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Hakim Hart, a senior shooting guard for Maryland men’s basketball, announced Thursday afternoon that he is declaring for the NBA draft while retaining his college eligibility and entering his name in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-8, 206-pound Hart finished this past season ranked second among the Terps (22-13) in points (11.4 per game), assists (2.6) and steals (1.2).

Aurora interim Deputy Chief of Police Heather Morris (Provided by Aurora Police Department) A police veteran with experience in Houston and Miami will join the Aurora Police Department’s executive staff as interim deputy chief of police. Heather Morris, who has worked in patrol, field training, DWI task force, and criminal and internal affairs investigations, will be sworn in to the position on April 3, police said in a news release. Interim Police Chief Art Acevedo announced the hiring.

By JACQUES BILLEAUD (Associated Press) PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Supreme Court has declined to hear most of Republican Kari Lake’s appeal in a challenge of her defeat in the governor’s race but revived a claim that was dismissed by a trial court. In an order Wednesday, the state’s highest court said a lower court erroneously dismissed Lake’s claim challenging the application of signature verification procedures on early ballots in Maricopa County.

By JOSH BOAK and ROB GILLIES (Associated Press) OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — President Joe Biden arrives in Canada on Thursday with a focus on several of the world’s largest challenges: the war in Ukraine, climate change, trade, mass migration and an increasingly assertive China. Two important areas of agreement appear in hand: Canada will escalate its timeline for military upgrades to the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the two nations will reach an agreement on migration, a senior Canadian official told The Associated Press. The Biden administration has made strengthening its friendship with Canada a priority over the past two years and Biden’s meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the capital of Ottawa are an opportunity to set plans for the future. National security and air defenses are a priority, with a recent Chinese spy balloon floating over North America putting newfound urgency on Canada’s plans to update its radar systems and recent purchase of F-35 jets.

NORTH PORT, Fla. — Pete Alonso is back from the World Baseball Classic and the Mets’ first baseman believes he’s better prepared for the 2023 season after having played in the tournament. Alonso returned to spring training Thursday to face the Atlanta Braves on the gulf coast. It was an easy commute from his home in Tampa and gave him a chance to get a day off after USA’s loss to Japan in the Classic’s championship game. The controversy surrounding the tournament has died down some but you won’t hear any negative thoughts about the game’s premier global event from Alonso, who said he was effusive in his praise for the event. “I thought it was really, extremely special to play in those high-leverage games,” Alonso said Thursday at CoolToday Park.

The team that couldn’t shoot straight is getting back on target. The latest example for the Miami Heat was Wednesday night’s 127-120 victory over the New York Knicks at Miami-Dade Arena, when they closed 16 of 28 on 3-pointers. It was the seventh time in the 15 games since the late-February All-Star break that the Heat shot 40 percent or better beyond the arc, compared to seven such performances in the team’s first 59 games. The overall percentage for the team that led the NBA in 3-point shooting last season, at .379, is still sobering, with the Heat fifth worst in the league at .341, but the trend has been positive. Over those 15 games since the All-Star break, the Heat are 12th in the league in 3-point percentage, at .369. Among the changes since the All-Star break has been the addition of Kevin Love off the buyout market, the reduction in reliance on Victor Oladipo, and the scant minutes for Duncan Robinson. But coach Erik Spoelstra sees it more as schematic, getting back to the right shots from the right places at the right times, shots taken without hesitation. Wednesday, there were four 3-pointers from Tyler Herro, three apiece from Max Strus and Gabe Vincent, and two each from Jimmy Butler, Kevin Love and Kyle Lowry. “The important thing is we’re getting more consistent and intentional to our identity,” Spoelstra said, with the Heat turning their attention to Saturday’s playoff-race showdown against the Brooklyn Nets.