Archive for November, 2010

Milton guard Dai-Jon Parker scored 19 points and pulled down six rebounds in the Class AAAAA state championship game last March. (AJC photo by Jason Getz)

Say this for Dai-Jon Parker. He’s not afraid jump on an air plane and go see some places.

Parker, a four-star shooting guard from Milton High School in Alpharetta, traveled the length and breadth of the United States to determine which college he wants to attend on a basketball scholarship. The five finalists in the sweepstakes to land this 6-foot-3, 180-pound athlete are as varied geographically as they are competitively.

Parker went to the Pacific Northwest to check out Oregon State, to the Northeast to visit Rhode Island, to the Midwest/Southwest to see Oklahoma State and to the Tennessee Valley to explore Vanderbilt. Oh, and then there was that 60-mile drive up the road to the University of Georgia.

Continue reading Coast-to-coast recruitment of Milton’s Dai-Jon Parker ends tonight (poll added) »

THE TEN AT 10:

1. Sandy Creek High School, already undefeated and ranked No. 2 in Class AAA, just got better. The Fighting Patriots (9-0) this week became the unexpected recipient of a possible four-star college football prospect. Quinteze Williams, a 6-foot-5, 250-pound junior, transferred to Sandy Creek from Atlanta’s Westlake High. He enrolled last Friday, started classes on Monday and is expected to play for his new school this Friday against Stockbridge.

“I didn’t know anything about him,” Sandy Creek coach Chip Walker said. “I just knew here was this big, new kid. I asked him the other day if he had any offers and he started rattling off Auburn, Ole Miss, Louisville and Kentucky. I got calls from Notre Dame yesterday and had talks with Tennessee and Georgia already. I had no idea.”

Walker said Williams’ family recently moved into the school district. “I think a job played into it,” Walker said. “I know they liked our school system and our school.  I don’t know if …

Continue reading Ten@10: Sandy Creek gets unexpected gift in transfer Quinteze Williams »

Not sure if it’s just me or I’m missing something here but was anybody else surprised to see where a Tennessee freshman was arrested for assault this past weekend and is not going to miss any playing time?

Jacques Smith, a freshman defensive lineman who was rated the No. 1 prospect in Tennessee last year, was arrested Sunday morning for allegedly punching a man in the back of the head and hitting and kicking him while he was on the ground, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel. The victim, 21-year-old Brandon Allen, was treated and released from a local hospital for a concussion and cuts that required stitches.

Smith, 18, posted a $2,000 bond and an arraignment was set for Nov. 10 in Knox County. The victim plans to hire an attorney.

None of this is Earth-shattering news. Indications are the young men ended up fighting in a bar over a girl. That has been going on forever at colleges.

But apparently Smith is in the clear with the Vols after apologizing to the team in the …

Continue reading No suspension for Tennessee freshman arrested for assault »

THE TEN AT 10:

1. In the past couple of weeks, as Notre Dame struggled on the football field it has also struggled to hold onto recruits. It has lost three four-star commitments so far in defensive ends Clay Burton and Aaron Lynch and offensive tackle Jordan Prestwood. But they’re not going to lose their four-star defensive end from Georgia.

At least that’s what Stephon Tuitt told me this week. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Monroe Area star told me he’s sticking with the Fighting Irish regardless of how this season shakes out.

“It just makes me more determined,” Tuitt said. “I’m going to Notre Dame for football, but that’s not the only thing I’m going there for. I’m also going for the school and the academics and the history and the tradition. None of that has changed.”

Tuitt said as he watches the Irish play it becomes more evident how he can help then on defense.

“It’s kind of like our school,” he said. “We had a couple of bad seasons. But we worked really hard and fought our way …

Continue reading Ten@10: Struggles aside, Stephon Tuitt plans to stick with Notre Dame »

MONDAY MORNING REWIND:

Looking back at the players, plays and games that caught our attention over the weekend. Let us know what you saw and heard.

Wide receiver Da’Rick Rogers finally had a game of note for Tennessee. Georgia’s No. 1 prospect for the Class of 2010 was actually the Vols’ leading rusher with 49 yards on three carries as UT lost 38-24 to South Carolina. However, the 6-foot-3, 215-poundwideout is still struggling to get the ball through the air. He did not have a catch.

“We’re trying to get him the ball a little bit more,” coach Derek Dooley told reporters after the game. “We’re struggling to do it throwing the ball for whatever reason. He’s a big, strong kid, and he’s practicing good. He’s a big, strong runner. . . . He was our leading rusher. We might play him at tailback next week.”

He was kidding.

Rogers was also one of three Tennessee players who was flagged for unsportsmanlike conduct in the game.

“I was real disappointed,” Dooley …

Continue reading Rewind: Da’Rick Rogers finally gets loose against S. Carolina »