successfully, and a veterinarian upgraded his survival chances to 60 percent. Dr. Larry Bramlage fused bones in Chelokee's right front ankle and replaced ligaments in the back of the limb. He said the horse's blood supply had returned.

FOOTBALL

BOY RETIRES HIS JERSEY

Finally, David Witthoft shunned his Brett Favre jersey for the first time in 1,581 days.

The Ridgefield, Conn. boy, 12, wore the No. 4 jersey every day since receiving it as a gift for Christmas in 2003. David's father, Chuck Witthoft, said Monday that his son's last day wearing the jersey was April 23 -- his 12th birthday.

Witthoft conceded his son was starting to become more concerned about his appearance after the jersey barely came down to his belt line.

THE LAST WORD

Jack Nicklaus doesn't play much golf these days, but he showed the youngsters how it's done. The golf great demonstrated a variety of shots at a practice range Monday in Roland, Ark. Said Nicklaus:

"What I'll do today is sort of tell you how I think I used to play."