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La Grange (Texas) stays No. 1, Lee-Davis (Va.) joins Super 25 softball rankings

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After taking over the No. 1 spot in the USA TODAY High School Sports/National Fastpitch Softball Coaches Association Super 25, La Grange (Texas) held steady with victories against Caldwell (Texas) and Giddings (Texas).

La Grange improved to 26-1.

RELATED: Full Super 25 rankings

Eagle (Idaho) remained No. 2 followed by Crown Point (Ind.) and Etiwanda (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.).

The biggest change saw No. 5 Johnson (San Antonio) fall out of the Super 25 after a 4-3 loss to Incarnate Word (San Antonio).  That made way for Lee-Davis (Mechanicsville, Va.), which is the lone newcomer and ranked No. 25.

A Top 10 matchup in California between No. 7 Los Alamitos and No. 9 Mission Viejo was rained out at the Michelle Carew Classic. The teams already have split two meetings this year.


Could point guard Andrew Nembhard be the next Canadian to Montverde Academy?

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Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) already has two up-and-coming Canadian stars in RJ Barrett and Simi Shittu, but could another be on the way?

At the Jordan Brand Classic practices, point guard Andrew Nembhard indicated he could be on his way to Florida to play for coach Kevin Boyle. Barrett and Nembhard are playing in the International game as part of the Jordan Classic on Friday in Brooklyn.

RELATED: RJ Barrett on his breakout freshman season and interest in Duke

The 6-2 Nembhard currently plays for Vaughan Secondary, one of the top programs in Ontario.

Nembhard and Barrett are members of the Class of 2019; Shittu is in the Class of 2018 and is ranked 13th in the ESPN 25.

Super 25 Regional Baseball Rankings - Week 6

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USA TODAY High School Sports is bringing you Super 25 regional rankings for baseball this season as selected by Jim Halley with weekly rankings in five regions — Northeast/Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, South, Frontier and Pacific. Records reflect results through April 12.

RELATED: Super 25 National Rankings

Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, District of Columbia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Connecticut, Virginia, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Maine

  1. Providence, Charlotte, N.C. (16-1)
  2. Malvern Prep, Malvern, Pa. (11-1)
  3. Christian Brothers Academy, Lincroft, N.J. (6-2)
  4. Hanover, Mechanicsville, Va. (7-1)
  5. Mamaroneck, N.Y. (3-0)
  6. South Caldwell, Hudson, N.C. (15-1)
  7. Madison, Vienna, Va. (11-2)
  8. South Granville, Creedmoor, N.C. (11-1)
  9. St. John’s, Shrewsbury, Mass. (2-0)
  10. Gloucester Catholic, Gloucester City, N.J. (5-0)
  11. Gaithersburg, Md. (9-0)

South
South Carolina, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee

  1. Archbishop McCarthy, Southwest Lakes, Fla. (22-1)
  2. South Dade, Homestead, Fla. (20-2)
  3. Rockledge, Fla. (22-1)
  4. Canterbury, Fort Myers, Fla. (23-1)
  5. West Orange, Winter Garden, Fla. (21-2)
  6. Stoneman Douglas, Parkland, Fla. (19-2)
  7. Sparkman, Ala. (28-5)
  8. Walton, Marietta, Ga. (18-4)
  9. Somerset Academy, Pembroke Pines, Fla. (21-3)
  10. Oxford, Miss. (18-5)

Frontier
Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming

  1. Coppell, Texas (21-0)
  2. Deer Park, Texas (23-0)
  3. Katy, Texas (21-2)
  4. Shawnee Mission East, Prairie Village, Kan. (7-0)
  5. Owasso, Okla. (17-5)
  6. Teurlings Catholic, Lafayette, La. (25-3)
  7. Stillwater, Okla. (20-1)
  8. Lake Travis, Austin (22-1-1)
  9. Barbe, Lake Charles, La. (24-6)
  10. Bryant, Ark. (14-2)
  11. Cottonwood, Murray, Utah (8-3)

Pacific
California, Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Hawaii, Oregon, Alaska

  1. Buchanan, Clovis, Calif (19-1)
  2. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (19-2)
  3. Orange Lutheran, Orange, Calif. (11-2)
  4. Clovis, Calif. (18-3)
  5. Hamilton, Chandler, Ariz. (19-3)
  6. JSerra, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (13-4)
  7. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (15-0)
  8. Corona del Sol, Tempe, Ariz. (18-3)
  9. Huntington Beach, Calif. (14-6)
  10. Lake Washington, Kirkland, Wash. (12-1)

Midwest
Ohio, Michigan, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota

  1. St. Rita, Chicago (10-1)
  2. Cathedral, Indianapolis (8-0)
  3. Millard West, Omaha (12-2)
  4. Tates Creek, Lexington, Ky. (11-2)
  5. Brother Rice, Chicago (11-2)
  6. Walsh Jesuit, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio (5-1)
  7. Edwardsville, Ill. (12-3)
  8. Mount Carmel, Chicago (11-1)
  9. Jefferson City, Mo. (10-1)
  10. Eden Prairie, Minn. (1-0)

High school football tripleheader scheduled for Dublin in September

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High school football teams from Florida, Georgia and New Jersey will play in a tripleheader on Sept. 2 in Dublin, Ireland, as part of the American Football Showcase, officials announced Thursday.

The games will be played at a specially constructed venue on the Trinity Dublin Campus alongside the Welcome Village. The area serves as the hub of activities related to the Sept. 3 Aer Lingus College Football Classic between Georgia Tech and Boston College.

The scheduled matchups are:

  • Westminster School (Atlanta) vs. Community School Naples (Naples, Fla.)
  • Marist School (Atlanta) vs. Belen Jesuit (Miami)
  • St. Peters Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) vs. Blessed Trinity (Atlanta)

Pregame pep rallies and tailgate parties are scheduled at Trinity College Dublin and some of the teams will stay on the campus. A parade and tours of historic sites also have been scheduled, organizers said. According to a news release, as many as 3,000 travelers associated with the high school games are expected.

“It has always been our ambition that these College Football Classic games should be much more than a game, and we are delighted to be able to showcase top high school football to fans who live in and visit our city,” Padraic O’Kane of Irish American Events, organizers of the games in association with Global Football, in a statement.  “Dublin has become the European home for college football and this game and the surrounding events will be one of the largest events to take place in Ireland this year.”

Each of the coaches weighed in on their expectations via news release:

Westminster School vs. Community School Naples

“We are excited to play Community School Naples.  I’m sure they will be as determined as we are to win overseas.  We’re just delighted to come over and play.  The game is significant and just being a whole part of the showcase and bringing our team to Ireland is very intriguing and exciting.”  – Gerry Romberg, Westminster School, the reigning Class AAA Georgia state champion

“Community School of Naples is honored to be a part of such a historical and enriching experience. Coupling an athletic contest with the rich academic culture of one of the world’s oldest collegiate universities is consistent with our school’s focus on academic excellence and global outreach.  Dublin Ireland, versus the Westminster School of Atlanta, a wonderful academic institution of like mind and cultural excellence, is the perfect match-up.  – Paul Selvidio, Community School Naples

Marist School vs. Belen Jesuit

“We are very excited by our matchup with Belen Jesuit in the American Football Showcase.  We know they have an excellent program, with a rich tradition of excellence.  We also recognize them as a well coached, disciplined, and tenacious football team and we expect a tremendous challenge for our team.  I think the Marist-Belen Jesuit game offers the fans and supporters of both teams an interesting matchup of two very similar programs.” – Alan Chadwick, Marist School

“Our opponent, Marist High is a Georgia powerhouse and a well coached disciplined team.  Marist never beats themselves with mistakes.  They are always ready to play with intensity, they rise above adversity and Marist never quits.” – Richard Stuart, Belen Jesuit

St. Peter’s Prep vs. Blessed Trinity

“We plan to embrace the Irish culture and enjoy the magnificent setting and educational opportunities made available to us.  Of course the main objective is to compete hard and be successful on the field in our game against an outstanding Blessed Trinity School.   We are acutely aware of the success of their program.  They are talented, well coached and present a huge challenge for us on all fronts.  It’s really an honor to be able to compete against a great program in a beautiful country at a majestic site.” – Rich Hansen, St Peter’s Prep

“The trip to Ireland gives the boys a chance to play the game they love in front of a whole new audience.  The opportunity to be immersed in a different culture makes it all that much more special.  Our team, coaches and the Blessed Trinity community are excited and grateful for the experience.” – Tim McFarlin, Blessed Trinity

High school player Thon Maker cleared for NBA Draft

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Athlete Institute forward Thon Maker (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)

Athlete Institute forward Thon Maker (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)

Thon Maker has been cleared to enter the NBA draft, the NBA confirmed.

ESPN’s Chad Ford was the first to report the news.

The 7-foot Maker was able to convince the NBA that he should eligible based on the rule that requires a player to be 19 years old during the year of the draft and one year removed from high school before declaring for the draft. Maker played a post-graduate year this season at Orangeville Prep in Ontario.

He has said he intends to hire an agent, meaning he will lose his college eligibility. Most draft analysts have Maker being a late first-round selection.

The Australian by way of the Sudan has only been playing organized basketball since 2011, and recognizes that there are parts of his game that still need to improve. That isn’t to say that he has questions about his ability to grow and emerge as a bona fide star in the NBA.

“I see myself more like KG on the blocks, but also being able to be used in multiple perimeter based actions. I see myself quarterbacking our defense and being a mismatch on offense. For me, I also have to be talking about making a run at an NBA championship or going deep into the playoffs.”

 

Potential No. 1 MLB Draft pick Jason Groome ruled ineligible

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Barnegat's Jason Groome fired a no-hitter and struck out 19 Monday afternoon against Central Regional

Barnegat’s Jason Groome fired a no-hitter and struck out 19 Monday afternoon against Central Regional (Photo: Doug Hood, Gannett New Jersey)

Barnegat (N.J.) High School senior left-hander Jason Groome was ruled ineligible until either May 1 or half of the Bengals’ games for a violation of the NJSIAA’s transfer rules, the NJSIAA announced on Thursday.

Groome. who could be the No. 1 overall pick in Major League Baseball’s First-Year Player Draft on June 1, transferred back to Barnegat from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., at the beginning of the, school year in September without a bona fide change of address, according to the ruling.

“While NJSIAA will not comment on specific circumstances related to a particular student athlete, the association’s rules clearly state that a student-athlete transferring from one secondary school to another must provide evidence of a bona fide change of residence as defined by NJSIAA rules,” the NJSIAA said in a statement through its public relations firm. “Otherwise, that student will be deemed ineligible to participate in interscholastic athletic competition for 30 calendar days or half of the maximum number of games allowed in that sport by NJSIAA rules. Further, if it is determined that an ineligible player participated in regular season games, those games must be forfeited. Neither ruling is open to appeal.”

MORE: Groome just trying to have fun with attention

 

Barnegat will have to forfeit its wins against Point Pleasant Boro and Central — games Groome pitched in. He pitched a no-hitter Monday against Central Regional in which he struck out 19, walked none and threw 91 pitches while facing the minimum number of batters. He also pitched four-plus innings on April 5 against Point Pleasant Boro. He struck out 10, walked one hit one and hit a batter.

In a statement to The Press of Atlantic City, Barnegat said it did not feel the rule applied in Groome’s case, but also apologized to the team, players, coach and the school and community.

“The Barnegat Township School District does not feel the rule should apply in an instance when a student athlete returns to his home town, where his parents have residence and are taxpayers. Upon leaving the IMG Academy in Florida, Jason Groome could have chosen to play for any varsity High School baseball program in the United States. He chose Barnegat because his family and friends are here. We stand behind Jay, our team, coaches and administration.

MORE: Groome named to American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Baseball Team

“The district is, however prepared to accept the sanctions imposed by the NJSIAA as well as voluntarily forfeit the first two wins of our baseball season. Sanctions include that Groome must be deemed ineligible to participate for thirty days or half of the maximum games.

“The school district recognizes our misinterpretation of the NJSIAA residency rule and apologies go out to the team, the players, the coaches, and the families of Barnegat High School baseball as well as our community.”

Barnegat head coach Dan McCoy said the school knew about the rule and had looked it over before the season.

“I think it was a misinterpretation of the rule on our part, which I take full responsibility for,” McCoy said late Thursday afternoon “We’ll do what the NJSIAA says we’ve got to do.

“Jay is not at fault here. You have to remember at the end of the day, he is still a 17-year-old kid.  If somebody has to take the bullet for this, that somebody will be me.”

MORE: Groome one of only two high schoolers on Golden Spikes Award Watch List

Last year, Groome spent his junior year at IMG Academy, where he added 18 pounds to his 6-5 frame and three mph to his fastball, which now tops out in the upper 90s. IMG is viewed as a private school by the NJSIAA. He committed to attend national-power Vanderbilt some 17 months ago, but no one expects him to play for the Commodores. He talked to the Asbury Park Press before the start of the season about his decision to return home.

“It was mainly just to come back and be able to compete for a state championship and be around my family before I take off to school or the draft,” Groome said this spring. “I want to be with my teammates and win a championship.”

NJ Advance Media was first to report the ruling.

Contributing: Steve Falk of The Asbury Park Press

 

Ex-UK target Thon Maker cleared for NBA Draft

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Athlete Institute forward Thon Maker (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)

Athlete Institute forward Thon Maker (Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel, USA TODAY Sports)

Thon Maker has been cleared to enter the NBA draft, the NBA confirmed.

ESPN’s Chad Ford was the first to report the news.

The 7-foot Maker was able to convince the NBA that he should eligible based on the rule that requires a player to be 19 years old and one year removed from high school before declaring for the draft. Maker played a post-graduate year this season at Orangeville Prep in Ontario.

He has said he intends to hire an agent, meaning he will lose his college eligibility. Most draft analysts have Maker being a late first-round selection.

The Australian by way of the Sudan has only been playing organized basketball since 2011, and recognizes that there are parts of his game that still need to improve. That isn’t to say that he has questions about his ability to grow and emerge as a bona fide star in the NBA.

“I see myself more like KG on the blocks, but also being able to be used in multiple perimeter based actions. I see myself quarterbacking our defense and being a mismatch on offense. For me, I also have to be talking about making a run at an NBA championship or going deep into the playoffs.”

 

Jordan Brand Classic preview: TV schedule, rosters, guide

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Marques Bolden grabs a rebound during the Nike Hoop Summit (Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, USA TODAY Sports)

Marques Bolden is the only uncommitted player on the boys side. (Photo: Craig Mitchelldyer, USA TODAY Sports)

Some of the stars of tomorrow will be on display Friday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn for the Jordan Brand Classic.

Kentucky leads the way with four signees, while Duke has three and Michigan State has two. One of the Duke signees, Harry Giles III, will not play due to injury. There is one uncommitted player, Desoto (Tex.) big man Marques Bolden, who is deciding between Kentucky and Duke.

Here is the complete boys roster.

On the girls side, American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year Sabrina Ionescu is the lone uncommitted player. Ionescu, who starred at Miromonte (Calif.), is down to Oregon, Oregon State, and California.

Stanford leads the way with three signees, while Notre Dame, Ohio State, Maryland, and Baylor have two apiece.

Here is the complete girls roster.

Below is everything you need to know.

Start here for all of our Jordan Brand Classic content

MUST-READ STORIES

PLAYER DIARIES

What: Jordan Brand Classic
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.
When: Friday, April 15

  • International game: 1:30 p.m. ET (rosters here)
  • Girls game: 3:30 p.m. ET
  • Regional game: 5:30 p.m. ET (rosters here)
  • Boys game: 8 p.m. ET

How to watch: Watch live: International, regional, and girls on WatchESPN, boys on ESPN2

Sabrina Ionescu is the lone unsigned player in the girls game. (Photo: Mike DiNovo, USA TODAY Sports)

Sabrina Ionescu is the lone unsigned player in the girls game. (Photo: Mike DiNovo, USA TODAY Sports)


From high school ALL-USA to NFL Draft: USC quarterback Cody Kessler

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As the NFL draft nears, USA TODAY High School Sports will look back at the high school careers and draft prospects for former American Family Insurance ALL-USA selections. Today’s installment features Southern California quarterback Cody Kessler.

RELATED: Laquon Treadewell, Ole Miss

RELATED: Jaylon Smith, Notre Dame

RELATED: Su’a Cravens, USC

ORG XMIT: CABAK101 In this photo taken June 2, 2010, Centennial High School football player Cody Kessler, smiles as he announces his intentions to attend Southern California during a news conference in Bakersfield, Calif. At left is his brother Dylan. (AP photo/The Bakersfield Californian, Casedy Christie) ** MANDATORY CREDIT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES; ONLINE OUT; TV OUT **

Centennial High School football player Cody Kessler smiles as he announces his intentions to attend Southern California in 2010 with his brother Dylan. (Photo: Casey Christie, The Bakersfield Californian via Associated Press)

PLAYER PROFILE:

Position: Quarterback

High school: Centennial (Bakersfield, Calif.)

ALL-USA history: Named to the American Family Insurance first team in 2010. According to his USC bio, he completed 175-of-251 (69.7%) of his passes for 2,831 yards and 36 touchdowns with just two interceptions in 2010 as a senior and rushed for 324 yards on 75 carries (4.3 avg.) with eight TDs. Centennial was 10-2 in his senior year.

College: Southern California

Height, weight: 6-1, 220 pounds

Southern California quarterback Cody Kessler takes part in the team's NFL football pro day in Los Angeles, Wednesday, March 23, 2016. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes) ORG XMIT: CADD104

Southern California quarterback Cody Kessler takes part in the team’s pro day. (Damian Dovarganes, Associated Press)

By the numbers: He threw for more than 10,000 yards in his career at USC and never had a single-season completion percentage less than 65.4, despite playing for multiple head coaches during his tenure. His career passer rating was 156.4.

Draft positives: Consistently accurate. Can drop the ball in a bucket downfield. Shows proper appropriate patience or urgency. Good feel for pressure when it comes to evading pressure while keeping his his eyes downfield. Good decision-maker. Plays with a high level of intelligence and proper decision making. Protects the ball well.

Draft negatives: Below-average size and arm strength. Struggles to get zip on throws. Can be too conservative, too quick to check down. Won’t make a lot of plays with his legs.

Projection: Rounds 6/7

What he says: “Whoever’s in there, whether it’s a veteran or a younger guy, you want to compete for a spot. You don’t want to come in and settle for being a backup or a three. But at the same time it’s very beneficial to come in there and learn from a guy who knows the system and has been in there for a while.”

STATISTICS AT USC

Year Comp Att Comp% Yds TD Int
2012 2 2 100.0 9 0 0
2013 236 361 65.4 2,968 20 7
2014 315 452 69.7 3,826 39 5
2015 298 446 66.8 3,536 29 7
Career 851 1,261 67.5 10,339 88 19

Draft analysis by Dan Shonka, Ourlads.com

E'Town's Boley named East MVP in Jordan Brand Classic

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4/15/2016 3:30PM -- New York, NY, U.S.A -- East Team forward Erin Boley (21) poses for a photo with WNBA player Maya Moore after Boley was named East MVP during the Jordan Brand Classic Girls National Game at Barclay's Center.The West defeated the East 100-94. Photo by Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports Images, Gannett ORG XMIT: US 134691 Jordan hoops 4/15/2016 [Via MerlinFTP Drop]

East forward Erin Boley (21) poses for a photo with WNBA player Maya Moore after Boley was named East MVP during the Jordan Brand Classic Girls National Game (Photo: Andy Marlin, USA TODAY High School Sports)

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — During one particularly frenetic sequence midway through the third quarter of the girls national game at the Jordan Brand Classic on Friday, Erin Boley outfought several taller players and came away with a tough rebound in traffic. The 6-2 forward from Elizabethtown (Ky.) missed the putback, but stayed with the play and grabbed yet another board — one of her 15 for the contest.

Though Boley’s East squad dropped a 100-94 decision to the West, the star forward turned heads with her strong performance on the glass.

“I think rebounding is a mentality,” Boley said. “It’s a matter of wanting the ball. Going in thinking I was going to work harder for it.”

RELATED: Texas trio leads West to win Jordan Brand Classic girls national game

Lauren Cox, a 6-4 forward for the West who spent much of the game matched up against Boley, acknowledged Boley’s tough play down low.

“She’s a great rebounder,” said Cox, a Baylor signee who is considered the top player in the Class of 2016. “Great player. It was definitely a battle trying to get those rebounds.”

In addition to her impressive rebound total, Boley also scored 21 points to lead the East. She was 9-for-21 from the floor in a game-high 24 minutes of action.

The high scoring output is normal for Boley, who averaged 24.2 points per game during her senior year at Elizabethtown. But Boley, who’s headed to Notre Dame in the fall, has been focused on her defensive play and rebounding of late, in an effort to secure early playing time with the Fighting Irish.

“I feel like I’m a little bit versatile,” she said. “And I know that they’re going to need me to rebound, and they’re going to need me to play good defense if I’m going to get into the game.”

Boley was named the MVP of the East squad on Friday — just the latest addition to her fast growing hardware collection. The 2016 Miss Kentucky Basketball was recently honored with her third consecutive Gatorade Kentucky player of the year award. Last week, she was named to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA First Team and in March, she was named the Gatorade girls’ national player of the year.

“The last month has been crazy,” Boley said. “But it really is a dream come true.”

This week has offered Boley an invaluable chance to see how she stacks up with some of the best in the country. Jackie Young, who scored three points in 14 minutes of action for the East, will join Boley in South Bend. While another East teammate, Dominique Touissant, figures to match up with Boley quite a bit in the future, having committed to ACC rival Virginia.

“It’s amazing knowing that you’re practicing with some of the best of the best,” Boley said. “I’m excited to get to play against them in college.”

Boley is excited for her opportunity to suit up for the Fighting Irish, following the path of Notre Dame greats such as Brianna Turner and Skylar Diggins. And she already knows what it will take to forge her own legacy in South Bend.

“I can’t wait,” Boley said. “I’m ready to go in and get to work.”

VIDEO: 2017 No. 1 point guard Trevon Duval faces 2018 No. 1 point guard Javonte Smart

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The Under Armour Association kicked off Friday, and among the marquee matchups on Day 1 was between 2017 top point guard Trevon Duval and 2018 top point guard Javonte Smart.

Duval, playing for We R1, had 24 points, four rebounds, four assists and a steal. Smart, playing for Beast Mode, had 16 points, three rebounds, three assists and a steal but also had three turnovers.

We R1 won the game 71-50.

During the high school season, Duval plays for Advanced Prep in Dallas and Smart for Scotlandville Magnet in Baton Rouge, La.

Here are highlights courtesy of our friends at CourtsideFilms.com.

Texas guard Jarrett Culver scores 18 consecutive points in Nike EYBL victory

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Jarrett Culver, a junior shooting guard from Coronado (Lubbock, Texas), might have opened some eyes with his performance in Saturday night’s game at the Nike EYBL in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Culver, who plays for Pro Skills (Texas), had 28 points, six rebounds and five steals in a 79-76 victory against All Ohio.

But what was more impressive is he scored his team’s first 18 points to start the game. Yes, at one point, Culver had outscored the other team by himself.

And if you’re looking for an example of what Culver did during the high school season, there’s this:

10 key commitments during biggest weekend of spring games

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With a third of the Football Bowl Subdivision programs hosting spring games Saturday, there was ample opportunities to host recruits, and that meant picking up some commitments from prospects on campus or from afar.

Here is a rundown of a number of the Power of 5 teams that picked up commitments:

William Poole III to Georgia

Ranked as the No. 100 player in the 247Sports Composite, the four-star cornerback opted to remain in his home state after strongly considering Florida. Poole told 247Sports that he was a silent commit to the Bulldogs but then wanted to visit Gainesville. Instead, he determined that his initial instincts were correct.

“To be honest, when I looked at the plusses and minuses closely, there were no minuses for Georgia,” he told 247Sports. He cited his relationship with new Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker and also said going to Georgia means his family could attend the games.

Poole, from Hapville in Atlanta, is ranked as the No. 12 cornerback in the nation and the No. 9 player in Georgia.

Marlon Tuipulotu to Washington

The top-ranked player in Oregon and the nation’s No. 5 defensive tackle committed to the Huskies. He chose Washington over in-state Oregon, USC and other a group of others but wanted to remain on the West Coast.

The 6-2, 275-pounder from Independence (Ore.) is ranked as No. 90 overall in the 247Sports Composite.

Austin Williams to Mississippi State

Ocean Springs (Miss.) wide receiver Austin Williams gives the Bulldogs an important in-state addition. Williams is a three-star prospect, according to the 247Sports Composite, which also ranks him as the No. 24 player in Mississippi. Williams has more than a dozen offers, including ones from Tulane, Wake Forest and Harvard. He also has interest from Stanford. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 202 pounds, Williams made 56 catches for 928 yards and seven touchdowns last year. He had 38 receptions for 618 yards and six touchdowns as a sophomore.

Mississippi State also gained a commitment from three-star offensive tackle Paul Gainer from Gautier (Miss.).

Edward Ingram to LSU

The No. 7 offensive guard in the class committed Friday night. A four-star recruit, he had planned to visit LSU on his way to the Alabama spring game Saturday, but instead remained in Baton Rouge. Ingram, 6-4 and 325, is from DeSoto (Texas), joining former DeSoto teammate Dee Anderson, a wide receiver who is a member of the Class of 2016.

Tommy DeVito to Syracuse

A three-star prospect from Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), DeVito was attracted to the spread attack that will be emplyed by new coach Dino Babers. According to NJ.com, he threw for 1,689 yards, 17 touchdowns and five interceptions last season for the Non-Public Group 4 state champions. The 247Sports Composite ranks him as the No. 58 pro style quarterback.

CJ Thorpe to Penn State

The ninth-ranked guard in the nation, he will be a legacy player at Penn State. His father Chris played for Joe Paterno in the 1980s. CJ is 6-3 and 318 pounds and helped lead Pittsburgh Central Catholic to the PIAA AAAA title last fall.

KD Nixon to Tennessee

Days after naming the Vols as his leader, the four-star wide receiver from DeSoto (Texas) committed during the Tennessee spring game. He is ranked as the No. 34 wide receiver in the class by the 247Sports Composite.

The Vols also landed a commitment from Cheyenne Labruzza, a three-star cornerback from Albany, La. He is ranked as the No. 15 player in the state.

Jordan McNair to Maryland

McNair, from McDonogh School in Owings Mills, Md., is the No. 6 player in the state of Maryland and decided to remain in-state. He had offers from Ohio State, Auburn, Penn State and Michigan State and continues to help build an offensive line that had two four-star tackles in the Class of 2016.

Isaiah Robertson to Notre Dame

While his college position is unclear, Robertson is ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the state of Illinois out of Neuqua Valley (Naperville, Ill.). Two weeks after visiting South Bend, he committed the day before the Irish spring game.

Randal Grimes to Southern California

Ranked as the No. 6 player in the state of Nevada, Grimes is an athlete who committed during Saturday’s visit. He had visited USC a month ago and received an offer.

DeMatha Catholic teammates lead three Opening Final invites from DC regional

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Two DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) teammates — ranked as the top two prospects in Maryland in the Class of 2017 — and a defensive lineman from Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) earned invitations to The Opening Finals in July in Oregon from Sunday’s regional event in suburban Washington, D.C.

DeMatha’s Anthony McFarland is ranked as the No. 1 player in Maryland and the No. 3 all-purpose back in the Class of 2017, according to the 247Sports Composite rankings. McFarland has 28 offers and is coming off unofficial visits to Maryland on consecutive weekends.

DeMatha’s Chase Young is ranked as the No. 2 player in Maryland and the No. 4 weakside defensive end in the 247 Composite. Young has 41 reported offers and also has been recent visits to Maryland. He also visited Ohio State earlier this month.

Good Counsel’s Joshua Paschal is ranked as the No. 7 player in the state of Maryland and the No. 8 strong side defensive end. He has 10 reported offers.

Here are the positional MVPs from the regional event:

Hard Knox: UK target Knox showing basketball over football was right choice

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Tampa Catholic player Kevin Knox led E1T1 Elite to a 2-1 record at the Brooklyn EYBL session. (Photo: Jim Halley, USA TODAY Sports).

Tampa Catholic player Kevin Knox led E1T1 Elite to a 2-1 record at the Brooklyn EYBL session. (Photo: Jim Halley, USA TODAY Sports).

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Kevin Knox II was Tampa Catholic’s starting quarterback as a sophomore and was in line to start again for the Crusaders as a junior this past season when he gave up the sport to concentrate on basketball.

His father, a former All-State receiver for Niceville, Fla., who played on Florida State’s 1993 national championship team, wasn’t disappointed in the move. At 6-8, Kenny II would be a rarity in college football, but according to Kenny Sr., it wasn’t his son’s height that directly concerned him.

RELATED: Cal Supreme’s Brandon McCoy becoming a true player of note

“It was really more his shoe size,” Kenny Sr. said. “You don’t see any quarterbacks with a size-18 shoe. Brock Osweiler is 6-7 and Dan Quinn was 6-8, so you have tall quarterbacks. Peyton Manning was 6-6, Cam Newton is 6-6, but probably they don’t have size-18 shoes. Probably at 16 years old, Kenny’s going to end up being 6-10.”

This past week, the younger Knox showed further proof that basketball should be his sport. Already the No. 6 player in the 2017 class according to 247Sports.com’s Composite rankings, he led E1T1 United to a 2-1 record in the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League session at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, averaging 21.7 points. 7.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Because of his quickness and outside shooting, he’s seen as a possible off guard or small forward at the next level, though he’s athletic enough to guard any position.

“I’ve shown that I can play an all-around game, inside and out,” Knox said. “That’s something about my game, the versatility, the ability to do anything.”

Big-name programs are visiting the junior. Kentucky has an in-home visit set for Monday. North Carolina is coming in on Tuesday. Duke, which visited last week, and Florida State are also contenders.

Knox said giving up football has allowed him to concentrate on being stronger for basketball.

“A lot of coaches tell me I should work on my strength,” Knox said. “In the last couple of months, I’ve spent a lot of time in the weight room. A lot of coaches want me to work on getting contact and going in there and finishing with contact, so that’s why I’ve worked on my upper-body strength.”

Knox played last summer for USA Basketball’s team that won the FIBA Americas U16 championship in Argentina, as he averaged 10.6 points and 4.6 rebounds a game. That helped his confidence going into this past season at Tampa Catholic, where he was the state 4A Player of the Year while averaging 29.6 points, 10.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists a game for the 26-5 Crusaders.

“There were a lot of coaches (at USA Basketball),” Knox said. “They taught me a lot of things that I didn’t know before. They saw that I had good potential and they worked me hard. When we got to Argentina, the coaches pushed me to attack. USA (Basketball) really helped me out a lot.”

Follow Jim Halley on Twitter at @jimhalley


Texas UIL proposes pitch count limits and mandatory rest days

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The Texas University Interscholastic League’s lone restriction on pitching is that a player can throw no more than 10 innings if pitching in more than one game in a day.

That is likely about to change. The UIL’s medical advisory committee recommended Sunday a proposal that would limit players age 17-19 to 110 pitches in a game and those age 14-16 to 95 pitches in a game, according to The Dallas Morning News.

The proposal also includes mandatory rest days. If a pitcher throws more than 85 pitches, he must have four rest days before pitching again. Fewer pitches would mean fewer mandatory rest days. Throwing 66-85 pitches would require three days; 46-65 would be two days, 31-45 would be one day; and fewer than 30 would mean no required days.

The Dallas Morning News report indicates the UIL legislative council is likely to adopt the proposal as a recommendation for next season and a rule for 2018.

“Nationwide, we are way behind,” Mark Cousins, the former UIL athletic director and current director of compliance, told the Morning News. “All innings are not the same. You can have an inning where you throw eight pitches and you’re out of the inning. You can have an inning where you throw 108 pitches and you’re not out of the inning.”

Softball pitchers are not included in the proposal.

VIDEO: 7-footer DeAndre Ayton's nifty ball-handling highlights the top plays from Brooklyn's Nike EYBL

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DeAndre Ayton of Phoenix’s Hillcrest Prep, one of the top players in the class of 2017, is known primarily for a dominant post game and a high motor. He’s also pretty adept at handling the ball—especially for a 7-footer.

Check out Ayton’s move and the rest of the top plays from Brooklyn’s Nike EYBL event over the weekend.

Here’s the full highlight set, courtesy of Hoop Diamonds.

 

VIDEO: Top 10 power forward Ira Lee shows off offensive skills in Under Armour Association

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Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) big man Ira Lee took part in the Under Armour Association circuit’s opening weekend in New York City with Earl Watson Elite.

Lee is ranked as the No. 6 player in the state of California and the No. 7 power forward in the Class of 2017 by the 247Sports Composite rankings. He also is ranked as a top 50 player overall.

His mixtape of highlights from how he performed from our friends at CourtsideFilms.com. Lee averaged 8.2 rebounds per game over the weekend, good for fourth on the circuit.

From high school ALL-USA to NFL Draft: Clemson wide receiver Charone Peake

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As the NFL draft nears, USA TODAY High School Sports will look back at the high school careers and draft prospects for former American Family Insurance ALL-USA selections. Today’s installment features Clemson wide receiver Charone Peake.

IN THIS SERIES

Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell

Notre Dame linebacker Jaylon Smith

Southern California quarterback Cody Kessler

Southern California safety/linebacker Su’a Cravens

ORG XMIT: SCSPA202 In this photo taken Aug. 20, 2010, Dorman High School's Charone Peake (19) runs past a defender on his way to score a touchdown during a high school football jamboree in Spartanburg, S.C. (AP Photo/Spartanburg Herald-Journal, John Byrum)

Dorman High School’s Charone Peake runs past a defender on his way to score a touchdown  in 2010 (Photo: John Byrum, Spartanburg Herald-Journal via Associated Press)

Position: Wide receiver

High school: Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)

ALL-USA history: Named to the American Family Insurance second team in 2010. As a senior, was a finalist for Mr. Football in South Carolina and had 65 receptions for 1,053 yards and nine touchdowns in helping Dorman to the state title game. Also had 18 carries for 120 yards.

College: Clemson

Height, weight: 6-3, 215 pounds

Clemson receiver Charone Peake runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings) ORG XMIT: INDC1

Clemson receiver Charone Peake runs a drill at the Scouting Combine (Darron Cummings, Associated Press)

By the numbers: Played behind DeAndre Hopkins, Martavis Bryant, and Sammy Watkins early in his career and then was limited by injuries in 2013 and 2014 before getting an opportunity last fall. Ran a 4.37 seconds in the 40 at Clemson’s Pro Day.

Draft positives: Good length; can shield defenders from the ball and outreach anyone. Strong combination of ball skills and physical style of play. Reliable in traffic and downfield. Pure hands catcher. Sneaky quickness as an underneath route runner. Can run himself open with savvy movement and fast reactions. Versatile threat.

Draft negatives: Only one year of steady playing time and offensive contributions. Lacks the extra gear downfield to scare anyone deep. Doesn’t do much after the catch. Lacks the ideal burst to top speed.

Projection: Rounds 2/3

STATISTICS AT CLEMSON

Year Rec yds Rec Yds/rec TD
2011 71 4 17.8 0
2012 172 25 6.9 2
2013 84 8 10.5 1
2014 129 12 10.8 2
2015 716 50 14.3 5
Career 1,172 99 11.8 10

Draft analysis by Dan Shonka. Ourlads.com

No. 6 Katy (Texas) baseball season in jeopardy after alleged rules violation

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The Katy (Texas) baseball team, ranked No. 6 in the Super 25, is facing potential discipline after self-reporting rules violations to the state athletic association regarding amateur status and eligibility.

Fox 26 in Houston reported that two players are believed to have accepted money to coach youth players with as much as $800 involved in the transaction. If the players accepted money for their baseball talents, they could be deemed professionals and Katy could have to forfeit the games they played in.

Katy, which began the season with 18 consecutive wins and entered the weekend at 21-2, could have its season in jeopardy.

In a statement, Katy ISD said, “On Tuesday, April 12, the Katy ISD Athletic Department was made aware of a possible UIL rule violation by two members of the Katy High School Varsity Baseball Team. A 19-6A District Executive Committee Hearing has been scheduled on Friday, April 22, 2016 to consider whether a violation has occurred regarding Section 441, Amateur Athletic Rule.”

The District Executive Committee for 19-6A schools will meet Friday about the potential infractions and a penalty could be handed down at that session.

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