Archive: April 2008
Spotlight on Quince Orchard's Terrence Stephens
The Post's B.J. Koubaroulis sits down with Quince Orchard's Terrence Stephens, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive lineman with offers from Maryland, Nebraska, Stanford, West Virginia, Syracuse, N.C. State, Connecticut and Penn State. Note: Please upgrade your Flash plug-in to view our enhanced content. var thisObj = "flashobj043008X8v"; var so = new...
By washingtonpost.com Sports Editor | April 30, 2008; 7:53 PM ET | Comments (0)
Vaughn Leaving Seminoles, Other Hoops Items
Got a bunch of basketball items to report. First, Reston native Julian Vaughn is transferring from Florida State. He was a much-heralded recruit for Leonard Hamilton and the Seminoles. Next, colleague B.J. Koubaroulis passes along that All-Met guard Anthony Winbush has committed to play for Loyola. His teammate, guard Travis...
By Josh Barr | April 30, 2008; 4:38 PM ET | Comments (0)
The Rounds Continue for Jenkins
The college coaches continue to filter into Good Counsel to visit with All-Met linebacker Jelani Jenkins. Yesterday it was assistant coaches from UCLA, Stanford, Wake Forest and Michigan State, which was represented by Ted Gill -- "an old friend coming through since 1970," Good Counsel Coach Bob Milloy said. On...
By Josh Barr | April 30, 2008; 10:08 AM ET | Comments (0)
Local Standout Showing Interest in Terps
I borrowed Steinberg's reporter cap last night and spent some time on the phone with Theodore Roosevelt Coach Daryl Tilghman, who said that Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin was at the Northwest Washington school earlier in the day to meet with standout defensive end Darin Drakeford. Drakeford holds scholarship offers...
By Josh Barr | April 30, 2008; 7:21 AM ET | Comments (0)
Vasquez Staying at U-Md., Giving Terps Plenty of Guards
So Greivis Vasquez opted not to take the leap and will return to Maryland next season. While that news should bolster the Terrapins' lineup, it does leave a logjam in the backcourt, especially with the addition of junior college shooting guard Tyree Evans. If the current roster holds, that leaves...
By Josh Barr | April 29, 2008; 9:24 AM ET | Comments (0)
Top Big Man Picks U-Conn
One of the top remaining uncommitted prospects has picked Connecticut. Ater Majok, a 6-10 forward from Sudan who also has lived in Australia, yesterday announced he will play for the Huskies. Majok spent this past season in the hoops hotbed of Martinsville, Va., playing on a club team....
By Josh Barr | April 29, 2008; 9:17 AM ET | Comments (0)
Walker Bolts Terps; Next Move Is?
Shane Walker is out at Maryland. He's decided to transfer. More importantly, that's another scholarship opening for the Terrapins. It's probably not the last movement this spring for the 2008-09 roster....
By Josh Barr | April 28, 2008; 5:49 PM ET | Comments (2)
Webby Fires Back at Zook; Zook Coming to Town
That Saban Rule is getting plenty of ink. After Illinois Coach Ron Zook last week wondered about the ethics between college football coaches and recruiting Web sites, the head of one site has fired back: Writes Bobby Burton of Rivals.com: "This new rule has nothing to do with Rivals.com; it's...
By Josh Barr | April 28, 2008; 12:54 PM ET | Comments (1)
Saban Finds Way Around NCAA Rule
Plenty of good recruiting reading to start off the week. Consider this doozy. Alabama's Nick Saban has found a way around the so-called Saban Rule, which prohibits head coaches from visiting recruits during the spring contact period. The solution: a Web cam in Saban's office, with an address that assistant...
By Josh Barr | April 28, 2008; 10:03 AM ET | Comments (1)
Another Local Junior Makes ACC Pick
This time, it's Virginia picking up a local pledge. Centreville Coach Gerry Pannoni reports that junior offensive tackle Luke Bowanko has committed to the Cavaliers. Bowanko, who is 6-6 and 270 pounds, was a second-team all-Northern Region pick last year. He also took campus visits to Virginia Tech, North Carolina,...
By Josh Barr | April 24, 2008; 8:46 PM ET | Comments (0)
Local RB Picks Big Orange
Goodness, the top local juniors just keep committing. This time, it's Stonewall Jackson running back Damien Thigpen, who is pledging for Tennessee. Not bad, eh? He also had offers from Auburn, Boston College, Connecticut, Minnesota, Stanford and West Virginia....
By Josh Barr | April 24, 2008; 12:29 PM ET | Comments (0)
Big Week For Wake Forest
First it was All-Met defensive back Michael Campanaro pledging to the Demon Deacons. Now, colleague Paul Tenorio reports, Stone Bridge junior defensive tackle Zach Thompson has committed to play for Wake Forest, according to an email from Stone Bridge Coach (and Zach's dad) Mickey Thompson. Zach Thompson, a 6-5, 250-pound...
By Josh Barr | April 24, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Scout/Rivals Operators Benefiting from New NCAA Rule?
Funny, I was just having a discussion about this yesterday. Will prohibiting college head coaches from being on the recruiting trail this spring put Internet site operators in position to exploit their ability to contact recruits at will? The theory is that these "reporters" are unregulated and rely on recruiting...
By Josh Barr | April 23, 2008; 9:58 AM ET | Comments (0)
Sutton a Hoosier?
Read to the second part of this story and you'll learn that Largo All-Met center Maurice Sutton has added Indiana to the group of schools offering him a scholarship. New Hooisers Coach Tom Crean was interested in Sutton when he was coaching at Marquette. Sutton seems interested in Kentucky if...
By Josh Barr | April 22, 2008; 4:10 PM ET | Comments (0)
Ohio State Gets Another D.C. Area Player
Colleague B.J. Koubaroulis, fresh off a marathon session of interviews for upcoming recruiting spotlight videos, files this report: Lackey defensive back Darrell Givens verbally committed to play football at Ohio State during an unofficial visit to campus this past weekend. Givens, a 6-foot, 180-pound speedy corner, recorded 44 tackles, three...
By Josh Barr | April 22, 2008; 3:26 PM ET | Comments (0)
More On Campanaro/Wake Forest
Colleague B.J. Koubaroulis caught up with River Hill junior Michael Campanaro orally committed to play football at Wake Forest during an unofficial visit to campus this past Saturday. Campanaro, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound running back/wide receiver/defensive back, chose the Demon Deacons over offers from North Carolina, Northwestern and Akron because "the...
By Josh Barr | April 21, 2008; 11:34 AM ET | Comments (0)
Dunbar Standout Makes His Choice
Dunbar Coach Craig Jefferies reports that his standout wide receiver, rising senior Deon Long, committed to West Virginia this past Saturday during a trip to Morgantown to attend the Mountaineers' spring football game. I hope to have more on this later today....
By Josh Barr | April 21, 2008; 8:29 AM ET | Comments (0)
Another Local Bound for the ACC
Colleague B.J. Koubaroulis passes along that he got word from Til Campanaro that his son, All-Met defensive back Michael Campanaro, committed to play for Wake Forest during a campus visit today. More to come during the week......
By Josh Barr | April 19, 2008; 4:11 PM ET | Comments (0)
Ultimate Recruiting Lure?
This is either the ultimate recruiting lure or a $35,000 faux pas, take your pick. When a tight end prospect was in Gainesville recently, he stopped to take a picture with Tim Tebow's (sturdier) Heisman Trophy. Somehow, 6-3, 225-pound Orson Charles knocked over Florida's BCS championship trophy, shattering the Waterford...
By Josh Barr | April 17, 2008; 10:48 AM ET | Comments (0)
Top Prospect Chooses Memphis
Derrick Rose is going for the NBA, but Memphis started landing replacements on Wednesday, nabbing Philadelphia guard Tyreke Evans. Evans said he picked the Tigers over hometown school Villanova. Make of it what you will: Evans's signing was the lead story on the Web site of the Memphis Commercial-Appeal, but...
By Josh Barr | April 17, 2008; 9:32 AM ET | Comments (0)
Spotlight on Good Counsel RB Caleb Porzel
This week's Recruiting Spotlight features Good Counsel junior Caleb Porzel sitting down with reporter B.J. Koubaroulis. Porzel, a 5-foot-8, 180-pound running back, has clocked a 4.32-second 40-yard dash. He used that speed to rush for 976 yards and 16 touchdowns, also finding the end zone on a kick-off return and...
By Josh Barr | April 16, 2008; 4:58 PM ET | Comments (0)
Tavon Austin Making Campus Visits
Tavon Austin makes it look like you're playing a video game when he's on the football field, zig-zagging among defenders and leading the Dunbar-Baltimore football team to state titles. He is in the process of making junior day visits to colleges, but it could be some time before he makes...
By Josh Barr | April 16, 2008; 10:23 AM ET | Comments (0)
Terps Land Juco Guard With Spotty Past
As anticipated, junior college guard Tyree Evans is set to sign with Maryland today. Evans is considered a top talent whose off-court issues have hounded him the past few years. Coming out of high school in Richmond and prep school in Massachusetts, he originally committed to Cincinnati before the scholarship...
By Josh Barr | April 16, 2008; 9:31 AM ET | Comments (0)
Terps Land a Coyote
Clarksburg Coach Larry Hurd was almost as elusive as running back Avery Graham, but colleague Alan Goldenbach finally caught up with Hurd to confirm that Graham became the school's first player to secure to a Division I-A football scholarship when the 6-foot, 180-pounder orally committed to Maryland. Last year, Graham...
By Josh Barr | April 16, 2008; 9:18 AM ET | Comments (0)
More on Beasley's Choice
Here are the writeups on Mike Beasley heading to the NBA. Beasley told reporters his mind wasn't made up until last evening's news conference, but his older brother knew what was coming and Beasley's agent of choice, Joel Bell, also was in attendance. Now, though, Beasley is a basketball adult...
By Josh Barr | April 15, 2008; 8:48 AM ET | Comments (0)
Beasley Headed for NBA
Breaking news here. Mike Beasley's going pro. Stunner, I know. But anyone who thinks he should stay in college is crazy. He's ready for the NBA. Why should he stay at K-State? "I'd like to thank Kansas State and everyone on my team for giving me the love and support...
By Josh Barr | April 14, 2008; 6:21 PM ET | Comments (0)
Czyz, Mosley Shine; U-Md. Rumors Abound
Some thoughts from the Capital Classic. Olek Czyz is tough. He acknowledges needing to work on his jumper and game away from the basket, but he left everyone impressed with his tenacity and willingness to work around the basket. Most guys 6-7 prefer to play on the outside. A late...
By Josh Barr | April 14, 2008; 12:04 PM ET | Comments (11)
Local Speedster Is Big East Bound
Big Boss Man Dan Uthman passes along this commitment from Thomas Johnson Coach Ben Wright. Wide receiver and defensive back D.J. Scott, a rising senior, has committed to play for Syracuse. Scott, who is 5-10 and 170 pounds, had 11 interceptions this past season as the Patriots advanced to the...
By Josh Barr | April 14, 2008; 11:02 AM ET | Comments (0)
Another Local Bound for Wake Forest
Colleague Alan Goldenbach, threatening to take over the insider, reports that H.D. Woodson All-Met Patrice Johnson came back from an official visit to Wake Forest this weekend and committed to the Demon Deacons. The 5-foot-10 senior guard plans to sign on Wednesday, the start of the five-week spring signing period....
By Josh Barr | April 14, 2008; 9:53 AM ET | Comments (0)
Prelim Game Lacks Flash, Players Seeking Colleges
Have to say, no one made much of an impression in the layup-and-dunk prelim game as the District All-Stars beat their suburban counterparts, 131-128. Progressive Christian fifth-year guard Jasper Williams led all scorers with 23 points. He was one of only a handful of players in the game with a...
By Josh Barr | April 14, 2008; 8:52 AM ET | Comments (0)
Beasley Bound for NBA
If you're wondering what K-State (and former Riverdale Baptist All-Met) star Mike Beasley is going to say tonight when he holds a news conference to discuss his future, wonder no longer. Despite his mother, Fatima Smith, saying, "I have no idea," and Coach Frank Martin saying, "Everything's being evaluated," -...
By Josh Barr | April 14, 2008; 6:38 AM ET | Comments (0)
Another Stone Bridger Is ACC Bound
While the Thompsons wait to reach their decision, a teammate has made his choice, reports colleague (and Stone Bridge pom-pom waver) B.J. Koubaroulis, who passes along this report: Stone Bridge junior Mike Olson orally committed to play football at Wake Forest. Olson, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound linebacker, accepted his first official...
By Josh Barr | April 10, 2008; 9:32 AM ET | Comments (0)
Spotlight On Stone Bridge Twins
This week's Recruiting Spotlight features twin brothers Patrick and Zach Thompson of Stone Bridge High School sitting down with reporter B.J. Koubaroulis. Patrick, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound quarterback, threw four touchdowns in a 38-0 victory over Potomac in this year's Virginia AAA Division 5 final. Zach, a 6-5, 240-pound defensive end,...
By Josh Barr | April 10, 2008; 8:35 AM ET | Comments (0)
All-Mets Out Today
If you haven't seen 'em already, go check out the winter All-Met selections. The online bonus is a video accompanying every team, in which All-Mets such as Maurice Sutton (Largo) and Sean Thomas (Gwynn Park) talk about what it takes to be an All-Met. Here's the Sutton/Thomas video:...
By Jon DeNunzio | April 9, 2008; 12:30 PM ET | Comments (0)
Could Turner Wind Up in College Park?
There are some wild stories floating around the local basketball circuit these days regarding how Maryland ended up with a verbal commitment from Sean Mosley and not Chris Turner last summer. Turner confirms that Mosley accepted the Terps' offer before he did, and he later ended up committing to Oregon...
By Josh Barr | April 8, 2008; 8:44 AM ET | Comments (0)
Mosley Shines in Charm City; Next Stop Comcast
Maryland recruit Sean Mosley and Towson recruit Troy Franklin led the locals to victory in the Charm City Challenge on Sunday. Next up is Sunday's Capital Classic at Comcast Center. Mosley will play in that game for the U.S. All-Stars, but his next in-game appearance be at Comcast seems up...
By Josh Barr | April 7, 2008; 10:19 AM ET | Comments (0)
Maryland On Trail of Roosevelt Speedster
Eleanor Roosevelt junior Derrick Thomas holds a scholarship offer from Maryland, which is recruiting him to play cornerback, Raiders first-year coach Tom Green said. Thomas, who is 6 feet 1 and 180 pounds, plays wide receiver and cornerback for Roosevelt. Maryland also is interested in Roosevelt's Isaiah Ross, who at...
By Josh Barr | April 4, 2008; 12:36 PM ET | Comments (0)
Spotlight On N.C. State Recruit
This week's Recruiting Spotlight features Stone Bridge defensive lineman Brian Slay sitting down with reporter B.J. Koubaroulis. The 6-foot-3, 255-pound junior helped the Ashburn school to its first Virginia AAA Division 5 championship this fall and then verbally committed to North Carolina State in early March. After helping the Bulldogs'...
By Josh Barr | April 3, 2008; 4:06 PM ET | Comments (0)
Sutton Picks Up Kentucky, Will Visit Soon
Add another school to the list of Largo center Maurice Sutton - and he's very interested in his latest opportunity as he picked up a scholarship offer from Kentucky last week. Sutton, who is 6 feet 11 and quite athletic, plans to visit the Lexington campus during his trip to...
By Josh Barr | April 3, 2008; 12:38 PM ET | Comments (0)
Record-Setting QB Chooses Unusual Route
Colleague Dave Yanovitz passes along this tidbit. Oakland Mills quarterback Justin Sottilaire, who set a Maryland public school single-game record with 448 yards passing last September, has signed to play for St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound signal caller helped the Scorpions win three games this...
By Josh Barr | April 3, 2008; 12:09 PM ET | Comments (0)
GW Lands Small Forward
George Washington has picked up a commitment from Aaron Ware of Bishop Montgomery High in Southern California. Ware averaged 20.4 points and 9.7 rebounds this past season. He's a 6-foot-5 small forward and expects to contribute immediately....
By Josh Barr | April 3, 2008; 11:22 AM ET | Comments (0)
Bozeman Inks Another
Well, maybe not yet -- but the ink will be dry in two more weeks. Gwynn Park Coach Mike Glick reports that senior guard Sean Thomas has committed to play for Morgan State and Coach Todd Bozeman. Thomas averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds this past season, leading the Yellow...
By Josh Barr | April 1, 2008; 2:18 PM ET | Comments (0)
Gary, K Hit the Recruiting Trail
With their teams done for the season, it was a big day yesterday in local gyms. Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski was at Montrose Christian to see Terrell Vinson and teammates work out, while Maryland Coach Gary Williams was around the Beltway at National Christian to watch standout Dante Taylor, who...
By Josh Barr | April 1, 2008; 12:21 PM ET | Comments (0)
Mountaineers Make Local Pitch
While it's already been a big week for local quarterbacks to make their decisions, Seneca Valley junior Xavier Hughes picked up his first scholarship offer this week as West Virginia offered the 6-2, 170-pounder as a defensive back. Hughes had 65 tackles and three interceptions this past season for the...
By Josh Barr | April 1, 2008; 10:28 AM ET | Comments (0)
