Briefs: Cards resign Fells

Former UC Irvine men’s basketball standout Darren Fells has signed a one-year contract to remain with the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL team reported on Monday.

The 6-foot-7, 281-pound tight end started 12 games in 2015, posting career highs in receptions (21), receiving yards (311) and touchdowns (three). He caught a touchdown pass in the NFC championship game against Carolina on Jan. 24.

Fells, 29, spent his rookie season on the Arizona practice squad before moving to the active roster in 2014, when he appeared in 10 games and made five starts.

Fells, an Anteater from 2004-2008, played professional basketball for five seasons in Argentina, Mexico, Belgium, Finland and France before signing with the Seattle Seahawks in March 2013. He was released by the Seahawks that August and was signed to the Cardinals’ practice squad in October, 2013.

He ranks No. 4 in UCI history with 780 rebounds, is No. 13 in career scoring (1,252) points and is tied for ninth in career steals (103). He is one of just six players in program history to record at least 1,000 points and 700 rebounds.

Fells led the Big West Conference in field-goal percentage (.569) and offensive rebounds at 2.78 per game as a senior in 2007-08. He was third in the league in rebounding (7.2), fourth in steals (1.59) and ninth in scoring (14.4). He was named second-team All-Big West and was named all-tournament at the Big West tournament after averaging 16.3 points and 9.8 rebounds in UCI’s four games.

During his four seasons at UCI, he started 103 games and appeared in 123.

— From staff reports

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Hiura adds honor

UC Irvine sophomore Keston Hiura was voted first-team preseason All-American by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Assn.

Hiura was previously named to preseason All-American teams by D1Baseball and Perfect Game. He was named Big West Conference Freshman Player of the Year in 2015, when the outfielder hit .330 with 75 hits and a Big West-leading 52 runs batted in and 118 total bases. He paced the Anteaters with 18 doubles and was second with seven home runs.

UCI opens its season Feb. 19 at San Jose State.

— From staff reports