AJC College Sports Recruiting » Georgia

ACC, SEC interest in Hutson Mason cranks up

Chip Towers — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 05:12:28 +0000

With 4,244 yards passing and 54 touchdowns, Lassiter's Hutson Mason is finally starting to generate recruiting interest from ACC and SEC schools. (Photo by Brant Sanderlin)

When you start to knock down state records like so many plastic ducks in a carnival booth and you’re doing it in the playoffs it tends to bring you a little attention.

Such is the case with Lassiter quarterback Hutson Mason, who had at least one ACC coach and one SEC coach in the stands last week when he passed for 530 yards and eight touchdowns in a 70-49 second-round win over South Gwinnett this past Friday.

The following night, Mason got a call from Bob Price, longtime recruiting coordinator and assistant coach at Virginia and an eye witness to the record-setting feat.

“When I picked up the phone he just started laugh,” Mason said Monday, laughing himself at the recollection. “He said, ‘really, man, 550 yards? Really?’ He said, ‘I’ve never seen such a thing in high school.’ He goes, ‘there’s absolutely …

Kentucky’s upset fueled by Maxwell, other Georgia players

Chip Towers — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 20:47:13 +0000

You may or may not have noticed that the SEC Defensive Player of the Week named on Monday was Kentucky linebacker Sam Maxwell. It should be further noted that the Wildcats’ senior is from Hartwell.

Kentucky's Sam Maxwell, here hauling down Georgia's Washaun Ealey (24), hails from Hartwell and is one of 16 players from Georgia playing for the Wildcats. He was named SEC defensive player of the week with 11 tackles and an interception. (Photo by Brant Sanderlin)

Maxwell had the game of his career against Georgia. The senior finished with 11 tackles, a tackle for loss and an interception as the Wildcats knocked off the Bulldogs in Athens for the first time in 32 years.

It wasn’t just that Maxwell was making plays but when he was making them. His interception came with the game hanging in the balance with 1:45 to go. His tackle-for-loss came on a third-and-one for Georgia. His last recorded tackle of the contest when he stopped Branden Smith inside their 1. The Bulldogs’ fumbled …

Some positives for UGA from Kentucky game

Chip Towers — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:27:39 +0000

It’s going to be a busy, compressed week, what with the Thanksgiving holiday coming, Georgia Tech and Georgia getting ready to tee off and the quarterfinals of the state high school playoffs upon us.

To get us started for the week I’m just going to give you a quick rundown of what’s out there regarding Tech and Georgia recruiting:

Believe it or not there were some positives to come out of the Georgia-Kentucky game for the Bulldogs. According to Scout.com’s Chad Simmons, Valdosta tight end Jay Rome came to the game and said “the visit helped Georgia a lot. A whole lot.” The 6-foot-6, 240-pound Rome may be the top tight end in the South next year. He also likes Clemson and Florida.
Both Scout and Rivals.com wrote stories over the weekend about Georgia being back in it for Washington wide receiver Antonio Goodwin. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Goodwin, who was also in Athens for the Kentucky game, is a four-star receiver in the Class of 2010 and committed to Auburn this past summer. …

B.J. Bostic making Tech fans out of mid-Georgians

Chip Towers — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:03:53 +0000

Ask Georgia Tech commitment Barry “B.J.” Bostic to describe the small town of Louisville (pronounced Lewis-vill) from which he hails and you can feel the smile come through the telephone.

“Not too many big places around here,” Bostic said of Jefferson County’s seat, population 2,700. “There aren’t many towns that don’t have a Wal-Mart. Well, we don’t. We have a couple of grocery stores, a couple of dollar stores, that’s it. Lots of trees and woods.”

They also have their football. Thanks in part to Bostic, an AJC Super 11 selection, Louisville has a powerhouse of a program in the Jefferson County Warriors. The four-time Region 3 champions are 11-0 and ranked No. 4 in Class AA this season.

Bostic has had more than a little to do with that. Playing primarily quarterback but also running back and wide receiver, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound athlete has amassed 2,544 total yards and 32 touchdowns, including 1,054 yards rushing and 983 passing. His scores have come on 12 runs, 15 passes, …

Tobias Harris chooses Vols over Georgia Tech

Chip Towers — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:47:59 +0000

Sorry but I got pulled off on the Uga VII story. But in case you didn’t see it, five-star power forward Tobias Harris signed with Tennessee over Georgia Tech and five other schools (Kentucky, Louisville, Maryland, Syracuse and West Virginia).

Following is an account from the Baltimore Sun:

Tobias Harris, the five-star forward from Dix Hills, N.Y., has made his decision.

“I’m going to be playing my college basketball at the University of Tennessee,” said Harris, who announced his decision live on ESPNU Thursday night.

Harris picked the Volunteers over Maryland, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse and West Virginia.

“I really had a great relationship with Coach [Bruce] Pearl and Coach [Tony] Jones,” Harris said. “It’s just a family atmosphere down there. I got along with the players real well and it’s just a great opportunity and fit for me.”

Blake Sims makes it clear: No go for UGA

Chip Towers — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 06:45:34 +0000

Bama all the way, says Gainesville's electrifying quarterback Blake Sims. (AJC photo)

VIDEO ADDED BELOW

The answer to the question was delivered politely and succinctly.

I asked Gainesville quarterback Blake Sims – arguably the best overall player in the entire state — if there was any chance at all he could end up at Georgia.

“No, sir,” the longtime Alabama commitment stated flatly on Wednesday.

By itself that would not seem a stirring statement. He’s going to go where he said he said he was going to go. But placed in the context of the last few weeks it resonates powerfully.

Sims, as I have reported, grew up a Bulldogs’ fan. Living just 41 miles from Sanford Stadium, he attended their camps for four years and his parents have framed photos of Sims and coach Mark Richt on the walls of their Gainesville home.

But it was the Crimson Tide that was the first to offer this dynamic athlete last spring. And Sims accepted a day later. But the day before Sims practically begged …

Intrigue surrounds Tech hoops target Tobias Harris

Chip Towers — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:08:28 +0000

You’ve got to love basketball recruiting.

Tobias Harris, a 6-foot-8 power forward from New York and the No. 2-rated player at his position in America, signed a scholarship with somebody on Wednesday, the final day of the early signing period. And that somebody might have even been Georgia Tech, which welcomed him to Atlanta on his last official visit just Monday.

But we won’t know who Harris signed with until he makes his televised announcement on ESPNU Thursday at the ESPN Zone in New York City’s Times Square.

We know this: It will be either Tech, Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky, Louisville, Syracuse or West Virginia. And don’t count out Bruce Pearl’s Vols.

In fact, in the latest version “As the Recruiting World Turns,” Harris was supposed to fly back to New York on Tuesday after his Tech visit. But instead he and his family reportedly drove home and stopped off in Knoxville for Tennessee’s game against UNC-Asheville.

Here’s where it gets real interesting. Speculation is that …

Union County’s Blake Gowder accepts Vandy offer

Chip Towers — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:19:04 +0000

Union County’s Blake Gowder lives slap-dab in the middle of Georgia’s Chattahoochee National Forest. It’s a beautiful area surrounded by 4,000-foot mountain peaks and clear, swift-flowing streams. It’s known for its great hiking and camping and outdoor activities but not so much for football.

Blake Gowder was a standout player on both sides of the ball for Union County, starring at wide receiver and linebacker. He accepted a scholarship offer from Vanderbilt this week. (Special photo)

Then Gowder came along. Union County’s star wide receiver and linebacker accepted a scholarship offer from Vanderbilt University this past Sunday night. Best anybody can tell, that makes him the first Union County citizen to accept a full ride from a Division I football program in more than 30 years.

“It was definitely harder [to get noticed] just because of where I’m located,” Gowder told me this week. “But it’s all worth it to me. I’m glad to be one of the few that went to a big school in this …

Major baseball prospects sign on at Tech, Georgia

Chip Towers — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:32:36 +0000

Baseball took center stage in the state on Tuesday as both Georgia and Georgia Tech received signed letters-of-intent from major prospects during the early signing period.

The Yellow Jackets won out in a battle over Tatnall Square Academy baseball and football star DeAndre Smelter. Smelter is a 6-2, 205-pound right-handed pitcher with a 90-plus-mile-and-hour fastball. Obviously he is expected to be high draft pick in next June’s Amateur Baseball Draft.

“No matter what happens (with the draft), I know I have a home at Georgia Tech,” Smelter told the Macon Telegraph. “You can do anything in life with a degree from Georgia Tech.”

Smelter, the Telegraph’s 2008 Male Athlete of the Year, gave up football this season to concentrate on baseball.

Georgia also got a football star to play baseball. Conor Welton has quarterbacked undefeated Wesleyan into second round of the GHSA Class A state football playoffs and a state championship last year. But he signed a baseball …

Whitaker talks Georgia-Auburn and recruitment timeline

Chip Towers — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:08:50 +0000

Auburn and Georgia are in a tug-of-war over Warner Robins defensive tackle Jeffrey Whitaker (55). (AJC photo by Jason Getz)

His senior high school football season is over. But Warner Robins’ Jeff Whitaker is not hanging his head.

“I’m good. I’m fine,” the Demons’ 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle said. “I have no regrets. I played as hard as I could.”

The Demons finished 6-4, which meant a rare playoff miss for the four-time state champions. But Whitaker had a fantastic individual season.

“He’s a great player,” coach Bryan Way said. “And a good kid, too.”

Apparently college recruiters think so, too. Whitaker, a four-star prospect who shot up as high as 11th in the nation at his position in recruiting rankings, landed more than a dozen major college scholarship offers.

His season now officially over, this U.S. Army High School All-American has trimmed down his list to five schools: Georgia, Auburn, California, North Carolina and South Carolina. Most recently Whitaker went …