Teams around the nation are making that final push in the regular season. The DICK’S Sporting Goods Nationals are two months away.
That means it’s time to look at who are the top contenders for the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year in girls basketball. The honor will be determined in early April.
This list is not exhaustive — someone not on it could be named the Player of the Year. After all, there’s still plenty of basketball to be played.
Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch (Photo: Joe Nicholson, USA TODAY Sports)
Marshawn Lynch has exited the NFL in a manner befitting his unique style.
The Seattle Seahawks running back, 29, is retiring from the NFL, his agent Doug Hendrickson told the Associated Press on Monday. Hendrickson also tweeted his congratulations to Lynch.
Lynch, who repeatedly shirked media attention in his nine-year NFL career, surprised many during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s Super Bowl when he tweeted out a photo of cleats hanging up with a peace-sign emoji. The move came amid a report that Lynch planned on calling it quits.
Before he became “Beast Mode” in the NFL, Lynch was a star at Oakland Tech in California.
Below is a highlight video from his final high school game — he scored six touchdowns in a victory in the Oakland Section finals — and then promised his linemen that he would treat them to Sizzler. That’s a far more talkative version of Lynch then we saw during the end of his pro career.
Contributing: Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Oak Hill Academy forward Braxton Key (Photo: Guillermo Hernandez Martinez/News-Leader)
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) has jumped to the No. 1 spot in the Super 25 Computer rankings for boys basketball.
The Warriors were No. 3 last week and move ahead of Chino Hills (Calif.) and Montverde Academy (Fla.), which fall to No. 2 and No. 3 respectively.
Ken Massey, whose algorithm fuels the computer rankings, said determinations among teams at the top are “like splitting hairs,” based on how close they are. He cited Oak Hill’s defensive rating based on the Warriors allowing an average of 52.7 points per game entering the week.
RELATED: Full computer rankings searchable by state
Atoscocita (Humble, Texas) is No. 4 followed by Apple Valley (Minn.).
Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) leads the second five at No. 6. DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.), Stevens Point (Wis.), Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) and St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) round out the top 10.
Stevens Point is a newcomer to the top 10 this week. Hopkins (Minn.), which was No. 9 last week, fell to No. 11.
Having outscored its opponents 17-1 in the last five games, Wakeland (Frisco, Texas) has moved to No. 2 in the latest USA TODAY High School Sports/National Soccer Coaches Association of America Super 25 for winter boys soccer.
Wakeland — 10-0-1 entering Tuesday’s game against Little Elm — moved up from No. 6 in the previous rankings. On the season, Wakeland has allowed nine goals.
RELATED: Super 25 Boys Soccer Rankings
MORE: Super 25 Regional Boys Soccer Rankings
Montverde Academy (Fla.), remains No. 1 in the rankings after completing another unbeaten season at 19-0-1. The school is not eligible for the Florida state championships, which are this weekend.
Cathedral Prep (Los Angeles) drops one spot to No. 3 followed by Ponte Vedra (Fla.) and St. Paul School (Covington, La.)
There are two newcomers to the rankings: St. Louis Catholic (Lake Charles, La.) and Porter (Brownsville, Texas).
Seven states play soccer in the winter season: Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
Each week USA TODAY High School Sports and National Soccer Coaches Association of America will release Super 25 Regional Boys Winter Soccer Rankings. Rankings are based on results from the 2015 season, quality of players and strength of schedule. Regions are determined by the NCSAA.
MORE: Super 25 Boys Soccer Rankings
RELATED: Super 25 Girls Soccer Rankings
REGION I (Florida)
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) | 18-0-1 |
| 2 | Ponte Vedra (Ponte Vedra, Fla.) | 23-0-0 |
| 3 | Belen Jesuit (Miami, Fla.) | 25-0-2 |
| 4 | Cypress Bay (Weston, Fla.) | 21-0-1 |
| 5 | Melbourne (Melbourne, Fla.) | 21-3-1 |
| 6 | Sunlake (Land O’Lakes, Fla.) | 27-1-2 |
| 7 | Boca Raton (Boca Raton, Fla.) | 24-4-1 |
| 8 | Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) | 23-4-1 |
| 9 | Fleming Island (Orange Park, Fla.) | 22-0-3 |
| 10 | South Broward (Hollywood, Fla.) | 15-1-3 |
REGION II (Louisiana, Mississippi)
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | St. Paul’s School (Covington, La.) | 23-1-3 |
| 2 | St. Louis Catholic (Lake Charles, La.) | 26-1-3 |
| 3 | Madison Central (Madison, Miss.) | 18-3-2 |
| 4 | Mandeville (Mandeville, La.) | 18-2-2 |
| 5 | Acadiana (Scott, La.) | 20-2-6 |
| 6 | Stone (Wiggins, Miss.) | 20-1-1 |
| 7 | Jesuit (New Orleans, La.) | 22-3-2 |
| 8 | Tupelo (Tupelo, Miss.) | 18-2-1 |
| 9 | Northwest Rankin (Brandon, Miss.) | 21-2-1 |
| 10 | Vandebilt Catholic (Houma, La.) | 21-2-7 |
REGION III (Texas)
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | Wakeland (Frisco, Texas) | 10-0-1 |
| 2 | Coppell (Coppell, Texas) | 8-0-2 |
| 3 | Porter (Brownsville, Texas) | 12-0-1 |
| 4 | Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) | 10-0-1 |
| 5 | Cinco Ranch (Katy, Texas) | 7-0-3 |
| 6 | Plano West Senior (Plano, Texas) | 6-1-2 |
| 7 | Clark (San Antonio, Texas) | 6-1-1 |
| 8 | Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas) | 9-0-3 |
| 9 | Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) | 10-0-4 |
| 10 | The Woodlands (The Woodlands, Texas) | 9-1-1 |
| 10 | Lake Travis (Austin, Texas) | 9-1-0 |
REGION IV (Arizona, California and Hawaii)
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | Cathedral College Prep (Los Angeles, Calif.) | 18-1-2 |
| 2 | Paramount (Los Angeles, Calif.) | 17-1-3 |
| 3 | Palo Alto (Palo Alto, Calif.) | 13-0-3 |
| 4 | Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) | 17-2-2 |
| 5 | Homestead (Cupertino, Calif.) | 10-2-7 |
| 6 | Buchanan (Clovis, Calif.) | 16-1-6 |
| 7 | Watsonville (Watsonville, Calif.) | 12-0-4 |
| 8 | Servite (Anaheim, Calif.) | 13-2-5 |
| 9 | Godinez Fundamental (Santa Ana, Calif.) | 13-1-4 |
| 10 | Los Alamitos (Los Alamitos, Calif.) | 17-2-6 |
High school coaches leaving for recruiting roles with college programs is increasingly becoming a trend.
The latest is longtime Garland (Texas) coach Jeff Jordan, who has been hired as the director of personnel at the University of Kansas. Jordan has been at Garland for 28 years, including the last 15 as head coach.
Kansas coach David Beaty is a Garland graduate and was an assistant coach from 1997-2000.
In an open letter published Monday by the Dallas Morning News, Jordan explained what he hopes to accomplish at Kansas and why he left Garland, noting “I find a complex mix of emotions pouring through my heart at this moment.”
“This job will take all the things I have learned in 29 years of coaching high school football along with 28 years of working in the Dallas Cowboys Scouting Department and put it all together. We are about to build a unique personnel department and talent evaluation system that I believe is going to revolutionize college football! It is going to take a lot of time and work, but I am so excited about this new opportunity. It was going to take a truly special situation for me to leave Garland High, and I believe this is it. Not only is the work going to be interesting and challenging, I am going to work for a guy that I have known for almost 30 years and trust completely. I believe in his vision for Kansas football and what we can accomplish.”
Among the more prominent high school coaches to go to colleges this offseason was Rick Mantz, a longtime coach in New Jersey who was named Rutgers’ director of high school relations under new coach Chris Ash.
At least eight high school coaches were hired by FBS college programs last year, many from the state of Texas, as USA TODAY Sports’ Paul Myerberg chronicled last February.
On the heels of a 1-0 victory against then-No. 2 Keller (Texas), Byron Nelson has moved into the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY High School Sports/National Soccer Coaches Association of America Super 25 for winter girls soccer.
Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) got its lone goal from Ansley Bunger to post another shutout. The team, which blanked Justin Northwest after beating Keller, takes a three-game shutout streak into Tuesday night’s contest against Denton Guyer.
RELATED: Super 25 Girls Soccer Rankings
MORE: Super 25 Regional Girls Soccer Rankings
Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo, Calif.) moved from No. 7 to No. 2 and remains unbeaten at 16-0-2 as the regular season winds down in California.
Carondelet (Concord, Calif.) and Carroll (Southlake, Texas) remain at No. 3 and 4, respectively, followed by American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.), which won the Florida 3A state title.
Florida 1A state champion St. John’s Country Day (Orange Park), Florida 4A state champion (Viera) and Clovis East (Clovis, Calif.) join the rankings.
Seven states play girls soccer in the winter season: Arizona, California, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas.
Each week USA TODAY High School Sports and National Soccer Coaches Association of America will release Super 25 Regional Boys Winter Soccer Rankings. Rankings are based on results from the 2015 season, quality of players and strength of schedule. Regions are determined by the NCSAA.
MORE: Super 25 Boys Soccer Rankings
RELATED: Super 25 Girls Soccer Rankings
REGION I (Florida)
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) | 20-1-0 |
| 2 | St. Johns Country Day School (Orange Park, Fla.) | 21-0-1 |
| 3 | Viera (Melbourne, Fla.) | 21-1-1 |
| 4 | Oviedo (Oviedo, Fla.) | 19-2-0 |
| 5 | The Bolles School (Jacksonville, Fla.) | 22-3-4 |
| 6 | St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) | 18-1-1 |
| 7 | Niceville (Niceville, Fla.) | 19-1-0 |
| 8 | Bishop Moore (Orlando, Fla.) | 22-2-2 |
| 9 | Merritt Island (Merritt Island, Fla.) | 27-1-2 |
| 10 | Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) | 14-2-1 |
REGION II (Louisiana, Mississippi)
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | C.E. Byrd (Shreveport, La.) | 26-1-1 |
| 2 | Madison Central (Madison, Miss.) | 22-0-1 |
| 3 | Brandon (Brandon, Miss.) | 22-1-0 |
| 4 | Mount Carmel Academy (New Orleans, La.) | 17-1-7 |
| 5 | Ben Franklin (New Orleans, La.) | 17-1-1 |
| 6 | Vandebilt Catholic (Houma, La.) | 24-3-3 |
| 7 | St. Joseph’s Academy (Baton Rouge, La.) | 15-4-0 |
| 8 | Gulfport (Gulfport, Miss.) | 15-3-3 |
| 9 | St. Scholastica Academy (Covington, La.) | 13-2-4 |
| 10 | St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.) | 19-6-2 |
REGION III (Texas)
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | Byron Nelson (Trophy Club, Texas) | 9-0-0 |
| 2 | Carroll (Southlake, Texas) | 12-1-0 |
| 3 | Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) | 8-1-1 |
| 4 | Wylie East (Wylie, Texas) | 8-0-1 |
| 5 | Sachse (Sachse, Texas) | 8-0-1 |
| 6 | Horn (Mesquite, Texas) | 12-0-0 |
| 7 | The Woodlands (The Woodlands, Texas) | 5-1-1 |
| 8 | Keller (Keller, Texas) | 10-2-1 |
| 9 | Hendrickson (Pflugerville, Texas) | 10-0-0 |
| 10 | Reagan (San Antonio, Texas) | 6-1-0 |
REGION IV (Arizona, California and Hawaii)
| Rank | School | W-L-T |
| 1 | Aliso Niguel (Aliso Niguel, Calif.) | 16-0-2 |
| 2 | Carondelet (Concord, Calif.) | 15-0-4 |
| 3 | Clovis East (Clovis, Calif.) | 15-0-3 |
| 4 | Mountain View (Mountain View, Calif.) | 13-0-2 |
| 5 | Xavier Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.) | 15-3-0 |
| 6 | Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) | 14-3-4 |
| 7 | Desert Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.) | 18-3-1 |
| 8 | Harvard-Westlake School (Studio City, Calif.) | 13-2-3 |
| 9 | Hamilton (Chandler, Ariz.) | 16-3-2 |
| 10 | Westlake (Westlake Village, Calif.) | 10-0-2 |
Kenny Smith Jr., known as “KJ,” plays for IMG Academy’s post-graduate team and showed off his point-guard skills and more during the National Prep Showcase last week.
Yes, he’s the soon of the former NBA point guard turned TNT/CBS basketball analyst.
IMG went 1-1, beating Spire Institute (Ohio) and falling by two to Notre Dame (Mass.).
Smith has previously played during his high school years for Oaks Christian (Westlake, Calif.) and Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).
Here are highlights from the event from CourtsideFilms.
Haskell Garrett (Photo: (Photo: Brian Perroni, 247Sports)
Haskell Garrett, ranked among the top five defensive tackles in the Class of 2017, has committed to Ohio State.
Garrett, from Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), had 13 offers, including Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Oregon and Texas A&M among others. According to 247Sports, Ohio State assistant coach Zach Smith visited Garrett in late January and the Buckeyes offered days later.
He announced on Twitter:
Garrett becomes the 11th commit in the Class of 2017 for Ohio State.
Bishop Gorman is the two-time defending Super 25 champion.
Here are the top national fan photos from our partners at ScoreStream. Make sure you post your team’s best photo to ScoreStream and see if it makes the cut in our next installment here on USA TODAY High School Sports.
The Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 fall season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
For the complete list of Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners, click here.
THE WINNER: Leland Gazo
THE BASICS
School: Rice Memorial (South Burlington, Vt.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Goalkeeper
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 180 pounds
Athletic achievement: He recorded seven shutouts this past season, leading the Green Knights (16-2) to the Division 1 state championship. An All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Gazo was also named the Burlington Free Press Player of the Year and the Lake Division Player of the Year.
Academic excellence: Gazo has maintained a B average.
Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally on behalf of a retirement home, youth soccer teams and the U.S. Youth Soccer TOPSoccer program serving young athletes with disabilities.
THE PRAISE
“Gazo commands the box very well and he’s strong in the air,” said Reeves Livesay, head coach at Middlebury High. “He’s confident, understands the game and he’s a vocal leader on the field. He was, by far, the best goalie we faced all year.”
THE FUTURE: Gazo remains undecided upon a collegiate destination.
The Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 fall season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
For the complete list of Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners, click here.
THE WINNER: Luca Levee
THE BASICS
School: Milton Academy (Milton, Mass.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 165 pounds
Athletic achievement: He led the Mustangs to a 22-0 record and the New England Prep School Athletic Council Class A championship this past season. Levee scored 13 goals and passed for nine assists and was the MVP of the NEPSAC Class A title match. A member of the Jamaican Under-20 Men’s National Team, he was a First Team All-Independent School League honoree and helped Milton complete the first perfect soccer campaign in the 67-year history of the ISL.
Academic excellence: Levee has maintained a B average.
Exemplary character: A member of the Milton Academy Investment Club, he has volunteered locally as a student ambassador and as an academy tour guide.
THE PRAISE
“Luca Levee was the heart and soul of a fantastic Milton Academy team,” said Jesse Sarzana, head coach of Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School. “He worked extremely hard box to box, saw the entire field at all times and made punishing runs into the box without fear.”
THE FUTURE: Levee has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at the University of Maryland beginning this fall.
The Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 fall season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
For the complete list of Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners, click here.
THE WINNER: Aime Mabika
THE BASICS
School: Henry Clay (Lexington, Ky.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Defender
Height: 6-foot-6
Weight: 192 pounds
Athletic achievement: He scored 12 goals and passed for four assists this past season, leading the Blue Devils (22-3-1) to the state championship game. Mabika also anchored a defense that recorded 14 shutouts. An All-American selection by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, he was the Kentucky Soccer Coaches Association’s Defensive Player of the Year.
Academic excellence: Mabika has maintained a weighted 4.08 GPA.
Exemplary character: A native of Zambia who moved to the United States when he was 7 years old, he has volunteered locally helping Lexington-area students new to the United States adjust to the culture. He has also donated his time to multiple community-service initiatives through his church.
THE PRAISE
“At 6-foot-6, Aime is fast and has very good skill,” said Todd Bretz, head coach of Dunbar High. “He has the physical ability to control the field defensively and the skill to direct and control the game offensively.”
THE FUTURE: Mabika has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at the University of Kentucky beginning this fall.
Ty Seager named Illinois Fall Soccer Player of the Year. (Photo: wheatonacademy.org)
The Gatorade State Boys Soccer Players of the Year have been announced for the fall 2015-16 season.
The winners were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership. Click each player’s name to view her credentials.
FALL
Colorado – Porter Milner, Broomfield
Connecticut – Ema Twumasi, Kent School (Kent)
Delaware – Matt Dina, Appoquinimink (Middletown)
D.C. – Nate Johnson, St. Albans School
Idaho – Alain Murhula, Timberline (Boise)
Illinois – Ty Seager, Wheaton Academy (West Chicago)
Indiana – Andreas Roslender, Carmel
Kansas – Lucas Bartlett, Saint Thomas Aquinas (Overland Park)
Kentucky – Aime Mabika, Henry Clay (Lexington)
Maine – Abdi Shariff-Hassan, Lewiston
Maryland – Michael DeShields, McDonogh School (Owings Mills)
Massachusetts – Luca Levee, Milton Academy (Milton)
Michigan – Forest Hills Central (Grand Rapids)
Minnesota – Suad Suljic, Minnetonka
Missouri – AJ Palazzolo, CBC (St. Louis)
Montana – Peter Byrne, Hellgate (Missoula)
Nevada – Peter Garrett, Carson (Carson City)
New Hampshire – Asa Berolzheimer, Hanover
New Jersey – Johnny Antunes, St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark)
New Mexico – Miguel Lucero, Atrisco Heritage Academy (Albuquerque)
New York – Matt Vowinkel, Chaminade (Mineola)
North Carolina – Nick Hughes, Franklin Academy (Wake Forest)
North Dakota – Bryce Nybo, Bismarck
Ohio – Stephen Milhoan, St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
Oregon – Stuart Aeschliman, West Salem (Salem)
Pennsylvania – Evan Vare, Central Bucks East (Doylestown)
Rhode Island – Stavros Zarokostas, La Salle Academy (Providence)
South Dakota – Marcus Hluchy, Aberdeen Central (Aberdeen)
Vermont – Leland Gazo, Rice Memorial (South Burlington)
West Virginia – Addison Luck, Morgantown
Wisconsin – Alec Philippe, Marquette University (Milwaukee)
The Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 fall season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
For the complete list of Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners, click here.
THE WINNER: Peter Garrett
THE BASICS
School: Carson (Carson City, Nev.)
Grade: Junior
Position: Defender
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 150 pounds
Athletic achievement: He led the Senators to a 17-3-1 record and the Division I state championship this past season. Garrett scored five goals and passed for two assists, leading a defense that notched eight shutouts. He was a First Team All-State selection by Nevadapreps.com.
Academic excellence: Garrett has maintained a 3.54 GPA and represents one of the state’s top academic candidates in meeting the Gatorade award’s broad criteria.
Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally as a lifeguard at the Carson City Aquatics Center and as a youth soccer and swim coach.
THE PRAISE
“Peter Garrett was one of the main keys to Carson’s success on the defensive end this year,” said Joel Martinez, head coach of Reed High. “His presence was always felt and he conducted his defense in an excellent manner.”
THE FUTURE: Garrett will begin his senior year of high school this fall.
The Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 fall season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
For the complete list of Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners, click here.
THE WINNER: Stephen Milhoan
THE BASICS
School: St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)
Grade: Junior
Position: Forward
Height: 5-foot-9
Weight: 165 pounds
Athletic achievement: He led the Wildcats to a 22-0-1 record and the Division I state championship this past season. Milhoan scored 29 goals and passed for 19 assists. He tallied nine goals and six assists in seven postseason games, including a goal in a 4-0 win over Hilliard Davidson in the state final. The Ohio State Soccer Coaches Association’s Division I Player of the Year, Milhoan is a member of the U.S. Soccer Futsal National Team. He concluded his junior year with 49 goals and 30 assists in his prep soccer career.
Academic excellence: Milhoan has maintained a 3.58 GPA.
Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally at Holy Family Home, an initiative for people with cancer, and at a homeless shelter. He has also donated his time as a youth soccer coach and referee.
THE PRAISE
“Stephen has great technique, can hit a ball with either foot effectively and has great pace, balance, agility and coordination,” said Brett Neiderman, head coach of Dublin Coffman High. “He sees the field so well and can pick the killer pass to unlock another team’s defense.”
THE FUTURE: Milhoan has made a verbal commitment to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Xavier University beginning in the fall of 2017.
The Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 fall season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
For the complete list of Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners, click here.
THE WINNER: Addison Luck
THE BASICS
School: Morgantown (W. Va.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 175 pounds
Athletic achievement: He scored 30 goals and passed for 20 assists this past season, leading the Mohigans (18-5-2) to the Class AAA state championship. The state’s returning Gatorade Boys Soccer Player of the Year, Luck was named captain of the West Virginia Sports Writers Association Class AAA All-State team and was selected Class AAA Player of the Year by the West Virginia High School Soccer Coaches Association.
Academic excellence: Luck has maintained a 4.16 GPA.
Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally on behalf of the Morgantown Hi-Y community service club and the Mountain Institute environmental conservation group.
THE PRAISE
“Luck is a big, strong and dominating presence on the field,” said Kevin Robins, head coach at Washington High. “His vision is unmatched and everything they did ran through him.”
THE FUTURE: Luck will attend Yale University this fall, where he will play soccer.
The Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 fall season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
For the complete list of Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners, click here.
THE WINNER: Nate Johnson
THE BASICS
School: St. Albans School (Washington, D.C.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Midfielder
Height: 6-foot
Weight: 180 pounds
Athletic achievement: He led the Bulldogs to a 15-3-1 record and the championship of both the Independent Athletic Conference Tournament and the District of Columbia Schools Athletic Association Tournament. Johnson scored nine goals and passed for eight assists on the season. The 2015 IAC Player of the Year and a three-time All-Conference selection, he was a 2015 Washington Post First Team All-Met honoree.
Academic excellence: Johnson has maintained a B-plus average.
Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally at an assisted-living facility and as a youth swim and soccer coach.
THE PRAISE
“Nate Johnson created chances and he won a lot of challenges in the middle of the field,” said Bill Reed, head coach of Landon School. “He did a ton of dirty work that doesn’t show up on the score sheet but can turn a game.”
THE FUTURE: Johnson will attend the University of Chicago, where he will play soccer, beginning this fall.
The Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 fall season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.
For the complete list of Gatorade State Fall Boys Soccer Player of the Year winners, click here.
THE WINNER: Michael DeShields
THE BASICS
School: McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Md.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Defender
Height: 6-foot-1
Weight: 185 pounds
Athletic achievement: He led the Eagles to a 21-0-1 record and the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association Class A state championship this past season. DeShields scored nine goals, passed for four assists and anchored a defense that allowed just 10 goals and recorded 13 shutouts. A three-time Baltimore Sun All-Metro selection, he participated in December’s High School All-American Game in North Carolina.
Academic excellence: DeShields has maintained a 3.33.
Exemplary character: He has volunteered locally as a youth mentor, a youth soccer coach and as a patient coordinator at health fairs.
THE PRAISE
“Michael DeShields has the pace and the ability to cover the entire defensive third which allowed McDonogh to use its flank defenders as attackers,” said Jon Seal, head coach of Gilman School. “Michael’s decision-making is excellent and I have not seen him get beat in 1-on-1 situations.”
THE FUTURE: DeShields has signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer on an athletic scholarship at Wake Forest University beginning this fall.
