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Florida State commit Daniel Wright transfers but not to St. Thomas Aquinas

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Daniel Wright (Photo: Chris Nee, 247Sports)

Daniel Wright (Photo: Chris Nee, 247Sports)

Four-star safety Daniel Wright, who committed to Florida State on Wednesday, transferred to Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes, Fla.) on Friday and was on the field with his new teammates Saturday during Cleveland Browns running back Duke Johnson’s charity 7-on-7 event.

Wright, who attended Cardinal Gibbons, was expected to transfer to St. Thomas Aquinas on May 31, but that transfer never happened.

RELATED: Florida State adds to recruiting haul

“I was supposed to go to St. Thomas, but it was some misunderstandings going on around there. My mom didn’t want to deal with it, so we made our decision to come to Boyd Anderson,” Wright told the Sun-Sentinel. “I’m completely, fully happy. I’m glad I made the decision. It’s going to be the best decision I’ve made in my life — also with the Florida State commit.”

Aquinas is expected to be one of the top teams when the Preseason Super 25 is released in early August.

Boyd Anderson and Miami Southridge were declared co-champions as rain and lightning caused the remainder of play to be canceled with the score tied in the final.

You can see a brief video interview with Wright by clicking here.


Tennessee recruiting roll continues with Kivon Bennett, son of former NFL star

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And the success at Tennessee continues …

Two days after the Vols pulled in eight verbal commits during the annual Orange Carpet Day, coach Butch Jones and his staff landed a pledge from defensive tackle Kivon Bennett from St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale).

Bennett will play at a different SEC school than his father, Cornelius Bennett, who starred at Alabama before a lengthy NFL career that included four Super Bowl appearances with the Buffalo Bills.

Bennett is ranked as the No. 36 defensive tackle in the nation and the No. 61 prospect in Florida by 247Sports.com Composite Rankings for the Class of 2017. He had offers from 28 schools, including most of the SEC along with Ohio State and Michigan.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the SEC,” Bennett told 247Sports. “The staff there was so welcoming. I loved the environment there. I felt real comfortable. I love their facilities.”

Louisiana-Lafayette signee Herman Williams collapses, dies while working out

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Herman Williams, a former standout at Marianna (Fla.) High School and signee at Louisiana-Lafayette, collapsed and died while working out in Florida, according to news reports.

The school tweeted the news Monday evening.

Williams turned 19 Sunday. He was described by his high school coach as a hard worker, leader, and the personification of a “high character” student-athlete.

VIDEO: Running Man Challenge breaks out at NBPA Top 100 Camp

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What happens we you get more than 100 of the nation’s top high school basketball players together?

Obvious answer: Great hoops.

Less obvious answer: The Running Man Challenge.

And here is the video to prove it from the NBPA Top 100 Camp last weekend at the University of Virginia.

MORE: 5 things we learned at the NBPA Top 100 Camp

Texas UIL to consider shot clock for basketball

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The shot clock: is it necessary in the high school game?

The shot clock: is it necessary in the high school game?

The Legislative Council of the UIL in Texas is scheduled to met Tuesday with a full agenda of items to discuss, including pitch counts, the potential for home schooled students to participate in sports, issues related to transgender athletes, adding gymnastics and powerlifting as sanctioned sports and more.

Among the intriguing potential policies is the addition of a 35-second shot clock in basketball.

According to the Dallas Morning News, eight states had shot clocks for the 2014-15 season in either boys or girls basketball or both: Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington, New York, California, North Dakota and South Dakota.

There are obvious hurdles, including the cost of installation and maintenance of the shot clock along with finding and training people at each gym who know the rules and can operate the clock. But advocates for the shot clock say neither of those issues has come into play in the states that use the shot clock.

In January, USA TODAY High School Sports partner PrepCircuit.com did an in-depth piece on the impact a shot clock could have on high school hoops. Click here to read that piece.

Florida State offers Class of 2020 QB Max Johnson, son of former NFL passer

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Florida State became the second FBS program to offer Class of 2020 quarterback prospect Max Johnson before he even starts high school, according to his Twitter account.

Johnson, 6-2 and 165, is a left-handed quarterback from the Atlanta area who led his youth football team to the FBU National Championship Tournament last year. Johnson received the offer after a weekend visit to FSU.

He also has received an offer from the University of Miami.

He is also the son of Brad Johnson, who played for Florida State before a 15-year career as an NFL quarterback and a Super Bowl championship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002.

Tulsa (Okla.) Union finishes No. 1 in Super 25 spring girls soccer rankings

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Tulsa (Okla.) Union finishes the season as the No. 1 team in the USA TODAY High School Sports/National Soccer Coaches Association of America Super 25 for spring girls soccer.

MORE: See the full Super 25 spring girls soccer rankings

Union won the 6A state title and completed a 19-0 season to extend its unbeaten streak to 36 matches over two seasons. Union has lost just once in the last three seasons.

The team allowed only five goals in 19 matches this season.

Padua Academy (Wilmington, Del.) moved up to No. 2 in the final rankings, winning its fifth consecutive Division I state title and finishing 18-0.

Lexington (S.C.) also jumped up a spot to No. 3 after winning the state 4A title in overtime against defending state champion J.L. Mann (Greenville).

Davis (Calif.) finished at No. 4 with a 21-0-2 mark and a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship.

North Carolina 3A champion Weddington (Matthews) rounded out the Top 5 after a 24-0-1 record. The tie was against eventual 4A champion Providence (Charlotte), which is ranked No. 11 in the final Super 25.

New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.) was ranked No. 1 in the Super 25 preseason and re-enters the list in the final rankings at No. 7. That is the highest ranked newcomer.

Other newcomers: No. 9 Shawnee Mission West (Overland Park, Kan.), No. 10 Centennial (Ankeney, Iowa), No. 13 Battlefield (Haymarket, Va.), No. 16 Collinsville (Ill.), No. 17 St. Teresa’s Academy (Kansas City), No. 18 Stoney Creek (Rochester Hills, Mich.) and No. 19 Notre Dame de Sion (Kansas City).

Super 25 Regional Girls Spring Soccer Rankings - Final

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Each week USA TODAY High School Sports and National Soccer Coaches Association of America will release Super 25 Regional Girls Spring Soccer Rankings. Rankings are based on results from the 2015-16 season, quality of players and strength of schedule. Regions are determined by the NCSAA.

MORE: Boys Soccer Spring Rankings

MORE: Girls Soccer Spring Rankings

REGION I (Delaware, North Carolina, Virginia)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Padua Academy (Wilmington, Del.) 18-0-0
2 Weddington (Matthews, N.C.) 24-0-1
3 Providence (Charlotte, N.C.) 25-1-1
4 Battlefield (Haymarket, Va.) 21-2-1
5 Mills Godwin (Richmond, Va.) 21-1-1
6 Carrboro (Carrboro, N.C.) 20-1-2
7 Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte, N.C.) 19-2-4
8 St. Catherine’s School (Richmond, Va.) 17-0-1
9 Caesar Rodney (Camden, Del.) 17-1-0
10 Community School of Davidson (Davidson, N.C.) 23-0-2

REGION II (Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Lexington (Lexington, S.C.) 25-0-2
2 Lassiter (Marietta, Ga.) 20-1-0
3 Westminster Schools (Atlanta, Ga.) 21-1-1
4 Vestavia Hills (Vestavia Hills, Ala.) 23-2-0
5 McIntosh (Peachtree City, Ga.) 20-2-0
6 J.L. Mann (Greenville, S.C.) 25-3-0
7 Oak Mountain (Birmingham, Ala.) 22-4-1
8 St. Pius X (Atlanta, Ga.) 17-4-2
9 Marist School (Atlanta, Ga.) 21-1-1
10 Auburn (Auburn, Ala.) 24-2-3

REGION III (Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin)

Rank School W-L-T
1 New Trier (Winnetka, Ill.) 26-3-1
2 Centennial (Ankeny, Iowa) 21-1-0
3 Collinsville (Collinsville, Ill.) 22-2-2
4 Stoney Creek (Rochester Hills, Mich.) 18-3-3
5 Catholic Memorial (Waukesha, Wis.) 23-1-2
6 Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.) 21-1-3
7 Rochester (Rochester, Ill.) 25-2-1
8 Canton (Canton, Mich.) 17-3-4
9 Iowa City West (Iowa City, Iowa) 18-4-0
10 Divine Savior Holy Angels (Milwaukee, Wis.) 17-6-3

REGION IV (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Union (Tulsa, Okla.) 19-0-0
2 Shawnee Mission West (Overland Park, Kan.) 20-0-1
3 St. Teresa’s Academy (Kansas City, Mo.) 20-4-0
4 Notre Dame de Sion (Kansas City, Mo.) 20-5-0
5 St. Joseph’s Academy (St. Louis, Mo.) 21-3-1
6 Rockwood Summit (Fenton, Mo.) 27-2-1
7 Blue Valley West (Overland Park, Kan.) 24-2-0
8 Eureka (Eureka, Mo.) 23-3-1
9 Incarnate Word Academy (St. Louis, Mo.) 18-6-2
10 St. Dominic (O’Fallon, Mo.) 19-5-0

REGION V (Alaska, California, Colorado, Wyoming)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Davis (Davis, Calif.) 21-0-2
2 Grandview (Aurora, Colo.) 18-0-1
3 Rocklin (Rocklin, Calif.) 15-1-5
4 Mountain Vista (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) – [] 15-4-1
5 Del Oro (Loomis, Calif.) 14-1-5
6 Columbine (Littleton, Colo.) 15-2-2
7 Broomfield (Broomfield, Colo.) 15-3-1
8 Thunder Ridge (Highlands Ranch, Colo.) 13-4-1
9 Dimond (Anchorage, Alaska) 18-1-0
10 Laramie (Laramie, Wyo.) 18-4-1

 


Sabrina Ionescu, ALL-USA Girls Basketball Player of the Year, chooses Oregon

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

Sabrina Ionescu (right) starred at the McDonald’s All American Game. (Photo: Mike DiNovo, USA TODAY Sports)

Sabrina Ionescu promised she was going to wait until the very end to make her college commitment. And she kept her word.

Ionescu, the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Basketball Player of the Year, walked into the basketball offices at Oregon on Sunday, signed her name to the financial aid papers and said she was ready to begin summer classes Monday morning after graduating high school last week.

She said would handle the recruiting process her way and if schools didn’t respect her approach, they weren’t on her list for very long. And if her way was different than virtually any other top 5 player in recent memory, so what?

“I said a year ago, I was going to take my time and wait until the end to make a decision and people that pressured me obviously didn’t believe in what I was saying,” she told the Daily Emerald, which broke the news of her commitment.”

Ionescu, ranked as the No. 4 player in the Class of 2016 by ESPNw HoopGurlz, averaged 25.3 points, 8.8 assists, 7.6 rebounds, 4.5 steals and 1.3 blocks a game for Miramonte (Orinda, Calif.). She also was named the MVP of the McDonald’s All-American Game with a record 25 points.

She chose Oregon over Washington after narrowing her options.

RELATED: Sabrina Ionescu accepts ALL-USA Player of the Year trophy

Known as “The Franchise,” Ionescu has an understated personality except on the court.

“I literally just walked up. I didn’t really say anything,” Ionescu told the Daily Emerald of her visit to the Oregon basketball offices. “I pulled out some papers and signed them. I didn’t do it too big. I’m not really that type of person.”

She also is glad the saga of her recruitment is finally over. She joins her twin brother at Oregon, where he will walk on the men’s basketball team.

“I’m ready to take it on,” Ionescu said. “I’m ready to kind of enjoy everything that comes along with being a Duck. I honestly just honored and happy to be a part of a great program. I’m so excited to see what the future holds.

“It’s definitely nice not being asked 60 times a day where I was going to college. Now it’s kind of finally a new chapter is opening.”

Plant City (Fla.) football coach steps down after most successful season in school history

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Plant City (Fla.) football coach Greg Meyer has stepped down after leading the school to the most successful season in its lengthy history, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

Plant City was 11-2 last season and advanced to the Class 7A region final for the first time.

“Issues with my heart arose last season and worsened during the spring, which forced me to make my health and my family my sole focus moving forward,” Meyer, 40, said in a text message to the Times. “I will remain the TV productions teacher at (Plant City) and continue to support our kids and this outstanding community, however I will not be on the field this year.”

Robert Paxia, 27, will replace Meyer. It will be Paxia’s first head coaching jobs after a number of stints as an assistant. He joined the Plant City staff last season as offensive coordinator.

Super 25 Regional Boys Spring Soccer Rankings - Final

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Each week USA TODAY High School Sports and National Soccer Coaches Association of America will release Super 25 Regional Boys Spring Soccer Rankings. Rankings are based on results from the 2015-16 season, quality of players and strength of schedule. Regions are determined by the NCSAA.

MORE: Boys Soccer Spring Rankings

MORE: Girls Soccer Spring Rankings

REGION I (South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia)

Rank School W-L-T
1 River Bluff (Lexington, S.C.) 24-1-0
2 Wando (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) 26-2-0
3 Washington-Lee (Vienna, Va.) 14-1-2
4 Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.) 19-3-0
5 Battlefield (Haymarket, Va.) 18-1-1
6 Chapin (Chapin, S.C.) 21-3-0
7 Christian Brothers (Memphis, Tenn.) 12-4-3
8 Langley (McLean, Va.) 13-1-3
9 Christian Academy of Knoxville (Knoxville, Tenn.) 20-2-1
10 Broad Run (Ashburn, Va.) 12-3-2

REGION II (Alabama, Georgia)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Oak Mountain (Birmingham, Ala.) 28-0-2
2 Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.) 19-4-0
3 Riverwood (Atlanta, Ga.) 17-3-2
4 Chattahoochee (Johns Creek, Ga.) 18-1-0
5 Milton (Milton, Ga.) 16-4-1
6 McIntosh (Peachtree City, Ga.) 19-2-0
6 Lakeside (Atlanta, Ga.) 20-1-0
8 Northgate (Newnan, Ga.) 18-2-1
9 Cullman (Cullman, Ala.) 24-4-2
10 St. Pius X (Atlanta, Ga.) 17-5-0
10 Johnson-Gainesville (Gainesville, Ga.) 20-1-1
10 Wesleyan School (Norcross, Ga.) 22-0-1

REGION III (Iowa, Nebraska, Utah, Wyoming)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Valley (West Des Moines, Iowa) 20-1-0
2 Omaha South (Omaha, Neb.) 21-2-0
3 Iowa City (Iowa City, Iowa) 22-1-0
4 Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.) 20-2-0
5 Maple Mountain (Spanish Fork, Utah) 19-1-0
6 Jackson Hole (Jackson, Wyo.) 16-0-1
7 Iowa City West (Iowa City, Iowa) 13-2-0
8 Viewmont (Bountiful, Utah) 13-3-3
9 Westside (Omaha, Neb.) 19-3-0
10 Laramie (Laramie, Wyo.) 15-5-0

REGION IV (Arkansas, Oklahoma)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 17-0-0
2 Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 16-3-0
3 Union (Tulsa, Okla.) 17-2-0
4 Deer Creek (Edmond, Okla.) 15-2-0
5 East Central (Tulsa, Okla.) 16-2-0
6 Stillwater (Stillwater, Okla.) 15-2-0
7 Bentonville (Bentonville, Ark.) 17-4-1
8 Bishop McGuinness (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 13-4-1
9 Springdale (Springdale, Ark.) 19-5-0
10 Edmond Santa Fe (Edmond, Okla.) 12-4-2

REGION V (Alaska, California, Washington)

Rank School W-L-T
1 Tahoma (Covington, Wash.) 17-5-0
2 Central Valley (Spokane Valley, Wash.) 18-4-0
2 Mercer Island (Mercer Island, Wash.) 18-2-1
4 Snohomish (Snohomish, Wash.) 16-3-4
5 Archbishop Murphy (Everett, Wash.) 21-1-0
6 Lakeside (Seattle, Wash.) 16-5-1
7 Camas (Camas, Wash.) 17-2-0
8 Kentwood (Covington, Wash.) 15-2-1
9 Skyline (Samammish, Wash.) 13-2-2
10 Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma, Wash.) 14-2-1
10 South Anchorage (Anchorage, Alaska) 20-1-3

 

Elite QB Chase Garbers commits to Cal

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Another elite quarterback in the Class of 2017 has made his decision.

Chase Garbers from Corona Del Mar (Newport Beach, Calif.) committed to Cal on Tuesday night via Twitter.

His commitment comes a week after a return visit to Washington.

Garber is ranked as the No. 19 pro style quarterback by the 247Sports Composite and was the second highest ranked uncommitted pro style QB in the class. Jack Sears from San Clemente (Calif.) is ranked No. 10 and has 27 offers. Sears and No. 22 Judd Erickson from Mountain Vista (Littleton, Colo.) are the lone uncommitted pro style passers among the top 25.

RELATED: Looking at the QB landscape for 2017

“When I went up there the first time I had a gut feeling that it was home and the coaching staff is unbelievable,” Garbers told 247Sports. “We are going to be young which will be good. They produce QBs and Cal has a world-class education. The business school is off the charts. We are brewing something special at Cal!”

Garber threw for 2,715 yards with 33 touchdowns and three interceptions last season. He ran for 457 yards and seven TDs.

 

ALL-USA Boys Soccer: Second Team

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The 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Soccer Teams were selected by USA TODAY High School Sports based on performance, level of competition and strength of schedule. This is the inaugural ALL-USA team in boys soccer and includes players from fall, winter or spring seasons.

MORE:

ALL-USA Boys Soccer: First Team

ALL-USA Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Esteban Calvo, Montverde Academy (Fla.)

ALL-USA Boys Soccer Coach of the Year: Mike Gorni, Central Bucks East (Doylestown, Pa.)

Second Team

 Ifunanyachi Achara (Photo: Risley Sports Photography)

Ifunanyachi Achara (Photo: Risley Sports Photography)

Ifunanyachi Achara
School: Berkshire School (Sheffield, Mass.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 5-10
College: Georgetown
Noteworthy: Achara tallied 26 goals and 13 assists for Berkshire, which reached the New England Prep Class A semifinals. A member of the Nigerian Under-17 Men’s National Team, he scored a goal in 16 of 20 games during the fall.

Stephen Milhoan (Photo: St. Ignatius HS)

Stephen Milhoan (Photo: St. Ignatius HS)

Stephen Milhoan
School: St. Ignatius (Cleveland)
Position: Forward
Year: Junior
Height: 5-9
College: Xavier
Noteworthy: Milhoan scored nine goals in seven postseason matches, leading St. Ignatius to the Ohio Division I state title and a share of the No. 1 ranking in the USA TODAY High School Sports/National Soccer Coaches Association of America Super 25 for the fall. For the season, Milhoan scored 29 goals and passed for 19 assists and was named the Ohio Soccer Coaches Association Division I Player of the Year.

Alex Philippe CREDIT Kurt Kwiatkowski

Alex Philippe (Photo: Kurt Kwiatkowski)

Alec Philippe
School: Marquette University (Milwaukee, Wis.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 6-foot-1
College: Wright State
Noteworthy: Philippe tallied a trio of assists in the Wisconsin Division I state final, leading Marquette University to a 5-2 win over Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.). The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Player of the Year, Philippe finished the year with 27 goals and 12 assists.

Ezequiel Quijada
School: Canoga Park (Calif.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 5-6
College: Uncommitted
Noteworthy: Quijada led Canoga Park to the California Los Angeles County Section Division 3 Tournament title. Quijada tallied 45 goals and 27 assists and was named the Los Angeles Daily News Player of the Year for a second consecutive year.

Hunter Holstad (Photo: Leslie DeMasters)

Hunter Holstad (Photo: Leslie DeMasters)

Hunter Holstad
School: Oak Mountain (Birmingham, Ala.)
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
Height: 6-1
College: Naval Academy
Noteworthy: Holstad transitioned from defense to midfield this season and he didn’t miss a beat. The Shelby County Reporter Player of the Year, Holstad tallied 18 goals and 16 assists while leading Oak Mountain to a 28-0-2 record, the Alabama Class 7A state championship and the No. 1 rankings in the USATHSS/NSCAA Super 25 for spring.

Addison Luck

Addison Luck

Addison Luck
School: Morgantown (W.Va.)
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
Height: 6-1
College: Yale
Noteworthy: Luck scored 30 goals, including a pair of tallies in the state championship game as Morgantown claimed the West Virginia Group AAA state title. The younger brother of Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, he also dished out 20 assists.

Elliot Smith-Hastie
School: Loyola (Los Angeles)
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
Height: 5-11
College: Boston College
Noteworthy: Smith-Hastie was the catalyst for Loyola, which won both the California Southern Section Division 1 Tournament title and the Southern California Division I Regional Tournament championship. The CIF Division I Player of the Year, Smith-Hastie scored 22 goals and passed for 17 assists as the Cubs closed the season with 21 straight wins.

Shane Bradley (Photo: The Haverford School/Jim Roese Photography)

Shane Bradley (Photo: The Haverford School/Jim Roese Photography)

Shane Bradley
School: Haverford School (Haverford, Pa.)
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
Height: 6-1
College: Villanova
Noteworthy: Bradley was the leader of a Haverford defense that recorded 14 shutouts and allowed just 12 goals in 23 games to win the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state title. Bradley also contributed 10 goals and three assists on offense.

Mickey George (Photo: St. Benedict's Prep)

Mickey George (Photo: St. Benedict’s Prep)

Mickey George
School: St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.)
Position: Defender
Year: Junior
Height: 5-7
College: Uncommitted
Noteworthy: George was a leader in the back as St. Benedict’s allowed only five goals during a perfect 18-0 season. Born in Liberia, George tallied four goals and five assists for the Gray Bees, who finished the fall season ranked as co-No. 1 in the Super 25.

Jack Kielty (Photo: Dawn J. Benko, Special to the Daily Record)

Jack Kielty (left) (Photo: Dawn J. Benko, Special to the Daily Record)

Jack Kielty
School: Delbarton School (Morristown, N.J.)
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
Height: 6-2
College: Notre Dame (lacrosse)
Noteworthy: Kielty led a Delbarton defense that opened the season with 10 straight shutouts. The Green Wave allowed just eight goals during a 23-1 season, capping the year with a 2-0 victory over Christian Brothers (Lincroft, N.J.) in the New Jersey Non-Public Class A state title game.

Peter Byrne
School: Hellgate (Missoula, Mont.)
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Senior
Height: 5-11
College: Seattle University
Noteworthy: Byrne allowed two goals in 15 games as Hellgate won the Montana Class AA state championship. Playing with a broken arm, Byrne saved a penalty shot in the final minutes of the state title game, preserving a 1-0 win over Helena.

2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Soccer Teams

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The 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Soccer Teams were selected by USA TODAY High School Sports based on performance, level of competition and strength of schedule. This is the inaugural ALL-USA team in boys soccer and includes players from fall, winter or spring seasons.

New Jersey leads the team with three selections. Highlighted by Player of the Year Esteban Calvo, Florida joins California, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania with two picks each. Alabama, Connecticut, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin all claim one spot.

MORE:

ALL-USA Boys Soccer: Second Team

ALL-USA Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Esteban Calvo, Montverde Academy (Fla.)

ALL-USA Boys Soccer Coach of the Year: Mike Gorni, Central Bucks East (Doylestown, Pa.)

FIRST TEAM

Frankie de la Camara
School: Belen Jesuit Prep (Miami)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 6-2
College: Penn State
Noteworthy: It was a dominant season from start to finish for de la Camara, who notched a hat trick in Belen Jesuit’s 5-2 win over Gulf Coast (Naples, Fla.)  in the Florida Class 4A state title game. The state’s Mr. Soccer winner, de la Camara concluded the Wolverines’ unbeaten season with 59 goals and 17 assists.

Garrett McLaughlin 2_CREDIT_Cindy Ritchie Photography

Garrett McLaughlin (Photo: Cindy Ritchie Photography)

Garrett McLaughlin
School: Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City, Okla.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 6-1
College: SMU
Noteworthy: McLaughlin scored 36 goals and dished out 17 assists as Heritage Hall completed a perfect 17-0 season with its third Oklahoma Class 5A state championship in four seasons. McLaughlin tallied four goals and three assists in the Chargers’ four-game postseason run to the title.

Lucas Mendes (Photo: Gatorade)

Lucas Mendes (Photo: Gatorade)

Lucas Mendes
School: Washington-Lee (Arlington, Va.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 5-5
College: Virginia
Noteworthy: Mendes scored 21 goals and passed for 12 assists, leading Washington-Lee to the Virginia Group 6A state championship. Mendes won Gatorade National Player of the Year honors and attended a training camp with the U.S. Soccer Under-20 Men’s National team in January.

Evan Vare
School: Central Bucks East (Doylestown, Pa.)
Position: Forward
Year: Senior
Height: 5-8
College: Lafayette
Noteworthy: Vare was a dominant force from the very first game for Central Bucks East, leading the Patriots to a perfect 26-0 season and the Pennsylvania Class AAA state championship. Vare finished the year with 42 goals and 13 assists, including a goal and assist in a 2-0 win over Seneca Valley (Harmony, Pa.) in the state final.

Johnny Antunes (Photo: St. Benedicts Prep)

Johnny Antunes (Photo: St. Benedict’s Prep)

Johnny Antunes
School: St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.)
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
Height: 5-7
College: Monmouth
Noteworthy: Antunes led St. Benedict’s to its 27th straight New Jersey Prep A state title. A center-of-the-park facilitator, Antunes tallied five goals and 19 assists for the Gray Bees, who finished a perfect 18-0 and were co-No. 1 in USA TODAY Sports/National Soccer Coaches Association of America Fall Super 25 Rankings.

Luca Levee (Photo: Evan Scales)

Luca Levee (Photo: Evan Scales)

Luca Levee
School: Milton Academy (Milton, Mass.)
Position: Midfielder
Year: Senior
Height: 6-0
College: Maryland
Noteworthy: Levee was the man in the middle for Milton, which at 22-0 completed the first perfect season in the 67-year history of the fiercely competitive Independent School League. Levee finished the year with 13 goals and nine assists, scoring an insurance goal in the Mustangs’ 2-0 win over Northfield Mount Hermon (Gill, Mass.) in the New England Prep Class A championship game.

Marcelo Malpartida (Photo: GoFlashWin.com)

Marcelo Malpartida (Photo: GoFlashWin.com)

Marcelo Malpartida
School: River Bluff (Lexington, S.C.)
Position: Midfielder
Year: Junior
Height: 5-7
College: College of Charleston
Noteworthy: The ultimate playmaker, Malpartida dished out 25 assists as River Bluff won the South Carolina Class 4A state title in the school’s third year of existence. Malpartida scored one goal on the season, the lone tally in a 1-0 win over previously unbeaten Wando (Mount Pleasant, S.C.) in the state quarterfinals.

Esteban Calvo CREDIT Montverde (waiting approval)

Esteban Calvo (Photo: Montverde Academy)

Esteban Calvo
School: Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
Height: 6-0
College: Florida International
Noteworthy: The Costa Rica native led a defense that allowed just four goals in 23 games as Montverde finished the season 19-0 to claim the top spot in the USA TODAY Sports/National Soccer Coaches Association of America Winter Super 25 Rankings and earn American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year honors.

Michael DeShields (Photo: McDonogh soccer)

Michael DeShields (Photo: McDonogh soccer)

Michael DeShields
School: McDonogh School (Owings Mills, Md.)
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
Height: 6-1
College: Wake Forest
Noteworthy: A rock for McDonogh, DeShields led a defense that produced 13 clean sheets and allowed just 10 goals during a 21-0-1 season that culminated with a Maryland MIAA Class A state championship. DeShields chipped in offensively with nine goals and four assists.

AJ Palazzolo (Photo: STLhighschoolsports.com)

AJ Palazzolo (Photo: STLhighschoolsports.com)

AJ Palazzolo
School: Christian Brothers College (St. Louis)
Position: Defender
Year: Senior
Height: 5-11
College: Indiana
Noteworthy: Named the 2015 National High School Player of the Year by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Palazzolo led a CBC defense that recorded 17 shutouts in 29 games and reached the Missouri Class 4, District 4 Tournament final, falling to eventual state runner-up DeSmet Jesuit (St. Louis).

Detre Bell (Photo: David Spagnolo)

Detre Bell (Photo: David Spagnolo)

Detre Bell
School: South Kent School (Kent, Conn.)
Position: Goalkeeper
Year: Senior
Height: 5-11
College: Connecticut
Noteworthy: Bell recorded 14 shutouts and allowed just three goals as South Kent completed a perfect season with the New England Prep Class B title. Bell is the starting goalie for the Bermuda Under-20 Men’s National Team and has also made an appearance with the full national team.

ALL-USA Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Esteban Calvo, Montverde Academy (Fla.)

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The 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Soccer Teams were selected by USA TODAY High School Sports based on performance, level of competition and strength of schedule. This is the inaugural ALL-USA team in boys soccer and includes players from fall, winter or spring seasons.

MORE:

ALL-USA Boys Soccer: First Team

ALL-USA Boys Soccer: Second Team

ALL-USA Boys Soccer Coach of the Year: Mike Gorni, Central Bucks East (Doylestown, Pa.)

Esteban Calvo (Photo: Montverde Academy)

Esteban Calvo (Photo: Montverde Academy)

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:

Name: Esteban Calvo
School: Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Position: Defense
Year: Senior
College: Florida International

Esteban Calvo grew up in Costa Rica, but he is leaving his mark on soccer fields in the United States. The 6-foot, 175-pound senior was a rock on defense as Montverde completed a perfect 19-0 season to extend its winning streak to a jaw-dropping 154 games (146-0-8). Montverde finished No. 1 in the USA TODAY High School Sports/National Soccer Coaches Association Super 25 for winter boys soccer.

Calvo was at his best in the Eagles’ season-ending MAST Tournament. Montverde concluded a season in which it allowed just four goals by notching three shutouts in three games, including a 5-0 win against St. Paul’s (Covington, La.) in the tournament championship game. Calvo was named the Tournament MVP.

“Esteban is very exciting and impactful,” said Jerry McCabe, head coach of Melbourne (Fla.) High. “He’s a very valuable asset to Montverde. Esteban plays at a level much higher than most high school players.”

A member of the Costa Rican Under-20 Men’s National Team, Calvo was more than capable of stepping up on the offensive end for the Eagles. He contributed five goals and eight assists on the season.

But it was his defense that earned him recognition as the 2015-16 Gatorade Florida Boys Soccer Player of the Year. A tough, physical defender, Calvo was virtually impossible to get around. And Calvo wouldn’t just knock the ball out of harm’s way — he was more than capable of quickly turning defense into offense for his teammates.

“Esteban is a physically dominant and competitive player who always wins his 1v1 battles,” said Montverde head coach Mike Potempa. “He is a leader, extremely versatile and will have an immediate impact [for Florida International].”


ALL-USA Boys Soccer Coach of the Year: Mike Gorni, Central Bucks East (Pa.)

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The 2015-16 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Soccer Teams were selected by USA TODAY High School Sports based on performance, level of competition and strength of schedule.

MORE:

ALL-USA Boys Soccer: First Team

ALL-USA Boys Soccer: Second Team

ALL-USA Boys Soccer Player of the Year: Esteban Calvo, Montverde Academy (Fla.)

Mike Gorni (Photo: SuburbanOneSports.com)

Mike Gorni (Photo: SuburbanOneSports.com)

COACH OF THE YEAR:

Name: Mike Gorni
School: Central Bucks East (Doylestown, Pa.)

Entering the 2015 fall season for Central Bucks East, Mike Gorni’s coaching resume was already filled to the brim: more than 350 career wins, 11 state playoff berths, State Coach of the Year, National Coach of the Year finalist.

And Gorni wasn’t just a successful high school coach. With club teams for Lehigh Valley United and FC Delco, he had won 27 state championships, reached 12 national final fours and won the 2013 U.S. Youth Soccer national title.

The only thing missing from the resume was a high school state championship. Not only did the Patriots deliver that to Gorni in his 21st and final season with CB East, they made sure the entire season was perfect from start to finish.

Starting with a 5-0 win against Spring-Ford (Royersford, Pa.) in early September and ending with a 2-0 victory against Seneca Valley (Harmony, Pa.) on a cold night in late November, the Patriots completed a 26-0 season and delivered Gorni his first state title in his final game.

Evan Vare made sure of it. The senior forward tallied a goal and an assist in that 2-0 state title game win, completing a season in which he won Gatorade State Player of the Year honors with 42 goals and 13 assists. The Patriots also received a huge effort from senior goalie Austin Prime, who was spectacular in the title game with six saves.

“The main objective was to win it for coach in his last season,” Vare told Pennlive.com.

Tim Tebow visits high school teammate wounded in Orlando shooting

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(Photo: Instagram)

(Photo: Instagram)

Rodney Sumter and Tim Tebow were high school teammates at Nease High in Ponte Vedra (Fla.). Tebow would go on to win two national titles and the Heisman Trophy. Sumter would play at Jacksonville University and then move to Orlando, working as a dancer and bartender, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

Sumter was tending bar at Pulse nightclub on the night of the massive shooting and has been recovering at Orlando Regional Medical Center after being shot three times and breaking both his arms, according to the Florida Times Union and what he has posted on his Instagram account.

Among those who came to see him  in the hospital was Tebow.

On his Instagram account, Sumter wrote: “My high school quarterback left the Bahamas to come and see me. Tebow has always been an awesome person.”

According to The Orlando Sentinel, Sumter also posted a photo with Orlando City captain Kaká, former baseball star Johnny Damon and Florida Gov. Rick Scott. A number of sports stars and others have been visiting the hospital to check on the victims.

Sumter has remained upbeat since the shooting and often posts Bible verses on his Instagram account: “No weapons formed against me shall prosper. Life changing experience and I don’t want to do anything but share my testimony and turn my life over to the lord. I don’t have my phone so I can’t respond to you all through text or Facebook just yet. … But thank you so so so much for the heavy support that I have received. It definitely hasn’t gone unnoticed.”

Super 25 Computer baseball rankings: Who's the best team in each state?

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With the baseball season at its end, the Super 25 Computer rankings are complete. Below is a list of the top team in each state, according to the computer.

Super 25 Computer rankings are provided by Ken Massey. The ratings are designed to reward teams for their performance, and objectively quantify those performances. Strength of schedule is built into the model. The model also corrects for home field advantage. Teams lose less for a loss on the road and gain more for a win on the road. Margin of victory also is factored in. 

To see the full computer rankings, click here. To search by state, go to the dropdown that says “National” and select a state.

 

Alabama: Sparkman (Harvest)

Arizona: O’Connor (Glendale)

Arkansas: Bryant

California: Buchanan (Clovis)

Colorado: Cherokee Trail (Aurora)

Connecticut: Amity Regional (Woodbridge)

Delaware: St. Mark’s (Wilmington)

District of Columbia: St. John’s College Prep

Florida: Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale)

Georgia: Walton (Marietta)

Hawaii: Baldwin (Wailuku)

Idaho: Timberline (Boise)

Illinois: Brother Rice (Chicago)

Indiana: Zionsville

Iowa: Austin (Johnston)

Kansas: Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park)

Kentucky: Greenup County

Louisiana: Barbe (Lake Charles)

Maine: Old Town

Maryland: Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro)

Massachusetts: Groton-Dunstable

Michigan: Bay City Western (Auburn)

Minnesota: Woodbury

Mississippi: Houston

Missouri: Francis Howell (St. Charles)

Nebraska: Creighton Prep (Omaha)

Nevada: Basic (Henderson)

New Hampshire: Portsmouth

New Jersey: Seton Hall Prep (West Orange)

New Mexico: Rio Rancho

New York: Horseheads Central

North Carolina: North Davidson (Lexington)

North Dakota: Thompson

Ohio: Jackson (Massillon)

Oklahoma: Verdigris (Claremore)

Oregon: Summit (Bend)

Pennsylvania: Plum (Pittsburgh)

Rhode Island: South Kingstown (Wakefield)

South Carolina: Summerville

South Dakota: Lincoln (Sioux Falls)

Tennessee: Summit (Spring Hill)

Texas: Coppell

Utah: Cottonwood (Salt Lake City)

Vermont: Burr and Burton (Manchester)

Virginia: Hanover (Mechanicsville)

Washington: Lake Washington (Kirkland)

West Virginia: Jefferson County (Shenandoah Junction)

Wisconsin: Arrowhead (Hartland)

8th grade quarterback Drew Pyne adds Alabama offer and others

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Drew Pyne headed to Florida State’s summer camp with offers from the Seminoles and South Carolina despite just finishing his eighth-grade year. After the camp, he added offers from Alabama, Penn State and Missouri.

QBCountry was the first to report the Alabama offer with a photo of Pyne touring the Alabama locker room.

Pyne, 15, is 6-1, 170 pounds and will begin his high school career in the fall at New Canaan (Conn.) High — winners of the last three state Class  L state titles — after leading his Pop Warner team to the nationals in Orlando last December, according to The Orlando Sentinel.

If his last name sounds familiar, it’s because the Pynes have had a run of success in football and beyond. His father, George is the former CEO of NASCAR and the former president of IMG Sports and Entertainment. George Pyne’s grandfather, father and brother all played pro football and Drew’s brother, Brendan, will play for Brown in the fall after graduating from IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

Pyne is not the only eighth grader the Crimson Tide has offered. South Florida linebacker Jesus Machado also has an offer.

Missouri is an interesting suitor, given that the Tigers were the first FBS offer for seventh-grade QB Aaron McLaughlin.

Four-star California cornerback Elijah Blades commits to Florida

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Four-star defensive back Elijah Blades committed to the University of Florida, saying it was a dream since he was 6 years old to play in The Swamp.

Blades from John Muir in Pasadena, Calif., is ranked as the No. 26 cornerback in the Class of 2017 according to the 247Sports Composite rankings, but is ranked higher by Top 247 at No. 13. He chose Florida over Arizona.

That said, Blades plans to take all his official visits in the fall, including Florida and Arizona.

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