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Horne’s return to NC State played a key role in the Wolfpack’s unexpected Final Four appearance

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“Everyone has their own path,” Horne says

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) – DJ Horne had a long road to the Final Four.

The 6-foot-1, 180-pound guard was an undersized, undrafted recruit out of the Raleigh, N.C., base. He was a top mid-major at Illinois State for 2 years after which became a reliable scorer for the Arizona State conference program.

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And now he’s a two-time homecoming star: He had his lone season with the Wolfpack and scored the most improbable of goals in the Final Four that brought him back to Arizona State, lower than an hour from his previous college stop with The Sun Devils.

“Everybody has their own path,” Horne said Friday.

“Coming back in spite of everything the traveling and stuff like that, I’d say coming home (to NC State) was stuffed with love and other people showing me respect for my grind and my journey that got me back to where I’m now “.

NC State Ranger DJ Horne (left) and Ranger Dennis Parker Jr. they emerge from the locker room after media availability before the Final Four college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, Thursday, April 4, 2024, in Glendale, Arizona. NC State plays Purdue on Saturday. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Horne was a perfect fit for the Wolfpack as it entered Saturday’s match against Purdue in the national semifinals. It was NC State’s first appearance on that stage since winning the Cardiac Pack title in 1983 under the late Jim Valvano. He was an explosive perimeter scorer after going 1-2 with stalwart March Madness star DJ Burns Jr. on the pitch.

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And his ties to Raleigh allow him to appreciate the moment as well as anyone can when North Carolina State is in the spotlight and has to fight to share it with nearby Atlantic Coast Conference rivals Duke and North Carolina.

“Taking him back to Raleigh,” Wolfpack coach Kevin Keatts said, “I thought it was very important.”

The player now entrusted with this opportunity is a far cry from the one who left North Carolina as a three-star recruit to play for the Redbirds of the Missouri Valley Conference. He made a leap in production there in his second year, averaging 15.1 points in 2020-21 while shooting 44.6% from the field and 42.4% from three-point range, making him an attractive player just in time for the regulations The NCAA cleared the way for players to transfer without having to stay at a new school.

That ultimately led Horne to Arizona State.

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“When we brought him in from Illinois State, we saw how productive he was,” said Sun Devils coach Bobby Hurley, a former Duke player. “I thought his play would translate, moving up from the mid-tier competition. And he didn’t disappoint. DJ was a guy we never promised anything to when he came on our show, and he fought for it.”

Horne averaged 12.5 points while starting 62 games over two seasons for the Sun Devils, including returning to March Madness after missing two straight NCAA games. Horne also had a great performance in Arizona State’s lone tournament game, passing defender Rondel Walker to create some space and then with 15.6 seconds left, immediately burying three points and leading to a draw and finished with a team-high 17 points in a narrow loss to TCU.

“DJ is a fighter, he believes in himself,” Hurley said. “Like many small defenders, he plays with a chip on his shoulder. Once he gets going and starts shooting, man, you better watch out, he’s a dangerous guy. I think his confidence is growing, his faith is growing.”

NC State’s DJ Horne reacts after making a basket in the first half of the Wolfpack’s 80-67 victory in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Kaitlin McKeown/The News and observer by AP)

At the time, across the country, Keatts was looking for help in the backcourt, rebuilding his lineup after losing the high-scoring duo of Jarkel Joiner and Terquavion Smith. Horne’s rise came at the perfect time. He became a top signing for the Wolfpack, which reached the NCAAs last season.

“Coming in, (Keatts) basically gave me the keys, man,” Horne said.

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“He told me right away, ‘We’re going to need you to do this, we’re going to need you to lead, we’re going to need you to be the guy.’ Knowing my game and knowing what I wanted from this year, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity.

Joel Justus, the Wolfpack assistant coach who works with the defensemen, said Horne arrived with confidence, boosted by successful seasons at the mid-major league level and then at the power conference level, appearing in 159 college games.

“It’s a completely different day in college basketball because you’re coaching experienced guys,” Justus said. “You are coaching guys who are in a difficult situation. So it’s a much more collaborative experience for both player and coach. … When we brought him in here, we were like, ‘Hey, it’s your first year of pro basketball, you’ve got to treat it like that.’

Horne rose to the challenge, averaging a team-high 16.8 points and producing many strong performances during a nine-game stretch that saw NC State win the ACC Tournament title (first since 1987) and an improbable trip to the Final Four. The highlight was his 29 points in the ACC title game to defeat No. 1 seed North Carolina at the NCAA Regional, then he scored 39 points and six 3-pointers in wins over Marquette and Duke – his second March surge against the Blue Devils , who overtook the 11th-seeded Wolfpack from the southern bracket.

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It’s a run that harkens back to the Wolfpack’s miraculous run 41 years ago that put 2024 in Wolfpack history alongside 1983 and the 1974 team that won the national championship – a run that included beating UCLA in the Final Four and ending John Wooden’s career A streak of seven championships in a row.

Horne admitted that when he left Arizona State last year, he allowed himself to daydream a little about the possibility of returning to Arizona State and playing in the Final Four. That’s exactly what he did on Friday when the Wolfpack took the court during an open practice, smiling broadly and bobbing his head to the Wolfpack’s music during the celebratory event.

As with everything else, Horne can relish this wrinkle, too.

“I was already planning on coming back here to visit my guys and everything,” Horne said. “But an all-expenses-paid trip and the Final Four couldn’t be better. Just seeing it come full circle and it’s now right in front of my face, I’m ready to take advantage of it.

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Ten years after #oscarssowhite, Hollywood can still do better – and scape

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This time ten years ago all of us gathered around our laptops or smartphones and curled up. Really hard. We made available tweets that made us laugh the loudly in our group chats, and a few of us tried to give you how one can join the fun.

“#Oscarssowhite, which they asked to touch my hair”, April Reign, creator of hashtaga, Tweet in 2015.

We laughed since it was fun. We laughed harder since it’s true.

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Tweet Reign was in relation to the ACADEMY AWARDS-who emit this Sunday at ABC and Hulu-I stormed on all white lists nominated on the screen, and the shortage of colourful individuals who weren’t included.

During the yr, which was given by World World Ava Duvernay, many award observers assumed that not less than we might hear the name of David Oyelowo. He gave so well the well -known southern term and drew Martin Luther King Jr., although he was a British, Oyelowo transformed into MLK. He survived us back to 1965, when Selma, Alabama, became a battlefield within the fight for equality.

It was a phenomenal film and a pointy reminder of how far we got here – and this a part of the story was not so way back.

DuverNay knew what she had. Before releasing it, a movie was displayed before it was released, and I do not forget that by sending her e-mail to her message a few capability after I returned to my hotel room, adding that she would should change her phone number. I also remember how a white colleague turned to me when the inscriptions appeared within the film and said: “Oh, she knows what she has.”

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It was so good.

For this reason, a few of us dared to dream that DuveNay – who quickly became a toast of the town, before her film got here to the cinemas at Christmas in 2014 – will join this exclusive brotherhood referred to as directors who were nominated for the ACADEMY Award.

But none of this stuff happened. Instead, we saw the white stream of actors and actresses in a way – each when it comes to supporting and leading nominations – nominations.

However, when those hashtagted tweeth got here on-probably the most fiercely funny than the one before him, every part in fast succession-we mowed so hard.

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We laughed until we stopped laughing.

And then matters were activated.


Director Barry Jenkins (Center) speaks after winning the Academy Award for one of the best picture, since the host Jimmy Kimmel (on the left) looks at 89. Oscars on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood.

So two things can be real at the identical time.

We can effectively listen to the shortage of diversity, the shortage of creative work that isn’t coping with and a protracted story not listening to stories that aren’t the narrative of the mainstream (read: white), and also do not receive work that needs to be covered.

In this special season I liked Eddie Redmayne’s performance within the performance of Michael Keaton in Redmayne devoured his role because the good and inspiring Stephen Hawking and Keaton? Come on, man. I loved, loved, I loved the work by which Keaton devoted himself as a washed actor from Hollywood. I’m lucky to work with ABC News to enable you cover the academy awards, and one thing I speak each time it’s used is what number of Hollywood sees movies about myself. Voters eat it. Academy members love this when the actor and director enliven the story that appears to be such a well -known industry that literally evaluates the work – whether it means a fictitious performance, as within the case of Keaton’s film this yr or a non – –tym movie on a legend reminiscent of Lucille Ball (2021) or Steven Spielberg, who gave us a movie from 2022.

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By nature, I understand what voters love and I’m a reasonably good predictor of what can be nominated and what he can win. I actually have to literally turn off my ears after I hear people say things like “OMG! This trailer is so amazing! This movie should absolutely win an Oscar! ” NO. This isn’t how it really works.

Together with my other critics and reporters, and yes, voters, every season, I check tons of of films to seek out out and vote which ones needs to be considered one of the best.

In most cases I’m in place.

Sometimes I’m incorrect, like 10 years ago.

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Before 2015, we didn’t know much in regards to the voting body – we do not really have. We don’t understand how many citizens are generally and we do not really know their demographic makeup.

Sure, we all know voters, but this happens mainly due to #oscarssowhite, which mainly became a call to act. At that point, Cheryl Boone Isaacs was the president of the Academy of Arts and Sciences Picture Picture – the primary African American and only a 3rd woman who had this title – and almost seemed criminal that she must devour the growing critic of the academy.

The voting body didn’t develop into problematic when she was chosen in 2015, but decided to do something about it and develop a voice base, introducing more women, more people and introducing younger voters in a combination. The voting cap has long been underway in relation to membership, and Boone Issacs worked on its removal, which allowed her to announce who the brand new voters could be. And yearly people delighted who had just got a spot on the table, stunned that they weren’t invited to this event many years before their arrival.

To the surprise of nobody, the Oscar voters were mainly white and men. And Boone Isaacs, who said that the academy has already tried to unravel the issue with diversity, before the hashtag became popular, he managed a solution to change it.

Progress was made. She was in a position to develop the voting body – by doubling each Number of colours and women – And we began to see some changes, although most of us are still working, assuming how membership traditionally moves over the years.

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Before we reached the 2017 prize season, we saw a change. This yr, Barry Jenkins won for one of the best picture-so, it is a crazy confusion with the event. It was also a yr by which Viola Davis finally straightened her crown and grab one in every of these heavy statuettes for her work (where Denzel Washington was also nominated). Mahershala Ali gathered victory and we saw talents reminiscent of Ruth Negga, Octavia Spencer and Naomie Harris, also gain nominations. Howard University Alum Bradford Young Made History As the primary black cinematographer, which was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the science fiction Denis Villeneuve, ESPN was an awesome winner in 2017 with an ambitious multi -part document with a literal “process of centenary”, which was directed by Ezra Edleman and received the prize for one of the best documentary function. (And if you happen to hold the bookmarks, DuverNay received an Oscar nomination this yr for her influential document).

Was it #oscarssoblack this yr? I definitely felt prefer it.

But I do not think the unique hashtag or the conversation she caused would never talk only about black people. It was a possibility to unravel continuous failures that industry and voice organs (of which I’m a part of a couple of) appear to have. Latinos, Asians and islanders from the Pacific, native inhabitants and others weren’t invited to the Highfalutin party, but they deserved to be there because their stories mattered.

The real argument is that this conversation must happen long before voting voting. This must occur in rooms where the projects are greenish, and budgets are set for storytelling and providing extraordinary film sensations.

And then we’d like to be sure that these diverse stories are properly sold so that folks like me can say: “voters love this film that tells this unknown story” about something that all of us have to find out about.

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Fortunately, we’ve seen some progress within the last 10 years – and we can have fun it. Really. I used to be sent a rabbit hole after watching a traumatic, but thoroughly -made movie, an exhilarating and painful history of the Osage tribe, which was not enough about. And her fundamental actress, Lily Gladstone? Oblivion. We also had a support from Chloe Zhao, who became the second woman and the primary colourful woman who won one of the best director in 2021.

Yes, yes.

And yet Oscars are still so white.

So we keep watching. And we’re still loud and good after we indicate which projects are missing within the conversation. And nominated.

Ten years later I feel quite good where we’re, even though it is Still a variety of work. Colman Domingo is a licensed star; He was nominated for one of the best actor-last yr for the Biography Leader on Bayard Rustin, and this yr for a movie in regards to the prison rehabilitation program based on art. Zoe Saldana will most definitely select an Oscar for her wonderful work at Netflix’s, and Cynthia Erivo is again nominated for one of the best actress, this time for a wild musical. We were also presented to the film boldness of director Ramell Ross ().

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Hollywood can do better. Because he must. The work we see in cinemas and streaming must better tell the complete range of the story.

#Oscarssouniversal? Not yet. But that is the goal. Or possibly sooner or later we’ll get there soon.

Line notes

97. AWARDS ACADEMENTS Sunday, March 2, on ABC and streams on the hul, starting with 19.00 is.

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Kelley L. Carter is a senior entertainment reporter and host of one other act in andcape. It can play any episode of the American version of the office, it can sing the song Fight University Michigan State University at command and may be very immune to Hollywood Hotness.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards – Essence

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Valerie Macon/AFP by Getty Images

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The invented “actor” character comprises each a mask of comedy and tragedy – no less than, as shown in 13 brown trophies nowadays 31. Annual Awards of the Guild of Actors. It takes place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall in Los Angeles, Sag Awards is the only prize program that honors the achievements of the actors, celebrating the most convincing film and tv performances last 12 months.

However, the night began on the red carpet. Szoe Siedaña – who won the excellent performance of the actress in the supporting role – under the influence of a ballet, with a lightweight pink lip and smoked eye. Equally classic, Danielle Deadwyler with repaired her micro-pallets with a French accent with rolled up mini bangs and orange shadow shadows. Meanwhile, Cynthia Erivo maintained her manicure from the night of Naacp Image Awards, but she become a silver, shiny look of the eye.

Keke Palmer directed Jessica Rabbit in red lipstick and Ginger Bob, a color that the first time she made her debut during the New York Fashion Week. Pixie crosses Quint Brunson and Janelle James continued the short trend, while the light pink lipstick on Adjoa Andoh and Kerry Washington predicts a favourite shade of Spring. To close the carpet, blushes Sheryl Lee Ralph, raised by the brushwood cheekbones pulled out shades from her blueberry lips as the most juicy appearance of the night.

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Below, have a look at the best beauty from this 12 months’s SAG awards.

Zoe Saldana

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Zoe Saldana during the thirty first SCREEN ACTORS Guild Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)

Danielle Deadwyler

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Los Angeles, California – 23 February: Danielle Deadwyler takes part in the thirty first annual Guild Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Frazer Harrison/Wireimage)

Cynthia Erivo

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Los Angeles, California – 23 February: Cynthia Erivo participates in the thirty first Guild Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Keke Palmer

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Los Angeles, California – 23 February: Keke Palmer participates in the thirty first annual Guild Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Fifth Brunson

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Quinta Brunson during the thirty first Screen Actors Guild Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Liza Colón-Zayas

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Los Angeles, California-23: Liza Colón-Zayas takes part in the thirty first annual Guild Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Sheryl Lee Ralph

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Los Angeles, California – 23 February: Sheryl Lee Ralph participates in the thirty first Guild Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Amy Sussman/Getty Images)

Nana Mensah

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Nana Mensah during the thirty first Screen Actors Guild Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Adjoa andoh

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Los Angeles, California – 23 February: Adjoa Andoh attends the thirty first annual Guild Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Kerry Washington

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Kerry Washington during the thirty first SCREEN ACTORS Guild Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)

Aisha Dee

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Los Angeles, California – 23 February: Aisha Dee takes part in the thirty first annual Guild Actors Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)

Janelle James

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Janelle James during the thirty first Screen Actors Guild Awards took place at the Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images)

Mychal-Bella Bowman

The best moments of beautiful from the SAG 2025 awards
Los Angeles, California-23: Mychal-Bella Bowman takes part in the thirty first Guild Guild Awards at Shrine Auditorium and Expo Hall on February 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo of Emmy McIntyre/Wireimage)

This article was originally published on : www.essence.com
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Usher to provide the address of the Emory University class start from 2025 graduates

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It seems that there will not be much that Usher Raymond IV – Better, known to the world, simply as a USher – no. He can sing. He can dance. He can sing and dance while skating. He works. Sells Las Vegas residences. Performs philanthropic work.

And also performs the completion addresses. Usher was utilized by the University in its own yard. May 12 Usher will provide the address at Emory University 180. Ceremony of graduation and shall be awarded with an honorary doctorate in humanitarian letters from the institution. This will not be the first Usher Rodeo with an honorary doctorate; In 2023 Berklee School of Music in Boston He awarded the International Superstar with distinction. He also gave comments then.

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Usher will not be alien to Emory University. His non-profit, New Usher Lookwhich according to the website“He transforms the lives of malnourished youth through a comprehensive program that develops passion, global leaders”, has established cooperation with Emory’s University’s University Goizueta Business School in a 400-hour program helping to prepare teenagers for faculty. Apparently, non-profit influenced over 50,000 students.

“I spent my life following my spark – my passion – and trying to support young people when they find and follow their own passions. I am excited that I have the opportunity to talk to these amazing Emory students who graduate and prepare for imprint in the world – said Usher in Billboard statement.

Usher is one of the most successful musical acts in history, selling over 80 million records, winning many Grammy awards and has toured throughout the world since his profession in the mid -90s. His album “Confessions” from 2004 is the second best -selling album from 2000 and is taken into account by Rolling Stone as one of the best albums of all of all of all.

YES!

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