Genesis Bryant scores 27 and No. 19 Illinois women beat UMES 75-55 in Music City Classic
The top 50 USWNT players right now: Who sits at No. 1?Texas A&M signed the nation’s top-ranked recruiting class three years ago believing it had built a potential national title contender. Plenty of players from that heralded 2022 class could indeed be participating in the first 12-team College Football Playoff this month. They just won’t be doing it for the Aggies, who no longer have nearly half their 2022 signees. The list of 2022 recruits now with playoff contenders elsewhere includes Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen, Oregon wide receiver Evan Stewart, Alabama defensive lineman LT Overton, SMU offensive tackle PJ Williams and injured Boise State receiver Chris Marshall. Texas A&M has done all right without them, going 8-4 as transfers filled about half the starting roles. Texas A&M represents perhaps the clearest example of how recruiting and roster construction have changed in the era of loosened transfer restrictions. Coaches must assemble high school classes without always knowing which of their own players are transferring and what players from other schools could be available through the portal. “It used to be you lost 20 seniors, you signed 20 incoming freshmen,” Duke coach Manny Diaz said. “You just had your numbers right. Now you might lose 20 seniors, but you might lose 20 underclassmen. You just don’t know.” Coaches emphasize that high school recruiting remains critical, but recent results suggest it isn’t as vital as before. The last two College Football Playoff runners-up – TCU in 2022 and Washington in 2023 – didn’t sign a single top-15 class in any of the four years leading up their postseason runs, according to composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports. This year’s contenders have shown there’s more than one way to build a championship-caliber roster. About half of No. 1 Oregon’s usual starters began their college careers elsewhere. No. 5 Georgia, which annually signs one of the nation’s top high school classes, has only a few transfers making major contributions. Colorado’s rise under Deion Sanders exemplifies how a team can win without elite high school recruiting. None of Colorado’s last four classes have ranked higher than 30th in the 247Sports Composite. Three ranked 47th or lower. “If anybody ever did the homework and the statistics of these young men – people have a class that they say is the No. 1 class in the nation – then five of those guys play, or four of those guys play, then the rest go through the spring and then they jump in the portal,” Sanders said. “Don’t give me the number of where you rank (in recruiting standings), because it’s like an NFL team," he added. "You always say who won the draft, then the team gets killed all year (and) you don’t say nothing else about it. Who won the draft last year in the NFL? Nobody cares right now, right?” Wisconsin's Christian Alliegro tries to stop Oregon's Evan Stewart, right, during the first half of a Nov. 16 game in Madison, Wis. Star quarterback Shedeur Sanders followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado in 2023, and Heisman Trophy front-runner Travis Hunter accompanied them. According to Colorado, this year’s Buffaloes team has 50 transfer newcomers, trailing only North Texas’ 54 among Bowl Subdivision programs. Relying on transfers comes with caveats. Consider Florida State's rise and fall. Florida State posted an unbeaten regular-season record last year with transfers playing leading roles. When those transfers departed and Florida State's portal additions this year didn't work out, the Seminoles went 2-10. “There has to be some type of balance between the transfer portal and high school recruiting,” said Andrew Ivins, the director of scouting for 247Sports. “I compare it to the NFL. The players from the transfer portal are your free agents and high school recruiting is your NFL draft picks.” A look at the composite rankings of recruiting sites compiled by 247Sports for the 2020-22 classes shows at least 40 of the top 100 prospects each of those years ended up leaving their original school. Coaches must decide which positions they’re better off building with high school prospects and which spots might be easier to fill through the portal. “The ones that have a ton of learning to do - tight end, quarterback, interior offensive line, inside linebacker, safety, where they are the communicators - they are the guys that are processing a lot of information,” Florida’s Billy Napier said. “Those are the ones in a perfect world you have around for a while. “It’s easier to play defensive line, edge, corner, receiver, running back, tackle, specialists. Those are a little bit more plug-and-play I’d say, in my opinion," Napier said. "Either way, it’s not necessarily about that. It’s just about we need a certain number at each spot, and we do the best we can to fill those roles.” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, right, congratulates place kicker Cristiano Palazzo after he kicked an extra point during the second half of Friday's game against Oklahoma Stat in Boulder, Colo. Power Four programs aren’t the only ones facing a balancing act between recruiting high schools and mining the transfer portal. Group of Five schools encounter similar challenges. “We’re recruiting every position and bringing in a high school class,” Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton said. “That’s not going to be maybe 24 scholarship guys like it used to be. It might be more like 16. It’s not four d-linemen necessarily, right? It might be three. It might not be three receivers. It might be two. And it might not be five offensive linemen. It’s two to three.” The extra hurdle Group of Five schools face is the possibility their top performers might leave for a power-conference program with more lucrative name, image and likeness financial opportunities. They sometimes don’t know which players they’ll lose. “We know who they’re trying to steal,” Miami (Ohio) coach Chuck Martin quipped. “We just don’t know who they’re going to steal.” The obstacles facing coaches are only getting steeper as FBS teams prepare for a 105-man roster limit as part of the fallout from a pending $2.8 billion NCAA antitrust settlement. While having 105 players on scholarship seems like an upgrade from the current 85-man scholarship limit, many rosters have about 125 players once walk-ons are included. Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said last week his program would probably end up with about 30-50 players in the portal due to the new roster restrictions. All the added dimensions to roster construction in the college game have drawn parallels to the NFL, but Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck believes those comparisons are misleading. “When people talk about college football right now, they’re saying, ‘Oh, we have an NFL model,’ or it’s kind of moving toward the NFL,” Fleck said. “First of all, it’s nothing like the NFL. There’s a collective bargaining agreement (in the NFL). There’s a true salary cap for everybody. It’s designed for all 32 fan bases to win the Super Bowl maybe once every 32 years – and I know other people are winning that a lot more than others – but that’s how it’s designed. In college football, it’s not that way.” There does seem to be a bit more competitive balance than before. The emergence of TCU and Washington the last couple of postseasons indicates this new era of college football has produced more unpredictability. Yet it’s also created many more challenges as coaches try to figure out how to put together their rosters. “It’s difficult because we’re just kind of inventing it on the fly, right?” Diaz said. Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, foreground right, dives toward the end zone to score past San Francisco 49ers defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (51) and linebacker Dee Winters during the second half of an NFL football game in Orchard Park, N.Y., Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus) Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green goes up for a dunk during the second half of an Emirates NBA cup basketball game against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) South Carolina guard Maddy McDaniel (1) drives to the basket against UCLA forward Janiah Barker (0) and center Lauren Betts (51) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Eric Thayer) Mari Fukada of Japan falls as she competes in the women's Snowboard Big Air qualifying round during the FIS Snowboard & Freeski World Cup 2024 at the Shougang Park in Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong) LSU punter Peyton Todd (38) kneels in prayer before an NCAA college football game against Oklahoma in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. LSU won 37-17. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert) South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma misses a catch during the fourth day of the first Test cricket match between South Africa and Sri Lanka, at Kingsmead stadium in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe) Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, left, is hit by Baltimore Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey, center, as Eagles wide receiver Parris Campbell (80) looks on during a touchdown run by Barkley in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough) Los Angeles Kings left wing Warren Foegele, left, trips San Jose Sharks center Macklin Celebrini, center, during the third period of an NHL hockey game Monday, Nov. 25, 2024, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez) Olympiacos' Francisco Ortega, right, challenges for the ball with FCSB's David Miculescu during the Europa League league phase soccer match between FCSB and Olympiacos at the National Arena stadium, in Bucharest, Romania, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru) Seattle Kraken fans react after a goal by center Matty Beniers against the San Jose Sharks was disallowed due to goaltender interference during the third period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Seattle. The Sharks won 4-2. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson) New York Islanders left wing Anders Lee (27), center, fight for the puck with Boston Bruins defensemen Parker Wotherspoon (29), left, and Brandon Carlo (25), right during the second period of an NHL hockey game, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Jiyai Shin of Korea watches her shot on the 10th hole during the final round of the Australian Open golf championship at the Kingston Heath Golf Club in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) Lara Gut-Behrami, of Switzerland, competes during a women's World Cup giant slalom skiing race, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) New York Islanders goaltender Ilya Sorokin cools off during first period of an NHL hockey game against the Boston Bruins, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) Brazil's Amanda Gutierres, second right, is congratulated by teammate Yasmin, right, after scoring her team's first goal during a soccer international between Brazil and Australia in Brisbane, Australia, Thursday, Nov. 28, 2024. (AP Photo/Pat Hoelscher) Luiz Henrique of Brazil's Botafogo, right. is fouled by goalkeeper Everson of Brazil's Atletico Mineiro inside the penalty area during a Copa Libertadores final soccer match at Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) England's Alessia Russo, left, and United States' Naomi Girma challenge for the ball during the International friendly women soccer match between England and United States at Wembley stadium in London, Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) reaches for an incomplete pass ahead of Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson Sr. (2) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr) Melanie Meillard, center, of Switzerland, competes during the second run in a women's World Cup slalom skiing race, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2024, in Killington, Vt. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Colorful buri fans made by housewives Joy Soriano, founder of Zyrrah’s Arts and Crafts, began her passion for local handicraft in the 1970s. “I started trading various handcrafted Philippine products such as bags and shoes using fabrics from the north, designing my own shoes and bags and offering them to various foreign friends,” she says. Soriano’s passion for capiz is palpable. “I love capiz and the products that we can make and develop out of it. Our country is endowed with bountiful materials from the sea; the versatility of capiz makes for very elegant houseware masterpieces.” For Soriano, her capiz products also help in promoting the Philippines as a premium source of fine handcraft products. READ: Traditions reimagined at Kultura’s Filipino Design Studio Soriano’s first buyer was the Quiapo office of SM. Fast forward to 2013, Soriano chanced upon Kultura when she participated in a famous trade show. “That was the start of our collaboration. After the first order, we were asked to present samples on a monthly basis. We strived to consistently come up with products for Kultura.” Initially supplying five Kultura branches, Zyrrah’s Arts and Crafts products are now available in 26 branches. Soriano shares the same vision and values as Kultura. “We work to contribute to the economy by generating employment [for] the housewives and at-home mothers,” she says. Zyrrah’s Arts and Crafts has a pool of 29 regular in-house capiz makers, a team of quality controllers and office staff. While it’s a low-margin business, Soriano says she is “so happy” to be able to give to the grassroots. She is working on her dream of “getting more orders and employing more people especially in the barangays.” Forty years later, Soriano sees that the “local market has increased its potential with various high-end chain of department stores wanting to carry our product line, especially the world-class capiz product range.” Cone trees in white and green made by Zyrrah’s Arts and Crafts What we now know as Kultura started out as the Philippine Crafts section at the SM Store in Makati in 2004. Twenty years later, that small section at the department store has grown into 45 branches across the country—home to traditional and modern Filipiniana and barong, authentic South Sea and freshwater pearls, souvenirs, local delicacies, sustainable home décor and natural wellness essentials- Kultura’s expansion has also led to the growth of its suppliers. “Aligned with the SM group, we work with micro, small and medium enterprises, bridging them to our customers. Many of our partners have been with us from the start,” shares Sheila Tan, senior assistant vice president for operations at Kultura. These partners, in turn, provide sustainable livelihood and opportunities that consequently improve the lives of their workers. “We aspire to be the home of social enterprises,” Tan adds. Another partner, Cebu-based Hannah’s Handicraft, found a ready market in Kultura through bazaars and trade fairs under the Department of Trade and Industry. Hannah Anggana, namesake of the handicraft business and daughter of the founders, handles the partnership with Kultura. She shares how they invested time, knowledge and training to be able to produce beautiful products for the store. “We worked to develop products that the market would truly appreciate, and Kultura helped by sharing design trends that are currently in demand,” Anggana shares. Hannah’s Handicrafts and Kultura both have a vision anchored on helping preserve and promote Philippine culture while advocating for heritage promotion and community empowerment. “Kultura helps us and we help the mountain barangays,” Anggana says. Different flavors of Kangkong King A group of young millennials started the company Kangkong King, driven by ambition and innovation. Like with all micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that partner with Kultura, their vision was encouraged and supported. “We really want them to expand. We really encourage them to go out and you know, make the most out of their brand,” Kultura’s Tan says. Starting with three employees in 2021, Kangkong King now employs around 70. From working at the house kitchen to having its own office and factory, Kangkong King has gone a long way in a short time. “One underrated, classic Pinoy appetizer is kangkong,” says Anne Gaw, Kangkong King marketing head. They banked on the potential of the product to be a staple. Their partnership with Kultura started with a cold email, a solid belief in their products and knowing who they wanted to partner with. Gaw shares why they took a chance reaching out to Kultura. “We really thought about where we wanted our product to be placed. We think that Kangkong King is very Pinoy. So, one of our goals is to have our product be a staple Filipino pasalubong. We thought, ‘what’s the pasalubong store here in the Philippines that’s popular? There’s nothing else. It’s Kultura. Locals and foreigners alike know the brand.” Gaw is happy that Kultura doesn’t charge them listing fee. “That is a big help for us as merchandisers.” Initially supplying 20 branches, today Kangkong King is available at 70 to 75 percent of Kultura branches. Gaw further shares, “With Kultura, we’re able to reach Mindanao, Visayas, which has been one of our struggles when we were starting.” Observing people’s shopping habits inside a Kultura store, Gaw sees the appeal of a one-stop pasalubong store and how it works to their advantage. “When people go inside Kultura, they really have the intention of buying. They look around and find something. So I think that’s what really sets Kultura apart.” Like other Kultura partners, Kangkong King also works with a community. “We work with partner-farmers in Rizal and Pampanga. When we started this business, we didn’t realize the big effect it would have on their livelihood. Now we hear that other landowners in the area are converting their lands to kangkong farms, seeing the opportunity and the demand,” Gaw says. In Agdangan, Quezon, an association of weavers, made up of housewives, create buri fans for Kultura. An organization called Mga Likha ni Inay helps these housewives market their products. “We’re supporting and helping around 1,800 clients, direct and indirect. These include employees of the clients we’re assisting,” says Aristopher Punzalan, president of Mga Likha ni Inay. Punzalan says their vision aligns perfectly with Kultura. “For us, our partnership with Kultura is anchored on showcasing the products of our members to a larger market, which later on is converted to sales. The alignment is really on supporting locals and local produce. We’ve been supporting our traditions and our local products and handicrafts for a long time. I think that’s what Kultura wants: to showcase Filipino products to others.” For Punzalan, it helps that “Kultura is top of mind for balikbayans and a go-to store to purchase locally produced crafts and foods.” As Kultura rings in the new year, the brand hopes to become a place for more emerging MSMEs and talent. “Our thrust for next year will be about discovering more young designers and new brands and delivering even more dynamic shopping experiences to our customers,” Tan says. Kultura welcomes a growing movement to support local products. “The attention now is on locally-made [products]. Different segments of the market have recognized the artistry of the Filipino craftsman, and their products are becoming more appreciated by locals. Maybe it’s also because millennials and Gen Zs are conscious about sustainability and are more likely to choose eco-friendly products,” Tan shares. Subscribe to our daily newsletter By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . The small handicraft store from 20 years ago is doing what it can to stay true to its vision—a home for social enterprises, emerging craftsmen and dreamers.
Here's what Apple's 2025 might look likeStronghold Digital Mining, Inc. ( NASDAQ:SDIG – Get Free Report ) CEO Gregory A. Beard sold 14,201 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, December 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $3.85, for a total value of $54,673.85. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 446,533 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,719,152.05. This trade represents a 3.08 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Stronghold Digital Mining Price Performance NASDAQ SDIG opened at $3.92 on Friday. Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc. has a 1 year low of $1.65 and a 1 year high of $10.73. The business’s fifty day moving average is $4.92 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $67.59 million, a P/E ratio of -1.06 and a beta of 2.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.27. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, B. Riley upgraded shares of Stronghold Digital Mining from a “hold” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, November 15th. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Stronghold Digital Mining Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. XTX Topco Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Stronghold Digital Mining during the second quarter valued at $130,000. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Stronghold Digital Mining by 122.3% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 57,630 shares of the company’s stock worth $291,000 after buying an additional 31,700 shares during the period. Thomist Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in Stronghold Digital Mining during the second quarter valued at about $485,000. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Stronghold Digital Mining by 83.0% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 168,124 shares of the company’s stock worth $849,000 after buying an additional 76,260 shares during the period. Finally, K2 Principal Fund L.P. acquired a new position in shares of Stronghold Digital Mining in the third quarter worth about $882,000. 19.33% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Stronghold Digital Mining Company Profile ( Get Free Report ) Stronghold Digital Mining, Inc, a crypto asset mining company, focuses on Bitcoin mining in the United States. It operates in two segments, Energy Operations and Cryptocurrency Operations. It also owns and operates coal refuse power generation facilities; and provides environmental remediation and reclamation services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Stronghold Digital Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stronghold Digital Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .
