Archive for September, 2011

Football prospects with an NBA bloodline: Daron (left) and Zack Blaylock of Walton HS (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

The twin sons of former Atlanta Hawks point guard Mookie Blaylock will both be playing at the University of Kentucky – but not for basketball.

Daron and Zack Blaylock have accepted football scholarship offers to Kentucky. The twins are senior standouts at Walton High School.

Neither played basketball after middle school.

“Some people told me that I could’ve been a Division I point guard if I would’ve stuck with it, but I never had the passion for basketball like I do for football,” Daron said.

“I never was any good at basketball,” Zack said with a laugh.

Zack, a 6-foot-1 and 190-pound free safety, is awful good in football. His coach compares him to one of the best safeties to ever come out of the state of Georgia.

Zack Blaylock (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

“He’s one of the most physical players I’ve seen at defensive back in my 15 years of …

Continue reading Twin sons of ex-Atlanta Hawk Mookie Blaylock headed to Kentucky — for football »

Louisville and Georgia Tech are the leaders for Josh Manley, the defensive end from Milton High School.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pounder will be one of the featured prospects in tonight’s “Thursday Night Football” at 7 p.m. It will be televised live on WSB-TV digital channel 2.2, with the replay shown on Channel 2 on Friday night at 1:05 a.m. You can also watch it at www.wsbtv.com

“I don’t have a clear-cut leader but I’m looking at Louisville and Georgia Tech as the top two right now,” Manley told the AJC. “Louisville is a good school with good coaches, and they are very much education first. I like that.

“It’s the same thing with Georgia Tech as Louisville. The coaches are great, and they are very upfront with me about everything.”

Manley is a lifelong Georgia Tech fan who has a Yellow Jackets No. 42 jersey in his closet.

“Georgia Tech was one of the first to offer. That was a while ago. I have not been to any games this year, sadly. I would love to go, but I …

Continue reading DE Josh Manley has Georgia Tech and Louisville as leaders »

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Remember about a month ago when Chaz Elder was scheduled to announce between UGA and South Carolina and decided at the last minute to delay?

Fast forward to now and things are just about the same: The defensive back from Banneker High School has South Carolina as his leader, followed by UGA and Vanderbilt. Elder will likely pick a school toward the end or after his senior season.

“For the most part, it’s the same three schools with everybody chasing South Carolina … nothing has changed,” Banneker assistant Ryan Andrews said.

UGA had a chance to plead its case when Elder made an unofficial visit for the South Carolina game. That was likely Elder’s only recruiting trip during the season because Banneker has construction at the school, forcing it to move games to Saturdays at a neutral location.

Banneker DB Chaz Elder (AJC photo by Michael Carvell)

Elder is back to health after missing two …

Continue reading South Carolina still leads for DB Chaz Elder, followed by UGA and Vandy »

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Will Kenderius Whitehead follow his high school teammate to UGA? If so, it would give the Bulldogs the player that some feel may be the best pure pass rusher in the state.

A few days ago, M.L. King High School wide receiver Blake Tibbs committed to UGA. Tibbs was asked about bringing along another top UGA recruiting target, M.L. King defensive end Kenderius Whitehead.

“I’d love for him to play at Georgia with me,” Tibbs said. “I think he was thinking about committing to Georgia anyways. Now with me doing it, I think it will motivate him a little bit more.”

Whitehead has been leaning to UGA since the summer, but had North Carolina move ahead of the Bulldogs after an official visit with the Tar Heels a couple of weeks ago. “North Carolina actually is my top school,” Whitehead told the AJC.

However, when asked to compare his top two schools, Whitehead shifted …

Continue reading Will DE Kenderius Whitehead follow his high school teammate to UGA?? »

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UGA’s top football recruit will visit Notre Dame.

John Theus, the 5-star offensive tackle from Jacksonville, confirmed that he will take a recruiting trip to Notre Dame for the Oct. 22 game against Southern Cal.

“They understand that I am committed and I have been honest with them about my commitment; They know I am going to Georgia as long as Coach [Mark Richt] is there,” Theus told Chad Simmons of Scout.com.

Theus committed to UGA at Dawg Night prospect camp in July. His older brother, Nathan Theus, is a freshman long snapper on scholarship with the Bulldogs.

There have been rumors swirling around Theus about Notre Dame and Florida since he pledged to UGA. Theus called Richt to inform him. “Coach Richt was happy that I called to tell him about the visit, and he was happy that he did not have to lose any sleep over me visiting them.”

Within the last …

Continue reading UGA 5-star OL recruit John Theus will visit Notre Dame »

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Henry County defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson has Alabama and Georgia Tech as his co-leaders, followed by Florida, Clemson and Indiana. “You can put Georgia in there, too … and Stanford,” Henry County coach Mike Rozier said.

The 6-foot-3, 255-pounder earned rave reviews for his head-to-head performance last Friday against Sandy Creek defensive lineman Quinteze Williams, who is committed to Florida. Tomlinson started at offensive tackle and defensive end in the loss.

“Dalvin is having a really good season and he really handled No. 48 (Williams) from an offensive standpoint,” Rozier said. “No. 48 is a good player, but he wasn’t as much of a factor as he usually is that night. It wasn’t even close, but they won the game, and I’m sure that’s the most important thing for them.”

AJC Super 11 DE Dalvin Tomlinson of Henry County HS (AJC photo by Phil …

Continue reading Dalvin Tomlinson’s coach says rumors about Alabama are ‘totally false’ »

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Jordan Jenkins, who is a candidate to be Georgia’s No. 1 overall college football prospect, may be close to the end of his recruiting journey.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end from Harris County High School made an unofficial visit to Alabama last weekend, and is headed to Florida this Saturday. Alabama and Florida are the co-leaders for Jenkins, followed by Auburn, UGA and Tennessee.

“I think after this Florida visit, I think his announcement is nearing,” his father, Ronald Jenkins, told the AJC. “I anticipate it definitely before the end of the season, in my opinion, or right after the end of the season. I really think he’s getting closer to his decision.

“Next Saturday at Florida is going to go a long way in his decision process, even though February is a long ways away. The visit to Florida will help clear his head on a few things.”

Harris, an AJC …

Continue reading Jordan Jenkins, AJC Super 11 DE, may be close to deciding between Alabama, Florida, UGA, Auburn and Tenn. »

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Tony Parker, one of the nation’s top 25 college basketball prospects, made a surprise unofficial visit to Georgia Tech last weekend.

The 6-foot-9, 270-pound power forward from Miller Grove High School was at Georgia Tech on Friday and Saturday. Parker is also considering an unofficial visit to UGA.

He has official visits set up with Duke, Ohio State and UCLA.

“It went well at Georgia Tech; I talked to the coaching staff and talked with the players,” Parker told the AJC on Monday. “They are great guys. Georgia Tech should do OK in the ACC this year.”

What was Georgia Tech’s recruiting approach? “That it’s a new generation at Georgia Tech. They are getting a new gym and they are going in a new direction with Coach [Brian Gregory]. That was their pitch.”

And did it work? Did Georgia Tech make Parker’s top five? “I don’t know,” Parker …

Continue reading Basketball: Tony Parker talks about his visit to Georgia Tech (UPDATED) »

Collins Hill WR Nick England (AJC photo)

Collins Hill High School wide receiver Nick England committed to Florida International on Monday.

The 6-foot, 175-pounder picked Florida International over offers from Troy, Central Michigan and Middle Tennessee State.

“I like the coaches, and it just felt like the right school for me,” England told the AJC.

England had some flirtation with bigger schools, including Georgia Tech. “Georgia Tech never offered me but I’m pretty sure I was on their list,” England said. “They never offered me, so I decided to commit elsewhere.”

England has a 3.0 GPA and plans to study Exercise Science.

Continue reading WR Nick England picks Florida International »

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UGA both gained and lost a commitment at wide receiver over the weekend.

Tramel Terry, who is a candidate to be South Carolina’s No. 1 overall prospect for 2013, de-committed from UGA on Sunday. The day before, M.L. King senior wide receiver Blake Tibbs committed to UGA (click on story link).

Back to Terry: The speedy wide receiver from Goose Creek High School had made the surprising decision to commit early to UGA a couple of months ago at Dawg Night prospect camp.

“Yeah, I pretty much rushed my decision,” Terry told the AJC. “I don’t want to be committed to Georgia unless I’m 100 percent in. I have other schools I’m looking at. Georgia is still on top of my list. I just feel like I wasn’t committed even when I was, so it was time to go ahead and do this.”

The 5-foot-10, 170-pound Terry said he has a top three, claiming UGA as the leader, …

Continue reading WR Tramel Terry de-commits from UGA »