Archive: February 2009
Illinois Still Battling Around the Beltway
Mike Locksley has moved from Illinois to New Mexico State and Ron Zook failed in his bid to snag Larry Johnson from Penn State, but don't count the Fighting Illini out when it comes to recruiting the Washington area. Colleague Preston Williams passes along the news that South County Coach...
By Josh Barr | February 26, 2009; 1:49 PM ET | Comments (1)
Things Bustling at Good Counsel
Just spoke to Good Counsel assistant Kevin McFadden, who reports that several rising seniors are "blowing up," along with one hot rising junior. Cornerback Louis Young (6-1, 175), previously committed to Stanford but now exploring all options, is getting the most interest, holding additional scholarship offers from Maryland, Virginia Tech,...
By Josh Barr | February 26, 2009; 1:25 PM ET | Comments (2)
Talented Leaper Looking for Interest
Meet Travon Fifty. Anacostia senior guard Travon Smith doesn't have any scholarship offers yet, but it's possible he might after word of his incredible leaping ability spreads around. He averages 15 points and 10 rebounds and holds the school's all-time scoring record....
By Josh Barr | February 24, 2009; 1:03 AM ET | Comments (2)
Landon's Webster Is Bound for Harvard
Colleague B.J. Koubaroulis, never one short for words, files this dispatch: Landon guard Christian Webster will play for Harvard, according to his father Darryl and high school basketball coach Andy Luther. Webster, a 6-5 senior who averaged 23.3 points per game this season, has been a hot target for Harvard...
By Josh Barr | February 23, 2009; 2:20 PM ET | Comments (0)
Pitt, WVU Offer Local Juniors
Colleague Paul Tenorio has today's news: Broad Run junior running back T.J. Peeler picked up his first scholarship offer from the University of Pittsburgh after attending Pitt's Junior Day. Peeler, a 6-foot, 175-pound versatile back, rushed for 1,145 yards and scored 18 touchdowns despite playing in just 11 games --...
By Josh Barr | February 20, 2009; 11:04 AM ET | Comments (3)
Terps, Cavs, WVU Offer D.C. Signal Caller
From colleague Alan Goldenbach: H.D. Woodson junior quarterback Ricardo Young, who looked very impressive in leading the Warriors to a victory over Dunbar in the Turkey Bowl last November, is starting to get some serious recruiting interest. According to Warriors' assistant Larry Williams, Young already has offers from Virginia Tech,...
By Josh Barr | February 19, 2009; 3:43 PM ET | Comments (2)
Two Quick Reads; Williams and Malone Hit It Off?
Two quick early-morning hits, both interesting: Are Curtis Malone and Gary Williams set to become pals? That might be a bit strong, but kudos to whoever arranged last week's meeting between Williams and Malone, who runs the area's best travel-team basketball organization. While it is probably too much to suggest...
By Josh Barr | February 19, 2009; 9:08 AM ET | Comments (3)
Terps Hot on Trail at DeMatha
Spoke to DeMatha Coach Bill McGregor, who reports that Maryland has offered scholarships to three of his players: running back Marcus Coker (6-1, 225), OT Ari Kouandjio (6-5, 300) and DB Michael Coley (6-0, 195). "What happened was we got our highlight DVDs done and I took two of them...
By Josh Barr | February 18, 2009; 2:45 PM ET | Comments (7)
Profiling Two Top Athletes
Two excellent pieces the past two days on college-bound athletes. Yesterday, B.J. Koubaroulis told the story of All-Met Soccer Player of the Year Given Kalipinde of Episcopal, who has signed a letter-of-intent to play basketball for Loyola Marymount. Today, Katie Carrera profiles Westlake All-Met football player Devon Smith, also an...
By Josh Barr | February 17, 2009; 12:29 PM ET | Comments (0)
Top Talent on Display Tonight
And I'll be there to see top 10 teams Gonzaga and Bishop McNamara battle it out in Forestville. Among the players: McNamara C Talib Zanna (signed with Pittsburgh), G Rashad Whack (George Mason) and F Lawrence Smith (North Carolina A&T); Gonzaga C Ian Hummer has committed to Princeton and junior...
By Josh Barr | February 13, 2009; 1:24 PM ET | Comments (0)
Looking at the Terps' Struggles
Want to know why Maryland is struggling? Read today's installment on the Terps' recruiting woes, which details Gary Williams' preference for avoiding many of the headaches that go into recruiting top players. In case you missed it, here is yesterday's story, detailing how the Terps missed on several recruiting targets....
By Josh Barr | February 13, 2009; 10:11 AM ET | Comments (3)
Terps, WVU Hot After Old Mill Standout
Jim Laise, who covers West Virginia recruiting for WVSports.com and as much about the Mountaineers as anyone, sent this file along: Old Mill linebacker-running back Josh Furman was one of the first juniors offered at West Virginia's first junior day at the Puskar Center and Coliseum basketball court. "I'm doing...
By Josh Barr | February 12, 2009; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (1)
April Will Bring Lots of Top Recruits to Town
While the Capital Classic is in jeopardy of not being held for the first time since 1974, there won't be a shortage of top talent for fans to see locally in April. In addition to the eight-team National High School Invitational at Georgetown Prep, Reebok will hold two all-star games...
By Josh Barr | February 11, 2009; 3:51 PM ET | Comments (3)
Dunbar Junior Holds U-Md., WVU, Pitt Offers
Colleague Alan Goldenbach passes along this info: Dunbar Coach Craig Jefferies, who turns out plenty of top players, reports the first member of his junior class is beginning to get some serious attention. Javarie Johnson, who projects as either an outside linebacker or a speed-rush defensive end, has picked up...
By Josh Barr | February 11, 2009; 9:40 AM ET | Comments (2)
Terps Offer Another Forestville Standout
Forestville Coach Charles Harley just phoned with the news that Maryland has offered a scholarship to junior wide receiver Antonio Belt. It is the first scholarship offer for the 6-1, 165-pound Belt, who had 33 catches for 970 yards and 12 touchdowns last season. Maryland already has former Forestville All-Met...
By Josh Barr | February 9, 2009; 3:06 PM ET | Comments (6)
Should Maryland Have Made Announcement Sooner?
While Maryland appointed James Franklin as Ralph Friedgen's eventual successor in order to provide continuity in recruiting, I and others are left to wonder about the timing of the announcement. Speculation has swirled since the season ended that this might be coming. (Though other rumors had Friedgen retiring now and...
By Josh Barr | February 9, 2009; 11:22 AM ET | Comments (3)
Who Had the Best Day Locally?
I'm not sure the answer, but which team did the best job recruiting the Washington area this football season? A) Maryland. The Terps picked up nine locals (11 if you count two 2008 grads who spent this year at prep school) and landed two key players in All-Met CB Travis...
By Josh Barr | February 5, 2009; 12:09 PM ET | Comments (6)
The D.C. List
Wow. 66 locals go I-A, 63 go I-AA. Click through the read the full list. I'm sure there might be one or two missing, so email any changes to me at barrj@washpost.com....
By Josh Barr | February 5, 2009; 9:45 AM ET | Comments (1)
More on Thigpen/UCLA
Colleague Matt Stanmyre sends this report: Stonewall Jackson running back Damien Thigpen signed with UCLA today, ending a tumultuous two-week span for the speedster from Manassas. Thigpen orally committed to Tennessee last year, but his status with the program was in question when Coach Phillip Fulmer resigned and was replaced...
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 2:59 PM ET | Comments (1)
Cotton Headed to Ole Miss
Colleague Katie Carrera files this dispatch: Meade quarterback Ray Cotton signed his letter-of-intent to Mississippi, ending what became a whirlwind few months of recruiting for Cotton after he decommitted from Auburn when Tommy Tuberville resigned as Tigers head coach. "We're really just ready for this to all be over," Raymond...
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 2:37 PM ET | Comments (3)
A Bit Less Hoopla for Stanley
Colleague Alan Goldenbach filed this dispatch: Sitting in front of about 20 classmates and a dozen coaches and school officials, Gaithersburg defensive end Sean Stanley wore a navy sweater vest and awkward grin as he signed his letter-of-intent with Penn State. Sure, the two-time All-Met appreciated having a bunch of...
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 1:03 PM ET | Comments (1)
Thigpen Picks UCLA
I hope to have more on this shortly... Stonewall Jackson RB Damien Thigpen has signed with UCLA....
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 12:59 PM ET | Comments (0)
What a Hat
The hat? It's embroidered with an orange '3' and 'Jelani Jenkins #3' on the back. Time for the students to go back to class....
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 11:11 AM ET | Comments (0)
Jenkins Talks Gators
Oops. I missed it. In addition to Jelani Jenkins putting on a Florida hat, so did all of his family members standing behind him. From Jelani: "It's a great program. I went down to visit. I felt comfortable with the coaches. Great weather. Had a list of factors ... and...
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 11:10 AM ET | Comments (0)
Good Counsel OL Picks Bucknell, Jenkins Up Next...
Good Counsel AD/Master of Ceremonies Pat Bates is working his way down the five Falcons headed for I-A/I-AA football scholarships. Add offensive lineman Devin Gordon-Hamm to the list, he's going to Bucknell. The others: RB Caleb Porzel (Maryland), CB Mike Wallace (Penn State) and K Mark Hamilton (Villanova). It's a...
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 11:01 AM ET | Comments (0)
Big Morning for Maryland: White Commits
More on this in a bit, but today's big news is that All-Met offensive lineman Pete White of St. John's this morning picked Maryland over Miami and Tennessee. Obviously, White, a four-year starter is a very talented player but his decision might be even more significant in that the Terps...
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 9:40 AM ET | Comments (10)
Jenkins to Pledge to Gators
Yep, the big day is here. I'll be heading out soon to Good Counsel where Jelani Jenkins is expected to announce he will go to Florida. That ought to get the day started with a bang. I'll be updating here throughout the day with news and thoughts....
By Josh Barr | February 4, 2009; 8:24 AM ET | Comments (0)
Four Big Fish Left in the D.C. Pond
By my count, as I go over the list of locals ready to accept I-A and I-AA football scholarships -- a list with 112 members at the moment -- there are four key recruits yet to make their college choices publicly shown: Good Counsel All-Met linebacker Jelani Jenkins, who is...
By Josh Barr | February 3, 2009; 1:03 PM ET | Comments (0)
Chroniger Bound for Towson
What a long, strange recruiting road it has been for DeMatha quarterback Tom Chroniger. A two-year starter for the Stags, Chroniger early in the season committed to play for Eastern Michigan. Then he backed off that pledge and hoped to secure a scholarship offer to play in the ACC or...
By Josh Barr | February 3, 2009; 10:46 AM ET | Comments (0)
Thigpen Nixes UT; Is He Bound for Notre Dame?
Insider super/special correspondent Matt Stanmyre, files this dispatch: Stonewall Jackson senior running back Damien Thigpen will sign an letter-of-intent on Wednesday but it won't be to Tennessee, the school he verbally committed to last year. Thigpen's coach at Stonewall, Mike Dougherty, sent me an e-mail this morning, stating: "Damien Thigpen...
By Josh Barr | February 2, 2009; 4:15 PM ET | Comments (0)
Seen and Heard, Maryland-Style
Some kind readers report seeing Gary Williams at DeMatha on Friday night to see the Stags one-point loss to Good Counsel. The Terrapins are involved with DeMatha junior forwards Victor Oladipo and Jerian Grant. Oladipo, a 6-5 high flyer, has a terrific upside and seems to have good court awareness....
By Josh Barr | February 2, 2009; 4:05 PM ET | Comments (0)
All-Met RB Commits to Youngstown State
All-Met running back Torrian Pace of Chantilly has found a home. He has committed to play for I-AA powerhouse Youngstown State. Although Pace racked up yards at a ridiculous clip this past season, college interest in him was tepid at best, with most recruiters taking a pass. The Penguins, however,...
By Josh Barr | February 2, 2009; 11:38 AM ET | Comments (0)
