Archive for June, 2010

Georgia’s “Dream Team” recruiting approach is getting mixed reviews from the state’s top uncommitted football prospects.

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The “Dream Team” is the phrase borrowed by Georgia coach Mark Richt for his in-state recruiting efforts. It will be another strong year for talent among the state’s top rising high school seniors, with more than 200 expected to sign major-college scholarships in February.

Richt and his assistant have been using the “Dream Team” sales pitch since early spring, telling the state’s elite that if they join together and sign with Georgia next February, the Bulldogs will contend for future SEC and national championships.

“Georgia has a dream in recruiting, but it may not be my dream, too,” said Thomas …

Continue reading UGA’s “Dream Team” recruiting pitch gets mixed reviews from state’s top football prospects — Is it a dream? Or reality? »

Georgia Tech baseball coach Danny Hall knew it was coming. He signed one of the nation’s best recruiting classes this past year and it was raided in last week’s major-league draft.

Nine of Georgia Tech’s incoming recruits were selected by MLB teams, headlined by two first-rounders — Blessed Trinity OF Jake Skole to the Texas Rangers at No. 15 and Marietta OF Chevez Clarke to the LA Angels at No. 30. Skole bypassed his Georgia Tech football scholarship (he planned to walk on the baseball team), signed with the Rangers for a $1.557 million bonus, and reported to Arizona for extended spring training on Monday night.

“You definitely want to recruit good talent … and I guess if you are going to lose somebody, let’s lose them the way we lost Jake Skole and Chevez Clarke, two guys who went in the first round,” Hall told the AJC.

“I think it remains to be seen on the rest on some of the other guys. We’re excited that the rest of them got drafted. We’ll try to do a good job educating …

Continue reading What happens when your RECRUITING is TOO GOOD? Georgia Tech finds out »

Arthur Marshall, one of the all-time high school football greats from the Augusta area, was sentenced to 69 months in prison on Monday after pleading guilty to bank fraud charges. Marshall played wide receiver at UGA and later for five seasons in the NFL.

Marshall, 41, will report to prison on Aug. 30 for nearly six years and then be on five years of probation. As Monday’s sentence was handed down in U.S. District Court, Marshall “grew emotional …  as he apologized to those he harmed and he pledged to make amends,” according to The Augusta Chronicle.

“I didn’t intend for them to get hurt, but they did and that’s my fault,” Marshall told the judge, according to the newspaper. “I will do everything in my power to make this right. And I will.”

Marshall pleaded guilty to two counts of bank fraud last October after admitting he falsified information in order to obtain loans for real estate ventures. Marshall filed bankruptcy petition for his business, Custom Contractors, in August …

Continue reading Former UGA and NFL WR sentenced to 69 months in prison »

Greenville High football coach Jeremy Williams, who has inspired many with his upbeat and positive attitude after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, is being profiled in a documentary by Rick Cohen, the executive producer of Atlanta-based FishEye Media, Inc.

Here is a trailer from the “Season of a Lifetime” documentary. And if the rest of it is anything like this clip, WOW! Let me set up the clip:

Williams, whose health has deteriorated in recent months, returned to the University of Memphis for the spring football game in April. Williams was a four-year starter at safety for the Tigers from 1990-93. Memphis decided to rename its MVP award from the spring game after Williams, beginning this year. Roll clip …

A few other notes about the clip: Memphis head coach Larry Porter is also a former star player (running back) at the school, playing all four years together with Williams.  The two former teammates still have a lot of respect and admiration for each other, with …

Continue reading You’ve got to see this VIDEO … “Season of Lifetime” trailer with Greenville football coach Jeremy Williams »

Will UGA coach Mark Richt add to his “Dream Team”?

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Tucker High linebacker James Vaughters, who is among Atlanta’s top college prospects, will announce his college decision this week between UGA, Georgia Tech, Alabama, Stanford and Ohio State. Vaughters will reveal the grand prize winner at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, according to his father.

Over the past few months, Richt and his staff have tried to sell Georgia’s top high school prospects on the idea of the “Dream Team” – that if the Bulldogs can sign the state’s best, then they will compete for SEC or BCS championships every year. UGA has 11 commitments for its 2011 recruiting class, with only one — QB Christian LeMay of Matthews, N.C. — being from outside of the state’s borders.  The homegrown products pledged to sign with the Bulldogs are led by East Hall DE Sterling Bailey and the “state’s …

Continue reading Will UGA’s Mark Richt add to “Dream Team”?? »

• BREAKING NEWS: Will UGA’s Mark Richt add another “Dream Team” member? Tucker LB to announce between UGA and Georgia Tech, three others (Click here)

Former AJC Super 11 member Jarvis Jones, who was granted a scholarship release from Southern Cal coach Lane Kiffin, will transfer to UGA or Florida State.

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The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Jones will make recruiting trips to both schools within the next few weeks and likely decide by the end of the month, according to his high school coach.

Jones was one of the nation’s top linebacker prospects out of Carver-Columbus High, signing with USC over UGA, Florida, and LSU in February 2009. Last season, Jones was a reserve linebacker for Southern Cal last year as a freshman, registering 13 total tackles in 8 games. He suffered a neck sprain against Oregon and missed the …

Continue reading FOOTBALL Recruiting: It’s UGA or FSU for former AJC Super 11 linebacker transferring from Southern Cal (UPDATED) »

Christian LeMay speaks (AJC's Chip Towers)

UGA’s No. 1 football commitment could miss more than half of his senior season.

Christian LeMay of Matthews, N.C., who is ranked as the nation’s No. 2 quarterback by Scout, is accused of breaking an unspecified code of conduct rule at school and faces a possible an out-of-school suspension for up to 30 days, according to the Charlotte Observer. LeMay has a hearing on Monday with school officials.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound LeMay committed to UGA over Clemson, Notre Dame, Auburn and Texas A&M. He is the one of UGA’s 11 commitments for its 2011 recruiting class that is not from the state of Georgia.

LeMay earned North Carolina player of the year honors last season after leading Butler High School to a 15-0 record and the 4A state championship. He completed 68.5 percent of his passes for 3,296 yards, 44 touchdowns and two interceptions last season.

Neither LeMay or his father Stacy could be reached for comment. However, earlier this week, …

Continue reading UGA’s No. 1 football commitment faces possible 30-day suspension for alleged school violation »

Duke, the reigning NCAA basketball champion, is considering two Milton High players for scholarships — senior combo guard Dai-Jon Parker and junior swingman Evan Nolte. Milton is the defending state champion in Georgia’s largest classification, and a top contender for next year’s mythical national championship with four major-college prospects.

Will Coach K invade Georgia for Milton duo? (AP)

The 6-foot-8, 190-pound Nolte recently returned from a whirlwind tour of the ACC, making unofficial visits to four schools in five days and meeting with Duke’s Mike Kryzewski, North Carolina’s Roy Williams, Wake Forest’s Jeff Bzdelik and Virginia’s Tony Bennett.

“Duke really likes Evan, [Duke assistant Steve Wojciechowski] told me this by phone,” Milton coach David Boyd said. “They had Evan up for an unofficial visit [earlier this year] in which he scrimmaged with Duke players. He is on Duke’s watchlist for this summer.”

The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Parker is also getting looks from Duke. …

Continue reading NCAA champion DUKE Blue Devils evaluating two Milton High players for basketball scholarships »

The amazing feat by University of Florida punter Chas Henry wasn’t captured by YouTube, but Roswell High School’s Richie Leone says he’s a witness. Henry is working out this summer with other college and high school kickers and punters with kicking coach Mike McCabe in Prattville, Ala.

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“We were standing there on the 40-yard line messing around, and Chas said ‘I bet I can put it through the goalposts from here,’” Leone said. “We were like ‘There is no way — that’s too far away.’ Chas stepped up and punted it right between the goalposts, at least 75 yards or more away. And there was room to spare.”

Leone, who has signed a football scholarship with Houston, worked out with several other Georgia-bred kickers or punters, including Henry (played at East Paulding High School), and …

Continue reading FOOTBALL: University of Florida’s Chas Henry punts 75-yard FG, mentors other Georgia punters and kickers »

UGA coach Mark Richt went public with his recruiting goal of building a “Dream Team” of elite prospects from Georgia’s high schools.

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The Bulldogs added an all-star with the commitment of Wilcox County’s Nick Marshall.

The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder picked the Bulldogs over Georgia Tech, and also had offers from Alabama and Florida Sate. Marshall switched to UGA after reportedly being a “silent commitment” to Georgia Tech.

“This really all came out of the blue,” Wilcox County football coach Mark Ledford told the AJC’s Chip Towers. “Nick was leaning to Georgia Tech as of late last week. He had a close relationship to Georgia Tech the last month or so. Then out of the blue, Coach Richt called and wanted to offer him as a defensive back.

“Nick told me Monday he …

Continue reading Football Recruiting: Top prospect commits to UGA after serious flirtations with archrival Georgia Tech (Updated) »

Blessed Trinity’s Jake Skole officially gave up his Georgia Tech football career on Wednesday.

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Skole signed with the Texas Rangers for a bonus of $1.557 million, according to the Dallas Morning News. The speedy outfielder was drafted No. 15 overall by the Rangers on Monday.

Skole and six family members, including older brother and All-ACC third baseman Matt Skole, flew from Atlanta to Texas on Wednesday morning to work out a deal with team officials. They quickly came to terms, and Skole said he will report to either the Texas rookie-league team in Arizona or the low-Class A team in Spokane, Wash.

“Defensively, …

Continue reading Georgia Tech football recruit signs with Texas Rangers for $1.557 million bonus »

Cook High’s Kaleb Cowart is reportedly seeking a $3-million signing bonus after being drafted  No. 18 overall by the LA Angels, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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When contacted on Tuesday night by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cowart politely declined to discuss sales figures, saying “I think everything is going smoothly [with negotiations]. We’ll probably see closer to the [Aug. 16] deadline with how things work out.”

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound was considered the No. 1 two-way player in the country out of high school, winning honors as Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year. Cowart has been clocked at 97 mph as a right-handed pitcher, but preferred to be drafted as a switch-hitting third baseman — a …

Continue reading Georgia first-rounder reportedly seeks $3,000,000 signing bonus from LA Angels »

Cameron Bedrosian, at 6-foot-1, is not an imposing physical specimen. Sitting at a table, where only his upper body is visible, he looks like your basic good-looking, hazel-eyed teenager who might play a mean Ultimate Frisbee.

Only when he rises and strides to the indoor mound for a 10-minute side session, does one notice the thighs. Without question this is a pitcher’s lower body, with thighs and posterior bearing an absolute fidelity to a Seaver or Clemens-style classicism.

Continue reading Cam Bedrosian, son of 1987 Cy Young winner, celebrates first-round MLB selection at Waffle House »

Blessed Trinity’s Jake Skole confirmed with the AJC that he hopes to sign with the Texas Rangers as early as this weekend.

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He was drafted at No. 15 and is flying with six family members — including older brother and All-ACC third baseman Matt Skole of Georgia Tech — to Texas on Wednesday to meet with team officials.

“Yes, I think we’re close to signing,” Skole said. “By the time I get down there and figure everything out, I should be ready by the end of next week or so to go wherever they send me.”

Skole signed a football scholarship with Georgia Tech in February and spoke with coach Paul Johnson late Monday …

Continue reading Georgia Tech football recruit leaving on a jet plane for Texas, may sign by weekend »

• BASEBALL: SHOW ME THE MONEY! Georgia has five high school baseball players drafted in the first round (Click here)
• FOOTBALL: Tennessee recruit Da’Rick Rogers had “a lot of bad dealings with UGA coaches” before switching, according to QB Nash Nance (Click here)

Georgia Tech will lose one of its top football recruits by the weekend, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Skole has at least a million reason$ to pick Texas Rangers over Georgia Tech football (AJC)

Blessed Trinity outfielder Jake Skole was drafted No. 15 overall by the Texas Rangers in the major-league draft. He called Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson to say that he won’t be playing football, according to the Texas newspaper’s blog.

“I always felt like I’d end up being a baseball player,” Skole said. “I was about to [play football] and then all this draft stuff started popping up. I figured I might be able to have a future in this.”

The Star-Telegram also reported that a baseball official said Texas …

Continue reading Georgia Tech football coach Paul Johnson loses top recruit to MLB’s Texas Rangers, says report »