The SIUC Weightlifting Club will have its Mr./Ms. SIUC Bodybuilding Competition Saturday at Shryock Auditorium.

The competition begins at 2 p.m. with pre-judging, followed by the finals at 7 p.m. The cost is $3 for pre-judging and $6 for the finals.

For information, contact Kevin at 529-3865.

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Weaver hired as Northern Iowa coach

Two years after leaving a head coaching job to become an assistant, Sam Weaver is back in charge again.

Weaver, the associate head coach at Iowa State, was introduced Thursday as the new basketball coach at Northern Iowa. He was selected over five other finalists to succeed Eldon Miller, who resigned last month.

It’s been a long trip, Weaver said. It took 39 years to get here, but I’m here and I’m going to give you the best I’ve got every day.

Weaver, 39, worked under Iowa State coach Tim Floyd the last two years after three seasons as head coach at Alcorn State, where he was 20-60.

The announcement effectively ended speculation the former SIUC assistant coach would return to replace Rich Herrin. Weaver had been mentioned as a candidate to replace Herrin, who resigned April 10 after 13 years on the Saluki bench.

Other candidates who have applied for the SIUC job include Centralia High School coach Rick Moss and University of Illinois assistant Robert McCullum. Former University of Michigan coach Steve Fisher and Detroit Pistons assistant coach John Hammond have also been mentioned.

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Houston’s Lewis prepares for leap to NBA

Rashard Lewis, a 6-foot-10 high school standout from Houston, seems ready to try for the NBA without going to college.

He would join Korleone Young of Wichita, Kan., as the latest prep stars to attempt that leap.

Lewis said he is not concerned about those who say he should go to college for a few years first.

I’m sure people told [Los Angeles guard] Kobe [Bryant] that and people told [Minnesota forward Kevin] Garnett that, so it doesn’t bother me, Lewis said. If the whole world says that about me, then I’ll shock the world.

Bryant and Garnett have successfully made the transition, but are among the few to do so. Garnett began the recent trend of high school stars jumping to the NBA when he was taken fifth by Minnesota in 1995. The next year, Bryant went 13th and Jermaine O’Neal was 17th. Last year, Tracy McGrady was taken at No. 9.

Lewis was to announce his decision Thursday afternoon, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Although Lewis played center for Elsik High School, critics say his 212-pound frame will not be able to handle that position in the NBA. He projects himself as a small forward or power forward.

This is a great opportunity for me to play against the top level of competition and to live a dream early in life, Lewis told the Chronicle. You never know what’s going to happen in the future if I didn’t go to the NBA. I could get injured or not improve as much as I have lately, and my status would drop. This is the right time.

Last week, Young, a 6-foot-8 power forward at Hargrave Military Academy (Va.), announced he was skipping college to try becoming a professional basketball player.

Lewis averaged 28.2 points, 13 rebounds, five blocks and 4.3 steals per game this season, leading Elsik to its first regional final.

I have nothing but positive things to say about him, Elsik coach Jerrel Hartfiel said. As great a basketball player as he is, he is just as great a person. In my 26 years of coaching, I have never seen a kid that is as talented, fundamentally sound, yet unselfish as he is. He’s the best I have seen at the high school level.

He’s more advanced at this point than any of the guys who have gone directly from high school to the pros. He has a very quick first step, so he’ll be able to slash past players and score. There will be an adjustment for sure, but I think he will be an impact player and he will be one soon.

I didn’t decide to do this for the money, Lewis said. We’re not hurting for money. It’s just the best decision for me. I’ll get to do what I love, and do it against the best. That’s what I’m looking forward to.