Archive: March 2008
Another Local QB Picks Another ACC School!
Not to be outdone by Sherando's Roth Metheny choosing Virginia, North Carolina has landed West Springfield quarterback Bryn Renner, colleague B.J. Koubaroulis reports. Here's a recent spotlight on Renner, who also plans to play baseball for the Tar Heels. "He liked Carolina the best for a variety of reasons so...
By Josh Barr | March 31, 2008; 10:48 AM ET | Comments (0)
Local QB Makes ACC Pick
Virginia picked up its fourth verbal commitment from the class of rising high school seniors as Sherando quarterback Ross Metheny pledged for the Cavaliers yesterday. Virginia offered Metheny a scholarship last month and he subsequently went on a spring break college tour to Georgia, Connecticut and Boston College before reaching...
By Josh Barr | March 31, 2008; 9:37 AM ET | Comments (0)
Coach Postpones Euro Recruiting Trip for Sweet 16
Davidson Coach Bob McKillop knows how important recruiting is to his program and how difficult it can be, given Davidson's rigorous academic structure and its place as one of the smallest colleges fielding a Division I basketball program. So where did he plan to be this week? In Germany running...
By Josh Barr | March 28, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Philly Player is MVP; Locals Don't Tear It Up
Philadelphia guard Tyreke Evans, yet to make his college choice, was the MVP of last night's McDonald's All-American game. He is considering Villanova, Texas, Memphis and Connecticut. Not a good night for those with local ties: Virginia recruit Sylvan Landesberg had two points, Georgetown recruit Greg Monroe one. In the...
By Josh Barr | March 27, 2008; 1:58 PM ET | Comments (1)
Recruiting Spotlight: Jelani Jenkins, Good Counsel
This week's recruiting spotlight features Good Counsel All-Met linebacker sittng down with Man About Town B.J. Koubaroulis. Jenkins, who also was Maryland's Gatorade Player of the Year this past season as a junior, is considered one of the nation's top prospects. The 16-year-old already has more than 25 official offers...
By washingtonpost.com Sports Editor | March 26, 2008; 9:11 PM ET | Comments (9)
WVU Hits Tidewater Hard
Want an instant recipe for recruiting in one of the East Coast's biggest football hotbeds? Follow the one West Virginia has taken, hiring a former Tidewater high school football coach as an assistant. Chris Beatty, whose resume includes a brief stint at North Stafford High, went from being a high...
By Josh Barr | March 26, 2008; 12:04 PM ET | Comments (0)
Coach Says Beasley Should Go
Big news here. K-State Coach Frank Martin says he expects Mike Beasley to turn pro. Ya think? Though you've got to give him credit. At least he doesn't talk about how it might be wise to stay in school another year, blah blah blah. In just a few months, Beasley...
By Josh Barr | March 26, 2008; 10:46 AM ET | Comments (0)
Agents In the House; G'town Recruit Wins Award
Former Post intern Steve Yanda advances tonight's McDonald's All-American game with a story about how agents are still wooing high schoolers even though the NBA now makes them go to college for a year before turning pro. It only makes sense. Agents are recruiting players the same way college coaches...
By Josh Barr | March 26, 2008; 9:41 AM ET | Comments (0)
All-Star Madness Starts Tonight
Yep, time for high school all-star basketball again. Tonight, ESPN2 airs the slam dunk contest from the McDonald's All-American game in Milwaukee, tape-delayed at 11:30. Tomorrow, ESPNU has the girls' game at 7, with ESPN airing the boys' game at 9:30. Maryland recruit Lynetta Kizer of Potomac (Va.) and North...
By Josh Barr | March 25, 2008; 11:12 AM ET | Comments (1)
From Averaging One Point to NCAA Stardom
More on the new sensation Joe Alexander and his road to stardom at West Virginia, including averaging one point a game during his season at Hargrave Military Academy. For those who wonder about dedication, Alexander tried to convince school officials to give him a key to the gym so he...
By Josh Barr | March 25, 2008; 9:56 AM ET | Comments (1)
Beasley Decision Soon?
Well, that might not be the right question, as the guess here is that Mike Beasley's decision to turn pro-- and almost certainly be the top pick in this year's NBA draft -- is already made. The better question is when will the announcement come? I'd think it won't be...
By Josh Barr | March 25, 2008; 9:00 AM ET | Comments (0)
Loudoun Standout Picks Up Two More ACC Offers
Colleague Paul Tenorio -- aka Mr. Loudoun County -- reports that Stone Bridge junior defensive tackle Zach Thompson picked up two more offers last week, from Boston College and Wake Forest. Those that have been following Zach's progress know that those two offers make it seven now. West Virginia, Virginia,...
By Josh Barr | March 24, 2008; 2:10 PM ET | Comments (0)
Unheralded Recruits Making Big Impact
While it is easier to project a recruit's success in basketball than in football - see Beasley, Mike; Durant, Kevin - there are still plenty of reminders that recruiting is far from an exact science. Consider two of the biggest stars from the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. Beasley,...
By Josh Barr | March 24, 2008; 10:03 AM ET | Comments (0)
Gwynn Park Guard to Quinnipiac
From Josh Barr: Gwynn Park guard Harold Washington took an unofficial visit and committed this morning to play for Quinnipiac, Gwynn Park Coach Mike Glick reports. Quinnipiac is coached by Tom Moore, who recruited Rudy Gay to Connecticut. Gay played for Glick at Spalding....
By washingtonpost.com Sports Editor | March 21, 2008; 2:15 PM ET | Comments (0)
Greene Felt "Disrepected" By Maryland
If you don't read anything else today, take a look at this story about last night's Syracuse victory over Maryland in the NIT, where Donte Greene talks about feeling "disrespected" by Gary Williams. Talk about bad timing/planning. Maryland assistant Keith Booth brought Greene in for an unofficial visit at the...
By Josh Barr | March 21, 2008; 12:06 PM ET | Comments (0)
More On Pryor; Plans to Be Like Tebow
Goodness, gracious. I didn't watch Terrelle Pryor's news conference yesterday. But, yep, he said it, "University of Ohio State." Why is it so hard to get those few words right? UOS? Anyone ever heard that? However, I'm glad he didn't play the hat game. Here's more confirmation that Pryor was...
By Josh Barr | March 20, 2008; 11:36 AM ET | Comments (0)
Undersized Corner Hopes to Get Looks
St. John's cornerback Ed Thomas might be undersized but as B.J. Koubaroulis found out, he's one of the strongest players on the St. John's team. Thomas hopes that will translate into a scholarship offer....
By Josh Barr | March 20, 2008; 5:29 AM ET | Comments (0)
Locals In the Big Dance
Colleague Preston Williams, doing research for this week's Varsity Letter, has a pretty cool chart in today's paper, listing all of the local players participating in this week's NCAA Division I basketball tournaments. The list only mentions local alumni, which means that K-State's Mike Beasley, Duke's Nolan Smith and others...
By Josh Barr | March 19, 2008; 2:37 PM ET | Comments (0)
Pryor Says He's a Buckeye
Wow, shocking news here. Terrelle Pryor says he will grace Ohio State with his presence. I can't remember which paper had it this morning, but someone noted that after delaying his decision because his father wanted him to consider Penn State, Pryor never took an official visit to State College,...
By Josh Barr | March 19, 2008; 12:16 PM ET | Comments (0)
Big Day Has Arrived; Pryor Decision At Noon
The big day finally has arrived. Yep, Terrelle Pryor will bestow upon us his college choice. No doubt the nation's top recruit has everyone tuned in from Columbus to Ann Arbor awaiting his decision. I wonder if a series this week about Michigan's alleged easy road for athletes will sway...
By Josh Barr | March 19, 2008; 9:26 AM ET | Comments (0)
Maryland Recruit Named JuCo Player of the Year
Nope, not Bobby Maze or Ken Bowman. Women's basketball recruit Dee Liles, a former All-Met at Riverdale Baptist, was named the junior college player of the year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. Liles averaged 11.1 points and 7.8 rebounds for Gulf Coast Community College, helping the Commodores reach this...
By Josh Barr | March 18, 2008; 2:28 PM ET | Comments (0)
Big Doings at QO; Gators Join the Fray
Quince Orchard football coach Dave Mencarini reports "we got fireworks at QO," and he's not exaggerating too much. (Though, as anyone who has been around knows, the only fireworks in Montgomery County are at Damascus, where some kids occasionally go in the woods to set off a small display at...
By Josh Barr | March 18, 2008; 9:48 AM ET | Comments (0)
Cap Classic Changes
George Mason recruit Andre Cornelius, a guard from Charlotte, has been added to the U.S. All-Star roster. In the preliminary game, Progressive Christian guard Jasper Williams replaces DeMatha forward Kenny Tate on the District All-Stars. O'Connell center Frank Ben-Eze (torn ACL) will not play and Episcopal's Peter Diffley joins the...
By Josh Barr | March 17, 2008; 4:10 PM ET | Comments (1)
Good Workout for Uncommitted Players
Once again, there will be a workout for unsigned high school seniors and junior college players, Thursday night at Wise High at 6 p.m. There will be drills and scrimmages. It is closed to the public, but open to college coaches. For more information, call Wise assistant coach Steve Gerald...
By Josh Barr | March 17, 2008; 1:44 PM ET | Comments (3)
Two Top Backs on One Team
Just got off the phone with Good Counsel football coach Bob Milloy, who, naturally, called me wondering how he could buy NCAA tournament tickets for this weekend at Verizon Center, since his wife and daughter are Purdue alums. (Best answer: Call the Purdue ticket office and hope it has some...
By Josh Barr | March 17, 2008; 10:26 AM ET | Comments (1)
Plenty of Coaches Turn Out at Comcast
For the Maryland high school basketball championships. Less than 24 hours after guiding American U. to its first NCAA tournament berth, Coach Jeff Jones was in attendance to watch Snow Hill guard Trevon Johnson in the 1A title game. Next up was the 3A game, with Seton Hall Coach Bobby...
By Josh Barr | March 17, 2008; 9:04 AM ET | Comments (0)
Five Former All-Mets Start Big East Opener
Just tuning into Georgetown-Villanova on ESPN right now and a quick look at the starting lineup shows three former All-Mets for Villanova and two for Georgetown. 2005 Player of the Year Dante Cunningham is joined by Dwayne Anderson and Scottie Reynolds for Villanova. Georgetown has 2007 Player of the Year...
By Josh Barr | March 13, 2008; 12:05 PM ET | Comments (0)
Inside Look at Hokies' Recruit
Stone Bridge lineman David Wang was the first local junior to make his college football choice, accepting a scholarship to play for Virginia Tech before this past season. B.J. Koubaroulis talks to Wang about joining his older brother, Ed, with the Hokies....
By Josh Barr | March 13, 2008; 10:49 AM ET | Comments (0)
Charges Reduced Against All-Met Lineman
Former All-Met lineman Phil Taylor was in court yesterday and had his charge reduced from felony assault to a series of misdemeanors stemming from a fight last fall. The same thing happened to the other two defendants in the case, including All-Met linebacker Navorro Bowman, but in the previous instances...
By Josh Barr | March 13, 2008; 9:48 AM ET | Comments (0)
Can USC's Latest Recruit Play Ball?
Here's a story about USC's latest basketball recruit, Romeo Miller, which raises the question: Exactly why is Master P's son getting an athletic scholarship? Because he can play basketball or because he might attract fans and/or interest in a team that probably won't have O.J. Mayo much longer? "If you're...
By Josh Barr | March 13, 2008; 8:58 AM ET | Comments (0)
Recruiting Spotlight: David Wang
The latest in the series of Recruiting Spotlight videos ... enjoy!...
By washingtonpost.com Sports Editor | March 12, 2008; 8:16 PM ET | Comments (3)
Top Recruit Headed to Anger Management
And he's not alone. Nation's Top Football Recruit (NTFR) Terrelle Pryor and his Jeannette (Pa.) High basketball teammates escaped serious punishment for their postgame fight last week and all will be able to play in this week's state semifinals. Pryor did not attend yesterday's hearing, according to a text message...
By Josh Barr | March 12, 2008; 11:06 AM ET | Comments (0)
Montrose Juniors Close to Decisions?
Maybe not yet, but it might not be too far off for the three elite juniors at Montrose Christian. Coach Stu Vetter isn't a fan of early commitments, but he acknowledges that Terrell Vinson, Isaiah Armwood and Tristan Spurlock have been heavily recruited for so long, that each is looking...
By Josh Barr | March 12, 2008; 9:07 AM ET | Comments (0)
Pryor To Sit Out?
Superstar quarterback Terrelle Pryor - yet to pick between Penn State, Ohio State and Michigan - could be suspended from Jeannette (Pa.) High's state semifinal basketball game. Officials are reviewing a postgame fight following Jeannette's quarterfinal victory. Anyone think this will affect Pryor's recruiting process? Just kidding, obviously....
By Josh Barr | March 11, 2008; 10:47 AM ET | Comments (0)
Big Center Back On the Block
I heard about this from a colleague last night and here is some confirmation that O'Connell center Frank Ben-Eze no longer will go to Harvard. O'Connell Coach Joe Wootten said that "he was told he needed a certain score on the SAT and after the New York Times [original] article...
By Josh Barr | March 11, 2008; 9:21 AM ET | Comments (0)
Virginia QB Gets Big East Offer
Budding TV superstar B.J. Koubaroulis passing along this tidbit as he prepares an upcoming video: Sherando quarterback Ross Metheny was offered by Connecticut this morning, according to Sherando Coach Bill Hall. Despite breaking his right ankle in the Virginia AA Division 4 championship game, Metheny still has caught the eye...
By Josh Barr | March 6, 2008; 2:25 PM ET | Comments (0)
Recruiting Spotlight: Bryn Renner, West Springfield
Post reporter B.J. Koubaroulis sits down with junior three-sport athlete Bryn Renner of West Springfield High School....
By washingtonpost.com Sports Editor | March 5, 2008; 8:31 PM ET | Comments (1)
Should Signee Keep Scholarship After Arrest?
All-Met baseball player Tyler Hibbs of Arundel faces several drug charges after being pulled over for speeding. Hibbs, considered a potential pro prospect, is practicing with the team but it has yet to be determined whether he will play this season. I'm sure that scouts will not look favorably upon...
By Josh Barr | March 5, 2008; 2:48 PM ET | Comments (18)
Terps Offer Second-Team DE
Colleague Alan Goldenbach passes along word that second-team All-Met Darin Drakeford of Theodore Roosevelt has received a scholarship offer from Maryland. Drakeford set a school reocrd for sacks this past season at Roosevelt....
By Josh Barr | March 4, 2008; 5:38 PM ET | Comments (0)
Another Former All-Met Charged At Penn State
Former Gwynn Park All-Met defensive lineman Phillip Taylor is the latest Penn State football player arrested and charged for his alleged role in an assault outside a fraternity dance last fall. All-Met linebacker Navorro Bowman of Suitland also was charged in the case. Both players have been suspended from the...
By Josh Barr | March 4, 2008; 2:02 PM ET | Comments (0)
Local Defensive End Makes ACC Pick
Colleague Paul Tenorio passes along this bit of news: Stone Bridge junior Brian Slay, a 6-foot-3, 255 pound defensive end that helped lead the Bulldogs to the Virginia AAA Division 5 title has given a verbal commitment to North Carolina State, according to Stone Bridge Coach Mickey Thompson. Thompson said...
By Josh Barr | March 4, 2008; 11:30 AM ET | Comments (0)
Harvard Pushing the Envelope?
Interesting and good story in the New York Times on Harvard and its attempts to improve its basketball program, which includes recruiting two Washington-area players: Gonzaga forward Max Kenyi and O'Connell center Frank Ben-Eze. Among the revelations in the story is that Harvard assistant Kenny Blakeney played pickup ball with...
By Josh Barr | March 3, 2008; 10:50 AM ET | Comments (0)
