Jim Brown, in a 2015 photo (Tony Dejak, Associated Press)

Jim Brown is in the College Football Hall of Fame, the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the National Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

At age 80 — some 60-plus years after he lettered in five sports at Manhasset High on Long Island — Brown will be enshrined in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association in July.

To be fair, the NYPHSAA Hall of Fame has only been in existence since 2003 and Brown is far from the only noticeable omission (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julius Erving, John Mackey are on a long list). The organization’s assistant director, Joe Altieri, told Mark McGuire of The Daily Gazette that the nominations come from the membership and the public.

McGuire, however, takes the organization to task for serious flaws in the process, especially when someone who many consider among the best all-around athletes ever is not included. He suggests a legends committee should be formed to help enshrine worthy candidates whose accomplishments came in the more distant past.

Nonetheless, Brown will get his just due this summer.

Bishop Gorman quarterback Tate Martell helps lead the Gaels to a state championship and No. 1 ranking in the Super 25 last season as a sophomore. (Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)

Tate Martell’s decision to decommit from Texas A&M was not much of a surprise, although the vicious fallout might have been. Yet when the nation’s top-ranked dual-threat quarterback goes from committed to uncommitted, there is an impact on the quarterback class.

Where Martell lands – and when – is bound to affect other members of the Class of 2017.

Martell was not the only quarterback recruit making news in the last week: Ryan Kelley from Basha in Arizona decommitted from Oregon and committed to Arizona State and Lowell Narcisse opted to stay in state at LSU.

While it is still a long way from now until National Signing Day in February and more decommits abound, quarterbacks are always among the first to commit and often serve as ambassadors to urge other players to follow them. Many quarterbacks also are early enrollees and head to campus to take part in spring practice so their decisions come earlier.

Among the top 20 pro-style quarterbacks in the 247Sports Composite rankings, only one is uncommitted – No. 14 Jack Spears from San Clemente, Calif. Among dual threat quarterbacks, four among the top 15 and seven among the top 20 are uncommitted.

Consider that 36 of the 63 schools in the Power 5 conferences already have a quarterback commit and programs such as Clemson, Miami, LSU and Kentucky have two. In the Big Ten, only Indiana, Iowa and Illinois don’t have a QB commit and in the Big 12, only West Virginia and Kansas are without.

“It’s not the strongest quarterback class we’ve seen, but it’s not weakest either,” ESPN national recruiting analyst Craig Haubert said. “It’s an eclectic group that’s more middle of the pack; a good, solid bunch of players.

“It also has balance between pocket passers and dual threat. The last few years, they were all in one or the other group. When we say that, dual threat quarterback doesn’t mean the player is incapable of throwing and pocket passer doesn’t mean he’s a statue but more set into that type of system. This year, it’s a good group of both.”

RELATED: Texas A&M QB signee takes shot at Martell

Without Martell, there is a spot open at Texas A&M. But his situation also impacts Ohio State, which many views as the favorite to land him, and Southern California among others. Martell tweeted Monday night that he has added offers from West Virginia, Pittsburgh and North Carolina.

Ohio State has the top-ranked class thus far for 2017 and among that group is quarterback Danny Hoban from Archbishop Hoban (Akron). Hoban committed to the Buckeyes in December 2013 and has been unfazed by the Buckeyes’ dalliance with Martell that has been going on since long before he decommitted.

Clark said the Ohio State coaches told him that they would look at a “couple of guys” in 2017 and 2018, although he remains unfazed.

“Urban Meyer explained it to me. It’s a business, you know what I mean? It’s a business,” Clark told Cleveland.com last month. “If he feels the need to. They have to be balanced on all points of the game, and I am not worried about competition. I honestly don’t care who they bring in, I’m going to win.”

Ohio State also has shown interest in Baylor commit Kellen Mond, the No. 4 dual-threat recruit who plays for IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. Mond is originally from Texas.

As for USC, the Trojans have their eyes on Sears, but interest in him is picking up in a big way. Sears has 20 offers, including one from USC late last week.

Braxton Burmeister (Photo: 247Sports)

Other than Martell, the top-ranked uncommitted quarterback is Brandon Burmeister from La Jolla, Calif. He is No. 9 in the 247Sports Composite.

Burmeister has 12 reported offers and this could come down to Washington or Arizona and potentially Utah. He visited Washington in early April and raved about the experience. Coaches from a number of other programs have been stopping by La Jolla Country Day to visit, though.

He recently told 247Sports that he is in no rush to commit.

“I don’t want to put a timeline on my decision because that just puts outside pressure on me — so I want people to understand that, when my heart tells me it’s the right thing to do, I’m going to make my commitment,” he told 247Sports.

Also expect Oregon to make a run at Martell, Sears and Burmeister in hopes of keeping one of them on the West Coast.

Miranda Elish (Photo: Dawn Elish)

Miranda Elish’s numbers have been staggering.

As a sophomore, she had a 24-1 record with an earned run average of 0.31 and 233 strikeouts in 137 innings in winning the Gatorade Indiana State Player of the Year.

As a junior, she went 15-1 with an ERA of 0.65 and 198 strikeouts in 107 innings to repeat as Gatorade state player of the year. She had more hits herself (46) than she allowed in the circle (39).

So it’s not a surprise that Elish’s numbers are eye-popping as a senior. She is 7-0 thus far with a 0.70 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 50 innings for a team ranked No. 5 in the latest USA TODAY High School Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Super 25. She has 32 hits and allowed just 11.

She is also a monster at the plate, hitting better than .500 this season.

Elish, named to the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Preseason Team this spring, is faced with the expectation that she will be perfect every time. She was named honorable mention ALL-USA last spring.

“It’s tough because you have a lot of pressure to perform every time you’re out here,” Crown Point coach Ginger Britton recently told The Chicago Tribune. “She does a nice job of hitting her spots. She’s worked hard on adding some pitches to her arsenal this year. If one’s not working, she has a couple others.”

RELATED: ALL-USA Preseason Softball Team

Elish, ranked as the No. 1 softball recruit in the nation, committed to Oregon in 2012 and finally was able to sign her letter of intent last fall. She is the jewel of a Ducks recruiting class that is ranked as the nation’s best.

“Miranda lives for the big moments,” Oregon coach Mike White says. “She always wants the ball and always wants to be up to bat in crucial spots in the game. She throws very hard and works well down in the zone. She’s a power pitcher but can locate her spots as well. She is very deserving of the No. 1 ranking.”

The secret to her success, or at least one of them?

“The amount of time I spend working on hitting and pitching in our basement with my dad, six days a week, for almost two hours every night,” she said after winning the Gatorade honor last spring. “Also working out with Coach Garrett in the weight room to improve my strength and endurance.”

Elish can lift more than many football players.

The goal now is the elusive state championship.

She led Crown Point to its first regional title since 1985 as a sophomore before the team suffered its only loss of the season, 2-0 in the semi-state semifinals. Crown Point last 2-1 last year in the regionals.

Seth Williams’ future seems to be in football. A wide receiver in the Class of 2018 at Paul W. Bryant in Cottondale (Ala.), Williams is being pursued has offers from Alabama and Ole Miss with others sure to follow.

But, he posted a video on Twitter this week showing what he can do with a basketball. The result: A shattered backboard.

Williams, ranked as the No. 27 receiver by 247Sports in the class, is 6-3 and 202 pounds.

Chris Sodom is 7-3 and plays for the Houston Defenders on the Under Armour Association circuit.

While his offensive numbers through the first two weekends of play have not been massive, he can block shots, including games with six blocks and four blocks.

Sodom, originally from Nigeria, plays during the school year for Beaumont Central in Texas.

Take a look at his highlights courtesy of our friends at CourtsideFilms.com.

Paul VI girls basketball coach Scott Allen is presented with the ALL-USA Coach of the Year trophy by Matt Wade of USA TODAY Sports

Scott Allen coached the girls basketball team at Paul VI (Fairfax, Va). to a 33-1 record, its 10th consecutive Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association title and third consecutive Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title.

Allen was named the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Basketball Coach of the Year and received his trophy during a presentation at the school Wednesday.

RELATED: ALL-USA Girls Basketball Teams

“Winning championships are great, but the joy and care that you see on the players’ faces for each other, at the end of the season, was the highlight,” he said. “They loved being around each other and they loved playing together and they didn’t care who got the credit.”

Paul Allen is joined by the Paul VI seniors during the ALL-USA Girls Basketball Coach of the Year presentation.

Coming off consecutive perfect games, Zach Bowen took the mound Wednesday for Serra Catholic (McKeesport, Pa.) with a chance to own the national record with three perfectos in the row rather than sharing the mark.

Those hopes ended in the first inning as an Apollo Ridge (Spring Church, Pa.) runner reached base on an error.

RELATED: Zach Bowen talks consecutive perfect games

Bowen did not allow a hit in an abbreviated performance of two innings — with four strikeouts — as Serra Catholic wanted others pitchers to get innings in with a break of nearly a week before the playoffs.

Bowen still will have his no-hitter streak going when he makes his first postseason appearance.

In August, James Harrison of the Pittsburgh Steelers set off a firestorm in youth sports circles when he returned the participation trophies for his 6 and 8 year old sons.

Harrison wrote at the time, “I’m not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best…cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better.”

Steelers running back DeAngelo Williams took to Twitter on Wednesday night to say he had returned the participation ribbon that daughter had earned at her field day. Williams has two daughters, Rhiya and Reyna.

As Williams notes, after he returned the ribbon, Rhiya got first place in the next event. She also earned a few other ribbons for third as noted in the photo he posted on Twitter.

Williams’ daughters have gotten some attention before. They wore pink after their father was fined for wearing eye black honoring his late mother and held a sign saying, “The NFL cannot fine us.” Williams and his oldest daughter also were part of a Pantene Super Bowl commercial.

Add Wake Forest to the list of Football Bowl Subdivision schools in Power 5 conferences who have landed a quarterback recruit in the Class of 2017.

Tayvon Bowers from Pennsylvania power Bishop McDevitt (Harrisburg) committed to the Deamon Deacons on Twitter.

He becomes No. 37 among the 63 Power 5 schools with a quarterback commit, although we remain a long way from National Signing Day next February.

Bowers had initially said that Rutgers was his leader, but the Scarlet Knights got a commitment from Jonathan Lewis of St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City).

RELATED: Tate Martell and the QB landscape in the Class of 2017

Bowers’ family was impressed with the campus and he spent time talking to former McDevitt quarterback Matt Johnson, who is with the Cincinnati Bengals. Johnson played for current Wake offensive coordinator Warren Ruggiero at Bowling Green.

“I think the coaches are going to put the pieces in place to get it where it needs to be,” he told PennLive.com. “They did very good at Bowling Green. They had success with that program, and as soon as they find the right pieces, I think they’re going to do really well here.

“As for me, being able to go and compete against Florida State and Clemson, big-time names like that, that’s all that I have ever dreamed of.”

Riding a 33-game winning streak since losing the season opener, LaGrange (Texas) remains No. 1 in the USA TODAY High School Sports/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Super 25 softball rankings.

LaGrange beat Splendora 5-2 and 8-1 to advance to face Hargrave in the state playoffs.

MORE: Complete Super 25 rankings

No. 2 Eagle (Idaho) completed the regular season at 23-0 and will face Boise for the district championship Thursday.

No. 3 Deer Park (Texas) defeated Fort Bend Travis (Richmond) 11-3 and will now face Super 25 Preseason No. 1 Pearland for the state championship.  Deer Park defeated Pearland 8-0 when the two teams met Feb. 27.

Bald Knob (Ark.) remains No. 4 and Bishop Carroll (Wichita, Kan.) moves up one spot to round out the Top 5.

Five newcomers join the Super 25: No. 17 Plano West (Plano, Texas), No. 20 Curry (Jasper, Ala.), No. 22 Coral Springs Charter (Fla.), No. 23 North Davidson (Lexington, N.C.) and No. 24 Incarnate Word (San Antonio). Curry had spent a good part of the season as the No. team before falling out of the rankings.

As we have chronicled here on USA TODAY High School Sports, Shareef O’Neal — the son of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal — continues to refine his game with Cal Supreme in the Nike EYBL 16U.

O’Neal is a 6-9 forward in the Class of 2018 at the Windward School in Los Angeles. He has range to the three-point line and is continuing to develop his guard skills.

Apparently, his new hoops tutor is none other than Kobe Bryant.

VIDEO: Shaq’s son, Shareef O’Neal, looks like a legitimate super prospect

MORE: Shareef O’Neal working on his own legacy

Shareef says Kobe and his dad despite a rocky history at times and Shareef and Kobe talked during NBA All-Star weekend in February in Toronto.

“I might start training with him soon — probably this summer,” Shareef told TMZ Sports in the video above.

And Shareef plans to give his best when he faces the now-retired Bryant.

“If we play, I’m definitely going to try to win,” he said. “I’m not going light on him.”

Kelly Duffy (Photo: Mark R. Sullivan, Gannett New Jersey)

It was a good day to be a Sayreville (N.J.) pitcher.

The baseball and softball teams advanced in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament preliminary round – each with a no-hitter.

On the softball field, Kelly Duffy allowed no hits, struck out nine and walked three as the ninth-seeded Bombers beat East Brunswick Tech, 20-0. Mary Kate Kersting went 2-for-2 with a double, three RBIs and four runs scored while Kayla Stvan went 1-for-2 with a double, four RBIs and two runs scored.

On the baseball field, Pete Soporowski struck out 11 as he no-hit J.F. Kennedy in a 6-0 victory. Kennedy batters reached base on two errors and two walks.

Joe Polomene and Kyle Richards had two RBI apiece for the Bombers. Sean McDonnell scored twice.

The baseball and softball teams now advance to first-round games.

Contributing: MyCentralJersey.com

Pete Soporowski (Photo: Mark R. Sullivan, Gannett New Jersey)

Chip Kell’s Georgia state shot put record had stood for 50 years.

Kell from Avondale High had a throw of 66-07 in 1966 before going on to become an All-American lineman at the University of Tennessee and later being named to the College Football Hall of Fame.

That record is no more after Isaiah Rogers (Campbell High, Smyrna) threw the shot put 67-10.00 in Thursday’s GHSAA Class AAAAAA state meet. The record came on his second throw; he exceeded 63 feet on all six throws and did not foul.

Rogers, a TCU signee, eclipsed his personal best of 67.075 set at the Arcadia Invitational in California in mid-April.

He was second in the discus on Thursday with a throw of 167-11, an inch shy of the school record.

Rogers also has international experience and has competed for Team USA at the youth level in the shot and also has competed in the discus and hammer.

As Session 3 of the Nike EYBL gets ready to begin this weekend, our partners at Scout.com took a look at highlights from big man Mohamed Bamba during the previous session in Indianapolis.

Bomba from the Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) is ranked as the No. 2 player in the Class of 2017 by Scout behind DeAndre Ayton (Hillcrest Prep, Phoenix). Bomba and Ayton squared off during the EYBL session in Brooklyn last month.

Bomba, who plays for the PSA Cardinals, is being pursued by schools such as Duke, North Carolina, Villanova, Kentucky, Arizona, Indiana, Kansas, Connecticut, Syracuse, and many others.

Miami Central has been a mainstay in the Florida playoffs (Photo: Derik Hamilton, USA TODAY Sports)

The high school football playoffs in Florida could be getting a massive makeover, according to a report from The Miami Herald.

Under the proposal being considered by the Florida High School Activities Association — possibly for the as soon as the 2017 season — districts would be eliminated and teams would advance based on points earned by a strength of schedule system.

The intent, proponents say, is to have the best teams reach the postseason. Currently, teams are placed into districts in eight classifications and the top two teams advance to the regional playoffs.

The proposal would also have a significant impact on scheduling: with no districts, there are no mandatory opponents. Teams could go out and find a maximum of 10 games in the regular season over an 11-week period with a week off. Points are awarded based on schedule strength with 50 points for a win against a team with at least eight wins and 35 for losing to a team with at least eight wins and so on.

According to the Herald, the top eight teams in each region in the eight classifications will be seeded based on their point total and averaged based on playing at least eight games.

After the 11 weeks, points would determined and the regional seedings announced possibly in a television broadcast.

“We think this would be very exciting,” FHSAA football administrator Frank Beasley told the Herald. “We would make every week count. There would be no more having districts wrapped up by the seventh or eighth week.”

The FHSAA is seeking feedback on the plan and acknowledges the current proposal needs to be tweaked.

To read more of the Herald story, click here

Voting has ended for Massachusetts, Virginia and Vermont. Official state results below:

NEXT UP: Group Round begins May 16 at 12 pm ET.

MORE: Best Athletic Program Homepage

Below are the top two vote getters from each state. 

STATE WINNERS:
Massachusetts – Old Rochester, Lowell Catholic
Vermont – Mill River, U-32
Virginia – Maggie Walker, Matoaca
Arkansas – Siloam Springs, Hot Springs
New Jersey – South Brunswick, Hunterdon Central
New Mexico – Mayfield, Eldorado
Connecticut – Waterford, Notre Dame
North Carolina – Green Hope, Millbrook
New Hampshire – Kearsarge Regional, Derryfield School
Alabama – Homewood, Piedmont
Alaska – Juneau-Douglas, West Valley
South Carolina – Dutch Fork, Chapin
Louisiana – St. Joseph’s Academy, Catholic
Pennsylvania – Cumberland Valley, Pine Richland
Wyoming – Tongue River, Central
Delaware – Smyrna, Cape Henlopen
Maryland – Sherwood, Middletown
New York – Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, Shenendehowa
Hawaii – Hawaii Prep, Konawaena
Tennessee – Farragut, Christ Presbyterian
Texas – Allen, Judson
Florida – Godby, Miami Country Day
Maine – Scarborough, Forest Hills
Oklahoma – Verdigris, Newcastle
California – La Mirada, Enterprise
DC – Gonzaga College, St. John’s College
Mississippi – St. Patrick, St. Stanislaus
Kentucky – Notre Dame, Covington Catholic
Ohio – Bishop Watterson, Wapakoneta
Rhode Island – Rogers. Coventry
Montana – Corvallis, Hamilton
Washington – Sumner, Zillah
Wisconsin – Burlington, New London
Iowa – Washington, Regina
Illinois – George Washington, Mother McAuley
West Virginia – Charleston Catholic, Morgantown
Kansas – St. Thomas Aquinas, Hesston
North Dakota – Fargo South, Hazen
Missouri – St. Francis Borgia, Lafayette
Colorado – Thompson Valley, Regis Jesuit
Minnesota – Southwest Minnesota Christian, Blue Earth
South Dakota – Tea Area, T.F. Riggs
Georgia – Dalton, Woodward Academy
Indiana – Valparasio, North Central
Idaho – Boise, Blackfoot
Michigan – Lake Orion, Seaholm
Nebraska – Sidney, Omaha Scutt Catholic
Oregon – Burns, South Eugene
Arizona – Valley Christian, Desert Vista
Nevada – Bishop Gorman, Spanish Springs
Utah – Richfield, Maple Mountain

Note: The 18 wildcards will be announced once all the state contests have concluded. The 18 schools that finished with the highest number of votes, no matter what state, who didn’t finish in the top two of its state will move on to the national group round. 

CONTEST OVERVIEW:

The biggest America’s Best contest in the history of USA TODAY High School Sports is here.

Beginning Aug. 31, the high school sports fans of America will decide which school has the best overall athletic program. We begin with Arizona, Nevada and Utah (see the full state schedule below).

Schools qualify by having won a state championship in a state-sanctioned sport in any of the last three academic years. Then YOU decide which school is No. 1 in the state. The top two schools in each state will be entered into the national championship round in the spring. The top votegetter not among the top two will have a chance to make the national championship round as a wild card.

Vote as often as you like, tell your friends and family and school alumni, share on Facebook and Twitter. This is YOUR CHANCE to prove which school is the best.

Here is the schedule for the rest of the state round:

Oct. 12: Minnesota, Colorado, South Dakota

Oct. 26: Missouri, Kansas, North Dakota

Nov. 9: Illinois, Iowa, West Virginia

Nov. 30: Washington, Wisconsin, Montana

Dec. 14: Ohio, Kentucky, Rhode Island

Jan. 11, 2016: California, Mississippi, D.C.

Jan. 25: Florida, Oklahoma, Maine

Feb. 8: Texas, Tennessee, Hawaii

Feb. 22: New York, Maryland, Delaware

March 7: Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Wyoming

March 21: Alabama, South Carolina, Alaska

April 4: North Carolina, Connecticut, New Hampshire

April 18: New Jersey, Arkansas, Montana

May 2: Virginia, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Mexico

There are perfect games but rarely are there perfect perfect games.

Jaret Edwards of St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) added to an already impressive season by striking out all 15 batters in a mercy-rule shortened 10-0 victory against John Marshall in the Division I Strongsville Sectional title game.

According to Cleveland.com and our friends at For The Win, 11 of the 15 went down swinging.  “Edwards got a first-pitch strike on at least six of the batters. There were a handful of foul balls and one pop-up that his catcher didn’t see in time to catch.”

RELATED: Pittsburgh-area pitcher throws back-to-back perfect games

The state association record book notes nearly 70 perfect games, although it is unclear how many — if any — were this variety.

Edwards, who is heading to George Washington, is 4-0 this season with 57 strikeouts in 45 innings. He has allowed just 26 hits and has a 0.96 ERA, according to Cleveland.com.

“It was just absolutely amazing,” coach Matt Rosinski told Cleveland.com. “I’d never heard of this before and I’ll probably never see it again in my lifetime.”

Zion Williamson is a 15-year-old sophomore and ranked No. 17 in the ESPN 25 for the Class of 2018. He also is ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of South Carolina.

Kentucky, North Carolina, Iowa State, South Carolina and Virginia are among his nearly 10 offers.

At the Bob Gibbons Tournament of Champions on Friday, a Williamson dunk was so good that it pretty much shut down the gym. As good as the dunk was, watch the reactions from the crowd in the video from Elite Mixtapes.

Jericho Sims, a 6-8 forward from Cristo Rey Jesuit in Minneapolis, took part in the 2017 Battle at the Lakes and CourtsideFilms was there to capture this:

The Opening Regional came to the Chicago area on Saturday and four more players earned invitations to the Finals in Oregon in July, although none from the state of Illinois.

• Amir Riep, a defensive back from Colerain in Cincinnati, is ranked as the No. 14 cornerback in the nation and No. 132 overall, according to Scout.com.
• Jaylen Kelly-Powell, a defensive back from Cass Tech in Detroit, is ranked as the No. 27 safety by Scout. He took part last weekend in Columbus and did not get an invitation to the Finals so he returned.
• Joshua Ross, a linebacker from St. Mary’s Prep in Orchard Lakes, Mich., is ranked as the No. 10 ILB in the nation. He is committed to Michigan.
• Trey Smith, an offensive lineman from the University School of Jackson, Tenn., is ranked as the No. 7 OT in the nation and No. 42 overall.