AMES, Iowa (AP) — A school superintendent says Iowa State University’s athletic director was removed from a high school basketball game after criticizing a referee’s call. Marty Lucas, superintendent for the Colfax-Mingo school district, says Jamie Pollard was asked to leave a game Tuesday night between Colfax-Mingo High School and Gilbert High School. Pollard’s son plays for Gilbert.

Lucas says the referee heard Pollard disagree with a game call during a timeout. The referee asked school officials to remove Pollard. Lucas says Pollard did not yell or use foul language. The incident happened toward the end of the game. Lucas says it was a heated game and Pollard was “a dad being a dad.” Iowa State spokesman Tom Kroeschell confirms Pollard was removed but declined further comment. Colfax-Mingo won 68-55.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz never pays much attention to recruiting rankings. That’s a trait that could serve him well this week. The Hawkeyes announced their latest class on Wednesday, a group that recruiting services have rated near the bottom of the Big Ten. The 21-player class is ranked 52nd nationally by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Rivals has the class slotted eighth in the 12-school league while Scout ranks it 10th.

Those aren’t the kind of numbers likely to entice a fan base that watched Iowa finished last season with six straight losses and a 4-8 record. But coach Kirk Ferentz said he couldn’t tell much difference between this year’s class and last year’s — which was ranked in the top half of the Big Ten. The list of recruits is as follows:

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Point guard Maurice Jones won’t play for Iowa State next season after the Cyclones lost an appeal with the NCAA over his eligibility. Iowa State spokesman Mike Green says Jones wasn’t academically eligible to play when he left USC in early September. The Cyclones signed Jones to a financial aid agreement in October, and the school had hoped to restore Jones’ eligibility by the second semester of next season. Green says the NCAA cited Jones’ previous ineligibility in denying the appeal. Jones averaged 13 points and 3.5 assists as a sophomore for the Trojans last season.

The Cyclones moved quickly to fill the void, signing Northeast (Neb.) Community College point guard K.J. Bluford. Bluford is averaging 18 points a game this season.

DYERSVILLE, Iowa (AP) — Actor Matthew Perry is investing in a youth sports complex at an eastern Iowa farm where “Field of Dreams” was filmed. Go the Distance Baseball LLC announced Wednesday that the “Friends” star is part of a group of investors that includes Hall of Fame third baseman Wade Boggs. It’s unclear how much Perry is contributing to the project. A Go the Distance spokeswoman behind the All-Star Ballpark Heaven says the actor approached them after the 1989 movie site’s sale was announced.

Go the Distance plans to transform the state landmark into a 24-field youth baseball and softball tournament complex. The first tournament games are scheduled for 2014. The project’s groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for May. Perry is expected to attend.

AMES, Iowa (AP) — Iowa State has landed a highly regarded high school lineman and two players from the national junior college championship team as part of its 25-member 2013 recruiting class. Jake Campos, a 6-foot-7, 260-pound offensive lineman, is considered the top prospect that coach Paul Rhoads has signed in his five recruiting classes at ISU.

Campos played at West Des Moines Valley High School, which is about 40 miles from the Iowa State campus. He originally committed to Missouri, but changed his mind during a visit to ISU on Dec. 1. Defensive end Rodney Coe and running back Aaron Wimberly signed with Iowa State out of Iowa Western Community College, which won the NJCAA championship. Wimberly, who rushed for 1,125 yards and 13 touchdowns last season, also had offers from Iowa, Penn State, Boise State and TCU.

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — The Iowa Board of Regents is expected to discuss the results of an audit that examined employment practices at the University of Iowa athletics department. University President Sally Mason asked for the audit in November after the resignation of associate athletic director Peter Gray, who was accused of sexually harassing athletes and students. Mason called Gray’s case an “avoidable incident,” and apologized to those affected. Gray’s supervisor, Fred Mims, has been reassigned, and Mason promised other action to improve hiring and management and prevent harassment.

The audit will be presented to regents today (Wednesday), during their meeting in West Des Moines. A summary says its recommendations include improving the department’s handling of employee performance reviews. Board President Craig Lang says the audit is a start and regents will request more information.