Archive for August, 2010

For GPB Sports Central Wednesday night:

• An interview with GHSA executive director Ralph Swearngin, who spoke about the role of his organization, the growing popularity of high school sports for both boys and girls, the movement of athletes between high schools and the state football championships at the Georgia Dome.
• Chip Saye of the Georgia High School Football Daily email football newsletter stopped by and talked about the strength of high school football in the state as well as wanting to see the NCAA crack down on colleges recruiting high school athletes at such an early age.
• Reporter Niki Noto did a story on Carver-Columbus running back Isaiah Crowell, who some say may be the best running back in the state since Herschel Walker while host Gil Tyree did a piece on Diamond DeShields, who led Norcross to a Class AAAAA girls basketball championship as a freshman last season but now is tearing it up on the softball field while Jon Nelson did a story on reigning …

Continue reading All-America RB Isaiah Crowell of Carver-Columbus profiled on GPB Sports Central »

Camden County, the No. 1-ranked team in Class AAAAA, plays at home Friday against Central of Miami, the second-ranked team nationally by USA Today.

GHSF Daily spoke with Camden County coach Jeff Herron on Tuesday. Here are our best five questions and his answers.

How does Miami Central compare to other out-of-state opponents you might’ve played such as Hoover or Aiken? Is it the same, or are you more anxious?

“We’re certainly more anxious. I don’t think there’s any question that this might be the most talented team we’ve ever played in state or out of state. They’ve got seven or eight kids already committed D-I. They’re scary good. On offense, they’ve got a running back [Devonta Freeman] who’s going to Florida State, a quarterback [Rakeem Cato] who is committed to Florida International, two or three receivers who are committed, a couple of linemen. It’s one of those teams where you hold your breath on every play. Then you turn around on defense, I’d say Grayson’s defense last …

Continue reading Camden’s Herron says Miami Central ‘might be the most talented team we’ve ever played’ »

Eugene Oh (Courtesy of Westminster)

Westminster’s Eugene Oh, one of the state’s top tennis players, made it to the U.S. Open.

Oh is one of the hitting partners for Melanie Oudin this week.

“It’s an incredible opportunity to travel to the U.S. Open as I have never been before, and I excited at the prospect of seeing pros live in action on the courts,” Oh said.

“The experience will definitely go a long way in shaping the future of my tennis career. I look forward to watching the pros and taking elements of their game into consideration for my own.”

How did the opportunity arrive to hit with Oudin? Oh and Oudin trained together during the summer at Racquet Club of the South Academy.

Oh is the No. 1 singles player at Westminster and ranked No. 24 in Georgia.

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Continue reading Westminster senior makes trip to U.S. Open with Melanie Oudin »

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It is shaping up to be UGA vs. Georgia Tech for Milton High power forward Julian Royal, who is ranked as one of the nation’s top 100 college basketball prospects.

Royal will take his first official visit to UGA on Friday. He is also scheduled to take recruiting trips to Georgia Tech on Oct. 1 and Wake Forest on Oct. 8.

“As a parent, if Julian chose between Georgia and Georgia Tech, I’d win,” said his father, Charles Royal. “We have three official visits and that’s all we’re going to take unless something crazy happens.”

The 6-foot-9 Royal led Milton High to the state championship in Georgia’s largest classification, averaging 18 points and 8 rebounds. He had around 40 scholarship offers by the end of his junior season.

UGA and Georgia Tech recruit the same players all the time. However, it’s not often that both schools are among the 2-3 finalists for a prospect.

Continue reading Basketball recruiting: It’s shaping up to be UGA vs. Georgia Tech for one of state’s top prospects »

“That’s one of the best teams we’ve ever faced. When we scheduled this game back in January, people asked me, ‘Why do you want to go all the way down there to get your tail kicked?’ Well, the reason I scheduled it is because I knew that this was going to happen. I knew what these guys were going to do.”

- Eagle’s Landing Christian head coach Jonathan Gess after his team’s 27-0 victory over North Florida Christian, the 2009 Class B champion in Florida.

“Honestly? Yes. We don’t feel like there’s a team that outworks us.”

- Butler head coach Ashley Harden, to the Augusta Chronicle, when asked if he thought his team – which had lost 41 consecutive games – would rout Westside of Augusta. Butler won 42-0.

“I definitely needed the oxygen mask after that one. I was really tired.”

- Carver of Columbus lineman and four-star recruit Gabe Wright, to the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer, on his 81-yard fumble return for his first career touchdown in Carver’s 63-0 victory …

Continue reading Quotes of the week in high school football »

Butler of Augusta ended its 41-game losing streak, the seventh- longest skid in state history, while six other schools that were winless in 2009 won last week.

They were Monroe Area, Southeast Bulloch, North Cobb Christian (first victory in school history), Albany, Long County and West Hall.

Butler beat Westside of Augusta 42-0. Asked by the Augusta Chronicle if he expected a blowout, head coach Ashley Harden said, “Honestly? Yes. We don’t feel like there’s a team that outworks us.’’

GHSF Daily’s Chip Saye ranks the most surprising upsets of the weekend:

1. Butler 42, Westside-Augusta 0:

Butler snaps a 41-game losing streak, seventh-longest in the state history.

2. Lambert 14, Northwest Whitfield 0:

Second-year Lambert moves up to Class AAAA and knocks off a 2009 playoff team.

3. North Cobb Christian 26, Mt. Zion-Carroll 8:

Fourth-year North Cobb Christian picks up first victory in program history.

4. West Forsyth 13, Harrison 0:

West Forsyth moves from AAA to …

Continue reading Butler ends 41-game losing streak, and other upsets of the week »

First, let’s say there’s no shame in beating Whitewater in close game. Whitewater believes it has its most talented team yet this year. But Sandy Creek-Peach County was nearly a toss-up for the No. 1 ranking in preseason, and a 20-0 victory over Warner Robins is pretty convincing. So let’s put Peach County at No. 1. …

In other news, Georgia swept Alabama in the North Gwinnett double-header, with North Gwinnett and Grayson winning. Also note that Carrollton routed a pretty good Alabama team in Oxford. Eagle’s Landing Christian blew out Florida state champion North Florida Christian.

If not for South Panola hanging 65 points on Colquitt County, we’d have a full round of Georgia football breast-beating today.

I’m eager to see North Gwinnett vs. Crenshaw (Calif.) and Camden County vs. Central Miami (#2 team in USA Today) this week.

Here’s a wrapup of the changes in the rankings this week:

AAAAA – Collins Hill beat Roswell and took Roswell’s place in the Top 10.
AAAA – …

Continue reading Peach County jumps Sandy Creek to No. 1 »

Milton PG Jordan Loyd will sign with Furman in November (Special)

Milton High, which is the defending state champion in Georgia’s largest classification, has one of the most talented-loaded rosters in Georgia history.

Six players off the team’s rosters are holding major-college scholarship offers. One announced his college plans on Sunday.

Guard Jordan Loyd committed to Furman after making an official visit over the weekend. Loyd was also considering offers from Rice, Dartmouth, Cornell and Army, while also earning consideration from Wichita State, Winthrop and Minnesota.

“Furman was real persistent throughout the recruiting process this summer,” Loyd said. “When I visited with the team this weekend, I really felt like I could fit in and play there.”

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Loyd has a 3.4 GPA and said Furman’s academic reputation factored into his decision. He hopes to be a business major.

The other Milton players with major-college offers are led by trio of seniors — power …

Continue reading One of Milton High’s 6 D1 prospects makes his college decision »

Greenville High’s Kentavious Caldwell, the 5-star basketball recruit who has committed to UGA, scored a game-high 20 points in the Elite 24 all-star game at Venice Beach, Calif. The event featured 24 of the country’s top high school players.

The 6-foot-6 Caldwell finished with 20 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist.

A taping of the game will be shown on ESPNU at 10 p.m. Monday and 1 p.m. on Sept. 8.

• Please click here for the AJC’s latest news on FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL … and scroll down the page.
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• Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com

Continue reading Basketball: UGA recruit Kentavious Caldwell in ESPNU all-star game »

Valdosta High tight end Jay Rome, son of former Clemson standout Stan Rome, was selected for the AJC Super 11 team. The younger Rome has narrowed down to Clemson, Georgia, Florida and Alabama.

• Please click here for the AJC’s latest news on FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL … and scroll down the page.
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Continue reading Video of AJC Super 11 Jay Rome, one of nation’s top football prospects at TE »

Jackson County’s 14-6 win over Johnson-Gainesville had a bizarre ending.

Well, it really didn’t have an ending at all — the game was called at halftime after a two-hour lightning delay.

The team leading at halftime in a non-classification game is declared the winner if weather remains unsuitable for two hours under GHSA rules, reported the Gainesville Times.

Each time lightning was spotted by the referees, the 30-minute wait to resume action was restarted.

This guy was seen quite a few places on Friday night

“We’re going to take it, we’re 1-0, but I don’t like it anymore than anyone else likes it,” Jackson County coach Billy Kirk told the Times.

Ironically, Jackson County was a victim of the same circumstances in its 2007 season-opener, dropping a 14-0 decision to Banks County that was called at halftime.

Friday’s bizarre finish also earned some thunderous comments from Johnson coach Paul Friel.

“I just wish they’d be a little more clear if it’s based on sight or if it’s …

Continue reading Wacky ending to Georgia high school football game … say what? »

Chat with Michael Carvell

It’s Week One of HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL. This week, AJC high schools beat writer Michael Carvell blogs live and takes your questions about high school football and related topics.

We are here to talk football, football and more football. Going to a game? Take the cellphone or PDA and let us know what’s going on at YOUR game. Got a score update, see a killer play? Keep your comments clean, respectful, limited to FOOTBALL TALK and POST THEM HERE. Personal insults won’t be tolerated and could get you banned from the board.

WEEK 1 SCOREBOARD: CLICK HERE to see the Week 1 results.

Here are the Week One games you can find stories and photos from this weekend on ajc.com…

Roswell vs. Collins Hill | Game photos
Allatoona vs. Kennesaw Mountain | Game photos
Stephenson vs. Parkview | Game photos
Sprayberry vs. Hillgrove | Game photos

Don’t forget to check out these high school football gamers…

Tucker vs. Southwest DeKalb
Buford vs. Gainesville

Here’s the …

Continue reading Weekend Forum: Talk Week One Georgia HS Football LIVE! »

It’s the great debate every year: Which of Georgia’s five classifications has the best football? The big boys of Class AAAAA? They usually get the nod because of the sheer size of schools that provide a bigger talent pool of athletes.

Can Georgia’s smaller high schools compete with the state’s biggest programs in football?

Last week, there were some David vs. Goliath-like results that turned heads: Then-unranked Cook of Class AA had a 15-9 win over then-No. 5 Colquitt County of Class AAAAA, which advanced to the state semifinals; Fitzgerald (AA) also knocked off Tift County (AAAAA) 40-26.

Jess Simpson is coach of Buford, the three-time Class AA state champions. “Class AA is dadgum tough. We lost an outstanding program in Charlton County (dropping to Class A) but gained another great one in Carver-Columbus (dropping from Class AAA). Yes, look what those two teams — Cook and Fitzgerald — did last week. I don’t know, but that will get your attention. Class AA is pretty salty. You …

Continue reading Voting day: Which of Georgia’s five classifications has the best football? »

Lauren Teknipp (USA Volleyball)

Eagles Landing Christian Academy’s Lauren Teknipp and the U.S. volleyball team finished with a silver medal in Thursday’s 2010 Youth Olympic Games.

The U.S. lost to Belgium in the championship match, with Teknipp contributing four blocks, three kills and an ace. The 6-foot-2 Teknipp plays with the Atlanta-based A5  club team and has committed to sign a volleyball scholarship with Michigan.

• Please click here for the AJC’s latest news on FOOTBALL and BASKETBALL … and scroll down the page.
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• Got an item? mcarvell@ajc.com

Continue reading ELCA’s Lauren Teknipp helps U.S. volleyball win silver medal at Youth Olympics »

Bob Jones (Ala.) at North Gwinnett
When, where: 8 p.m. Saturday, Tom Robinson Memorial Stadium, Suwanee

Records, rankings: Bob Jones (11-2 in 2009) is 0-0 and No. 8 in Alabama’s Class 6A preseason poll; North Gwinnett is 1-0 and No. 3 in Class AAAAA.

Last meeting: This is the teams’ first meeting.

Three things to know: 1. North Gwinnett’s Ethan Kilgore and Donnie Miles each scored two touchdowns and had more than 100 yards of total offense in the Bulldogs’ 34-14 victory against Lassiter last week. 2. North Gwinnett starting quarterback C.J. Uzomah, an Auburn commitment, spends about half of his time at wide receiver. 3. Bob Jones lost to Fairhope 26-22 in a jamboree last week, allowing Fairhope to drive 80 yards in 27 seconds for the winning score.

Buford at Gainesville

When, where: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Bobby Gruhn Field, Gainesville
Records, rankings: Buford (14-1 and the Class AA champion in 2009), is 0-0 and No. 1 in AA; Gainesville (14-1 and the Class AAA runner-up in 2009), …

Continue reading Top 10 football games in state this week »