Archive: August 2007
A Living Legend?
Not really on the recruiting front, but an interesting read nonetheless. Gotta say, I've talked with DeMatha football Bill McGregor several times, even shared a meal and talked about one of our favorite teams but I've never thought of him as a legend....
By Josh Barr | August 31, 2007; 1:41 PM ET | Comments (0)
Former All-Met QB Keeps His Cool
Remember All-Met quarterback Sean Schaefer? He was a first-teamer in 2003 out of Northern High. (The other first-team quarterback that year was Sean Glennon) Well, Schaefer is entering his third season as Towson's starter and he has quite an interesting story to boot....
By Josh Barr | August 30, 2007; 8:51 AM ET | Comments (0)
Montrose Set to Add Twin Towers?
As the school year begins, Montrose Christian has a trio of transfers and there could be news soon on two tall players waiting to be admitted to the basketball power. Coach Stu Vetter today confirmed that senior guard Kevon Moore (Spalding), junior guard Dominic Milburn (St. John's) and sophomore guard...
By Josh Barr | August 29, 2007; 2:00 PM ET | Comments (1)
Don't Believe the (Mayo) Hype
The start of the college basketball season is still three months away, but the hype around O.J. Mayo is full speed ahead. He's yet to have a college practice, but already Mayo is saying how he wants to come back for a sophomore season unless he can make millions in...
By Josh Barr | August 29, 2007; 9:55 AM ET | Comments (3)
Top Prospect Chooses Terps
Maryland landed a big pickup last night when Bishop McNamara cornerback Cameron Chism committed to play for the Terrapins. "He talked to [defensive coordinator] Chris Cosh, who is a McNamara alum," McNamara Coach Bryce Bevill said. Just last week, Bevill said he believed that Chism would wait until after the...
By Josh Barr | August 28, 2007; 4:14 PM ET | Comments (6)
Terps/Turner: Things On Hold?
Spoke to Winchendon Coach Mike Byrnes this morning and he confirms that there might be a minor hiccup between guard Chris Turner and Maryland. With the Terrapins getting a commitment from Baltimore guard Sean Mosley and a commitment in hand from forward Terrence Jennings, Maryland would have only one scholarship...
By Josh Barr | August 28, 2007; 12:41 PM ET | Comments (2)
More on Mosley/Terps
Here's more on Maryland's recent commitment from Sean Mosley and how he ended up picking the Terrapins. That's three Maryland recruits from Baltimore in just over a year....
By Josh Barr | August 28, 2007; 8:22 AM ET | Comments (0)
Top Hoopsters Hit the Road
There's been a purge of local basketball talent, with three top players bound for prep schools. Hargrave Military Academy basketball coach Kevin Keatts said he expects forward Roscoe Davis to check in this afternoon. Davis, a 6-10 rising senior, was a third-team All-Met last winter at Wise High. It appears...
By Josh Barr | August 27, 2007; 12:14 PM ET | Comments (2)
Blast From the Past Could Be Done
There's a scholarship open on the San Diego State men's basketball team. Oft-traveled center Jerome Habel, a Rockville native whose high school career included stops at Paint Branch, Whitman and Marriott Charter, has been kicked off the Aztecs' roster. Habel signed with Florida State but never enrolled. He subseuqently made...
By Josh Barr | August 27, 2007; 10:16 AM ET | Comments (0)
Local Player Joins Bonnies
Former H.D. Woodson forward Delonte Taylor, who spent the past two years at Philadelphia Lutheran, will play for St. Bonaventure. Taylor was a fourth-team All-Met as a senior in 2004....
By Josh Barr | August 27, 2007; 9:17 AM ET | Comments (0)
Top Prospect Chooses Seminoles
To play baseball... Arundel All-Met infielder-pitcher Tyler Hibbs has committed to play baseball for Florida State. Hibbs and St. John's All-Met outfielder L.J. Hoes leave today for an international tournament in Mexico....
By Josh Barr | August 23, 2007; 9:34 AM ET | Comments (0)
Rankings, Schmrankings
I've said plenty of times how little I believe in recruiting rankings. The most-hyped players have a hard time meeting expectations (see Antonio Logan-El for a recent example), while the lesser-known players often excel (see E.J. Henderson for another example). In the wake of former Robinson All-Met Olu Hall apparently...
By Josh Barr | August 22, 2007; 12:32 PM ET | Comments (0)
More On Whitaker and His Move to Receiver
As expected, there's plenty of stories today about Ike Whitaker's move to wide receiver at Virginia Tech. Whitaker said that freshman Tyrod Taylor reminds him of Marcus Vick. (I'll skip the obvious opportunity to make a joke here.) Also, Whitaker said he's okay with the move, figuring otherwise he'd been...
By Josh Barr | August 22, 2007; 9:59 AM ET | Comments (0)
Whitaker Done At Quarterback, Moves to Receiver
I'm not sure how this will play out, but Virginia Tech Coach Frank Beamer announced today that former All-Met quarterback Ike Whitaker will move full-time to wide receiver. I'm sure the folks in Blacksburg are working on this for tomorrow's papers, but here are the obvious questions, with Beamer stating...
By Josh Barr | August 21, 2007; 4:35 PM ET | Comments (0)
Local Cornerback Taking His Time
Bishop McNamara standout cornerback Cameron Chism has several scholarship offers, but it will be quite some time until he makes a college choice, Mustangs Coach Bryce Bevill said. The list of schools that have offered Chism includes Maryland, North Carolina State, Pittsburgh, Boston College, Rutgers, Temple and Connecticut. "He's going...
By Josh Barr | August 21, 2007; 8:13 AM ET | Comments (0)
Lazear Ready to Play at WVU
So I wasn't sure what to think at first when I read this story. Should I laugh that My Main Man Pat has such a terrific memory? Should I be ticked that another journalist would give Lazear the platform to say whatever he wants and not call me? Should I...
By Josh Barr | August 20, 2007; 2:40 PM ET | Comments (0)
Kerns Joins Others at Hargrave
Former Thomas Johnson standout Terrence Kerns still needs to improve his SAT score and will spend the fall semester at Hargrave Military Academy. He joins a dozen or so other locals on the Hargrave roster, including: Osbourn Park linebacker Quillie Odom (signed with Virginia Tech), Wilde Lake running back Zach...
By Josh Barr | August 16, 2007; 2:15 PM ET | Comments (2)
More on Mosley, Terps' Summer Run
The kind folks at The Sun look at Maryland's recruiting efforts now that Sean Mosley says he's ready to enlist. And the experts give the Terps a thumbs-up for their recent pickups. Recruiting has been a strange thing in College Park. I was on the beat during the glory days...
By Josh Barr | August 16, 2007; 11:54 AM ET | Comments (14)
A Video Worth Watching Again (And Again)
With all of the attention on the recruiting efforts of Maryland's basketball team, I thought it would be interesting to post this video from YouTube. Let's see: Kevin Durant is a millionaire in the NBA now. Ty Lawson is at UNC. Jeff Allen is off to Virginia Tech. Greivis Vasquez...
By Josh Barr | August 15, 2007; 2:41 PM ET | Comments (6)
Mosley Gives Mom Present, Picks U-Md.
Just got off the phone with Sean Mosley, talking about his decision to accept a scholarship to play basketball at Maryland. The 6-5 swingman said he returned from a visit to Temple this past Sunday and told his father that he was ready to make his choice - in order...
By Josh Barr | August 15, 2007; 1:58 PM ET | Comments (2)
Terps Pick Up Mosley, Another on the Way?
As I anticipated yesterday, Maryland today received a verbal commitment from St. Frances wing player Sean Mosley. Mosley is the first three-time All-Metro selection by The (Baltimore) Sun. I hope to have more from him this afternoon on his decision. Meantime, it seems likely that Winchendon (Mass.) School guard Chris...
By Josh Barr | August 15, 2007; 1:01 PM ET | Comments (0)
Local Player Picks K-State
Upper Marlboro native Ron Anderson, who attended McCallie School in Chattanooga, Tenn., has accepted a scholarship to play for Kansas State. Anderson played travel-team with D.C. Assault. Here's a better look at Anderson....
By Josh Barr | August 15, 2007; 7:26 AM ET | Comments (1)
Terps Close to Landing Two Hoops Recruits
It's a busy time for recruiting season in College Park. Last week, the Terrapins landed big man Terrence Jennings of Sacramento. Now, it appears Maryland is closing in on two more commitments. Wing player Chris Turner, who is from Durham and attends the Winchendon (Mass.) School, has Maryland at the...
By Josh Barr | August 14, 2007; 4:43 PM ET | Comments (1)
Local Hoopster Picks Illinois
Just got off the phone with T.C. Williams basketball coach Ivan Thomas, who reports that second-team All-Met forward Mike Davis has accepted a scholarship offer to play for Illinois. Davis had planned to go to South Kent Prep for a year of post-grad seasoning, but instead took a visit to...
By Josh Barr | August 14, 2007; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (47)
Munson Off to Juco, then GW!
From the Recruiting Insider's Breaking News Desk: Point guard Nigel Munson will transfer from Virginia Tech to attend a junior college this fall, a source with knowledge of the situation said this afternoon. Munson, a 2006 All-Met at DeMatha High, plans to not play basketball in the 2007-08 school year...
By Josh Barr | August 13, 2007; 1:49 PM ET | Comments (40)
Board of Directors Doesn't Reconsider Text Message Ban
Not much has been made of this, but the NCAA Division I Board of Directors opted not to amend the text-messaging ban when it met last Thursday. There was plenty of hope among college football and basketball coaches that the group would discuss the ban and perhaps find a way...
By Josh Barr | August 13, 2007; 10:54 AM ET | Comments (0)
Terps Get a Big Pickup
As always, this comes with the requisite warning - don't put too much stock into recruiting ratings. Having said that, Maryland got quite a pickup yesterday when it landed a top-notch defensive line prospect. Masengo Kabongo, who is 6-3 and 280 pounds, chose the Terps over Florida, Connecticut and Notre...
By Josh Barr | August 10, 2007; 6:51 AM ET | Comments (0)
Local Player Lands in the Big East
Gwynn Park senior Ronald Hobby, who plays wide receiver and cornerback, has verbally committed to play for Pittsburgh, Yellow Jackets Coach Danny Hayes said yesterday after returning from a vacation to the Bahamas. Hobby also had scholarship offers from Boston College, Syracuse and Eastern Michigan, Hayes said, and is expected...
By Josh Barr | August 9, 2007; 2:06 PM ET | Comments (0)
G'Town Prep Lineman Hopes to Lose Big
Georgetown Prep Coach Dan Paro added an unusual wrinkle when it came to motivating lineman Edgar Sheppard to lose weight, knowing that if Sheppard can "slim" down, the bulky senior can earn a college football scholarship. "I told him that if he got down to 299, I'd do a gasser...
By Josh Barr | August 9, 2007; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (0)
Star Junior Holds Offers from U-Md., U-Va.
Starting to make preseason football calls, so I should have plenty of updates like this one. Good Counsel junior RB-LB Jelani Jenkins -- certain to be in any list of top rising juniors (which I hope to have up soon) -- holds scholarship offers from Maryland and Virginia, according to...
By Josh Barr | August 8, 2007; 3:48 PM ET | Comments (0)
Clarksburg Lineman Chooses Towson
It's unusual for football players to commit to Division I-AA programs this early in the recruiting calendar, but Clarksburg defensive lineman Rob Osborne was ready to commit to Towson. He said he didn't want to wait around to see what, if any, better offers came his way....
By Josh Barr | August 8, 2007; 9:28 AM ET | Comments (0)
More On Mason's Latest Pickup
I mentioned this yesterday, but here's more on Forest Park's Deidre Richardson and her decision to accept a scholarship to George Mason. As the story points out, Richardson is the fourth rising senior in the county to make a verbal commitment, joining Potomac's Lynetta Kizer (Maryland), Stonewall's Gwen Washington (East...
By Josh Barr | August 8, 2007; 9:04 AM ET | Comments (0)
Coaching Hires at Ball State, Wake Forest
Much coaching news to update. Ball State Billy Taylor away from Lehigh, so I guess Deontay Twyman can finally figure out his future. Also, Wake Forest today is expected to name Dino Gaudio to succeed Skip Prosser. The Demon Deacons have a top-notch recruiting class lined up for 2008....
By Josh Barr | August 8, 2007; 8:56 AM ET | Comments (0)
Video of U-Md. Hoops Recruit
For those who are interested - and I'm guessing plenty of Maryland fans are - here are some highlights and an interview with recent commitment Terrence Jennings. The 6-10 big man from Sacramento, who committed last week, at the time of this interview listed the Terrapins as one of his...
By Josh Barr | August 7, 2007; 4:11 PM ET | Comments (0)
Former QBs Making Position Switches
Here's two quick but good reads on the common occurrence of a player needed to learn a new position when he goes to college. Former All-Met QB Ike Whitaker of Northwest is taking reps at wide receiver during Virginia Tech's practices. Also, Torrey Smith played quarterback at Stafford High, but...
By Josh Barr | August 7, 2007; 2:14 PM ET | Comments (0)
GMU Picks Up Local Commitment
Colleague Stephen Norris passes along that Forest Park's Deidre Richardson has verbally committed to play women's basketball for George Mason. Richardson will rejoin former Forest Park coach Chrissy Kelly, who was hired as a Mason assistant after last season....
By Josh Barr | August 7, 2007; 11:54 AM ET | Comments (0)
DeMatha No. 3 in the Nation?
This isn't recruiting news, but it is football season. For what it's worth -- and I don't put too much stock into -- DeMatha is ranked third nationally by prepnation.com for the upcoming football season. Perhaps more interesting, the Stags open their season Sept. 2 in Cincinnati against top-ranked St....
By Josh Barr | August 6, 2007; 2:52 PM ET | Comments (0)
Twyman's Wait Soon to Be Over?
Maybe Deontay Twyman can get an answer this week with the report that Ball State is set to hire IUPUI Coach Ron Hunter. Hunter probably is best known for his bellyflop across the court after IUPUI won the Mid-Continent Conference title a few years ago to advance to the NCAA...
By Josh Barr | August 6, 2007; 1:12 PM ET | Comments (0)
Twyman Has to Wait On Ball State
Caught up with Sherwood Athletic Director Bob Cilento recently to talk about All-Met guard Deontay Twyman. Twyman signed late with Ball State and completed a session of summer school only to have Ronny Thompson resign last month as the school's coach. Cilento said that Twyman asked the school for a...
By Josh Barr | August 6, 2007; 10:33 AM ET | Comments (0)
Maryland Makes Major Splash
Sorry for not chiming in over the past week while on vacation. There wasn't much in the way of recruiting news, but there was one major splash as the Maryland men's basketball team secured a verbal commitment from forward Terrence Jennings of Sacramento. I hope to have more about Jennings...
By Josh Barr | August 6, 2007; 9:11 AM ET | Comments (0)
