Archive: September 2008
Former U-Md. Assistant Lands Another Local
Add one more to the commitment list. Severna Park senior forward Brendan Bald this weekend committed to play for Vermont. Catamounts Coach Mike Lonergan, the former Catholic U. head coach and Maryland assistant, has made recruiting the Washington area a priority, with Good Counsel's Jordan Clarke and Georgetown Prep's Garvey...
By Josh Barr | September 29, 2008; 4:13 PM ET | Comments (1)
7-Footer Bound for the Big East
Running out the door, but just got an email from Bishop McNamara Coach Marty Keithline announcing that center Talib Zanna has committed to play for Pittsburgh. More later today......
By Josh Barr | September 29, 2008; 10:38 AM ET | Comments (7)
Local Guard Pledges for Winless Team
I'll have more about this one later in the week, but wanted to post this info. Potomac School guard P.J. Miller tonight gave a verbal commitment to play for New Jersey Tech, which last season became the first Division I team to ever go 0-29 in a season. Miller's dad...
By Josh Barr | September 28, 2008; 8:35 PM ET | Comments (0)
Nation's Top Players/Teams Coming to D.C. Area?
That's what I'm hearing. Talk has been circulating for a few weeks that an end-of-season high school basketball championship will be staged this year, and it appears likely now that the event is going to happen. Details are hard to find -- event organizers wouldn't comment on their plans. However,...
By Josh Barr | September 26, 2008; 8:51 AM ET | Comments (4)
Georgetown Gets in on the Act, Nabs Top Junior
When will the parade of top local juniors making college commitments stop? The latest is Georgetown Prep guard Markel Starks, who yesterday accepted a scholarship offer to play for Georgetown. "My phone has been ringing like crazy," Little Hoyas Coach Dwayne Bryant said. "Angry coaches. You have no idea." The...
By Josh Barr | September 25, 2008; 5:34 PM ET | Comments (3)
Magill Says Delaware 'Felt Right'; U-Md., VT in Hunt at QO
Quince Orchard tight end Cody Magill did the summer camp circuit and had 13 scholarship offers, including several from I-A schools like Syracuse and Miami of Ohio. But when he went to a game at Delaware, making his college choice was easy. Picking a I-AA offer "didn't really matter to...
By Josh Barr | September 25, 2008; 11:27 AM ET | Comments (2)
SEC QB Recruit Leading His New Team
It hasn't taken long for Auburn quarterback recruit Ray Cotton to mesh with his new teammates. Cotton, who moved to the area in August, has revitalized the Mustangs, who at 2-1 already have doubled last season's win total....
By Josh Barr | September 25, 2008; 10:09 AM ET | Comments (1)
QO Senior Makes (Somewhat) Surprising Choice
Quince Orchard tight end Cody Magill had several I-A scholarship offers but last night gave a verbal commitment to play for I-AA powerhouse Delaware, according to Cougars Coach Dave Mencarini. I'll have more on this later today....
By Josh Barr | September 25, 2008; 9:15 AM ET | Comments (1)
Terps, Cavs, Hokies in Hunt for DeMatha Juniors
Last DeMatha post this week? Junior forward Victor Oladipo holds offers "all over the place," according to Stags Coach Mike Jones: Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Providence, Massachusetts, George Mason, Auburn and a few others. "But I don't think he's anywhere near making a decision," Jones said. Junior forward Jerian...
By Josh Barr | September 24, 2008; 5:14 PM ET | Comments (1)
Top Juniors in a Rush to Decide
So what is going on with the rash of top juniors who have already decided on their college choice? DeMatha guard Josh Selby is bound for Tennessee, while last weekend Gonzaga's Tyler Thornton and Courtland's Josh Hairston pledged for Duke. "It's the trend," DeMatha Coach Mike Jones said. "I'm sure...
By Josh Barr | September 23, 2008; 11:50 AM ET | Comments (4)
DeMatha Coach Talks About Guard's Choice
As I was preparing to go on the set last night to reveal this week's football rankings on Washington Post Live, I got a call from DeMatha Coach Mike Jones to talk aboiut point guard Josh Selby's verbal commitment to play for Tennessee. Jones said that he "was standing in...
By Josh Barr | September 23, 2008; 9:45 AM ET | Comments (3)
DeMatha Guard Chooses Tennessee
DeMatha point guard Josh Selby has committed to play for Tennessee after taking an unofficial visit to Knoxville, a DeMatha official confirmed tonight. Selby had a ton of scholarship offers after a terrific summer on the travel-team circuit. I'll have more on it this week....
By Josh Barr | September 21, 2008; 9:29 PM ET | Comments (1)
More on Hairston/Thornton/Duke
Here's my file for tomorrow's paper, though it could update if I get in touch with some folks tonight: Two of the Washington area's top high school basketball players, both juniors, yesterday committed to play for Duke, according to their high school coaches. Courtland forward Josh Hairston, a third-team All-Met...
By Josh Barr | September 13, 2008; 9:07 PM ET | Comments (2)
Wow! Local Pair Commits to Duke!
Just pulled into the Outer Banks for vacation (no Insider next week), unpacked and checked my email to read that Gonzaga guard Tyler Thornton and Courtland forward Josh Hairston -- a pair of top juniors -- today committed to play basketball for Duke, according to Courtland Coach J.T. Nino. I'll...
By Josh Barr | September 13, 2008; 7:00 PM ET | Comments (6)
Auburn Recruit Dazzles in Opener
Meant to link to this one sooner. Auburn recruit Raymond Cotton was terrific in his opening game, passing for 245 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 80 yards and another score in Meade's 42-7 victory over Franklin. Meade plays Chesapeake tomorrow before getting a test next week against Old...
By Josh Barr | September 11, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (1)
A Closer Look at Maryland's Recruiting Coordinator
Maryland recruiting coordinator Dave Sollazzo is known as a straight shooter, according to the mother of one Maryland player. In a sport where Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden pledges the first carry of a season as an incentive to top recruits, this story says "those who have witnessed Sollazzo's recruiting describe...
By Josh Barr | September 11, 2008; 10:42 AM ET | Comments (4)
U-Va QB to Sit Out, But Why Now?
I'd love to hear an explanation about this. How does former West Springfield standout Peter Lalich play last week but get suspended for this week's game against Connecticut? Maybe U-Va. is not calling it a suspension. Every story I've read uses the terms "won't travel" and "step back." But really,...
By Josh Barr | September 11, 2008; 9:35 AM ET | Comments (2)
Basketball Player With a Football Future?
Another basketball player with a football future? How often do you turn down Michigan and other elite programs to play for Western Michigan? But that's what Flenard Whitfield did, choosing to be a college basketball player instead of playing college football. No mention of whether the Broncos football coach has...
By Josh Barr | September 10, 2008; 12:31 PM ET | Comments (1)
Maryland's Opponent Is Quite 'Special'
Great reporting here - and Maryland's upcoming opponent isn't looking too good. California reported that in 2004, 95 percent of its freshmen football players received special admission to the school. There isn't even a common definition for special admits. Some schools that say they have none acknowledge that sports talent...
By Josh Barr | September 10, 2008; 11:55 AM ET | Comments (4)
Calls, Text Messages Have Richmond in Trouble
Richmond self-reported NCAA violation that dealt with calling and text-messaging recruits too often. Now it appears the school and governing body disagree on just how often rules were violated. The infractions deal with men's and women's basketball. The assistant coaches who committed most of the violations have resigned. However, men's...
By Josh Barr | September 10, 2008; 11:46 AM ET | Comments (0)
Hawkins OK, QO Player Ready to Commit?
Spoke to Quince Orchard Coach Dave Mencarini last night and he said that standout defensive back Travis Hawkins is doing fine after taking a tough hit in the first half of Monday's victory over Wootton. Hawkins collided with a teammate on the play and did not return. "He didn't practice"...
By Josh Barr | September 10, 2008; 10:13 AM ET | Comments (2)
Penn State Recruit Likely Out for the Season
Spoke to Oxon Hill Coach Kevin Wolfolk last night and he said that wide receiver Brandon Felder could miss the entire season with a right knee injury suffered in a preseason scrimmage. Wolfolk had been hoping to keep the news quiet until after this Saturday's game against Eleanor Roosevelt, but...
By Josh Barr | September 9, 2008; 11:02 AM ET | Comments (4)
Less Means More for DeMatha Lineman
I've got a neat story in today's paper about a player making himself into a potential scholarship player. DeMatha offensive lineman Calvin McDowney lost 85 pounds this past offseason and now starts at guard for the Stags. Simple things, such as eating smaller portions and drinking more water helped McDowney,...
By Josh Barr | September 9, 2008; 10:46 AM ET | Comments (2)
Stone Bridge Legit, Robinson Junior Gets VT Offer
Made the journey out to Stone Bridge last Friday as I wanted to get a look at the Bulldogs' top prospects. And while it's difficult (at best) to judge linemen and linebackers while watching from field level, as a group David Wang (Virginia Tech), Brian Slay (N.C. State) and Zach...
By Josh Barr | September 8, 2008; 4:17 PM ET | Comments (1)
Will Struggles Impact Recruiting?
So let's say you're Dave Sollazzo, Ralph Friedgen or James Franklin. Or maybe you're Al Groh. Or even Frank Beamer. Can you really positively spin the mess that is this current season to prospective recruits? On one hand, it's been ugly for the I-A locals. On the other, does this...
By Josh Barr | September 8, 2008; 2:13 PM ET | Comments (4)
Zanna Headed to the Big East?
Rashad Whack isn't the only Bishop McNamara player getting plenty of attention. Mustangs Coach Marty Keithline said that center Talib Zanna has official visits set up later this month for Pittsburgh and Providence, with a trip to Boston College in October. Keithline said that St. Joseph's, Oklahoma, Temple, Southern Methodist,...
By Josh Barr | September 8, 2008; 12:48 PM ET | Comments (0)
Whack Picks George Mason
Rashad Whack did not waste any time making his college choice. The Bishop McNamara shooting guard, on the first weekend he could take an official recruiting trip to a college campus, made the trek to George Mason and committed to play for the Patriots. Mason has been recruiting Whack for...
By Josh Barr | September 7, 2008; 11:39 PM ET | Comments (3)
RB Lacks Size But Has Plenty of Talent
Brooke Point running back Chase Barnett has rushed for more than 4,000 yards but because he is only 5-7 and 170 pounds, his only scholarship offer is from I-AA Liberty. Barnett says he has something to prove again this season and rushed for 182 yards and two touchdowns in a...
By Josh Barr | September 5, 2008; 12:38 PM ET | Comments (2)
Crab Bowl Rosters Announced
The intra-Maryland Baltimore vs. Washington all-star game will be held Dec. 20 at Towson's Johnny Unitas Stadium. Here is the Washington roster, I've tried to fill in positions/college commitments (Prince George's/Montgomery/SMAC): Brandon Greening, Calvert; LB Brandon Killebrew, C.H. Flowers; LB Lorne Goree, C.H. Flowers (Maryland); K Mark Magas, Damascus; DB...
By Josh Barr | September 5, 2008; 9:59 AM ET | Comments (3)
Dunbar Alum Takes His Game to Top of the World
Here's one you don't see everyday. A former Dunbar High guard has transferred to the University of Alaska to play basketball. Paul Wayne played one year apiece at Salt Lake Community College, College of Southern Idaho and Cal State-Northridge before joining the Seawolves....
By Josh Barr | September 4, 2008; 5:10 PM ET | Comments (0)
QO Standout Hawkins in the Spotlight
Quince Orchard standout Travis Hawkins has plenty of scholarship offers, partly because he has the attitude that "hitting someone is something I love to do." As the Cougars prepared for the upcoming season, Hawkins recently told Coach Dave Mencarini not to take him off the field on defense, that if...
By Josh Barr | September 3, 2008; 11:41 PM ET | Comments (3)
Coach Makes Promise, Recruit Fumbles
Interesting story here. Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden promised running Jamie Harper the season's first carry as part of his recruiting pitch. Harper fumbled, Clemson fumbled away the game to Alabama, 34-10. Maybe more interesting: Sift through this to read Steve Spurrier's response. Never shy, the ol' ball coach wonders whether...
By Josh Barr | September 2, 2008; 2:04 PM ET | Comments (1)
Will Boobirds Cast Terps in a Negative Light?
I'm curious what folks think of this. After all that was made of the decision to start Jordan Steffy ahead of Chris Turner and whether it would impact the Terps' recruiting efforts, I have to say I think a far bigger detriment will be the way fans jumped all over...
By Josh Barr | September 2, 2008; 1:19 PM ET | Comments (9)
