Archive for April, 2011

No. 32 (Parker) and No. 31 (Morris) brought the coaches from Georgia Tech and UGA together on Wednesday (AJC photo)

New Georgia Tech coach Brian Gregory and UGA’s Mark Fox made appearances at the same place on Wednesday — Miller Grove High School.

The coaching rivals were observing Miller Grove teammates Tony Parker and Brandon Morris, two of the nation’s top college basketball prospects for 2012.

Parker is a 6-foot-9, 270-pound power forward who has around 40 early offers, including North Carolina, Duke, Georgia Tech and UGA. Morris is a 6-7, 200-pound wing with around 15 offers, including Florida, Auburn, UGA and Clemson.

Georgia Tech may be next for Morris. “The previous staff at Georgia Tech didn’t really recruit Brandon that hard, but the new guys have a vested interest,” Miller Grove coach Sharman White said told the AJC. “They are giving him a good look.”

Morris has been on a hot streak lately. He got offers within the last two days from Texas, Memphis and Xavier. …

Continue reading Georgia Tech’s Brian Gregory and UGA’s Mark Fox cross paths on recruiting trail »

Kevin Ware is technically a "free agent" until he attends his first day of college classes (Photo by adidas)

It is true that Kevin Ware is leaving on a trip for Louisville on Wednesday.

It is true that the letter-of-intent that Ware signed with Central Florida was denied.

It is true that Ware is still eligible to pick another college other than UCF.

However, it’s not what it seems like with Ware, the 6-foot-4 guard from Rockdale County High School who selected Central Florida over Louisville and UGA on Monday.

“There are a few rumors out there, some with good reason, but the bottom line is that Kevin is still going to play college basketball at Central Florida,” Ware’s stepfather, Wesley Junior, told the AJC.

What about the trip to Louisville? That’s not an official visit with the Cardinals and Rick Pitino, but to play in the Kentucky Derby Festival Classic all-star game.

“Some UCF fans are worried about the situation because they think the Louisville recruits also playing in …

Continue reading NCAA rules prevent Kevin Ware from signing LOI with Central Florida »

You won't find this person on Facebook or Twitter (AJC photo)

Someone claiming to be Isaiah Crowell started a Twitter account on Tuesday, asking everyone and anyone  for followers, engaging in conversation with other UGA football players, and making profanity-laced comments in the tweets.

The “real” Isaiah Crowell confirmed with the AJC on Tuesday that he has never  been on Twitter and he shut down his Facebook account earlier today.

“No sir, I’ve never been on Twitter; I had a Facebook account but I erased it because it was creating so many problems” Crowell told the AJC. “It’s deleted.”

The coach of the 5-star tailback from Carver-Columbus High School was disappointed about the “fake” Twitter account in Crowell’s name. Crowell signed with Georgia over Alabama and Auburn last February.

“That’s crazy,” Dell McGee said. “I just read some of the comments on there and they are stupid. That’s not Isaiah and I hope you get the word out there that it’s not him.”

– By Michael …

Continue reading UGA 5-star RB Isaiah Crowell not on Twitter, shuts down Facebook account »

Georgia Tech is evaluating 2012 Norcross SG Chris Bolden, who de-committed from Miami on Monday (AJC photo)

Miami’s coaching search is taking too long for Chris Bolden to remain committed to Hurricanes.

The 6-foot-3 combo guard from Norcross High School de-committed from Miami on Monday. The Hurricanes are still looking for a basketball coach to replace Frank Haith, who took the Missouri job on April 4.

“I talked to some of the assistants at Miami and they said they are looking for other jobs,” Bolden told the AJC. “I just thought it would be fair to myself to open it back up and start the recruiting process over again. I wanted to get the word out that I’m looking at new schools.”

Bolden is considered one of the nation’s top pure shooters for college basketball’s 2012 recruiting class. He committed to Miami before the start of his junior season, picking the Hurricanes over Clemson, Louisville, Marquette and Nebraska last October.

Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech will be at …

Continue reading Chris Bolden de-commits from Miami, considering Georgia Tech »

Ex-Tennessee basketball recruit Kevin Ware committed to Central Florida over Louisville and UGA on Monday night.

The 6-foot-4 guard from Rockdale County High School told the AJC the opportunity to play immediately and his connection with the team’s coaches and current players were major factors into his decision. Ware made an official visit to Central Florida this past weekend, and had an in-home visit with UCF coach Donnie Jones on Monday night.

“Playing time, point guard and coaches he really liked; it was the perfect combination — then there’s being in the state of Florida,” said Ware’s stepfather, Wesley Junior.

“He felt comfortable with the visit and I think the fact that they wanted him to play point guard from the start was a big factor. He has been communicating with the players since the visit and that really made Kevin feel comfortable. It was just a good overall fit.”

Louisville coach Rick Pitino made an in-home visit with Ware on Sunday night. South Carolina, Ole …

Continue reading Ex-Vols recruit Kevin Ware commits to Central Florida over Louisville, UGA »

Ex-Tennessee recruit Kevin Ware had Lousville coach Rick Pitino knock on his door on Sunday night (Photo provided by adidas)

(Note: For other recruiting news over the weekend, see links at bottom)

Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino made an in-home visit with former Tennessee basketball recruit Kevin Ware on Sunday night.

The 6-foot-4 guard from Rockdale County High School was granted his scholarship release from Tennessee a few weeks ago following the firing of Volunteers coach Bruce Pearl. Louisville, Georgia and Central Florida have “made it clear” that they are offering basketball scholarships, Ware’s family told the AJC.

Pitino traveled to the Atlanta area on Sunday night to meet with Ware for about an hour. It was shortly after Ware had returned from an official visit to Central Florida over the weekend.

“We talked with Coach Pitino and it went well,” said Ware’s stepfather, Wesley Junior. “He let Kevin know how he thought he could improve his game and what it would …

Continue reading Louisville coach Rick Pitino meets with ex-Tennessee recruit »

Stephenson High School defensive tackle Carlos Hood, who tried to commit to reigning BCS champion Auburn in early March, pledged to South Carolina on Sunday.

The 6-foot-4, 270-pounder selected the Gamecocks among his 15 scholarship offers, which also included Miami, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, East Carolina and South Florida. Hood had nominal interest from Georgia Tech and UGA.

“I was talking it over with my mother and decided to go ahead and commit to South Carolina,” Hood told the AJC. “They won the SEC East last year, and they have a good defense almost every year. They run a 4-3 (scheme) that is a good fit for me. South Carolina is not far from home, so my friends and family will get to see me play. I like South Carolina, and South Carolina likes me. There was no reason to wait any longer.

Hood knows all about the waiting game in recruiting. He confirmed to the AJC he was ready to commit to Auburn “around a month and half ago” before a strange turn of events.

Hood had …

Continue reading Stephenson DL Carlos Hood commits to South Carolina »

Isaiah Crowell is UGA's most highly-anticipated RB since Caleb King (AJC photo by Jason Getz)

There was a crowd of people surrounding this celebrity near the field minutes before the start of Saturday G-Day game.

Was it one of the former Georgia greats that had returned to their alma mater to watch a little football? No, but NFL QB Matthew Stafford was there, just not hounded by as many people as the other guy.

The other guy was UGA 5-star recruit Isaiah Crowell.

Crowell, easily recognizable by his long dreadlocks and flashy smile, is considered the “anointed one” by many Bulldog supporters. If Marcus Lattimore could instantly turn around South Carolina’s fortunes in one season, why can’t the Carver-Columbus tailback do the same at Georgia?

Back to the scene: As Crowell made his way out from the tunnel, he was surrounded by an entourage of fellow members of UGA’s 2011 “Dream Team” class, including Thomas County Central defensive end Ray Drew and Valdosta tight end Jay …

Continue reading UGA 5-star recruit Isaiah Crowell gets rockstar status at G-Day »

When Tennessee called to offer a football scholarship to Creekside High School’s Josh Holsey a few days ago, the Volunteers also asked his teammate.

Holsey’s teammate, defensive back Davion Tookes, committed to Virginia Tech last February.

It never hurts to ask.

“Tennessee just wanted to know if Tookes is ‘100-percent sold’ on Virginia because if not, they would like be involved,” Creekside coach Johnny White said. “If he is sold, then they will leave him along. If he shows some interest, I’m pretty sure Tennessee will offer.”

So is Tookes sold on Virginia Tech? “I’m honored with the interest from Tennessee, but I’m still 100 percent with Virginia Tech,” Tookes told the AJC.

Check out this amazing stat about Tookes: He had three interceptions last season, all three were returned for touchdowns, and none of them were less than 93 return yards (the others were 97 and 108 yards).

The 5-foot-11, 169-pound Tookes committed to Virginia Tech over Duke, Kentucky, Virginia and …

Continue reading Tennessee flirts with Virginia Tech commit Davion Tookes »

No. 783 was No. 1 in the eyes of many at Athens Nike Camp (AJC Photo)

Several of Georgia’s top college football prospects for next year were on display at Friday’s Nike camp in Athens.

However, it was a member of the Class of 2013 that grabbed the spotlight: Grayson High School’s Robert Nkemdiche, a 6-foot-5, 260-pounder who turned everybody’s heads as soon as he walked up to the registration table. He’s only a sophomore.

Nkemdiche dominated the drills, so much to the point that one other heralded defensive lineman — a junior — was overheard saying to a couple of others, “I’m just glad 783 (Nkemdiche’s camp number on his jersey) isn’t in the Class of 2012 with the D-Line rankings.”

The consensus of several recruiting analysts observing the camp, which included players from many surrounding states, was this: Nkemdiche will almost certainly be ranked at Georgia’s No. 1 overall prospect for 2013, and has a decent shot of being rated No. 1 overall in the USA.

Nkemdiche, who was …

Continue reading 2013 Grayson DL Robert Nkemdiche steals spotlight at Nike camp »