Montverde (Fla.) Academy basketball coach Kevin Boyle (Photo: USA TODAY Sports)

Montverde Academy (Fla.) saw its 55-game home winning streak end thanks to Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) in the final of the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament.

Imhotep held Montverde scoreless for the first 3:20 of the game to jump out to an early lead and posted a 57-48 victory. Montverde climbed to within four points three times in the fourth quarter but could not get closer.

The game was a matchup of top 10 teams in the Super 25 Computer rankings. Montverde is No. 4 and Imhotep is No. 9.

Montverde’s last home loss was at the 2011 MAIT to Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) by a 41-40 final. The loss also snapped the Eagles’ run of five consecutive years of winning their own tournament.

Imhotep’s Donte Scott was named the championship game MVP. He finished with 17 points and had eight of his team’s first 12 points of the game.

In addition, Scott was named the Championship Game MVP, and Russell was the tournament MVP. Daron Russell was named the tournament MVP and finished with eight in the title game. South Carolina signee David Beatty had 12.

For Montverde, Marcus Carr had 15 points. R.J. Barrett and Andrew Nembhard each had 14.

It was the Eagles’ third loss of the season and the first not to Memphis East, which topped Montverde in two previous events.

UCLA star freshman Lonzo Ball was in the house to watch his brothers and his former team, Chino Hills (Calif.) run its winning streak to 58 games with a 106-80 win against Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant) in the Rolling Hills Prep State Preview.

Chino Hills, ranked No. 5 in the Super 25, is 23-0 on the season and posted its 13th 100-point game. The 106 points Saturday came 24 hours after posting 124 against Damien (La Verne) on Friday night.

Wasatch entered the game at No. 16 in the Super 25.

LaMelo Bell had 33 points and made nine three-pointers. LiAngelo Ball had 32 points and six threes. Elizjah Scott had 26 points, including seven consecutively during a run in the second quarter, and 11 rebounds. Onyeka Okongwu had seven blocks.

As is often the case, Chino Hills jumped out quickly with a 14-4 edge and never trailed. The Balls had 17 of Chino Hills’ 27 points in the first quarter.

The win sets the stage for a showdown with Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) next weekend at the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).

LaMelo Ball dribbles upcourt (Photo: Brandon Magpantay, Desert Sun)

IMG Academy has not loss since Kevin Wright (right) became head coach (Photo: Dale Zanine, USA TODAY Sports)

Venice (Fla.) has agreed to a Week 7 football game against IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Venice coach John Peacock said he wanted to schedule the game after his team’s lopsided loss to St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale) in the last year’s 7A state semifinals.

Peacock said he thinks playing a program like IMG a month before the postseason could better prepare his team for a potential matchup with Aquinas in the postseason.

“It’s not something I want to do,” Peacock told the Herald-Tribune of playing IMG. “We’ll be overmatched. But at the same time, we’re going to do the best we can to prepare over the summer. Really, the only team comparable to St. Thomas in the state is IMG.”

The game will be at Venice’s home field. A Florida team has not beaten IMG since the academy’s first year of football in 2013. IMG enters the season on a 29-game winning streak.

“Knowing we have to go through St. Thomas Aquinas to win a championship, they have the same type deal as St. Thomas has with the players they have,” Peacock told the Herald-Tribune. “I thought it would be a good way to play against that type of program that can choose their athletes and have four or five stars across the board. It will help us as coaches to expose the areas we need to work on. We’re always trying to get the ultimate prize.

“If you know you have to play a school like St. Thomas to get that ultimate prize, you’re going to have to start playing guys like them.”

Lonnie Walker and his Reading High teammates celebrate his selection to the Jordan Brand Classic (Photo: Position Sports)

Lonnie Walker had one celebration Saturday night and another is likely coming Monday.

Walker, a Miami signee, was honored as the Jordan Brand Classic Senior Night Tour presented by American Family Insurance came to his school, Reading High (Pa.), to present the school with a banner to mark his selection to the April 14 game in Brooklyn.

RELATED: Jordan Brand Classic rosters revealed

Walker scored 20 points in Reading’s 82-65 victory against Boys Latin (Baltimore) in the Berks County Shootout. That gave him 1,559 career points, just 22 shy of former UConn and NBA star Donyell Marshall’s school record.

Walker seems likely to hit the record Monday against Exeter (Pa.). Reading High has been selling out its road games as fans are eager to see Walker, a 6-4 shooting guard who is ranked No. 18 in the ESPN100.

“I’m just playing my game, not trying to force things,” he told The Reading Eagle. “Points are points. If I just stay consistent, which I have been doing these past few games, it’ll come to me. …

“I can’t let (the crowds) get to my head. I’ve still gotta play my game. I want to win, that’s all I want.”

Lonnie Walker shares his Dream Champion award with his family (Photo: Position Sports)

Georgia commit D’Andre Swift from St. Joseph’s Prep (Philadelphia) was named Most Valuable Player as the United States Under-19 National Team beat Team Canada, 33-11, at the inaugural North American Championships on Saturday in Orlando.

Swift ran for 109 yards on 12 carries to lead the Team USA offense that posted 485 yards of total offense (262 yards passing and 223 yards rushing). The defense held Canada to 147 total yards with one rushing yard.

“It’s an honor just to be down here and be able to win the MVP,” Swift told USA Football’s website. “The o-line did it. They just opened the holes, and I ran through them.”

Canada took a 3-0 lead but Alabama quarterback commit Mac Jones (Bolles School, Jacksonville) led the American team down the field and scored on a 1-yard keeper. Team USA would not give up the lead from there.

Among the other highlights:

• Colorado commit receiver Laviska Shenault from DeSoto, Texas, and Virginia quarterback commit Lindell Stone, from Woodbury Forest, Va., connected for a 75-yard touchdown.
• USC commit receiver Randal Grimes from Desert Pines (Las Vegas) threw a 36-yard TD pass to Michigan State tight end commit Matt Dotson from Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati). That was after Stone and Swift connected for a 51-yard pass.
• Jones ran 47 yards for his second touchdown of the game to start the second half.
• Stone connected with Eddie Lewis from Mater Dei in New Jersey and Lewis outran a defender to the goal line for a 31-yard score.

Florida State commit Khalan Laborn from Bishop Sullivan (Chesapeake, Va.) had 69 yards on four carries.Stone threw for 167 yards and two scores. Jones threw for 59 yards and ran for 49 yards and two touchdowns. Shenault had 78 yards receiving on two catches with a touchdown.

Cooper Bybee from Edgewood High in Ellettsville, Ind., made a pair of unique buzzer beaters this weekend against Northview (Brazil, Ind.)

First, he hit an underhanded scoop shoot, and then he nails an acrobatic halfcourt heave.

Wow.

Here’s another angle on the halfcourt shot:

Chol Marial is a 7-1 center who is ranked No. 3 in the Class of 2019 by ESPN.

He was born in Sudan, one of seven countries subject to Donald Trump’s temporary ban on the entry of non-U.S. citizens.

Marial, a Dinka tribesman like Manute Bol, grew up in Juba, the capital city of South Sudan. South Sudan seceded from Sudan in 2011 and the majority of its people are Christians, not Muslims. It is unclear if South Sudanese born in Sudan before the split are subject to the ban.

Now in his second year at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut, Marial came to the United States as an eighth-grader and enrolled at West Oaks Academy in Orlando. A middle-schooler player by age, he played on the varsity team and became a YouTube sensation thanks to his highlight videos.

Marial, now 17, has dominated the New England prep basketball circuit since and his coach has said Marial could be top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He played last summer with the Connecticut Basketball Club on the Under Armour Association circuit.

Asked whether he was concerned about how the president’s executive order could impact Marial, Cheshire coach Kevin Kehoe told USA TODAY Sports on Sunday: “Why would I be worried? I live in the United States of America.”

Kehoe pointed to the federal judge’s ruling in New York that blocked part of the executive order, preventing authorities from removing individuals from the seven countries who had arrived in airports in the U.S. after the executive order was issued.

“What Donald Trump signed has nothing to do with Chol Marial,” Kehoe said. “As much as people don’t want to believe it this is still a democracy. It’s not a dictatorship. Donnie can sign whatever he wants, but this is still the United States of America.”

Marial and Cheshire will be back on the court Wednesday against The MacDuffie School (Granby, Mass.).

Contributing: Jason Jordan, USA TODAY Sports

When Matt Rhule took over as Baylor coach, the Bears had one commit: Stafford (Texas) defensive back Jalen Pitre.

In the month since, beginning on Dec. 28, Baylor has added 21 prospects and is now in the low 30s in te rankings for the nation’s top recruiting classes. The group has two four-stars, 18 three stars and two two-stars, according to Rivals.

The latest addition came Sunday with Southlake (Texas) Carroll offensive lineman Ryan Miller, who previously intended to attend the U.S. Naval Academy.

Miller joins his Southlake teammate and offensive line mate Henry Klinge, who committed last weekend.

Baylor now has five offensive linemen in its class.

Here are the top plays from Thursday and Friday at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament courtesy of ItsOvertime.com.

RJ Barrett – Montverde Academy
Bursts Into The Lane For A Thrilling Slam

Koby Thomas – Imhotep Charter
Unleashes A Roaring Jam

Kevin Porter – Rainier Beach
Soars For The Sweet Dunk

Nehemie Kabyea – Rainier Beach
Goes Up Strong In The Lane For The Powerful Slam

Daron Russell/Donte Scott – Imhotep Charter
Russell With The Nifty Behind-The-Back Back Pass To Scott

Sandro Mamukelashvili/Rechon Black – Montverde Academy
Sandro Leaves It For Rechon For A Big Jam Before The Buzzer

Dave Beatty/Donte Scott – Imhotep Charter
Beatty With The Sweet No Look Pass To Scott

Shaq Jules – Windermere Prep
Flies By The Defense For A Rim Rattling Dunk

RJ Barrett/Andrew Nembhard – Montverde Academy
Barrett Works The Beautiful Give & Go With Nembhard

Kevin Porter – Rainier Beach
Comes Up With The Steal & Throw Down

Alabama is locked in a recruiting battle for four-star wide receiver Henry Ruggs, and on Sunday the Crimson Tide offered Henry’s younger brother, Keventae’, his first scholarship.

Kevontae, a linebacker at Lee (Montgomery, Ala.), doesn’t yet have a ranking from the major recruiting services, leading many to believe the move is purely a last-ditch effort to lock up his older brother.

Alabama is battling Florida State and others for the elder Ruggs, who will announce his commitment on National Signing Day.

The move is not without precedent. In fact, a couple weeks ago BYU offered L.J. Tufele, the younger brother of four-star defensive tackle Jay.

It remains to be seen if either may will pay dividends.

Connor Wedington, a four-star ATH from Sumner (Wash.), committed Monday to Stanford by way of a video produced by Bleacher Report.

Wedington had committed to in-state Washington, but he decommitted from the Huskies last month. He also considered  Baylor, Notre Dame, UCLA and Washington.

Earlier this month, Wedington was named the offensive MVP of the Polynesian Bowl, accounting for 103 total yards and a touchdown.

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart (Photo: Brett Davis, USA TODAY Sports)

Here are the latest USA TODAY High School Sports’ Composite Team Football Recruiting Rankings for the Class of 2017 through the final weekend of commitments.

RELATED: Composite Football Player Recruiting rankings

The composite represents an average of the rankings by the four major recruiting services: 247Sports, ESPN, Rivals and Scout. All rankings went to Top 50, except ESPN, which is Top 40. Teams not ranked in ESPN’s Top 40 received a 41; teams not ranked in the other rankings received a 51.

Alabama is back as a unanimous No. 1. Georgia and Ohio State remain tied for No. 2 despite Ohio State being ranked No. 5 by Scout.

Stanford and Maryland continue to rise.

Updated: 1/30/17

CBS Sports will have day-long coverage of Wednesday’s National Signing Day, with live programming both online and on television.

CBS Sports Network will have a two-hour show beginning at 10 a.m. ET with numerous analysts offering breakdowns of the nation’s top recruits. The network will also air a recap show at 1:30 a.m. ET.

Live analysis will be available online from 10 a.m. ET until 3 p.m., with programming available on CBSSports.com, 247Sports.com, and MaxPreps.com and their respective apps.

With two days until National Signing Day on Wednesday, eight players in the top 50 of the USA TODAY Sports’ composite recruiting rankings remain uncommitted.

PLAYER RANKINGS: Overall | Player rankings by position

TEAM RANKINGS: Class of 2017

Here is a look at the prospects for those players:

Marvin Wilson of Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas) (Photo: Jim Halley, USA TODAY Sports).

Marvin Wilson, defensive tackle, Episcopal (Bellaire, Texas)

Ranked No. 6, the 6-4, 329-pound Wilson has a final five of Florida State, LSU, Ohio State, Oklahoma and South Florida. If South Florida seems like an outlier, Wilson cited the relationship with new Bulls coach Charlie Strong as the reason for considering the school. Strong recruited Wilson when he was at Texas. LSU and Florida State are viewed as the favorites with Oklahoma possible, but Wilson put out a favorable tweet about Ohio State last week. Are the Buckeyes in this race or is Wilson just messing with their fans? ESPN’s Tom Luginbill said he thinks Ohio State is a darkhorse.

Aubrey Solomon, defensive tackle, Lee County (Leesburg, Ga.)

Ranked No. 25, Solomon is a former Michigan commit who is down to the Wolverines, Georgia, Alabama and Southern California. Solomon told Scout.com last week that he has made his decision and was planning to share his decision with close friends and family over the weekend. He said he was looking for a place that combined a strong academic reputation with recent football success. He has an up-and-down relationship with Michigan. He decommitted in August after he received a mailer from Michigan with his name misspelled and thanking him for attending an event that he didn’t attend. He had positive things to say after an official visit in November, but then was caught using an expletive about Michigan on a social media video. He then apologized. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh went go-karting and bowling with Solomon and his family during a visit to Georgia in mid-January.

LaBrayan Ray, defensive end, Clemens (Madison, Ala.)

Ranked No. 26, Ray is considered the No. 1 overall recruit in Alabama and the Crimson Tide hope to prevent him from leaving the state. Ray had 99 tackles and 11 sacks as a senior. He took an official visit to Alabama two weeks ago and visited Florida on the final weekend. Alabama, Florida, Tennessee and Ole Miss are his finalists, but Florida is perceived as the one school that could lure Ray away from Alabama.

“They helped themselves, it was a great trip,” Ray told SECCountry about his trip. “It was a lot of fun and I definitely enjoyed things. This visit was different for me and it’s going to be a tough choice.”

Joseph Lewis (Photo: AAG)

Joseph Lewis, wide receiver, Hawkins (Los Angeles)

Ranked No. 31, Lewis is taking an unofficial and official visit to USC in the final two weeks and he has been considered a lean toward the Trojans. Nebraska is the other school in the running, and it could come down the final days. Teammate Greg Johnson, a four-star athlete in the Class of 2017, is down to USC and Nebraska, and the Cornhuskers got a commitment from another teammate, Eric Fuller, a four-star athlete in the Class of 2018. Nebraska has made a big impact in Southern California in this class with Calabasas wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson Jr. and quarterback Tristan Gebbia and Cathedral (Los Angeles) receiver Jamire Calvin. Lewis’ decision might not be as much of a USC slam dunk as it could appear.

“It’s critical to USC given the losses they have had on the perimeter that they keep the best wide receiver in state,” Luginbill said.

Austin Jackson, offensive tackle, North Canyon (Phoenix)

Ranked No. 35, Jackson has had a comparably quiet recruitment and had expressed an interest at the Army Bowl in wrapping things up. He is down to Arizona State, USC and Washington. The 6-6, 280-pound Jackson took most of his visits during the season.

K’Lavon Chaisson pursues Kellen Mond at the Under Armour All-America Game (Photo: 247Sports)

K’Lavon Chaisson, defensive end, North Shore (Galena, Texas)

Ranked No. 37, Chaisson tied the record with three sacks in the Under Armour All-America Game. He has left his visits for the end with LSU, Texas and Florida. LSU coach Ed Orgeron came by for an early morning visit followed by Texas coach Tom Herman before Chaisson flew to Florida last weekend for his final visit. He rated his LSU visit as a 1,000 on a scale of 1 to 10, but he is a key recruit for first-year Herman. Chaisson can get after the quarterback on every play and is quick off the line. He will be a significant addition for either LSU or Texas as most don’t consider Florida as a serious contender.

Jeff Thomas, wide receiver, East St. Louis (Ill.)

A speedy slot receiver who is ranked No. 40, Thomas opened eyes when he was named the MVP of the Under Armour game with records for touchdowns and receiving yards. Thomas was said to be leaning toward in-state Illinois but eliminating the Illini last week. Miami, Louisville and Oregon are his three finalists. He visited Miami last weekend and then got a visit from Ron Dugans, Miami’s wide receiver coach and passing game coordinator.

Jay Tufele, defensive tackle, Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)

Ranked No. 41, Tufele is closing with two Pac-12 visits: USC and Utah. The Utes are considered the favorite and the school has a history with players from Bingham. He visited Michigan in October and coaches checked in on him last week with an in-home visit. Michigan needs to add a defensive tackle, and it could be Tufele if it isn’t Aubrey Solomon. Tufele visited USC with another coveted defensive tackle, Marlon Tuipulotu, who then flipped from Washington. Ohio State coach Urban Meyer and defensive line coach Larry Johnson made an in-home visit last Thursday before Tufele took his official to Utah, about 20 minutes way from home.

National Signing Day is Wednesday, Feb. 1. For the uninitiated, it is the first day athletes can sign a national letter of intent with the school of their choosing.

Below is our coverage leading up to the big day, from rankings to player profiles and everything in between.

Current Rankings

• Composite Team Rankings
• Final Composite Player rankings
• Final Composite Player rankings by position

Prospects

• Updating the eight uncommitted Top 50 football recruits
• Alabama commit Mac Jones talks USA Football, QB competition and signing day
• Marvin Wilson leads 12 players set to announce during ESPNU signing day coverage
• Deron Irving-Bey: From unknown to Michigan football recruit in a year
• Meet Austin Jackson, the nation’s most low-key recruit
• LSU, Texas coaches make early morning visit to recruit before he boards flight for Florida
• Alabama offers 2018 LB Kevontae’ Ruggs, younger brother of four-star target Henry Ruggs

More Coverage

• CBS Sports to offer extensive coverage of National Signing Day
• Four-star receiver cited during Ohio State official visit
• Six schools benefitting from coaches’ ‘Year Two Effect’ in recruiting
• Report: Lane Kiffin pulls scholarship from FAU commit a week before Signing Day
• Who’s the No. 1 recruit in Class of 2017? Experts divided
• Coach’s advice: After signing day, all that’s ahead is the work
• Commentary: As football recruiting evolves, high school coaches keen to stay involved

Four-star defensive lineman Phidarian Mathis will make his college commitment Tuesday, just a day ahead of Wednesday’s National Signing Day. But that’s not the particularly interesting part of the story.

Sure for TCU, LSU, and Alabama fans Mathis’ future destination is of great importance; but the location of Mathis’ announcement will almost certainly hold greater weight for the player.

That’s right, Mathis will hold his commitment ceremony at a cemetery. Specifically, the grave of Tyrell Cameron, who was killed during a game in 2015.

Cameron played football for Franklin Parish (Winnsboro, La.), which is a near Mathis’ school, Neville (Monroe, La.).

Below are highlights from Mathis’ senior season.

The Gatorade State Boys Cross Country Runners of the Year have been crowned. The winners were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2016-17 season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership. Here is a list of winners.

Alabama – Will Stone – Homewood

Alaska – Gus Schumaker – Service (Anchorage)

Arizona – Manuel Olivo-Quinones – Buena (Sierra Vista)

Arkansas – Camren Fisher – Fayetteville

California – Callum Bolger – San Luis Obispo

Colorado – Tanner Norman – The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs)

Connecticut – Zakeer Ahmad – Staples (Westport)

Delaware – Connor Nisbet – Wilmington Friends School

District of Columbia – Harry Monroe – Gonzaga College

Florida – Caleb Pottorff – Lincoln Park Academy (Fort Pierce)

Georgia – Jacob McLeod – Trinity Christian (Dublin)

Hawaii – Connor Lehl – Punahou School (Honolulu)

Idaho – Austin Byrer – Lewiston

Illinois – Dylan Jacobs – Carl Sandburg (Orland Park)

Indiana – Curtis Eckstein – Oldenburg Academy

Iowa – Sam Schillinger – Cedar Falls

Kansas – Will Cole – St. Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park)

Kentucky – Yared Nuguse – DuPont Manual (Louisville)

Louisiana – Eric Coston – St. Paul’s (Covington)

Maine – Luke Laverdiere – Yarmouth

Maryland – Dalton Hengst – McDonogh (Owings Mills)

Massachusetts – Marcelo Rocha – Peabody

Michigan – Noah Jacobs – Corunna

Minnesota – Alex Miley – Maple Grove

Mississippi – Giacomo DeLuca III – George County (Lucedale)

Missouri – Austin Hindman – Lafayette (Wildwood)

Montana – Chase Equall – Bozeman

Nebraska – Seth Hirsch – Millard West (Omaha)

Nevada – Anthony Ocegueda – Reed (Sparks)

New Hampshire – Patrick O’Brien – Oyster River (Durham)

New Jersey – Elliot Gindi – Ocean Township (Oakhurst)

New Mexico – Jordan Lesansee – Albuquerque Academy

New York – Ty Brownlow – Liverpoool

North Carolina – Connor Lane – Cardinal Gibbons (Raleigh)

North Dakota – Hunter Lucas – Davies (Fargo)

Ohio – Dustin Horter – Lakota East (Liberty Township)

Oklahoma – Matt Young – Jenks

Oregon – Andy Monroe – Crater (Central Point)

Pennsylvania – Noah Affolder – Carlisle

Rhode Island – D.J. Principe – La Salle Academy (Providence)

South Carolina – John Ward – Wade Hampton (Greenville)

South Dakota – Derick Peters – West Central (Hartford)

Tennessee – Brodey Hasty – Brentwood

Texas – Reed Brown – Carroll (Southlake)

Utah – Casey Clinger – American Fork

Vermont – Tyler Marshall – Champlain Valley Union (Hinesburg)

Virginia – Waleed Suliman – Douglas Freeman (Henrico)

Washington – Tibedu Proctor – The Northwest School (Seattle)

West Virginia – Philip White – University (Morgantown)

Wisconsin – Finn Gessner – La Follette (Madison)

Wyoming – Shane Henderson – Star Valley (Afton)

Former Boston Red Sox star slugger David Ortiz’s son, D’Angelo, shows off his skills in the low post with a nice reverse layup.

It looks like the 12-year-old Ortiz might have found his true calling, according to his dad’s Instagram post:

This is Talek Williams from Allen High in Allentown, Pa., and he has put together a string of great alley-oops recently.

Williams, by the way, is a 6-3 shooting guard/small forward

Tampa Catholic’s Nate Craig-Myers helps his brother, Pasco High’s Jayvaughn Myers, seated, with his Auburn cap, after announcing they’ll both be heading there during national signing day last year (Photo: Brendan Fitterer, Associated Press)

Football recruits nationwide can sign a National Letter of Intent on Wednesday, but what does the document say? Here are 10 things to know.

1. It is not mandatory that a prospect sign a letter of intent

By signing a players agrees to attend the school listed for one academic year, and the school agrees to award him athletic financial aid for one academic year. A player can sign a financial aid agreement and get basically the same assurance of a scholarship as he would with the letter of intent, but the player does not have to forfeit his ability to go elsewhere without being released by the school. For the letter of intent to be valid, it must be signed by the player and his parents/guardian.

RELATED: More previews of National Signing Day

2. More than the letter of intent

At the time of signing the letter of intent, a player must receive a written offer of athletic financial aid for the academic year. A player and his parents/guardian must also sign the financial aid agreement. That documentation specifies the “terms, conditions and amount of the athletics aid award.” That document is also often accompanied by a document from the conference that outlines conference policies regarding the NLI and grant.

3. Penalty for not attending for a full year

The full year covers two semesters or three quarters as a full-time student. Just spending the season with the team does not count as fulfilling the initial terms. If a player leaves a school and enrolls in another school, he cannot play until he fulfills one full year at the second school. By leaving in less than a year, the athlete also forfeits a year of eligibility in all sports.

4. Players sign with a college, not a coach

If the coach for whom the athlete expected to play leaves the school, he is still bound to the letter of intent until released. “I understand it is not uncommon for a coach to leave his or her position,” the document states. And though that is what’s on paper, listen to virtually every recruit and they all talk about the relationships they have formed with coaches during the process.

5. No guarantee of playing time

There is no mention of playing time in the letter of intent. The letter of intent guarantees a player financial aid, not that he will start or even see the field.

6. Once a players sign, recruiting is over

The NLI specifically bans players who signed from contact with other institutions, and other schools “are obligated to respect my signing and shall cease contact with me and my family members after my siging this NLI, which includes me and my family not initiating contact with athletic staffs at other institutions.” The responsbility is on the player to notify the other coach that he has signed.

7. Player has to qualify academically for the NLI to apply

The letter of intent is voided if the school notifies the player in writing that he has been denied admission or fails to provide notice of admission before the start of classes in the fall semester. The player is obligated to go through the admission process and provide documents, etc., like all students. The player also must meet NCAA initial eligibility requirements and is responsible for enrolling with the NCAA Eligibility Center. The letter of intent is voided if a player is an academic non-qualifier.

8. The coach can’t be there

A coach or representative of a school cannot hand-deliver the paperwork off campus or be present off campus when the player signs. And despite all those fax machines, the document can be returned electronically and an electronic signature is allowed.

9. Quitting or not enrolling

Terms of the letter intent remain in place if a player quits the team or if a player never enrolls in the school that he signed with.

10. How do you get out?

The document directs players to the NLI web site to request a release and review the policies. The letter notes that the NLI Policy and Review Committee is authorized to “issue interpretations, settle disputes and consider appeals.” That decision can be appealed to the NLI Appeals Committee, whose decision is “final and binding.”