NCAA

Grant Hill, Christian Laettner, Kyrie Irving, Jason Williams, Elton Brand ... Zion Williamson could be better than all these guys, because a Duke great says ZW could be the best Duke player EVER.

TMZ Sports spoke to Dahntay Jones, a former Duke All-American, and he says Zion's dominating season-opening performance against Kentucky last night was evidence of greatness to come.

Before we get to Dahntay's words ... DID YOU SEE ZION LAST NIGHT?! Dude was BEASTING, scoring 28 points (on 11-13 shooting) and grabbing 7 rebounds.

Jones says he's never seen anything like it anywhere -- even at Duke -- and, when it's all said and done, he's got everything it takes to jump over those other Blue Devil greats.

"I think he could be because of his natural ability. His ability is unique. It stands out."

So, what does Zion need to do to deliver on this All-World potential? Work, work, work, work, work.

"He just has to have a tremendous work ethic. If he has that, with the energy he brings to the game, he's definitely gonna be the best."

BTW -- if you didn't see the game last night (shame on you) we got Zion highlights below ... told you they were ridiculous.

The time is NOW for LSU to end its 7-year-long losing streak to Alabama ... so says a former LSU great, who says the Tigers have a real chance -- maybe their best chance -- to do it Saturday night.

TMZ Sports spoke to Glenn Dorsey -- a 2-time first team All-American for the Tigers -- and asked him if his former team, who are 13 point underdogs AT HOME, have any chance to beat the #1 ranked Tide.

"I think LSU gonna get it, man. If there was ever a chance for somebody to beat this mighty Alabama team, it'd be now, and in Death Valley."

LSU hasn't beaten the boys from Tuscaloosa since 2011 ... but Dorsey says he sees something different in THIS team, something he thinks makes victory a real possibility.

"Just look at our record, look at the teams we've beat, we've been on the road, played tough games. We beat a REALLY good Georgia team too, man. I'm liking what the quarterback position is doing, the defense is balling out."

What scares Glenn about Bama? It all has to do with a guy he knows really, really well, his former coach at LSU ... Nick Saban.

"Honestly the most thing I'm concerned about when I look at that Alabama team is their coach, because I played for him too, and I know he's leaving no stone unturned, he's gonna have them ready."

LSU superfan James Carville says the Tigahs are gonna bust Bama's ass on Saturday, despite being without their best player ... which Carville says is due to a league conspiracy.

The #3 Tigers and the #1 Crimson Tide play Saturday in the biggest college football game of the year, and when we got Carville in D.C. he was confident his alma mater, LSU, will pull off the upset.

"We're gonna win."

If LSU does prevail, they'll do so with their best player -- LB Devin White -- being suspended for the first half due to a (BOGUS, RIDICULOUS) questionable targeting call during the Mississippi State game last week.

Carville said the call was more than just a referee error, and actually part of a devious and nefarious conspiracy by the entire conference to keep Bama on top.

"I would trust the Saudi government more than I'd trust the SEC. He (White) is our best player we got, no reason he shouldn't be playing."

Here's the penalty below ... you make the call, BS or not? (Of course, it's BS)

Josh Hart has ZERO CHILL ... 'cause when the Lakers stud found Moritz Wagner's 2018 Michigan runner-up ring -- HE CLOWNED THE HELL OUTTA HIS L.A. TEAMMATE!!

It's actually pretty hilarious ... the ring does look like something outta a gumball machine rather than a celebration of nearly winning the NCAA Tournament -- and Hart couldn't believe it.

"This weak-ass ring!" he yelled at Mo ... "Thing weak as hell!!"

Hart continued ... noting the lack of shine in the diamonds, saying, "They fake as hell! This is what happens when you a runner-up. This what you get!"

To his credit ... Wagner took it pretty well -- though he did beg pretty hard for Hart to stop the initial clown down from happening.

A linebacker on the Rutgers football team was arrested Tuesday after cops say he conspired to murder some people.

Yeah.

The player at the center of the controversy is Izaia Bullock -- a 22-year-old redshirt junior, from New Jersey.

Officials say Bullock has been charged with 2 counts of 1st-degree murder, and 2 counts of 1st-degree conspiracy to commit murder.

The details surrounding the charges are sketchy at best -- officials say the targets were family members of an acquaintance. The targets were not injured.

Rutgers has already dismissed Bullock from the team -- which isn't too big of a hit for them since the guy has barely seen any action, and has really had no impact in any game.

Bullock is still in custody and will remain locked up until his initial court appearance, officials say.

Bullock was an All-County linebacker back in high school at Linden High School in Jersey and went on to play at Gattaca Prep -- a junior college in NJ.

Paul Pierce is glad Villanova is refusing to visit Trump's White House to celebrate their NCAA basketball title ... saying the tradition is dumb and overrated.

Nova's coach Jay Wright, announced Thursday the team would not visit 1600 Pennsylvania this year -- as NCAA winning teams have traditionally done for years.

In fact, Villanova visited Obama's White House after winning the title 2016 -- but Wright explained, "Two years ago it was the experience of a lifetime for all of us. It’s just a different time."

Fast forward to Thursday night outside Mastro's Steakhouse in Bev Hills -- where we asked Pierce (who visited George W. Bush's White House with the Celtics in '08) if Nova was making a mistake.

"I think that's overrated," Pierce explained ... "Why you gotta visit the White House? You got your trophy, you won your championship."

Paul tells us it's a digital time -- so a simple congratulatory tweet should more than do the job.

Then, he started questioning why the tradition even started in the first place -- strongly implying the tradition is just dumb and unnecessary.

"I don't know why we go to the White House," Pierce said ... "Why did people even start going there?"

BTW ... when Pierce went to the White House a decade ago -- he called it "truly an honor" and even brought gifts for No. 43.

Lauren McCluskey -- the Utah track star who was brutally murdered on campus this week -- will be honored by the entire Utes football team when they take on UCLA Friday.

The school announced players will wear a black and white sticker featuring a winged foot with Lauren's name on it ... in remembrance of the slain student.

As we previously reported ... 21-year-old McCluskey -- a 2017 honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic -- was shot to death by her ex-bf on Monday after finding out he was a registered sex offender.

Utah announced in addition to the helmet decals ... they'll hand out a similar sticker at this week's women's volleyball and women's soccer games to remember her legacy.

For their part ... UCLA says it'll hold a moment of silence for McCluskey at the Rose Bowl.

Start fillin' out your March Madness brackets RIGHT NOW ... 'cause Carlos Boozer says Zion Williamson's Duke squad is the team to beat this season ... and the competition ain't even close!!

TMZ Sports spoke with the former Blue Devil about Duke's chances at winning it all ... and he says Zion, R.J. Barrett and Coach K are a lethal combo that'll be a BIG problem for the rest of the NCAA.

"I can't think of any other team that's on the same level with their athletes," Boozer says.

Booz says Zion is "one of the best athletes you've ever seen" ... and teaming up with Barrett -- the projected no. 1 overall pick in next year's NBA draft -- will make them unstoppable.

Look ... we get what you're thinking. Booz oozes Duke blue ... but college allegiances aside, he's probably right.

Nick Bosa could make $100 MILLION in the NFL -- and it's simply not worth it to stay in college and contend for a title ... so says ex-OSU superstar running back Maurice Clarett.

Clarett knows a little something about leaving college for the pros -- he sued the NFL back in 2003 after his sensational freshman season to try and become eligible for the 2004 NFL Draft.

Clarett ultimately lost his suit and didn't really pan out in the NFL -- but still feels very strongly that top players like Bosa should focus on cashing in at the next level.

Bosa is the projected #1 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft -- and after suffering a core injury earlier this season, the defensive end announced he won't return to OSU. Instead, he's focusing on prepping himself for the NFL.

"I believe he's doing the right thing," Clarett told the guys on the "TMZ Sports" TV show.

"This guy could probably make $100 million over his career. I wouldn't go out there and risk it for a National Championship. It's just not worth it. It's basic common sense."

He added, "I wouldn't go out there and risk my life and jeopardize my future to make some fans happy, I just wouldn't do it."

Clarett is now killing it in the podcast game -- topping the iTunes charts with his show, "Business & Biceps."

UCLA hoops star Shareef O'Neal says, despite being sidelined this season with a heart issue, he's still 100% committed to his dream of going to the NBA ... but admits he also has FASHION on the brain.

We broke the story ... Shaq and Shaunie's son was diagnosed with an issue that will require open heart surgery putting a halt to his hoops career, but according to O'Neal, not a stop at all.

"Basketball is still my main focus," O'Neal said when we got him out in L.A.

But, it's far from his ONLY focus ... because the 6'10" highlight machine says he's gonna use his time away from the court to build his skills in another area he loves.

"The NBA is something I've been wanting to do for a long time, but this is the opportunity to try to find other things if so. I mean, I've been doing a lot of stuff with fashion lately."

Shareef says he gets a lot of inspiration from his big brother Myles, who's making his name as a big-time model. As far as his dad's foray into the clothing world, not as much.

"I'm looking more for a higher-end fashion, I know how his mindset works."

Ex-USC wideout Joseph Lewis -- a former top H.S. recruit -- has just been sentenced to 1 year behind bars after pleading no contest to domestic violence ... TMZ Sports has learned.

As we previously reported ... Lewis was arrested and hit with one felony count of domestic violence back in July after officials say he "punched, scratched and strangled" a woman during a heated dispute.

Lewis appeared in court Monday and pled no contest to the charge. During the hearing, officials say he also fessed up to a domestic violence incident from February.

Lewis was facing up to 5 years in prison ... but instead got 365 days in jail, five years of probation and was ordered to complete a domestic violence course.

He's also been hit with a restraining order barring him from contacting the victim for 10 YEARS.

The QB coach from Season 3 of "Last Chance U" just got hired to join the staff at a major college football program ... which means he had to quit his job bagging groceries at Trader Joe's.

Yep, you read that right.

You remember Frank Diaz from Independence Community College in Kansas -- where he spent months coaching up insanely talented quarterback Malik Henry, who wasn't exactly the easiest guy to work with.

Diaz was impressive enough on the show that Lane Kiffin, from FAU, called and offered him a job after the 2017 season ... and, guess what? Frank took it!

In his new role, Frank will be working as an assistant to offensive coordinator Charlie Weis Jr. -- which is a huge opportunity for a guy looking for a shot to coach at the Division 1 level.

Diaz says he hasn't talked to his old head coach, Jason Brown, after landing the gig with the Owls ... but he insists there's NO bad blood between the two.

BONUS -- we had to ask Diaz if he's gotten any extra attention from the ladies since the show aired. You're gonna love his response.

Don't start the tomahawk chop just yet ... Deion Sanders' football star son tells TMZ Sports he's flattered by his scholarship offer to Florida State -- but he's not ready to commit.

It's not a diss -- Shilo Sanders says he just doesn't want to rush into a decision since he's still got some time to weigh his options ... and he's got PLENTY of options.

Major programs including Oregon, Nebraska, Georgia and South Carolina have been after Shilo and for good reason ... he's a STUD senior cornerback at Trinity Christian School in Texas.

But, Shilo's dad is arguably the greatest player to ever don a 'Noles uniform -- which can cut both ways when making a college decision.

On one hand, it would be cool to follow in Dad's shoes. On the other hand, it might be better for Shilo to forge his own legacy somewhere else.

Shilo tells us he's been hearing both arguments and simply wants to give it more thought.

"I'm not saying [FSU] won't be the right fit, I'm just saying I'm not making the decision right now."

What's cool ... Shilo says he credits his football skills to his father, who's been teaching him the Jedi ways of the cornerback position.

In fact, Shilo -- one of Deion's three sons -- says it was Prime's idea to move him from quarterback to cornerback a few years ago and it was the best thing he's ever done.

"He was like, 'Just believe me, just trust me, and I'm going to get you some offers,'" Shilo tells us.

"'I'ma teach you how to play corner.' And, when the best corner ever tells you something like that, you can't deny it."

Cops have made an arrest in the shooting death of 20-year-old LSU basketball player Wayde Sims.

According to the Baton Rouge Police Department ... Dyteon Simpson was taken into custody Saturday morning after admitting to shooting Sims. He's been charged with 2nd degree murder.

Police Chief Murphy Paul told reporters at a press conference Sims suffered a gunshot wound to the head after intervening in an altercation between his friend and Simpson.

Simpson left his glasses at the scene, which were recovered by cops and used to test DNA ... which found a match with Simpson.

Chief Paul says ... "Simpson was questioned and admitted to being in possession of a weapon, admitting to being on the scene and admitted to shooting Wayde as well." The investigation is ongoing.

As we reported ... Wayde was killed outside a Subway restaurant near Southern University's campus early Friday morning, about a 15-minute drive from LSU's main campus.

Former Clemson All-American Tajh Boyd says Trevor Lawrence could be the greatest QB in the history of the ACC ... but he still feels horrible for that Kelly Bryant lost his starting job.

It's an age-old football tale ... Lawrence -- the hot shot former #1 recruit freshman -- usurped the starting spot from Bryant, the steady senior leader who played great and waited his turn.

The change set the college football world on fire, with Bryant immediately announcing his transfer. Some critics said head coach Dabo Swinney had done KB dirty. Others said it's just the way football goes.

We talked to Boyd -- a Clemson legend -- who told us it could be BOTH.

"In his eyes, he felt like he earned the right to be the guy and felt like he didn't do anything to deserve to lose the spot and maybe he has some merit to that."

As far as Lawrence goes ... Boyd says Bryant was up against a transcendent talent ... because he believes Trevor could be the best signal caller the conference has ever seen.

"When it's all said and done, I think he's gonna be the best quarterback to play in the history of the conference."

UCLA basketball star Shareef O'Neal -- Shaq's son -- says he'll be forced to sit out next season due to a heart issue that will require major surgery ... but vows to return ASAP.

TMZ Sports spoke with the 18-year-old superstar who said he was having a routine checkup recently when the docs "found a medical issue dealing with my heart."

Shareef didn't specify the exact problem -- but said the issue is severe enough that he'll be having heart surgery in the near future.

"Thank God the UCLA medical staff caught it early," O'Neal tells us.

Shareef says he's been talking with his dad and mom Shaunie O'Neal about how best to handle the situation -- and will NOT withdraw from school while recovering.

"During rehab, I'll be attending my classes and being a normal student."

Shareef says he vows to return to the court in 2019 after redshirting this upcoming season -- and describes the ordeal as "just a bump in the road."

"I'll be back in no time."

Shareef was one of the top high school players in the country in 2018 and was expected to have a real impact with UCLA this upcoming season.