Ohio High Spring 2009 by Eric Frantz

(Left to Right) Princeton始s Spencer Ware, Lakota West始s Jordan Hicks, Anderson始s Andrew Norwell and St. Xavier始s Matt James

To Our Subscribers...Thanks

love printed, hand-held magazines...but the state of the economy and the direction of our society – one based on the ever-expanding technologies at our disposal – dictates hard copy is falling on hard times. Several newspapers including the Detroit Free Press and Seattle Post-Intelligencer are going digital. And so have we. This is the first full-fledged Ohio High Magazine ezine dedicated and delivered solely to our subscribers. And that is exciting. We previously released our Winter Sports State Tournament Recap issue in the online-only format as well, but this is the initial issue of Ohio High. And it’s packed. Eric Frantz Fans of our annual Top 100 Senior Football Prospects will enjoy the feature even more this year. Former recruiting analyst Duane Long has since moved on, and in his place we’ve given the reigns to arguably the state’s top TWO recruiting analysts – Bill Kurelic and Mark Porter. Kurelic is the lead recruiting analyst for our sister site bucknuts.com and is well-respected around the country. Porter is the founder and operator of ScoutingOhio.com – arguably the top recruiting site in the country of it’s kind. The list that Kurelic and Porter have pieced together is the most comprehensive and thorough Top 100 we’ve ever released. How do we know? The evaluations – which also included input from myself and assistant editor Matt Natali – were based on: personal coverage from over 100 games from the 2008 season, hours of video analysis, spring camps and combine performances and scholarship offers already extended. Say that fast three times in a row. In addition to the Top 100, we also have another 300 players listed whom you, I, opponents and colleges are going to want to keep an eye on this fall. Also included in this issue are updates on the top senior, junior, sophomore and freshman boys and girls basketball players in the state. More? There’s plenty. Feature articles include Chillicothe shot putter Curt Smith, Indian Valley pole vaulter Kayla Caldwell, Toledo Rogers high jumper Erik Kynard, and the baseball programs at Walsh Jesuit, Strongsville and Canton Central Catholic. Don’t be surprised if all six win state titles in a matter of weeks. As for coming out on top, we like to think we have by ditching paper, expanding our coverage and not being afraid to take a shot. We’re glad you’re along for the ride as well. Now buckle up. It’s going to be a great one.

Volume 6

Issue 5

Editor in Chief Steve Helwagen Managing Editor Eric Frantz Assistant Editor Matt Natali Recruiting Editors Mark Porter, Bill Kurelic Staff Writers Kirk Larrabee, Jeff Rapp, Dave Biddle Contributors Marty Gitlin, Jeff Williams, David Gatwood

Photography

Stephanie Porter, Gary Housteau, Nick Falzerano, Greg Beers, Jim Rinaldi

Printing Miami Valley Sports Magazine (MVP) miamivalleysports.com

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Ohio High Magazine is published online nine times a year and also produces an online and hard copy issue in July (Football Preview/Year in Review). Ohio High is an independent source of news and features relating to Ohio high school sports. Ohio High strives to report information based on fact, but assumes no responsability for any inaccuracies that may appear. Ohio High is not authorized, sponsored or sanctioned by any university, athletic conference or athletic governing body. Subscriptions are available and may be purchased online at jjhuddle.com. c Copyright 2009, Ohio High Magazine and MVP Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved. COVER PHOTOS: McVey (Gary Housteau); Hicks, James, Norwell (Stephanie Porter); Ware (Submitted)

Eric Frantz Managing Editor

Crunch Time: The Top 100

Others to watch from the Class of 2010

A look at who the top senior-to-be football players are heading into the summer and with the season just months away

Glenville’s 1-2 Punch

Photo by Gary Housteau

Defensive backs Latwan Anderson and Christian Bryant give the Tarblooders two of Ohio’s best

“Ware” in the World?

Driving Force

Cincinnati Princeton football talent Spencer Ware isn’t sure where colleges want him to play. He just knows they want him Thurgood Marshall’s Juwan Staten is one BIG reason the Cougars made the D-II basketball state final, now he’s headed elsewhere

Finishing in Style Boys Basketball Recruiting

Talent Pool Girls Basketball Recruiting

Ring Master

23 Photo by Gary Housteau

Ohio’s top boys basketball players end season strong, cause shift in class rankings

Ohio continues to be one of the country’s must-stops for all elite college programs; updated listing of each classes top players Chillicothe senior and current Division II state record holder Curt Smith looks to add elusive outdoor state shot put title

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Also...

16 23 26 38 40 42 48 49 50

Q&A with St. Ignatius’ Scott McVey

Photo by Gary Housteau

Ohio well represented in the NFL Draft, 16 selected Football all-star game previews

Ohio High Cup standings update

Indian Valley pole vaulter Kayle Caldwell: 3x State Champ?

Rogers high jumper Erik Kynard: Ohio’s New Record Setter

Walsh Jesuit Baseball: Sustained Excellence

Strongsville Baseball: Mustangs on the Stampede

Canton Central Catholic Baseball: Dominating Duo

36 Photo by Gary Housteau

Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits

Ohio High’s Top 100 Senior Football Prospects For 2010

State’s Top 2010 high School Football Prospects Issue Verbals, Weigh Options

n a football-rich state like Ohio, it is never an easy task to isolate the state’s top football prospects. With over 700 schools playing the sport and the miles that separate schools from Cleveland to Cincinnati, it can be a daunting task to rank the state’s very best. But in assessing Ohio’s football crop for the Class of 2010, we found there is certainly a lot to like. As the names and videos of the best players in Ohio roll in every day for use on ScoutingOhio.com, one thing is for certain: Ohio has some of the top talent in the country year after year. Ohio usually produces over 150 Division I scholarship players

Submitted Photo

Lakota West linebacker Jordan Hicks (32) moves in on Princeton quarterback Spencer Ware (11). Both have been offered scholarships by Ohio State.

each year. As of May 1, 2009, over 95 players in Ohio had at least one Division I offer already. With films of over 500 players in Ohio evaluated, Ohio High has released its list of top prospects. With evaluations being more "art than science" these days, beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. When it comes to quarterbacks, arm strength has always be en

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vogue. But recently quarterbacks that can run the spread offense have become the rage in college recruiting. Cincinnati Moeller’s Andrew Hendrix may have the strongest arm in the class, while Cincinnati Princeton’s Spencer Ware, Bucyrus Wynford’s Tyler Brause and Middletown’s Caleb Watkins entice college coaches with their superior athletic ablitly. Tight ends, who used to be an extension of your offensive line and running game, have now become sleeker athletes groomed to handle both wide receiver and fullback duties in college. West Chester Lakota West's Alex Smith and Cincinnati Elder’s Alex Welch are the prototype at tight end with a do-it-all type mentality. All you need to do is watch the first round of the NFL draft to see they types of players that college programs are producing these days. In turn, these are the types of players they are trying to find in high school to recreate past successes. Who will be the next Reggie Bush? Could it be Hubbard’s Andre Givens or Youngstown Mooney’s Braylon Heard? What about the next Randy Moss? Perhaps East Cleveland Shaw's 6-6 wide receiver Tyrone Williams? Does Lakota West linebacker Jordan Hicks remind you of Junior Seau? Which of the Cleveland Glenville duo of Christian Bryant or Latwan Anderson will be the next Malcolm Jenkins? Picking the stars in each class is just as important in finding the diamonds in the rough. Who will be the next Tom Brady? It very well could be a player who does not fit the mold, make the cut, or make the top 100 and takes us all by surprise. Without any further ado, we have bios on the state’s top 50 prospects for 2010. Each bio includes a thumbnail sketch on the player by Bucknuts.com’s Bill Kurelic and comments on the player’s abilities by ScoutingOhio.com’s Mark Porter. Those bios are followed by a list of the next best 50 prospects as well as nearly 300 more to watch listed by position. For more details on these players, check out the database at www.jjhuddle.com

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STORY BY BILL KURELIC & MARK PORTER

in offensive linemen. Has the strength to anchor against the run and gets up to the next level well enough to bury linebackers. There are only a few players that come along like this each year on the offensive line and they are all highly sought after.

Undecided

wingspan and footwork make him a force in pass protection. Plays very physical in the run game and runs his feet to drive defenders off the ball. Has all the tools to play left tackle in college.

Ohio State

Jamel Turner, linebacker, 6-2, 215, 4.6, Youngstown Ursuline

Turner is a sack machine. He had 23 his sophomore season and over 40 in the past two seasons combined. Tuner helped lead Ursuline to a state championship his junior season. He had scholarship offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, LSU, Stanford, West Virginia and others before committing to the Buckeyes in mid-December. Turner has a 2.9 GPA. Porter on Turner: Turner makes plays that change the out-

Undecided

Andrew Norwell, offensive lineman, 6-6, 270, 5.3, Cin. Anderson

Andrew Norwell has been Anderson’s left tackle since the beginning of his sophomore season when he led Anderson to a state championship. Norwell had scholarship offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Illinois, Cincinnati, Stanford, Duke and Indiana before committing to the Buckeyes on Feb. 4. Norwell has a 3.5 GPA. Porter on Norwell: Norwell fits the NFL prototype for an offensive tackle and has a nasty streak to go with it. His

the country. Has the speed of a cornerback packaged with the size of a linebacker. He gets to the quarterback in a flash and can cover running backs and tight ends with ease. Flows very fast to the ball and strikes like a ton of bricks. Hicks ran a 4.5-second laser 40-yard dash at the Nike Camp in Cincinnati in March.

Matt James, offensive lineman, 6-8, 280, 5.2, Cincinnati St. Xavier

James helped lead St. Xavier to a 15-0 record and a state championship his sophomore season. James plays right tackle for the Bombers and can be dominating. He has scholarship offers from Ohio State, Notre Dame, Cincinnati, Illinois, Michigan, Stanford and a host of others. The first three are James’ favorites. He has a 3.5 GPA. Porter on James: James has a massive frame and the rare athletic ablity to go with it, two qualities that colleges covet

Jordan Hicks, linebacker, 6-2, 210, 4.5, West Chester Lakota West

Hicks is one of the country’s premier prep football players. After making 61 tackles his sophomore season, Hicks made 88 tackles including 16 for loss with four sacks last season. He intercepted two passes. Hicks has over two dozen scholarship offers including Ohio State, Texas, Alabama, Florida, Notre Dame, Michigan State and West Virginia. His decision could come down to OSU or Texas. Hicks has a 3.5 GPA. Porter on Hicks: Hicks is one of the most explosive athletes in

Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits

come of games every week. Whether it’s a tackle-for-loss or a sack, his burst off the edge demands a double team by the opposition. Plays through traffic and sheds blocks at a very high level. Players that have the ability to get to the quarterback are at a premium in the NFL and college.

Ohio State

Darryl Baldwin, defensive end, 6-6, 245, 4.75, Solon

Baldwin is a big guy who runs well and has all the physical tools recruiters look for in great defensive end prospects. Baldwin has scholarship offers from Ohio State, Stanford, Illinois, West Virginia, Michigan, Michigan State and some others. The Buckeyes hold the lead. Baldwin has a 4.0 plus GPA. Porter on Baldwin: He has rare athletic skills for a player of his size. Is gifted with as much upside to him as any player

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in this class to develop at the next level. With his massive size, he can wall off and engulf defenders in the run game. Playing tight end in high school shows off his athletic ability.

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Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits

McVey had a great junior season which ended with a spectacular performance in the Division I state championship game (he had four sacks). McVey made 143 tackles including 18 sacks as St. Ignatius finished 14-1 last season. He had scholarship offers from Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Boston College, Iowa, Stanford, West Virginia, Illinois and others before verbaling to OSU prior to the spring game there on April 25. He has a 3.2 GPA.

Sub

back and the size and speed to be a feature running back. Runs the ball with great balance and power, shows great patience to set up runs and gives great seconnd effort. Weighed 227 pounds and ran a 4.72 40 at the Cincinnati Nike Combine in March 2009.

Undecided

shuffle and slide well in pass protection. Has no problem playing in space and hitting a moving target down the field. Will get a shot to play left tackle in college because he has plenty of agility to handle the edge.

Undecided

Christian Bryant, defensive back, 5-11, 175, 4.5, Cleveland Glenville

Bryant missed most of his sophomore season with a separated right shoulder. He came back healthy and had an outstanding junior season at safety, intercepting two passes and returning one for a touchdown. Bryant has close to two dozen scholarship offers including Notre Dame, Tennessee, Michigan State, Wisconsin, Illinois, West Virginia, Stanford, and Iowa. He is interested in those schools as well as Ohio State. Bryant has a 3.5 GPA.

Ohio State

Andrew Donnal, offensive lineman, 6-7, 250, 4.95, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne

Donnal has started at left tackle since the beginning of his sophomore season. He is very athletic for a big guy, runs well and has good feet. Donnal has scholarship offers from Michigan State, Wiscosnin, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Stanford, Indiana, West Virginia, Cincinnati, North Carolina and a few others. He attended Ohio Stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s spring game as well. Donnal has a 3.3 GPA. Porter on Donnal: He plays very light on his feet and can

Porter on McVey: McVey is competitive, a gamer, smart and instinctive. Possesses an explosive burst, excellent body control and closes on ball carriers fast. Does a good job of wrapping up ball carriers and has excellent production when lining up all over the field.

Spencer Ware, quarterback/running back/athlete, 5-11, 220, 4.5, Princeton

Ware has been the Vikings starting quarterback since his freshman season. He threw for 2,200 yards and rushed for 982 as a sophomore. Ware threw for 1,960 yards and rushed for 770 his junior season. He is an outstanding athlete who could play quarterback or running back in college. Ware has offers from Ohio State, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Cincinnati and a couple others. He has a 2.8 GPA. Porter on Ware: He has the arm strength to play quarter-

Sub

Scott McVey, linebacker, 6-1, 220, 4.5, Cleveland St. Ignatius

Porter on Bryant: He shows great ball skills, explosiveness and competes every play. Very fluid athlete who can cover wide receivers and play physical versus the run. Shows great zone coverage instincts and route recoginition.

Undecided

Alex Smith, tight end, 6-5, 225, 4.7, West Chester Lakota West

Smith played wide receiver in a spread offense his sophomore season before moving to tight end as a junior. He caught 33 passes last season with six touchdowns. Smith had a dozen scholarship offers including Cincinnati and Michigan before committing to the Bearcats during the winter. He has a 3.0 GPA. Porter on Smith: Smith is a versatile player who can line up all over the field and create mismatches for the defense.

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Has rare size and speed for his position and will continue to develop as a dominating blocker in the run game.

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Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits

Nos. 11-50 * 11. J.T. Moore, defensive end, 6-3, 230, 4.9, Youngstown Boardman – Moore is a talented athlete who has been a varsity starter on the Boardman football team since his sophomore year and on the varsity basketball team since his freshman year. His first scholarship offer came from Ohio State and he became the Buckeyes’ first 2010 commitment last September. Moore has a 3.0 GPA. Porter on Moore: He is a natural athlete who has a great first step getting off the ball. He is in the infancy of being a dominating pass rusher as he develops an arsenal of pass rushing moves. Flashes everything scouts desire when it comes to upside.

* 12. Latwan Anderson, defensive back/athlete, 5-11, 185, 4.35, Cleveland Glenville – Anderson transferred from Lakewood St. Edward to Glenville in mid-April. He is one of the fastest prospects in the Midwest. He plays safety, wide receiver and returns punts and kickoffs. Anderson intercepted four passes during his junior season and returned two for touchdowns. He also had three offensive touchdowns and added another on a punt return. Anderson has close to two dozen scholarship offers including GH Michigan State, Michigan, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Maryland, Iowa and Boston College. Anderson has a 2.8 GPA. Porter on Anderson: Anderson has an excellent size/speed ratio. Shows great speed and can blanket wide receivers when playing man to man. Fills the alley on the run and can break down in space to make plays on ball carriers.

* 13. Erick Howard, running back, 5-10, 210, 4.55, North Canton Hoover – Howard was named Ohio’s Mr. Football award winner and the Ohio High state player of the year after rushing for 2,387 yards and 31 touchdowns during his junior season. He has scholarship offers from Colorado, Cincinnati, Illinois and several MAC schools, but Ohio State is his favorite school. Howard’s GPA is close to the 2.0 mark and must improve. Porter on Howard: Howard runs hard, fights for extra yardage, bounces off tacklers, has vision, follows blockers, catches the ball well, is a willing blocker and has football intelligence. Need we say more?

* 14. Tyrone Williams, wide receiver, 6-5, 205, 4.6, East Cleveland Shaw – Williams was off to a great start last season having caught eight touchdown passes in the first four games. However, he tore the ACL in his right knee in the fifth game and missed the rest of the season. Williams had surgery Oct. 30 and expects to be 100 percent healthy sometime this summer. Ohio State is his favorite school. West Virginia, Cincinnati and Akron are also in the picture. Williams has a 2.5 GPA. Porter on Williams: His size gives him a huge catching radius and he can pluck balls out of the air with ease. Judges the ball well in the air and can make adjustments on the run. Can dominate the game from his position and will only get better.

* 15. Andrew Hendrix, quarterback, 6-3, 220, 4.7, Cincinnati Moeller – Hendrix had a very good junior season, completing 61 percent of his passes for 1,700 yards. He connected for 11 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Hendrix also averaged five yards per carry. His list of scholarship offers includes Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana, Virginia, Boston College, Louisville, Cincinnati, Nebraska, Vanderbilt and Kansas. SP Hendrix is interested in all of those schools as well as Ohio State. He has a 3.5 GPA. Porter on Hendrix: He has the strongest arm in Ohio. Is efficient in making reads, scrambles well, and makes plays for his teammates. Can make the stick throws with his quick release or throw on the run. * 16. Jayrone Elliott, defensive end, 6-3, 210, 4.7, Cleveland Glenville – Elliott made 50 tackles including 15 sacks during his junior season. He also intercepted a pass. Elliott has scholarship offers from Michigan State and Indiana. He is also interested in Ohio State, Tennessee, Florida and Miami. Elliott has a close to a 2.0 GPA. Porter on Elliott: He played outside linebacker and defensive end his junior season. Seems to understand leverage and uses his size well. Diagnoses plays fast and shows quickness to the ball. Shows pass rush skills and the ablilty to shed blockers on the way to the quarterback.

* 17. Christian Pace, offensive lineman, 6-3, 265, 5.1, Avon Lake – Pace has start-

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ed at tackle since the beginning of his sophomore seasons and has played on both the right and left sides. He could play either tackle or guard in college. Pace has close to two dozen scholarship offers including Michigan, Michigan State, Pitt, Louisville, Colorado, Wake Forest, Indiana and North Carolina State. Pace has a 3.3 GPA. Porter on Pace: He will be the number one center or guard from Ohio on most colleges’ recruiting boards. Shows great short area quickness, great punch and has a nasty streak to finish run blocks. Is a devastating trap blocker and pulling guard on sweeps. * 18. Skyler Schofner, offensive lineman, 6-7, 280, 5.0, Johnstown Monroe – Schofner was a starter at both offensive and defensive tackle his sophomore and junior seasons at Washington Court House. He transferred to Johnstown Monroe in January. Schofner has offers from Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, North Carolina State and a few others. He is also interested in Ohio State. Porter on Schofner: He flashes explosive power, plays physical and dominated competition. Still raw with room to grow. Naturally athletic, big frame and poweful punch. Has ability to latch on to defenders and drive block them.

* 19. Jibreel Black, defensive lineman, 6-2, 260, 4.9, Cincinnati Wyoming – Black played defensive tackle his sophomore season and moved outside his junior year. He made 73 tackles including seven sacks last season. Black seems best suited as an interior lineman at the next level. He has scholarship offers from Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State, West Virginia, South Carolina, Cincinnati, Minnesota, Purdue and others. Black has a 3.1 GPA. Porter on Black: He plays with natural leverage and balance and can shed blocks. Strong enough to anchor against verses the run and explosive enough to rush the passer. Does a good job a feeling blocks and fighting pressure. * 20. Jerald Robinson, wide receiver, 6-2, 180, 4.55, Canton South – Robinson has been a two-year starter at both wide receiver and free safety. He caught 25 passes for 584 yards and six touchdowns last season. Robinson also intercepted four passes. He landed a scholarship offer from Michigan and committed to the Wolverines on Feb. 9. Robinson has a 2.9 GPA. Porter on Robinson: He has good body length, tracks the ball well and has great hands. Versatile player who can line up in multiple spots. Flashes big play ability with the ball in his hands. * 21. Alex Welch, tight end, 6-5, 225, 4.8, Cincinnati Elder – Welch caught 32 passes for over 400 yards and four touchdowns during his junior season. Welch has good size and hands. He has scholarship offers from Wisconsin, Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern, Boston College and a few others. Welch has a 3.4 GPA. Porter on Welch: Very nice quickness and has the ability to latch onto defenders and drive them off the ball. Runs crisp routes, plucks the ball from the air and is a force in the passing game.

* 22. Braylon Heard, running back/defensive back, 5-11, 170, 4.5, Youngstown Mooney – Heard missed two games with a sprained ankle, but still rushed for close to 1,000 yards and intercepted two passes during his junior season. Heard has a dozen scholarship offers including Penn State, West Virginia, Michigan State, Maryland, Nebraska, Cincinnati and North Carolina State. Heard’s favorite schools are Penn State and USC. He has a 2.0plus GPA. Porter on Heard: He is an explosive athlete, plays with energy and can stick his foot into the ground and burst into the open when running the ball. Shows great short area quickness at corner and breaks on the ball very well. * 23. Andre Givens, running back, 5-10, 185, 4.4, Hubbard – Givens rushed for 1,153 yards and scored 17 TDs as a junior. He averaged 6.6 yards per carry. Givens has close to a dozen scholarship offers including Wisconsin, Michigan State, Indiana, Illinois and a host of MAC schools. He has close to a 3.0 GPA. Porter on Givens: He is very elusive, quickly locates holes, cuts across the grain and squirts through creases. Plays extremely hard and finishes runs with reckless abandon. Has a nose for the end zone and does a good job of finding cracks in short yardage.

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Sub

Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits * 24. Matthew Rotheram, offensive lineman, 6’6, 290, 5.25, North Olmsted – Rotheram is a dominating right tackle who had 51 pancake blocks and did not allow a sack during his junior season. Rotheram is considering close to a dozen scholarship offers including Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan State, Boston College, Minnesota, Indiana and Vanderbilt. He is also interested in Ohio State. Rotheram has a 2.8 GPA and he scored a 20 on the ACT. Porter on Rotheram: He is powerful, wide framed, tough, competitive, and smart. Drive blocks well, shows good punch, runs feet and takes pride in finishing defenders. Cleary has the traits and potential to be a major Division I talent.

* 25. Derrick Bryant, defensive end, 6-4, 230, 4.55, Columbus Brookhaven – Bryant played for Gahanna Lincoln his sophomore season before transferring to Brookhaven. He made 85 tackles including 12 sacks for the Bearcats last season. Bryant has offers from Michigan and Illinois and is interested in those two as well as Ohio State, LSU, South Carolina, Oregon, Florida State and Cincinnati. Bryant has a 2.6 GPA. Porter on Bryant: He is a physical specimen with outstanding upside. Has long arms to lock out and control defenders. Plays off blocks well and has the ability to rush the passer or collapse the pocket.

* 26. Antonio Kinnard, linebacker, 6-4, 200, 4.6, Youngstown Liberty – Kinnard has been a two-year starter at inside linebacker. He made 86 tackles including six sacks during his junior season. Kinnard landed a scholarship offer from Michigan and committed to the Wolverines in mid-March. He has a 2.9 GPA. Porter on Kinnard: He is a long-framed athlete with great growth potential that could project to defensive end in college. Shows great straight line speed, sheds blockers and delivers a pop on ball carriers. Plays with great effort and intensity.

* 27. Mike Dorsey, running back/defensive back/athlete, 6-2, 205, 4.5, Warren Harding – Dorsey played quarterback his sophomore season and running back and safety his junior year. He rushed for close to 800 yards and intercepted a pass last season. Dorsey has offers from Wisconsin, West Virginia, Michigan State, Akron and Toledo. He has committed to the Mountaineers. He has a 3.5 GPA. Porter on Dorsey: He is a great open field tackler, has abiltiy to break down in space and lasso ball carriers to the ground. Shows range in coverage, reads the quarterback well and has good ball skills. Very tough and physical.

* 28. Courtney Avery, defensive back, 5-11, 170, 4.5, Lexington – Avery has been Lexington’s starting quarterback since his freshman year. Last season he passed for over 2,400 yards and rushed for close to 1,000. However, Avery is being recruited as a defensive back, which he also played during his junior season. He had scholarship offers from Stanford and a host of MAC schools before committing to Stanford. Avery has a 3.7 GPA and he scored a 21 on the ACT. Porter on Avery: He is a fluid athlete, has loose hips, can shadow and mirror in man coverage, understands coverages and reacts quickly to the ball. Best man-to-man coverage corner in the state. * 29. Davion Rogers, defensive end/linebacker, 6-6, 200, 4.65, Warren Harding – Rogers is a rangy outside linebacker who could grow into a defensive end in college. In his first year as a starter, Rogers made 60 tackles including four sacks last season. He has offers from Michigan State, West Virginia, Toledo and Ohio University. He has committed to the Mountaineers. Rogers’ GPA is close to the 2.0 mark. Porter on Rogers: He is a tall long-armed defender that has huge upside and growth potential. Fluid enough to drop back in coverage. Also has ability to rush the passer coming off the edge.

* 30. Kurtis Drummond, wide receiver, 6-2, 185, 4.5, Hubbard – Drummond caught close to 20 passes and scored five times during his junior season. He also intercepted three passes. Drummond has offers from Michigan State, Indiana, Bowling Green, Toledo and Akron. He is interested in those five as well as Ohio State, Michigan State, Cincinnati and Michigan. Carries a 2.5 GPA. Porter on Drummond: He is a tall, rangy athlete who can play multiple spots on the field. Shows toughness versus the run and raw coverage skills at corner. Could grow into a college linebacker.

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* 31. Travis Jackson, offensive lineman, 6-5, 255, 4.9, Columbus DeSales – Jackson helped lead DeSales to a 13-1 record last season as he was outstanding from his guard spot. Jackson is considering offers from Northwestern, Wisconsin, Stanford, Cincinnati, Indiana and Toledo with the Wildcats his favorite. Jackson has a 3.6 GPA. Porter on Jackson: He shows great short area quickness, poweful punch, and burst out of his stance. Gives great effort on defense and flashes the ability to penetrate and control blockers.

* 32. Tyler Brause, quarterback, 6-5, 220, 4.68, Bucyrus Wynford – Brause reminds some of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow. Brause threw for 1,795 yards and 18 touchdowns during his junior season. He rushed for 698 yards and 13 touchdowns. Brush completed 55 percent of his passes and was intercepted six times. He has a scholarship offer from Stanford. Other schools on Brause’s list include Ohio State, Michigan State, Illinois, Cincinnati, Alabama, UCLA and Kansas. Brause has a 4.0 GPA and he scored GH a 23 on the ACT. Porter on Brause: Brause is a tall quarterback with a super smooth release. He has a thick build, reads defenses well and runs the spread offense with authority. Gifted athlete with great upside from a small school.

* 33. D.J. Williamson, 6-0, 170, 4.5, Warren Harding – Williamson caught 30 passes for 365 yards and three touchdowns during his junior season. His first scholarship offer came from Michigan and he committed to the Wolverines on March 14. Williamson has a 2.5 GPA. Porter on Williamson: He is a very speedy deep threat who can be dangerous after the catch. Flashes big play ability, gets in an out of breaks well and has good hands. Brings a vertical threat to the college game immediately. * 34. Marcus Rush, linebacker, 6-3, 225, 4.7, Cincinnati Moeller – Rush is an aggressive outside linebacker who can rush the passer or drop into coverage. He is considering offers from Cincinnati, Minnesota, Indiana, North Carolina State, Virginia and Ohio University. Porter on Rush: He has good initial quickness and short area burst. Uses hands well to stack and shed defenders. Plays with great intnesity and gives good second effort. Does a good job of collapsing the pocket and shows pass rush skills.

* 35. Kevin Schloemer, offensive lineman, 6-7, 275, 5.1, West Chester Lakota West – Schloemer moved into the starting lineup at tackle at the beginning of his junior season. By the end of the campaign, Schloemer had established himself as one of the top linemen in Ohio. Schloemer committed to Cincinnati in late February over offers from Indiana, North Carolina State and Illinois. Schloemer has a 3.0 GPA. Porter on Schloemer: His frame stands out among the crowd. He has great upside and improved all season. Added weight in the off-season which will serve him well this fall. His long arms and quickness make him a great pass protector.

* 36. Jimmy Hall, wide receiver/defensive back, 6-2, 192, 4.5, Sylvania Southview – Hall played cornerback his sophomore season and safety and wide receiver as a junior. He caught 45 passes for close to 1,000 yards and made 85 tackles with five interceptions as his team won the Division II state championship. Hall is interested in Maryland, Kansas, Toledo, Bowling Green and Ohio State, and all but the Buckeyes have offered. Hall has a 3.2 GPA. Porter on Hall: Hall is a big-framed athlete, looks the part and shows up in big games. Has a great feel for zone coverages, finds open areas and creates separation at wide receiver. Could play offense or defense in college. * 37. Arryn Chenault, defensive back, 6-1, 180, 4.5, Fairfield – Chenault has good speed, excellent hands and tackles very well. He had scholarship offers from Cincinnati, Michigan State and Indiana before deciding to stay close to home and committing to the Bearcats in mid-March. Chenault has a 3.0 plus GPA. Porter on Chenault: He has a rangy athletic build, shows good versatility and flashes big play making ability. Very good tackler who faces up ball carriers very well and can play in the box verses the run.

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Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits * 38. Steve Mehrer, linebacker, 6-1, 220, 4.7, Dublin Jerome – Mehrer is an aggressive middle linebacker who made 130 tackles during his junior season. Mehrer, who was a defensive lineman his sophomore season, has scholarship offers from Indiana, Toledo and Central Michigan. He has a 3.2 GPA. Porter on Mehrer: Mehrer has great instincts, diagnoses plays well and flows fast to the ball. Will be a good, hard-nosed football player who will control the middle in the right scheme.

* 39. Clint Shepherd, offensive lineman, 6-4, 275, 5.3, Eaton – Shepherd plays left guard for Eaton. He is a very good drive blocker who is explosive off the ball. Shepherd had offers from Cincinnati, Ohio University and Toledo before committing to the Bearcats in mid-February. Shepherd has a 3.95 GPA. Porter on Shepherd: He is naturally strong with a thick trunk and good anchor strength. A great short area mauler who will serve the college running game well. * 40. Dan Schneider, tight end, 6-4, 230, 4.68, Avon Lake – Schneider caught 16 passes for 247 yards and two touchdowns during his junior season. He averaged 15.4 yards per catch. Schneider is interested in Pittsburgh, Indiana, Louisville, Akron, Buffalo, Bowling Green, Toledo, Kent State and Air Force, and all have offered. He is also interested in Ohio State. Schneider has a 4.0 plus GPA. Porter on Schneider: He uses great leverage, runs his feet on contact, and understands blocking angles. The best blocking tight end in the class. Runs good routes and can find holes in coverage.

* 41. Tim O’Conner, wide receiver, 6-4, 190, 4.6, Cincinnati Elder – O’Conner had a huge junior season as he caught 71 passes for 1,004 yards and 13 touchdowns. O’Conner landed a scholarship offer from Indiana in early April. He has the Hoosiers at the top of his list, but is also interested in Ohio State, Michigan State, Purdue, Vanderbilt, Cincinnati and Kentucky. O’Conner has a 3.4 GPA. Porter on O’Conner: He has soft natural hands, tracks the ball well and catches it outside of his frame. Very physical blocker in the run game. Set a record in the state championship game for catches (15 catches for 184 yards and two touchdowns). * 42. Taylor Miller, offensive lineman, 6-5, 300, 5.2, Trenton Edgewood – Miller has been a varsity starter since his freshman season when he played nose tackle. He moved to offensive guard as a sophomore and will play on that side of the ball in college. Miller is interested in Ohio State, Wisconsin, Louisville, Maryland, Michigan and several MAC schools that have offered. His GPA is above the 2.0 mark. Porter on Miller: He is a powerful, big-framed, wide-bodied athlete. Pulls well and has ability to drive defenders creating movement. Plays physical and will work to finish blocks.

* 43. Josh Davis, defensive lineman, 6-6, 270, 5.4, Plain City Jonathan Alder – Davis moved from Indiana to Ohio after his freshman year. He has started at defensive tackle for Jonathan Alder the past two seasons. Davis made 74 tackles and had two sacks last season. He is interested in Indiana, Cincinnati, Notre Dame, Ohio State and Northwestern. The Hoosiers have offered. He attended Ohio State’s spring game. Davis has a 3.9 GPA. Porter on Davis: He shows good strength to create push versus the run. Has a good motor, plays will effort and runs to the ball well. Flashes potential to rush the passer.

* 44. Caleb Watkins, quarterback, 6-4, 205, 4.53, Middletown – Watkins is a talented athlete with a good arm. He is a dropback type quarterback, but also can run when needed. Watkins has scholarship offers from Ball State, Kent State and Ohio University. Porter on Watkins: He has a strong pocket stature, big arm and shows the ability to escape the rush. Knows where to go with the ball, gets rid of it quickly and plays with poise. Can run the spread offense in college.

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* 45. Bobby Swigert, wide receiver/defensive back, 6-1, 175, 4.47, Louisville – Swigert is fast and instinctive. He has excellent hands and makes plays. Swigert has scholarship offers from Pittsburgh, Indiana, Akron, Bowling Green, Kent State and Miami (Ohio). Porter on Swigert: Shows good runs strength, vision and balance after the catch and can make defenders miss in the open field. Great hands and attacks the ball at its highest point.

* 46. Derek Roback, quarterback, 6-3, 210, 4.6, Waverly – Roback played wide receiver and safety his sophomore season when he caught 47 passes for 833 yards and 12 touchdowns. He also made 36 tackles and intercepted four passes. Roback moved to quarterback his junior season and passed for 1,561 yards and 21 touchdowns with close to 500 rushing yards and six touchdowns. Roback is interested in Ohio State, Ohio University, Notre Dame, Michigan, Illinois, Louisville, Penn State, West Virginia, Sub Clemson, Rutgers, UCLA and Buffalo. He has an offer from Ohio University and Bowling Green. Roback has a 4.0 GPA. Porter on Roback: On films, Roback shows as a great athlete who can play on both sides of the ball. Has frame and ability to play defense in college if needed. Has elite skill set and will continue to develop. * 47. Justin Favors, tight end, 6-5, 225, 4.6, TrotwoodMadison – Favors has close to wide receiver speed, the position he played for Dayton Meadowdale his freshman and sophomore seasons. He transferred to Trotwood-Madison for his junior season. Favors has offers from Cincinnati and Toledo and is interested in those two as well as Ohio State, Florida and Kansas. He attended Ohio State’s spring game. He has a 2.7 GPA. Porter on Favors: Lines up at wide receiver in the spread and has elite receiving ability. Runs routes well and creates separation to get open. Could be an H-back or jack of all trades in college.

* 48. Chi Chi Ariguzo, defensive back, 6-2, 200, 4.52, Columbus DeSales – Ariguzo anchored the DeSales secondary last season as the Stallions won 13 straight games before a loss in the state semifinals. He has good size and should make an excellent strong safety in college. Ariguzo has a scholarship offer from Minnesota. Porter on Ariguzo: He is physical, has a solid frame and flashes the ability to strike people. His tough aggressive style may suite him well as a college linebacker or strong safety.

* 49. Cody Byers, defensive, 6-3, 195, 4.6, Kettering Alter – Byers, who starred for last year’s Division IV state championship team, has excellent size and the ability to cover from his safety spot. He made 64 tackles and intercepted four passes during his junior season. Byers has scholarship offers from West Virginia, Louisville and Ohio University. Porter on Byers: Tough and instinctive in the box safety. Dependable tackler and a player coaches can trust in coverage.

* 50. Dwight Macon, quarterback/athlete, 6-0, 190, 4.5, Steubenville – Macon had a great junior season. He passed for 2,442 yards and 28 touchdowns with just four interceptions. Macon also rushed for 912 yards and 16 touchdowns. He played safety at times as well. Macon is interested in Ohio State, Michigan, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, West Virginia and Toledo. The Rockets have offered. Macon has a 3.0 GPA. Porter on Macon: Might be the best all around athlete in the class. Has great arm strength, very smart, shows poise and moxie. Colleges may try him on defense.

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J J H U D D L E . C O M 11

Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits

Nos. 51-100 RK

NAME

HIGH SCHOOL

HT/WT/40

POS

51.

Brendan Carozzoni

Cleveland St. Ignatius

6-4 220 4.6

52.

Michael Dennis

Carey

6-7 260 4.9

53.

Deron Brown

Akron North

6-3 190 4.31

ATH

54.

Terry Talbott

Huber Heights Wayne

6-4 245 4.9

55.

Preston Brown

Cincinnati Northwest

6-3 225 4.7

*Note: Brown has verbaled to Cincinnati. 56.

Dominique Brown

Cincinnati Winton Woods

6-2 210

ATH

57.

Justin Stumph

Columbus St. Charles

6-4 277 5.3

58.

Solomon Tentman

Cincinnati Roger Bacon

6-2 220 4.6

*Note: Tentman has verbaled to Cincinnati. 59.

Odis Prunty

Lakewood St. Edward

5-11 170 4.5

60.

Luke Massa

Cincinnati St. Xavier

6-4 180

61.

Anthony Ritossa

Kirtland

6-5 220 4.9

62.

Anthony Schrock

Wadsworth

6-2 185

63.

Zack Hitchens

Canal Winchester

6-2 230 4.62

LB/DE

64.

Zac Rosenbauer

Lima Shawnee

6-3 235 4.59

65.

Eric Franklin

Youngstown Mooney

6-6 310 5.47

66.

Jewone Snow

Canton McKinley

6-1 236 4.8

MLB

67.

Tyson Gulley

Akron Garfield

5-9 175 4.4

ATH

68.

Anthony Stryffeler

Parma Padua

6-4 215 4.85

69.

Darius Gilbert

Hamilton

6-2 250

70.

Chase Hoobler

Orrville

6-3 220 4.6

71.

Terry Hasberry

Cleveland Glenville

6-2 227 4.9

72.

Derek Orr

Smithville

6-5-220 4.7

WR/TE

73.

Jeff Tanner

Cincinnati Moeller

6-4 260 5.1

74.

Marcus Penn

Columbus Whetstone

6-1 195 4.53

ATH

75.

Tony Foster

Cleveland Glenville

5-10 175 4.57

ATH

76.

Sam Miller

Orrville

6-1 183 4.49

77.

Brandon Neal

West Chester Lakota West

5-11 165 4.52

78.

Karson Williams

New Carlisle Tecumseh

6-4 245

OL/DL

79.

Aaron Craft

Findlay Liberty Benton

6-4 190

*Note: Craft is verbaled to Tennessee for basketball.

12 J J H U D D L E . C O M

80.

Roosevelt Nix

Reynoldsburg

6-0 250 4.79

81.

Willie Tatum

Pickerington Central

6-3 205 4.58

LB/SS

82.

Gary Briggs

Cleveland JFK

6-1 205

MLB

83.

Nick McKnight

Middletown

6-2 195

84.

C.J. Bryant

Gahanna Lincoln

6-0 170 4.4

85.

Aaron Morris

Cleveland Glenville

6-0 195 4.60

86.

Micah Robinson

Cleveland John Adams

6-4 240 4.8

87.

Jorian Hudson

Cincinnati Roger Bacon

6-3 175 4.5

ATH

88.

Nick Galvin

Cincinnati Moeller

6-1 220 4.6

89.

Chase Cochran

Lebanon

6-2 175 4.43

90.

David Schneider

Cincinnati Moeller

6-3 240 4.8

91.

Leveon Bell

Groveport Madison

6-1 215 4.53

92.

Grant Pleasant

Dublin Scioto

6-3 220

93.

Logan Hauserman

Circleville Logan Elm

6-8 275 5.3

94.

Brett Buehler

Dublin Coffman

6-1 220 4.75

MLB

95.

Jonathan Ballard

Austintown Fitch

6-4 199 4.7

96.

Danny Frate

Hunting Valley Univ. School

6-2 225 4.6

OLB

97.

Josh Russ

Elyria Catholic

6-5 220

TE/LB

98.

Caleb Southworth

Piketon

6-5 210 4.8

TE/LB

99.

Harrison Scott

New Albany

6-3 235

100.

Jeff Myers

Massillon Washington

6-2 289

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Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits Ross Smith Sean Freeman Tevin Boykin Zach Cvelbar

Best Of The Rest... Quarterbacks

NAME A.J. Zalewski Adam Charles Alec Swartz Alex Lavisky Anthony Westren Brandon Arehart Brett Tulodzieski Casey Pierce Cole Hudson Curtis Watson Drew Townsend EJ Tucker Erik Wall Greg Tabar Jake Trubiano Jake Voigt James Flowers Jarrod Ronyak Jordan Miller Keith Wenning Kyle Snyder Mark Miller Matt Preston Matt Shelton Mitchell Faine Nicola Accordino Riley Gualt Rob Boyd Sam Mayse Sean Flaherty Shane Ewing Ty Watson Wesley Hunsucker

HIGH SCHOOL Cardinal Stritch Girard Cin.Hills Christian St Edwards Woodridge Wilmington North Canton Hoover Normandy Zanesville Bellevue Hamilton Rogers (Toledo) Buckeye Valley Colerain Hilliard Davidson Solon Padua Lake Catholic (Mentor) Warren G. Harding Coldwater Barberton Cincinnati Elder Howland Hubbard Ada McDonald Tecumseh Boardman Mentor Pickerington North Western Reserve Aurora Anna

Running Backs

Alejandro Alicea Antoin Campbell BJ Watkins Demetrus Johnson Derrell McCaleb Devonte Ransom Dylon Dejane James Spencer Jeff Aubin Jeremiah Goins Jimmy Tomcufcik Julius Cartwright Justin Keith Korey Ringer Marcus Johnston Mo May Nick Dardy Tavion Wright

Elyria Catholic Springboro Beechcroft Columbus Brookhaven Lakeside Maple Heights Springfield Local Fremont Ross Moeller Winton Woods Kenston University School Canton South Northmont Coshocton Sylvania Southview Cincinnati Northwest Dayton Dunbar

Wide Receivers

Alex Nossaman Allen Tigner Anthony Bowers Brad Sundstrom Chase Hammond Deangelo Petite Devon Price Heath Jackson Jeff Matteson John James Kyle Blakeman Luciano Luke Gavin Nate Hobbs RayShawn Stevens Reid Adkins

Bryan Port Clinton Brunswick Beavercreek Boardman Cleveland JFK Start Ada Wellston John Adams (Cle) Wilmington GlenOak Toledo Central Catholic Akron North Northeastern

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HT 6-0 6-2 6-1

6-2 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-0 6-0 6-4 6-3 6-1 6-4 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-5

6-3 6-5 6-3

WT 201 185 200

180 170 185 195 205 220 190 207 210 170 180 185 220 220 210 210 207 170 200 180 195 175 185 205 200

195 215 195

5-10 5-11 6-0 6-1 5-10 5-9 6-1 5-11 5-10 5-10 5-8 5-9 6-2 5-11 6-0 5-11 6-0 5-11

160 190 215 220 170 165 225 175 180 225 170 185 215 200 195 182 225 180

6-3 6-1 6-1 6-5 6-4 5-9 5-10 6-1 6-3 6-0 6-3 6-2 5-10 6-1 6-5

195 175 185 190 195 170 160 175 185 170 190 196 180 180 195

40-time 4.9

4.7

4.8 4.8 4.6 4.8 4.7 4.8 4.6

4.8 4.83 4.6 4.58

4.6 4.6 4.7 4.85

4.7 4.8 4.83

4.4 4.49 4.6

4.45

4.5

4.6 4.5 4.7 4.5

4.5 4.6

4.5 4.54 4.7 4.7

4.5 4.58 4.8 4.38 4.6 4.38 4.7 4.5

Olentangy Orange Trotwood-Madison Toledo Whitmer Mentor Lake Catholic

6-3 6-2 6-2 6-0

180 178 193 185

4.50 4.7 4.7

6-1 6-7 6-3 6-3 6-5

220 230 265 215 200

4.9 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.9

Cuyahoga Falls Riverside St Francis DeSales Strongsville Strongsville Princeton Wadsworth Woodmore Mentor Lake Catholic Mentor St Vincent - St. Mary Liberty Girard Trotwood-Madison Clyde Glenville Trotwood-Madison Hubbard Badin Lebanon Buchtel (Akron) Cardinal Mooney New Philadelphia Buckeye Valley Anderson Elyria High School St. Edward Firelands Elyria Catholic St. Ignatius Upper Arlington Poland Seminary Kettering Fairmont Newak Catholic Anderson Start Padua Kettering Fairmont Lancaster Eaton Hilliard Davidson Normandy Benedictine Austintown Fitch East Palestine Dublin Scioto Normandy High School Cardinal Mooney

6-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-4 6-6 6-3 6-4 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-5 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-6 6-5 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-2 6-0 6-4 6-4 6-5 6-2 6-5 6-3 6-0 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-9 6-4 6-9 6-3

275 255 215 255 255 245 296 280 330 285 301 277 290 257 270 290 278 280 270 260 250 285 260 275 185 278 282 270 270 260 270 285 260 265 260 280 280 270 240 265 250 225 240 275 348 300 310 282

5.2 5.1 5.1 5.3 5.3

Mayfield Hilliard Darby Canfield Wauseon Chillicothe High School Toledo Christian Maysville Wadsworth Beavercreek Cincinnati Elder

5-11 6-1 6-0 5-11 6-2 5-8 6-1 6-0 6-1

170 187 175 160 188 175 190 160 168

Tight Ends

Austin Plenzler Brandon Hall Greg Taylor Matt Schweitzer Ryan Morris

Springboro Western Reserve Academy South Point Bishop Watterson North Royalton

Offensive Lineman

Alex Heidt Alex Schneider Alex Vance Andrew Sinko Andrew Sinko Ashton Hood Ben Buzzelli Ben St. John Bob Kukwa Bryan Vayo Bryant Ausperk Charlie Dann Craig Frankford Darion Delany David Weisz Dejuan Calloway DeShawn Byrd Dom Dionisio Drew Hampton Elias Sayre Eric Kendrick Eric Vendemia Ethan Zucal Grant Georgic Greg Mancz Isaiah Byler Jacob Schwertner Jacob Sosinski Jared Schuster Joe LaVelle John Blevins Jordan Boyd Jordan Erbes Josh Hendershot Kevin Hetrick Kyle Jaeger Mark Obabashian Michael Shope Nathan Cheek Nathan Islamovsky Phillip Huff Ryan Fitzsimmons Simon Cvijanovic Tamron Smith Thomas Muir Tyler Tanner Vincent Boden Zach Larson

Kickers

Casey Spear Adam Jenne Billy Fisher Clay Simpkins Drew Basil JC Miller Kody Faulkerson Matt Reed Nick Gundel Tony Milano

5 5.5 5.4 5.5 4.78 5.37

5.23

5.1 4.8 5.3 5.37 5.3

4.48 5.23

5.2 4.9 5.8 5.4 4.9

5.15 5.12 4.84

5.1 4.9

5.3 5.5

5.31

4.82

4.5 4.74 5.1 4.98

J J H U D D L E . C O M 13

Ohio Top 100 Senior Football Recruits Defensive Ends

Andy Jomantas Andrew Forrai Brett Modic Delah Whittington Derek Reynolds George Thomas Jason Cunningham Jayme Aksterowicz Landis Coulter Mitchell Knapp Rakeem Chandler Rex Bonham Ryan Conway Sam Current Stephen Page Will Boeckman

Chaminade Julienne Mentor Lake Catholic Poland Cuyahoga Falls Northmont Austintown Fitch Worthington Kilbourne Lancaster Cincinnati Northwest Aurora Princeton Tecumseh Brunswick Middletown Newton Falls Columbus Academy

Defensive Tackles

Alex Franco Brian Skura Dan Cowdrick Desmond McCowan Mark Pelini Santiago Mason Scott Arnold

St. Charles Worthington Kilbourne Mentor Springfield Cardinal Mooney Warren G. Harding Marysville

Outside Linebackers

Brad Jones Brian Foster Calvin Blackman Cody Conley David Hampton Doyen Harris Jarrod Combs John Doncaster Lewellyn Coker Lucien Kidd Mark McClain Marvin Logan Oliver Scott O'Neal Brown Ryan McCollum Treg Grubb

Sidney St. Vincent- St. Mary Maple Heights Alter Winton Woods Cin. Hills Christian Academy Tuslaw Alter Warren Harding North College Hill Upper Arlington Warren G. Harding Start Warren G. Harding Warren JFK Tuslaw

Middle Linebackers

Andrew Garman Austen Harrison Billy Harmon Cam Hilling Chuck Gruber Clay Krafft Dawalyn Harper Eric Bayliss Jake Dwyer Jamar Williams Kendall Peterson Kevin Smith Nick Ambeliotis Nick Marinkov Nick Truesdale Rodnell Pierce Ryan Phillis Trevor Russell Tyler Phillips

GlenOak Granville St. Vincent St. Mary Woodridge Cardinal Mooney North Royalton Ursuline Benjamin Logan High School Springboro Westerville South Youngstown East Lexington Elder Avon Lake Lima Shawnee Glenville Boardman Howland Highland

Cornerbacks

Erick Collins Gerry Gates Jerel Bryant

Springfield Middletown Euclid

14 J J H U D D L E . C O M

6-8 6-3 6-3 6-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-4 6-4 6-3 6-2 6-2 6-4 6-3

227 210 223 220 220 225 215 220 240 200 215 228 235 235 230 227

5.0 5.0

6-2 6-6 6-0 6-2 6-0 6-4 5-11

270 220 265 225 285 320 275

6-4 6-1 5-11 6-2 6-1 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-6 6-1 6-3

195 235 200 210 189 200 218 210 210 175 190 220 210 205 215 202

4.8 4.7

6-0 6-3 6-0 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-2 6-2 6-0 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-1 6-1 5-11 6-3 6-0 6-2

205 195 230 225 200 228 206 230 210 210 225 210 220 223 220 200 230 195 220

4.65 4.56 4.76 4.8 4.59 4.68

6-0 5-11 6-3

180 185 175

5.0 5.0 4.9 4.9 4.8 4.9 4.8 4.95

4.9 4.92

5.35 5.0 5.1

4.65 4.7

4.66 4.6

4.5 4.8

4.66

4.65 4.75 4.6 4.78 4.7 4.7 4.75 4.59 4.75

4.75

4.7

Jude Adjei-barimah Matthew Bova Ray Vinopal Sam Porter

Safties

Ben Schneider Davonne Dixon Davonte McClesky Desmond McCoy Donald D'Alesio Duante Anderson James Gordon John Ehrensberger Jordan Sandidge Luke Wollet Matt Shannon Nick Kaszei Obie Nwanko Ryland Ward Stephen Johnson Tyler Robinson Tyon Dixon Willie Ballard

Northland High Dayton Carroll Cardinal Mooney Boardman

5-10 6-1 5-10 5-8

175 182 185 175

Moeller Akron Garfield Dunbar Akron Buchtel Cardinal Mooney Austintown Fitch Glenville Centerville Madison Poland Seminary Mayfield Padua Lakota West Brookhaven Youngstown East Dublin Coffman Colerain Trotwood-Madison

6-1 5-11 6-0 6-1 6-1 5-9 6-2 6-0 5-11 6-1 6-1 5-11 5-11 5-11 6-1 6-1 6-0 6-2

190 175 160 185 180 202 190 185 195 187 170 170 210 190 185 200 205 195

4.7 4.57 4.54

6-3 6-2

230 185

4.5

6-2 5-11 5-10 6-0 5-11 5-9 6-0 5-10 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-1 5-8 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-0 5-11 5-10 6-1 6-1 5-9 6-0 5-11 5-11 6-0 5-11 5-10 5-11 6-0 6-2 6-0 5-9 5-10 5-11 5-11 5-10 5-9 6-2 5-8 5-8 5-11 5-10

205 160 160 195 206 175 165 195 175 170 180 185 155 170 185 190 193 185 170 175 190 170 181 180 200 195 175 190 185 165 185 185 165 178 180 184 170 170 185 168 175 175 185

Punters

John Lloyd Cin. Hills Christian Academy Billy Croom Beechcroft

Athletes

Alvin Hall Trotwood Andrew Perkins Brandon Martin Christopher Gorman Clay Cameron Cody Seifert Cory Young Dan Pennington Darrio Bivens Davonte Woods Dillon Corbett Dustin Holmes Earl Cunningham Eric Phillips Evan Bach Geoffrey Whiteside Jacob Conrad Joe Balog John Spooney Jonathon Jennings Joseph Webb Kennron Drake Kenny Johnson Kevin Johnson Kevin Watts Kyle Slater Kyle Vaclav Lew Holder Luke George Malcolm Pannell Micah Hickman Mike Mangiarelli Mike Starkey Neil Jones Nick Cupan Nick Wehby Ralphael Allen Ray Ballard Ryan Christianson Seth Millar Tallen Birmingham Will MCEwan Xavier Palacios

Madison Cin Hills Christian Acad GlenOak Chagrin Falls Tri-Valley Eastwood Waynesville Licking Heights Campbell Memorial Freemont Ross Orrville Tecumseh Gahanna Lincoln Pickerington North Northwest Columbus Bishop Hartley Ridgewood Struthers Nordonia Westerville South Mechanicsburg Shaw Akron North St. Ignatius Middletown Cincinnati Anderson Canfield Strongsville Patrick Henry Pickerington Central Eaton Warren Howland Youngstown East Black River McDonald Mason Trotwood Madison Northland Uniontown Lake Waynesville Girard New Philadelphia Glenville

4.55 4.6 4.41 4.6

4.5

4.5 4.49 4.6

4.42 4.57 4.5 4.6 4.6

4.53

4.58 4.5 4.5 4.65

4.50

4.46 4.5 4.6 4.38 4.6 4.4 4.66 4.45 4.8 4.56 4.6 4.6 4.7 4.5 4.49 5.1 4.65

4.6 4.45

4.65 4.37 4.63 4.48 4.5 4.69 4.5 4.57 4.5 4.46

4.38 4.6 4.58 4.67

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Scott McVey Q&A

16 J J H U D D L E . C O M

Photo by Stephanie Porter

STORY BY BILL KURELIC

inebacker Scott McVey was one of the driving forces behind Cleveland St. Ignatius’ Division I state championship team last fall. The 6-1, 220-pound McVey started at middle linebacker and helped lead the Wildcats to a 14-1 season and the school’s record-setting 10th state football playoff championship. It was the school’s first state title since 2001. For the year, McVey made 143 tackles including 18 sacks and intercepted a pass during his junior season. McVey was a one-man wrecking crew in the state title game with eight tackles, 4-1/2 tackles-for-loss and one interception as St. Ignatius defeated Cincinnati Elder 28-20. McVey had a wide range of scholarship offers this spring, including offers from the likes of Boston College, Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa, Stanford, West Virginia, Illinois and others. But he visited Ohio State for its spring game on April 25 and ended up committing to the OSU staff prior to that game, which was attended by a national collegiate spring game record crowd of 95,722. McVey, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, is also on the St. Ignatius track team. He runs the hurdles and relays. McVey is in good shape academically with a 3.2 GPA. He figures to be OSU’s first signee from the talent- and tradition-rich St. Ignatius program since wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez signed with the Buckeyes in 2003. He became OSU’s fifth commitment for 2010, joining Ohio defensive ends J.T. Moore and Jamel Turner, Ohio offensive lineman Andrew Norwell and Texas linebacker/defensive lineman David Durham also in this class. OSU already has commitments from four of Ohio’s top 11 prospects with Norwell ranked third, Turner fourth, McVey sixth and Moore 11th. The Buckeyes reportedly had offers pending to more top Ohio prospects, including linebacker Jordan Hicks (No. 1), offensive lineman Matt James (No. 2), defensive end Darryl Baldwin (No. 5) and quarterback/athlete Spencer Ware (No. 7). Ohio High’s Bill Kurelic had a chance recently to do a question-and-answer session with McVey. Here’s what he had to say: Bill Kurelic: When did you decide you were going to commit to Ohio State? Scott McVey: “I decided I was going to commit to Ohio State about a week before their spring game. When I got (to Ohio State's spring game) I told coach (Taver) Johnson I wanted to commit. He got me and my parents into coach (Jim) Tressel's office. Coach Tressel was kind of expecting me to commit, but he was still excited.” Kurelic: Was your decision a difficult one? McVey:“Ohio State was an easy choice. They were my leader all the way.” Kurelic: What were the main reasons you selected Ohio State? McVey: “It had a lot to do with Coach Tressel and the man he is. It didn't hurt that I grew up an Ohio State fan. The school and how many things they have to offer was important. They have a lot of choices. I will probably go into business. “I’ve always watched them and I think playing for them would be awesome. And talking to Coach Tressel is definitely a great experience. He’s definitely a really down-to-earth guy and he’s really easy to talk to. I like Ohio State a lot. “It’s just a good situation, a very good situation.” Kurelic: How many scholarship offers did you have? McVey: “Honestly, I don't know. A lot of schools said they were offering, but nothing official. Boston College was my second choice.” Kurelic: What position will you play for the Buckeyes? McVey: “I'm not exactly sure. They recruited me as an outside linebacker, a 'Will' backer. They also said I could play the 'Star' position or strong safety. They will figure out where they want me to play.” Kurelic: Go back to last November and the state championship game against Cincinnati Elder. How special was it to have a game like that with the state title on the line? McVey: “During the game I just realized that I wasn’t going to leave anything back, I just put it all out there. I was pretty proud of my performance but it wasn’t just me out there. All of my teammates were helping out by freeing me up inside on some blitzes and things like that. “I knew that I could do it, it’s just actually performing that well in a state title game is amazing. I wasn’t expecting it. I just wanted to go out there and play, that’s all I was thinking at the time.” Kurelic: What is your goal for your senior season? McVey: “Another state title. We have a lot of guys leaving, but we still have some talented players. We will have to work hard and do the little things. It's possible.” — OH

JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

Glenville Duo

STORY BY GARY HOUSTEAU

Photo by Gary Housteau

Seniors Latwan Anderson (1) and Christian Bryant (2) are among the state’s top defensive back prospects.

Anderson, Bryant could form tough duo at Glenville

ven before he ever steps one foot on any playing field in a Glenville Cleveland uniform, Latwan Anderson, at least if his new uniform number is any indication, gives the Tarblooders a pretty formidable, albeit a tad bit undersized, one-two punch in their defensive backfield this upcoming season. Although neither Anderson nor his top new secondary mate at Glenville, Christian Bryant, are 6-0 in height, both play much bigger and hit a lot harder than their physical measurables might indicate. At 5-11 and 185 pounds, Anderson has tentatively settled on donning No. 1 with the Tarblooders. Xavier Palacios got Mike Edwards’ old No. 5 from last season – the number Anderson wore at St. Edward. Meanwhile, the 5-10, 180-

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pound Bryant wears No. 2, the number made famous by Ted Ginn Jr. when he prepped at Glenville. Both Anderson and Bryant, the quarterback of the Tarblooders on defense this season, are national recruits that are starting to accumulate impressive scholarship offer lists this off-season. Bryant is ranked Ohio’s No. 9 prospect by Ohio High in the 2010 class, while Anderson checks in at No. 12. And both Anderson and Bryant are extremely versatile athletes that can play more than one position on both sides of the football. Of course, Anderson transferred to Glenville from St. Edward in May after having a productive career there, mainly, as a safety and kick returner. Internet rumors began to spread about Anderson’s imminent transfer across town around the same time that the Eagles were searching for a new football coach. But Anderson all but squelched the rumors back in Feb. 27 when he told Bucknuts.com that he officially decided that he

was staying at the Cleveland-area Catholic boys school in Lakewood. “I was in the process of maybe thinking about leaving there, but I’m not going anywhere now,” said Anderson on that Friday afternoon in late February. “Me and my dad squared it away (Thursday, Feb. 26). I’m staying there, that’s where I want to be. It’s a great place and I love everybody there.” The way Anderson told it back then, he basically had one foot out the door at St. Edward already. “It was almost done,” he said. “My dad came up to the school and picked me up and everything and my locker was cleaned out. I gave all of my books back.” But things changed for Anderson after a family meeting with the St. Edward administration. “We sat down and talked with my principal and athletic director and everybody and they gave us time to think about it and options of what we could do,” Anderson said. “I basically just told my dad I didn’t really want to leave any more. That’s where I wanted to be.” He seemed determined to want to stay at St. Edward and help his team avenge two rather embarrassing loses to their Holy War rival last season. “As of right now I’m staying (at St. Edward). I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “It’s my final deci-

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Glenville Duo sion. That’s where I’m graduating from.” Even the new coaching change at St. Edward wouldn’t effect Anderson’s decision he claimed. And on that very Friday, the Eagles administration hired Rick Finotti away from Mayfield High School to guide their football program going forward. A graduate of VASJ, Finotti was previously the defensive coordinator at Mayfield. “I’m settled on this. No matter who our coach is, this is where I’ll be,” Anderson said. “I’m pretty sure, whoever he is, he’ll be a good guy.” But those same rumors of Anderson leaving St. Edward persisted until the news finally came to a head on April 9 when The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer first broke the news that Anderson was indeed leaving St. Edward and he was looking into the possibility of attending the Ginn Academy. “It was my dad’s decision really,” is the way that Anderson explained his reasons for finally cutting his ties with St. Edward on March 12, some five weeks after he proclaimed that he would indeed return to St. Edward for his senior season on the gridiron. “I guess he just felt like the Ginn Academy was like a better situation for me as far as football is concerned.” For the record, the Ginn Academy has been in existence for two years now and they do not have a football team, nor any other sports team, of their own. And according to a transfer rule instituted in 2006 by the OHSAA and the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, if a student transfers to the Ginn Academy from a private or parochial school, that student has to sit out a full year from the transfer date. So Anderson wouldn’t be eligible to participate in football, or even track this season at Glenville, without having to sit out a year if he attended the Ginn Academy. He would, however, become immediately eligible, once his transcripts cleared, to participate in sports if he attended Glenville. So Glenville was actually the better situation for Anderson as far as football is concerned. But that didn’t necessarily make it any easier for Anderson to leave St. Edward. “I think it’s a better football situation,” he admitted, “but St. Ed’s is still a great school and I hated leaving all of my friends and teammates. But I’ve got to do what’s best for me.” Although it might have seemed like a better option for Anderson and his father, Lou Stephens, Anderson was somewhat reluctant in his desire of actually following through with it, and leaving his friends behind, once his departure from St. Edward was official. “I’m excited to be there and play for Glenville but at the same time it’s still kind of sad that I’m leaving all of my teammates behind. I’m leaving all of my friends basically,” said Anderson back in April. “I would rather stay but at the same time it’s not about (St. Ed’s), it’s about me and my best chance for getting where I want to be. And I feel I have a better chance now at Glenville.” The bottom line now for Anderson is to make the most of his chance at Glenville. And Bryant likes the early results with regard to the transition that Anderson has made to Glenville. “Me and Latwan, when he first got to our school, we talked for a little bit because I just wanted to get to know him as a person and ask what his capabilities were to enhance the team,” Bryant said. “So I just asked him a few questions but first

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and foremost I welcomed him into our program. (Head Coach Ted Ginn Sr.) Ginn showed me some of his film and he told me he was a good person and I just wanted to see for myself.” And after initial inspection, Anderson was obviously deemed a good fit at Glenville, both on and off the field. “By me talking to him,” Bryant said, “I found out for myself that he’s a pretty nice guy and he really can contribute to the team this year.” It’s somewhat ironic that both Bryant and Anderson seem to have a lot of similar skills and can contribute a great deal to both sides of the football, especially in one or two areas with regard to them performing on the defensive side of the ball. “Yeah I know that people say that he’s a hard hitter and everything, we really do resemble each other in that aspect of the game,” Bryant said. “But we have our different playing abilities like I can play corner and safety. He probably could play corner also but I really haven’t seen his coverage skills because he was at safety on film. But I know that he’s a hard-nosed guy and he’s not scared to stick his nose in there. So I’m really looking forward to playing with him.” Despite losing a pair of starting corners, in Edwards and Jason Pinkston, and a starter at safety, in Theon Dixon from last year’s team, Bryant is really excited about the potential of the new secondary for this season. “I think our secondary should be awesome this season,” Bryant said. “I know we have me coming back, we have Xavier Palacios, Tony Foster, Latwan, a few young guys like Davonte Morgan, Malik Moore and Johnny Robinson and all of those type of guys. So it’s really going to be a battle this season to see who’s really going to step foot on the field for the first game. So we’re looking to see what’s going to happen.” A starting secondary of Palacios and Foster at the corners and Bryant and Anderson at safety is certainly a realistic option. It’s just one of the many ways that Anderson can contribute to his new team. “He can contribute in a lot of ways on offense and defense because I’ve seen that he has some speed on him,” Bryant said. “So as a player right now, I think he can really help us out a lot. Like I said before I’ve seen his film and he looked to be a good player in the secondary. He really didn’t have any highlights on offense so I’m just going by what I’ve seen of him on the track. And he’s pretty fast from what I’ve seen. “And on his film he’s shown his hitting abilities. He’s really a hard-hitter, just like me, so we’re going to go out there and give it our all this season. Having two of the top-recruited safeties on the same team is pretty scary.” Aaron Morris is another possible candidate to earn playing time at the other safety position opposite Bryant. He played a lot as the third safety last year but he might have already been slated to move up to the linebacker corps for his senior year even before Anderson arrived at Glenville. So it’s very possible that Anderson could be teamed with Bryant at safety for the Tarblooders for this upcoming season. “It looks to me he can play rover, bandit, free safety, strong safety or anything and it doesn’t matter what position that I play, strong versus free, I

really don’t care, because I come up to hit too just like a strong safety at free safety or strong safety,” Bryant said. “So it really doesn’t matter to me.” After sitting out the entire season, or for the most part of it anyway, in his sophomore campaign with a shoulder injury, Bryant started fulfilling the potential that he was expected to have coming up as a younger player last season. His confidence going into his senior season is at all-time high now. “Last year gave me a real high boost,” Bryant said. “I finally found out that I can play on the varsity level and contribute to my team. In my eyes I really didn’t have the kind of breakout season that I wanted to as a junior but my senior year will be a show for everybody.” Versatility is the key word for Bryant and for Anderson. “This season I’ll probably play some of everything from receiver to quarterback to running back to everything because it’s my senior and I’ve already been sold on defense in my junior season to the colleges,” Bryant said. “So now I’m really just trying to show them what I can do on offense a lot. I’m not going to give up on defense because that’s my first passion but I’m really going to put on a show this season, I would say right now, on offense right now. “And Latwan, I think he can contribute to the offense, too. He’ll probably play some running back and probably some slot receiver. I kind of would like to see him at running back but it’s not my decision. From what I’ve seen from film he’ll be a good asset to our whole team.” And according to Bryant, it’s been a seamless endeavor in welcoming Anderson to the program. “Everyone is getting a feel for him and trying to see if he fits in and so far he’s been fitting in pretty well,” Bryant said. “Some other guys who have transferred before he has went into to their own little zone and didn’t interact with the team but that’s not happening at all with Latwan. He’s fitting in pretty well so far so that’s a good sign.” But Bryant’s not about to just anoint Anderson an automatic starter for any position on the team just yet. “He’s going to have to come in and prove himself again, transferring over to our school,” he said. “We’re going to see if he fits in our program or not, so we’re looking forward to seeing that. He’s not just going to get a job because his name is Latwan Anderson. I know he’s a top player in the state and also in the country, but again he’s still going to have to prove himself to us as a team. And with me being a team captain this year, I’m trying to see what he’s all about and if he can live up to the hype.” The opportunity is certainly there for Anderson to excel and maybe earn some additional big-time scholarship offers now that he’s at Glenville. At the very least, Anderson has the potential to give the Tarblooders a lethel knockout combination, along with Bryant, in their defensive backfield. “We’re going to have a fresh start this summer so whoever works the hardest and produces the best in mini-camp and in summer camp is really who is going to be on the field in the first game,” Bryant said. “So we all have some stepping up to do. It should be a great season.” — OH

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Between the two of them, Anderson and Bryant have scholarship offers from Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan State, UC, Notre Dame and Tennessee.

Photo by Gary Housteau

Glenville Duo

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Princeton’s Spencer Ware

ne aspect about Spencer Ware from Cincinnati Princeton that college football recruiting analysts can agree on is that he is one of the top prospects in Ohio in the 2010 class. However, no one is quite sure what position he will play at the next level and even fewer have a gauge on what college he will end up attending. Ware (5-11, 210) is a standout quarterback for Princeton and has been the varsity starter since his freshman year in 2006 (he also played some defensive back as a sophomore). The vast majority of schools are recruiting him as an “athlete” which is football lingo for “we have no clue where you fit best.” From Ware’s perspective, he doesn’t really care what position he plays. He just wants a chance to play major college football on a full ride and he is going to realize that dream. “I know I’ll end up at the best “I know I’ll end up at the position for me – the one that fits my skills the best,” Ware said. best position for me – the one “Different schools are recruiting me for different positions, but it that fits my skills the best. will all work out and I have an open mind about it. Different schools are recruiting “At this point, it really doesn’t me for different positions, but it even matter to me. I’m looking for the right school for me and whatwill all work out and I have an ever position is the right fit is where I’ll play.” Ware has over 15 scholarship open mind about it. offers, including one from Ohio State that he received last Princeton junior September. That’s when it finally hit the young man that he had the Spencer Ware chance to be big-time. “I was shocked when Ohio State offered,” Ware said. “I had no idea it was coming. I was excited when it came in the mail.” As a sophomore in 2007, Ware threw for 2,200 yards and rushed for 982. He accounted for 35 touchdowns (18 rushing, 17 passing). Ware threw just six interceptions and was named second-team All-Southwest District in Division I (the only sophomore on the first or second team).

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Photos by Stephanie Porter

STORY BY DAVE BIDDLE

As a junior in 2008, Ware threw for 1,938 yards and 13 touchdowns. He added 741 rushing yards and scored 15 touchdowns on the ground. He was named first-team all-district by the Associated Press, and honorable mention All-Ohio by ONN/Ohio High magazine. At a Nike-sponsored football camp in Cincinnati in mid-March, Ware had an impressive performance. The scholarship offers were already rolling in at a rapid pace, but his showing at the Nike camp caused even more schools to get interested. In fact, Ware has received so many offers recently, he’s lost count of exactly how many he has and exactly which schools have offered them. “I can't name them all specifically off the top of my head,” Ware said. “I have about 15 offers. I have Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Syracuse, Cincinnati, Duke, North Carolina, N.C. State and Purdue. Those are some off the top of my head.” As of late April, Ware was not reporting a leader. “I’m just looking at everyone as equals right now and I’m just trying to take my time and make the right decision,” he said. There is a group of schools from the Southeastern Conference that Ware would be extremely interested in if they offer him a scholarship. “Yeah, I like Georgia, LSU and Florida,” Ware said In fact, Ware has been a fan of the Bulldogs for a long time and still keeps a close eye on what is happening in Athens. “Yeah, I am, I’m still a Georgia fan,” Ware said. “There is just something about that program that I like. I like how they get after on the field and their work ethic. I’ve been around their coaches and they have a good baseball program. I like the atmosphere.” Ah yes, baseball. Ware is also a standout baseball player – he batted around .400 as a sophomore in 2008 -- and he has no plans of giving up the sport. “I’d like to try both sports in college – football and baseball,” Ware said. The multi-faceted athlete is not in a hurry to make a decision. In fact, it’s just the opposite. He could be one of those recruits that keeps everyone guessing until the last minute. “I think I might be kind of late to decide – right before singing day or around that time,” Ware said. “I’m going to take all five of my official visits.” However, Ware is not sure which schools he will visit yet. “Not at the moment,” he said.

Transfer Rumors Proven Untrue

In December 2008, there were rampant rumors on internet message boards that Ware was planning a transfer to Cincinnati Colerain (a move that was

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Princeton’s Spencer Ware supposed to be made before the 2009 baseball season). However, the rumor turned out to be nothing more than just that. “Yeah, there was nothing to that rumor, but everyone seemed to believe it for a while,” Ware said. It is believed the rumor was started by a fan of Colerain’s program and then took on a life of its own from there. Ware says he’s just glad that situation is behind him and he can focus on helping the Vikings in 2009.

OSU Hot On Ware’s Trail

As for Ohio State, Ware has been to the Columbus campus multiple times and says he always feels comfortable. “I’ve been up there for spring practice and my sophomore year I went up there for a camp,” Ware said. “It’s pretty cool there and I know a few people from around that area. I have some family in that area and I know some of the guys that are there now on the team.” Like most schools, the Buckeyes are not sure what position Ware will play in college. They just know they want him. “Ohio State has been talking about all over on both sides of the ball,” Ware said. “They’re looking at me as an all-around player.” The only schools that are recruiting Ware as a quarterback and not an “athlete” are Cincinnati and Duke.

Ware Selected For All-American Bowl

On March 24, Ware became the second player from Ohio to accept an invitation to the Army All-American Bowl, which will be played in San Antonio on Jan. 9, 2010. (Cincinnati Anderson offensive lineman Andrew Norwell – who has verbally committed to Ohio State – was the first Ohio player to agree to play in the game.) “That’s a big honor for me and I’m excited about it,” Ware said. “It should be fun to go down there and play with and against some of the best players in the country.”

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ESPN.com Evaluation

Most recruiting analysts feel that Ware will be a running back in college due to his powerful running skills and his quickness in changing direction. He’s already a very thick young man and probably won’t get any taller. Here is ESPN.com’s detailed evaluation of Ware: “Ware is essentially a running back playing as a dual-threat quarterback in the shotgun spread offense and he is actually a surprisingly productive QB that is more than just a runner, but his build and athleticism and ability to make plays as a RB is why he handles the ball on each play. “He possesses a live arm and is a serviceable passer for this scheme and throws very well on the run. Creates problems for defenses because if you just attempt to stop him as a runner, he can and will hurt you through the air. Shows an aggressive style and runs with authority. Hits the hole with great burst and is capable of sneaking through tiny creases. At quarterback, when he feels pressure he displays excellent initial quickness to jump-cut and avoid. “Has good lower-body strength, hits the hole quickly and is a surprising between-the-tackles runner who excels at picking up yards after contact. Runs with good balance and bounces off arm tackles. “Shows good lateral mobility, can bounce runs outside after starting inside and does a good job of locating cut-back lanes. Keeps head up, shows good vision and read blocks well. Has the burst to turn the corner, shows a second gear once in space and flashes the ability to run over defensive backs in the open field. “He displays such a low center of gravity coupled with balance and agility to keep his feet after first contact that he rarely goes down easily. For his build and quickness he is a guy that looks as if he could carry the load, but he lacks great top end speed and against top level defensive speed he may struggle to win footraces in space. He is a lot like Ray Rice in this regard. “Overall, Ware is versatile and possesses excellent instincts as a football player and runner. He is stout with a compact build and can be an effective inside and outside runner.” — OH

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STORY BY MATT NATALI

Ohio Players Impact NFL Draft Beanie Wells, picked 31st overall by the Arizona Cardinals, was a High school All-American at Akron Garfield.

here is no denying that Ohio produces some of the top high school football talent every year sending players to the top college football programs in the country. Beyond the campus, there is no shortage of Buckeye State natives in the NFL, either, and the league welcomed 16 more in the annual draft conducted April 25-26. Ohio boasted the fourth most draft picks behind Texas (39), California (28) and Florida (17). Here is a look at the players taken in the draft that got their start on the grid iron on the fields across Ohio:

Center Of Attention

The Buffalo Bills selected center Eric Wood with the 28th pick in the first round making him the first Ohio player taken in the Draft. Wood (6-4, 310) was considered by many as the top center prospect in the country coming out of Louisville. At Cincinnati Elder, he started all 15 games as a senior leading the Panthers to their second straight state title in 2003. Elder went 28-2 over his last two seasons and Wood earned honorable mention All-District honors as a junior.

Going Back To Glendale

There was little doubt that running back Chris ‘Beanie’ Wells would one day be suiting up for an NFL team and that team is Arizona with the Cardinals selecting Wells with 31st pick in the first round. Before becoming one of the most prolific running backs in Ohio State Buckeyes history, Wells (6-1, 235) was an All-American at Akron Garfield. He was ranked as the top players in Ohio’s 2006 recruiting class by Ohio High magazine and was regarded by most scouting services as the top running back in the country his senior year. Wells rushed for 2,134 yards on 223 carries and 27 touchdowns in his senior campaign and earned U.S. Army All-American Bowl MVP honors scoring three touchdowns in the game. As a junior, Wells tallied 1,939 yards and 20 touchdowns for Garfield. As a freshman at Ohio State, Wells played in the 2007 BCS National Championship Game at Arizona's University of Phoenix Stadium, where he will now be toting the ball as a professional. He also played his final collegiate game in that stadium as the Buckeyes dropped the Fiesta Bowl to Texas.

All In The Family

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Photo by Gary Housteau

Wide receiver Brian Robiskie was destined to play football. Son of Atlanta Falcons receivers coach and NFL journeyman Terry Robiskie, the younger Robiskie was selected in the by the Cleveland Browns with the fourth pick of the second round. At Ohio State, Robiskie (6-3, 209) was an Academic All-American and was a first team All-Big Ten Conference selection ranking in the top 10 in receptions and yards in program history. In high school, Robiskie starred at Chagrin Falls in suburban Cleveland. There, he set career receiving records with 118 catches for 1,885 yards and 34 touchdowns. He earned first team All-Ohio honors as a senior with 47 catches for 754 yards and 12 touchdowns leading the Tigers to a 9-3 record

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Ohio Players Impact NFL Draft and a Chagrin Valley Conference title. Ohio High ranked Robiskie as the No. 27 prospect in the state for the 2005 class. The elder Robiskie was a coach for the Browns from 2001-06 including a five-game stint as the interim head coach in 2005.

‘Big Rich’

Tight end Richard Quinn is nicknamed ‘Big Rich’ for his ability to block on the offensive line and the Denver Broncos selected him with the 32nd pick in the second round to do just that. Quinn (6-4, 264) only had 12 career catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns at North Carolina being used primarily as a blocker. Quinn moved to Ohio his sophomore year of high school from Alabama and was a two-time all-Lake Erie League and all-Northeast District selection. In 2004, Maple Heights finished 10-2 qualifying for the Division II playoffs with Quinn recording 32 catches for 468 yards and 10 touchdowns. He was the No. 37 rated prospect in the 2004 class by Ohio High.

Arch Madness

With the second pick in the third round, the St. Louis Rams selected Iowa

had 52 catches for 694 yards and six touchdowns and made the Big Ten allacademic team. Despite missing his senior season at GlenOak after suffering a broken leg in the season-opener, Ohio High ranked Hartline as the No. 11 prospect in the state’s 2005 recruiting class. As a junior, he played quarterback for the first four games before moving to receiver catching 41 passes for 411 yards. He won state track championships in 110-meter event and the 300-meter hurdles as a senior for GlenOak.

Irish Eyes Are Smiling

Safety David Bruton was one of three captains for Notre Dame his senior season and the Denver Broncos are hoping that leadership carries over to the next level selecting Bruton with the 14th pick in the fourth round. Before tallying 214 career tackles, including seven tackles for loss and one sack for the Fighting Irish, Bruton (6-2, 219) led Miamisburg’s defense in the secondary. As a senior, he recorded 54 tackles, three interceptions and seven pass break-ups earning all-Southwest District recognition. Bruton was rated as the No. 15 top prospect for the 2005 class by Ohio High.

Staying Close To Home

Photos by Gary Housteau

Ohioans Brian Hartline (left), Nate Davis (middle) and Marcus Freeman (right) were all drafted. Hartline by the Miami Dolphins, Davis by the San Francisco 49ers and Freeman by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. defensive back and Youngstown Liberty product Bradley Fletcher. Fletcher (6-0, 196) was an honorable mention All-Big Ten pick as a senior with 60 tackles, three interceptions and 10 pass break-ups for the Hawkeyes. At Liberty, Fletcher had 207 tackles (81 solo), 13 pass break-ups and four interceptions for his career. As senior for the Leopards, Fletcher had 74 tackles (43 solo), two interceptions and six pass break-ups. On offense, he had 815 yards on 143 carries and 12 touchdowns earning first team All-Trumbull Athletic Conference, All-Northeast Ohio, all-state and played in the annual North-South Classic featuring the top seniors in the state in 2004. Fletcher also starred on the hardwood for Liberty.

Big Brewster Headed to ‘Big D’

Ball State offensive tackle Robert Brewster was the first of three Ohioans selected by the Dallas Cowboys with the 11th pick in the third round. Brewster (6-4, 325) was a three-year letter winner at Ball State and also earned three letters in high school at Cincinnati Wyoming. Ohio High ranked Brewster as the No. 33 prospect for the 2005 recruiting class. He was named the Cincinnati Hills League Player of the Year and was an all-city selection. Brewster also earned first team all-state honors and was the Division III Co-Player of the Year.

‘Fin’-tastic Catch

Ohio State wide receiver Brian Hartline joins former Buckeye pass-catcher and Ohio high school standout Ted Ginn, Jr. in Miami as the Dolphins selected the former Canton GlenOak star with the eighth pick in the fourth round. Hartline (6-2, 195) opted to enter the draft after catching only 21 passes last season with freshman Terrelle Pryor taking the snaps. But as a sophomore he

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Punter Kevin Huber has the rare opportunity to play high school, college and professional football all in the same city. A Cincinnati native, Huber (6-1, 220) was a three-time all-Greater Catholic League selection at McNicholas earning league Punter of the Year honors his junior and senior seasons. Huber led all of college football with 46.9 yards per punt for the Cincinnati Bearcats last season earning Big East Special Teams Player of the Year and was a consensus all-American. With the sixth pick in the fifth round, the hometown Cincinnati Bengals selected Huber keeping him in the Queen City.

Speaking Of Cincinnati

With the very next pick, Dallas selected Cincinnati Bearcats cornerback and Columbus Independence product DeAngelo Smith. Smith (5-11, 194) earned two letters at Cincinnati and was tied for the most interceptions in the country with eight. As a senior at Independence, Smith snagged 11 interceptions returning five for touchdowns earning first team All-Ohio honors. He also had 14 touchdowns receiving and had seven touchdowns on punt and kickoffs. Smith had 20 career interceptions in high school and was ranked as the No. 61 prospect by Ohio High for the 2004 class.

Marcus Of The Midway

Linebacker Marcus Freeman has succeeded on every level of football and is aiming to continue his success with Chicago as the Bears selected him with the 18th pick in the fifth round. Freeman (6-0, 239) started for three seasons at Ohio State as the Buckeyes led the nation in total defense and scoring defense in 2007 while placing sixth nationally in scoring defense during his senior campaign. In high school, Freeman started for four years at Huber Heights Wayne and recorded 127 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries as a senior earning first team All-Ohio honors for he second straight season and was also selected as a Parade magazine All-American. Ohio High ranked Freeman as the No. 7 prospect in the 2004 class. Freeman also competed in track in the 4x100-meter relay and throwing the shot and discus.

Number-Cruncher

Quarterback Nate Davis is used to setting records on the football field. Davis (6-1, 226) was the Mid-American Conference Offensive Player of the

JJ Hu ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

Ohio Players Impact NFL Draft Year last season setting the Ball State single-season record with 3,667 passing yards completing a record 270 attempts. He also set the mark for touchdown passes in a season with 30 and is the first Ball State player to throw for more than 3,000 yards in back-to-back seasons. Prior to his collegiate success, Davis earned three letters at Bellaire High School leading the Big Reds to the state semifinals his senior season. He was 125-of-207 passing for 2,932 yards and 42 touchdowns earning all-Ohio Valley Conference and all-state honors. Davis is the Bellaire record-holder for passing yards with 7,348 and 81 touchdowns and was rated as the No. 38 prospect by Ohio High for the 2006 class. He also earned four letters with the Bellaire basketball team and holds the career scoring record with more than 1,800 points. The San Francisco 49ers selected Davis with 35th pick in the fifth round.

Brian Robiskie was taken by the Cleveland Browns with the fourth pick in the second round.

Full Speed Ahead

Running back Javon Ringer was ranked first in the nation last season in scoring, touchdowns and carries in his senior campaign at Michigan State and the Tennessee Titans thought that was good enough to take Ringer with the last pick in the fifth round. Ringer (5-9, 205) was an Associated Press All-American in his final collegiate season and ended his career as Michigan State’s second-leading rusher with 4,398 yards and set the Spartans all-time record with 5,426 all-purpose yards. He ranks second in program history with 843 carries and tied for fourth with 34 touchdown runs. Starring in the backfield for Dayton Chaminade-Julienne in high school, Ringer was a three-time All-Ohio selection. Before being sidelined with a knee injury his senior season, Ringer rushed for 1,790 yards and 20 touchdowns in seven games and was rated as the No. 2 prospect in the 2005 class by Ohio High. As a junior, Ringer had 2,356 yards and 30 touchdowns and helped lead C-J to the Division II state title in 2002 with 2,038 yards and 30 touchdowns. Ringer was also sprinter for the C-J track team.

Say Cheese!

After lettering three seasons at Ohio State, Hamilton native and cornerback Brandon Underwood transferred to Cincinnati and was picked by the Green Bay Packers with the 14th pick in the sixth round. At Hamilton, Underwood had 60 tackles his senior year and 50 as a junior and was rated as one of the top cornerback prospects in the country coming out of high school. Ohio High rated Underwood as the No. 16 prospect in the state for the 2004 class.

Speaking of Cincinnati (Again)

Mike Mickens could be the steal of the draft with the Cowboys selecting the Cincinnati cornerback with the 18th pick in the seventh round. Mickens (6-0, 186) was an All-Big East and All-American selection as a junior with 53 tackles and six interceptions taking three back for touchdowns. Unfortunately for Mickens, he was sidelined for the last three game of his senior season with a knee injury. Playing for Huber Heights Wayne, Mickens was a two-time All-Greater Western Ohio Conference selection in 2004 and 2005. Wayne was 24-9 and claimed two league titles during his three seasons as a starter. Mickens recorded 205 tackles and 10 interceptions, blocked four field goals and returned a kickoff for a touchdown during his career. He was also the state 300-meter hurdles champion as a junior and was also a member of the school’s 4x400-meter relay team placing second at the state finals as a sophomore.

Last But Not Least

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Photo by Gary Housteau

Trevor Canfield became the sixth player from the Cincinnati Bearcats to get drafted when Arizona selected him with the 45th pick in the seventh round. Canfield (6-5, 307) started 25 straight games and was a second team AllBig East selection. He was a three-year starter at Cincinnati Western Hills and was a first team all-Southwestern Ohio Public Schools League selection as a senior and was honorable mention all-city. — OH

J J H U D D L E . C O M 25

All-Star Game Previews

or the fourth year in a row, Ohio’s top two high school football allstar games will be conducted simultaneously. But a third event – an international football event set for Canton – will also take place this summer. The Ohio North-South Classic and the Big 33 Football Classic will each be held on Sat., June 20. Coaches from the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association selected the teams for these games. The North-South game will be played at Ohio Stadium, while the Big 33 game will be played in Hershey, Pa. At the same time, USA Football has assembled a team to play in the eightnation, four-continent International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship in Canton from June 27-July 5.

Photo by Mark Porter

Last year the North beat the South 31-9

The results for Ohio in the Big 33 have not been pretty since the conflict between that game and the North-South came about three years ago. The Pennsylvania all-stars won the 2006 game 61-42, prevailed 28-10 in 2007 and 31-16 in 2008. Choosing Sides Here are details on both of these all-star games: * The Ohio North-South Classic – It will be contested 4 p.m. June 20 at Ohio Stadium. Avon head coach Mike Elder will coach the North team. Some of his key players include Vermilion tight end Derick Hoebing (Michigan State), North Royalton offensive lineman Dan France (Michigan State), Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit offensive lineman Pat McShane (Indiana), Warren Howland linebacker Tyler Scott (Northwestern) and Youngstown Ursuline defensive back Dale Peterman (Syracuse). XXXXX will coach the South squad. Notable players include West Chester Lakota West running back Stephen Houston (Mississippi), Portsmouth offen-

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sive lineman Nate Cadogan (Penn State), Steubenville linebacker Branko Busick (West Virginia) and Cincinnati Winton Woods linebacker Maalik Bomar (Cincinnati). According to the OHSFCA, alumni of the Ohio North-South Classic have participated in all but two of the NFL’s 43 Super Bowl games. Last year, the North squad downed the South 31-9. The North maintains a 37-23-3 lead in the all-time series. Television details for this year’s North-South Classic had not been resolved. * Big 33 Football Classic – The Big 33 game is set for 7 p.m., June 20, at Hersheypark Stadium. It is sponsored by PNC Bank. The Ohio squad will be coached by Ada head coach Mike Fell. Ohio State signees on the Ohio squad include Aurora defensive lineman Adam Bellamy, Garfield Heights defensive lineman Melvin Fellows, Painesville Harvey wide receiver Chris Fields, Cleveland Glenville offensive lineman Marcus Hall, Youngstown Boardman offensive lineman Corey Linsley, Bellbrook offensive lineman Sam Longo and Cleveland Glenville defensive lineman Jonathan Newsome. More notables on the team include Hamilton defensive back Denicos Allen (Michigan State), Youngstown Liberty defensive back Isaiah Bell (Michigan), Fostoria wide receiver Micah Hyde (Iowa), Canal Fulton Northwest offensive lineman Nate Klatt (Michigan State), Portsmouth offensive lineman John Prior (Florida State), Centerville defensive lineman Adam Replogle (Indiana), Sunbury Big Walnut linebacker Will Studlien (Northwestern), Massillon Washington defensive back J.T. Turner (Michigan) and Youngstown Liberty running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (Michigan). The Big 33 game will be televised live by the NFL Network. The Ohio-Pennsylvania series resumed in 1993. Last year’s win gave Pennsylvania a 9-7 lead in that series. * IFAF Junior World Championship – USA Football, an independent nonprofit and the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, has built America’s first Junior National Team in the sport to compete in the eight-nation, four-continent 2009 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, from June 27-July 5. National football teams from Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Sweden have qualified to join the United States to pursue the sport’s first world championship on the international junior level (19 and under). Cleveland St. Ignatius coach Chuck Kyle will be the coach of Team USA. That team will also include three Ohio products in Newark Licking Valley linebacker Storm Klein, Toledo St. John’s offensive lineman Jack Mewhort and Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit offensive lineman Brian Smith. Klein and Mewhort will play college football at Ohio State, while Smith is headed to Northwestern. They are among 36 graduating high school seniors soon to enter 27 college football programs who will play on America’s first national team in the sport comprised of players aged 19 and under. USA Football’s Junior National Team roster will ultimately consist of 45 student-athletes. “It will be an historic moment for American football as great athletes from around the world come to Canton to see who will be crowned Junior World Champion,” Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel said. “It’s great that a couple of Ohio guys and Buckeyes will be able to represent their country in such a competition. I know it will be an unforgettable experience for them.” — OH

JJ H u dd le’s O h io High

All-Star Game Previews

STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN

South Team

Head coach: Jay Sharrett (Pickerington Central). Players: Jordan Barbina, QB, Union Local; Taylor Wood, QB, Delaware Hayes (Eastern Kentucky); Stephen Houston, RB, West Chester Lakota West (Mississippi); Jeremy Murray, RB, Martins Ferry; Brody Call, RB, St. Clairsville; Travis Sherman, OL, Coal Grove Dawson Bryant; Zac Kerin, OL, Lewis Center Olentangy (Toledo); Mike Breland, OL, St. Marys Memorial; Allen Matthews, OL, Xenia; Nate Cadogan, OL, Portsmouth (Penn State); Josh Sucheki, OL, Hilliard Davidson; Jacob Green, TE, Wyoming (Ball State); Tyrell Massey, WR, Columbus Marion Franklin; Brett Wycinski, WR, New Lexington; Chase Barnes, WR, Kenton; Mark Mays, WR, Clayton Northmont (Bowling Green); Tony Harris, WR, Cincinnati Moeller. Kyle Baker, WR, Ada; Blaine Burgess, DL, Pickerington Central (Harvard); Mike Hilty, DL, Olentangy Liberty (Cincinnati); Davon Custis, DL, Columbus DeSales; Zach Costlow, DL, Steubenville Catholic; Greg Cristo-Baker, DL, Newark Licking Valley; Will Carter, LB, Johnstown Monroe; Branko Busick, LB, Steubenville (West Virginia); Maalik Bomar, LB, Cincinnati Winton Woods (Cincinnati); Mike Lamb, LB, Ironton; Ryan Ballenger, DB, Gahanna (Harvard); Josh Miller, DB, Lima Shawnee; Tyler Dummermuth, DB, New Philadelphia; Terrence Glenn, DB, Dayton Dunbar; Nick Preissman, DB, Cincinnati Colerain; Karlos Marshall, DB, Springfield; Adam Castin, K/P, Pickerington Central.

North Team

Head coach: Mike Elder (Avon). Players: Ryan OʼRourke, QB, Avon (Slippery Rock); Alex Gillett, QB, Clyde (Eastern Michigan); Eric Page, WR, Akron Springfield (Toledo); Terrance Davis, WR, Fremont Ross; Brandon Mathie, WR, Louisville; Garrett Gronowski, WR, Avon (Eastern Michigan); Derick Hoebing, TE, Vermilion (Michigan State); Jon Pettigrew, RB, Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (Bowling Green); Tyler Fortner, RB, Tallmadge; Monterae Williams, RB, Canton McKinley (Findlay); Zach Laird, OL, Olmsted Falls (Air Force); Schyler Chappell, OL, Kirtland; Pat McShane, OL, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (Indiana); Dan Baco, OL, Youngstown Ursuline (Walsh); Matt DeMore, OL, Twinsburg; Dan France, OL, North Royalton (Michigan State); Aaron Williams, OL, Canton GlenOak (Toledo). Bryan Visingardi, K/P, Akron Springfield; Alex Kovach, DB, Strongsville; Armand Dehaney, DB, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit (Ball State); Dale Peterman, DB, Youngstown Ursuline (Syracuse); Cody Roberts, DB, Lodi Cloverleaf (Cornell); Sylvester Gibbs, DB, Austintown Fitch (Youngstown State); Ethan Kagy, DB, Tiffin Columbian; Dan Molls, LB, Parma Padua (Toledo); Tyler Scott, LB, Warren Howland (Northwestern); Anthony King, LB, Defiance Ayersville (Idaho State); Ben Pike, DL, Mentor (Toledo); Nathan Elliot, DL, Leavittsburg LaBrae; Ben Bertsch, DL, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary; Frank Orteca, DL, Twinsburg (Villanova); Matt Rose, DE, Massillon Washington (Ashland); Tyler Houska, DE, Medina Highland (Youngstown State); Pat McFall, DE, Youngstown Boardman.

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Ohio Team

Head coach: Mike Fell (Ada). Assistants: Doug Frye (St. Marys Memorial), Bill Nees (Piqua), Mike Vicars (Genoa), Paul Yunker (Evergreen), Scott Wetzel (Big Walnut). Players (colleges in parentheses): Denicos Allen, DB, Hamilton (Michigan State); Perez Ashford, WR, Shaker Heights (Northern Illinois); Isaiah Bell, DB, Youngstown Liberty (Michigan); Adam Bellamy, DL, Aurora (Ohio State); Austin Boucher, QB, Kettering Alter (Miami, Ohio); Melvin Fellows, DL, Garfield Heights (Ohio State); Chris Fields, WR, Painesville Harvey (Ohio State); Nate Freese, K, Strongsville (Boston College); Jeffvon Gill, Euclid (Buffalo); Marcus Hall, OL, Cleveland Glenville (Ohio State); Micah Hyde, WR, Fostoria (Iowa); Donovan Jarrett, Hamilton (Ball State); Josh Jones, Cincinnati Elder (Cincinnati); Shaun Joplin, WR, Sylvania Southview; Nate Klatt, OL, Canal Fulton Northwest (Michigan State); Corey Linsley, OL, Youngstown Boardman (Ohio State); Sam Longo, OL, Bellbrook (Ohio State). Darrell Mason, RB, Youngstown Ursuline (Fort Scott CC); Tim Moore, DB, Mentor (Bowling Green); Jonathan Newsome, DL, Cleveland Glenville (Ohio State); Patrick Nicely, QB, Willoughby South (Akron); Cody Pettit, Hamler Patrick Henry (Central Michigan); Jason Pinkston, Cleveland Glenville (Ball State); John Prior, OL, Portsmouth (Florida St.); Adam Replogle, DL, Centerville (Indiana); Brian Slack, TE, Akron Hoban (Miami, Ohio); Jake Smith, OL, Columbus DeSales (St. Francis); Chris Snook, LB, Medina Highland (West Virginia); Ryan Spiker, OL, Dresden Tri-Valley (West Virginia); Will Studlien, LB, Sunbury Big Walnut (Northwestern); Fitzgerald Toussaint, RB, Youngstown Liberty (Michigan); J.T. Turner, DB, Massillon Washington (Michigan); Chris Williams, DB, Cincinnati Winton Woods (Cincinnati).

Pennsylvania Team

Head coach: Tim Janocko (Clearfield). Players (colleges in parentheses): Ronnie Akins, DB, North Penn (Villanova); Mark Arcidiacono, OL, St. Josephʼs Prep (Penn State); Dana Brown, DL, McKeesport (Kent State); Josh Bucci, OL, Beaver Area (Villanova); James Capello, QB, Lebanon (Iowa State); Jaleel Clark, WR, Parkland (Missouri); Jay Colbert, DE, Neshaminy (New Hampshire); Brock Decicco, TE, Thomas Jefferson (Pittsburgh); Curtis Drake, QB, West Catholic (Penn State); A.J. Fenton, DE, McDowell (Wisconsin); Malik Generett, WR, William Penn York (Connecticut); Brandon Heath, OL, W.C. Henderson (Delaware); Jordan Hill, DL, Steel High (Penn State); Robert Holloman, RB, West Catholic; Anthony Holmes, DB, Harrisburg; Chris Houston, DB, McDevitt (New Hampshire). Horvin Latimer, LB, Bethlehem Liberty (Duquesne); Jermel Lee, DB, Freedom (IUP); Jack Lippert, DL, Central Dauphin (Pittsburgh); Lyle Marsh, RB, Bethel Park (Pennsylvania); Dan Mason, LB, Penn Hills (Pittsburgh); Brandon McManus, K, North Penn (Temple); Billy Morgan, DB, Cardinal OʼHara (Hofstra); Dave Osei, OL, Abington (Rutgers); Mike Pinciotti, DL, St. Josephʼs Prep (Pennsylvania); Justin Pugh, OL, Council Rock South (Syracuse); John Schademan, WR, Bethel Park (Colgate); Carson Sharbaugh, LB, Wilmington (Youngstown State); Dan Shirey, OL, Nehsanimy (Villanova); Jordan Smith, DB, Steel Hill; Devin Street, WR, Bethlehem Liberty (Pittsburgh); Rob Stupar, DE, State College (Youngstown State).

USA Football Jr. National Team

Head coach: Chuck Kyle (Cleveland St. Ignatius). Players (colleges in parentheses): Oday Aboushi, OL, Brooklyn (N.Y.) Xaverian (Virginia); Robert Bell, LB, East Grand Rapids, Mich. (Toledo); Kevin Cummings, WR, Culver City (Calif.) Crespi (Oregon State); Zach Cutkomp, RB, West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley (Northern Iowa); Jamal Davis, WR, Coral Springs (Fla.) Charter (Florida Atlantic); Aaron Dobson, WR, South Charleston, W.Va. (Marshall); Tariq Edwards, LB, Marlboro (S.C.) County (Virginia Tech); A.J. Ferguson, DE, South Brunswick, N.C. (N.C. State); Brian Fields, RB, New Castle (Del.) William Penn (Western Michigan); Noel Grigsby, WR, Los Angeles Crenshaw (San Jose State); James Hall, RB, Las Cruces, N.M. (New Mexico State); Chris Henderson, DT, Dallas Carter (Texas A&M); Pat Hinkel, DB, Cleveland St. Ignatius (Miami, Ohio); Storm Klein, LB, Newark (Ohio) Licking Valley (Ohio State). Corey Lillard, DB, Bealeton (Va.) Liberty (Virginia); Mike Loftus, P/K, Anaheim (Calif.) Servite (SMU); Erik Lora, WR, Miami Christopher Columbus (Miami, Fla.); Jordan Lynch, DB, Chicago Mount Carmel (Northern Illinois); J.R. McConico, CB, Venice, Calif. (SMU). Jack Mewhort, C, Toledo (Ohio) St. Johnʼs (Ohio State); Khaled Mheisen, DL, Detroit Central Catholic; Chris Norman, LB, Detroit Renaissance(Michigan State); Matthew Page, OL, East Chicago Central(Ball State); Chris Payne, DB, Columbia, S.C. (South Carolina); Bryce Petty, QB, Midlothian, Texas (Baylor); John Plasencia, TE, Tampa Jesuit (Northwestern); Jordan Poyer, CB, Astoria, Ore. (Oregon State); Tevin Reese, WR,Temple, Texas (Baylor); Micajah Reynolds, G, Lansing (Mich.) Sexton (Michigan State); Jordan Roussos, DE, Carlynton, Pa. (Bowling Green); Bryce Schwindt, OL, Columbine, Colo. (Northern Colorado); Brian Smith, OL, Cuyahoga Falls (Ohio) Walsh Jesuit (Northwestern); Kurt Stottlemyer, DB, Bothell, Wash. (Yale); Evan Swindall, C, LaFayette, Ga. (Mississippi); David Wilson, RB, Danville (Va.) George Washington (Virginia Tech); Nick Zachery, CB, Sheridan, Ind. (Indiana).

J J H U D D L E . C O M 27

Juwan Staten

Dayton Thurgood Marshall junior Juwan Staten has verballed to the University of Dayton.

Thurgood Marshallâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Staten leads team to D-II final, decides to

transfer to Oak Hill Academy Photo by Nick Falzerano

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JJ H u ddle â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s O h io Hi gh

Juwan Staten

STORY BY MATT NATALI f there was one reason Dayton Thurgood Marshall finished Division II state runnersup in boys basketball in March, it was Juwan Staten. The junior point guard, while humble and quick to credit his Cougars teammates with a lion’s share of the recognition, was the catalyst for the successful season. Staten averaged 20.4 points per game this season earning second team All-Ohio honors. In the state tournament, he unloaded 24 against Circleville Logan Elm in an overtime affair in the semifinals and dropped a game-high 28 against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the title game. “Throughout the (state championship) game I wasn’t really thinking about myself,” Staten said. “I was thinking more about my team and winning the game. At the time I was scoring, I was hot, so I knew I should keep doing what I was doing in order for us to win. “Going to the state tournament was a once and a lifetime experience. Up until now, that has been the best thing that has happened to me since I have been playing high school basketball. Every kid dreams about going to the state championship and it was a great experience. “Playing on the big stage, playing on TV – the whole thing was just nice.” Staten scored 20 of his 28 points in the first half as Marshall took a 29-23 lead into halftime. But SVSM came out after the break and focused the defense on Staten, which is not uncommon, according to Marshall head coach John Ralph. “We’ve got some other good players on the team but that is not to minimize what he brings to the table,” Ralph said. “The fact that he can go out and score 20 points like he did in the first half against (SVSM), you have to recognize he is capable of that. But at the same time he has come to understand that maybe it is not the 20 points he needs to get but maybe its 10 assists he needs to get.” NBA superstar and SVSM alum LeBron James was on hand for the title game and embraced an emotional Staten after the final horn in the 59-53 Fighting Irish win. “Any time you get an NBA player or anyone who knows a lot about the game and dealing with the NBA it is something good. But when it is somebody like LeBron James, it takes it to a whole new level,” he said. “I don’t really like moral victories but after a great game and having LeBron talk to me, I knew I couldn’t hang my head and I had to be proud of myself. “It was great. I’ve always dreamed about meeting him and one day playing against him and for him to come up to me after a loss like that helped me pick my head up. That was just great.” Despite his scoring output this season, Ralph said Staten did whatever he could to get Marshall wins whether it meant he scored in double figures or not. “He is crucial from the standpoint that he recognized that he had good players around him and had to fill certain roles,” he said. “It’s not just about him going out and scoring points but it is about him going out there and doing what he needs to do to make the team successful. He recognized that and did a great job of doing that. “They recognize it is a team game and he has

JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

recognized it is a team game and they have to fill a particular role when he does a certain thing.” With the experience from this year’s tournament run, Staten said he and his teammates will use that to their advantage next season to take the next step. “It gave us a lot of confidence and put a hunger in us to let us know that our goals are not finished and we’ve got something to work harder for next year,” he said. “Whenever you get there it means you get that experience under your belt. In close games, we might not get rattled as easy and for our confidence we know we can play at a state level.” Since the completion of the high school season, Staten has been running the floor with his All-Ohio Red AAU team after winning a national championship last year. Staten is joined by Columbus Northland post Jared Sullinger (Ohio State), Northland power forward J.D. Weatherspoon (undecided), injured Cincinnati Princeton guard Jordan Sibert (Ohio State), Findlay Liberty-Benton guard Aaron Craft (Tennessee), Dayton Jefferson center Adrien Payne (undecided) and Lexington guard Courtney Avery (Stanford). Staten said he enjoys playing on such a talentladen team. “People might say it is hard playing on a team with such great players but I think it is kind of easy because no team can focus on just one man,” he said. “They have to play us all equally. That is when all of our individual abilities are able to show, especially with teammates with great basketball IQ. We all kind of think alike and it makes it easier to click.” The All-Ohio Red combined for two total losses coming into this AAU season but already dropped two games before May. “This AAU season has been great. I have been playing well but it hasn’t been the great season for our team based on the last two years,” Staten said. “When you have been good for a long time, you have a lot of teams going after you because you have a target on your back. It is easy to get complacent so these two losses have reminded us we still need to come to games ready to play. No team is going to give us anything.”

Moving On

After weighing his options with his family and friends, Staten has made the decision to transfer to Oak Hill (Va.) Academy. “My mind is set,” Staten said. “We talked to (Oak Hill head coach) Steve Smith and let him know that we’ve accepted and I let him know that I plan on going out there this year.” Staten said he will finish his junior year at Marshall and continue to play AAU basketball for All-Ohio Red. He plans on taking a visit to Oak Hill over the summer and start school there when classes start in September. Staten mulled the decision for a few days after Smith paid him and his family a visit in this past weekend at the AAU tournament in Fort Wayne, Indiana All-Ohio Red was playing in. “I wanted to talk to my family about it and make sure it was the right decision and make sure all the academic stuff was good and make sure it would be something that would benefit me in the long

run,” he said. “We decided it was a good decision and it is something that I was interested in doing and something that would benefit my future so we decided to go with it. “You know all the stuff about the basketball with the history and the players and the coach and the type of situation. But we really wanted to know about the academic part of it and the living part of it and the stuff away from basketball.” Staten informed Smith in early May. “When we talked to (Smith) last night we learned about all those things. It made it very easy for us to make the decision,” he said. “I feel it will make me be more prepared for college, not only for basketball but academically.” Although the transfer presents a good opportunity for him on the court and away from it, Staten admitted it was a tough decision. “I was talking to my friends about it and my teammates. They all feel that it is a great move for me but they all wish I could stay too so we could continue what we have going on here. But they all understand and they wish the best for me,” he said. “It’s bittersweet but it makes it better when I know I have my family and friends behind me.” Oak Hill finished the season ranked No. 2 in the country this season in most national polls.

Looking Ahead

Speaking of college, Staten verbally committed to the hometown University of Dayton in February. He selected the Flyers over Xavier and was also getting interest from Ohio State, Purdue, West Virginia and Cincinnati. “During the recruiting process, it was getting kind of hectic with all the phone calls, coaches coming to the AAU games and open gyms and I just thought it was a little too much,” he explained. “I like the recruiting process but thought if I got my verbal out of the way I could look forward to getting better instead of what school I was going to go to.” Staten said he feels right at home with the Dayton program. “With the Flyers, the coaching staff made me feel like I was already a part of the team,” he said. “I feel real comfortable around them. I can talk to them about anything and not only basketball along with the players. They just make you feel like a family and it was hard to say no.” Ralph feels Dayton is getting a smart, experienced, talented player in Staten. “The first thing that sets him apart on the court is his maturity – his maturity as a person and his maturity as a basketball player,” Ralph said. “I have watched him develop from a kid started off feeling he had to score otherwise the team can’t win to making sure he delivers what the team needs. “On nights that he gets a double-double, there is no question that the outcome is going to be in our favor. And he is capable of doing all that and more. It wouldn’t surprise me if he came out next year and several games where he gets triple-doubles. “I am still waiting for a player on my team to get a quadruple-double and I don’t think that is out of the realm of possibility for him either.” — OH

J J H U D D L E . C O M 29

Boys Basketball Recruiting

Princeton’s Jordan Sibert and Northland’s Jared Sullinger are both headed to Ohio State.

Photo by Gary Housteau

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JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

Boys Basketball Recruiting

STORY BY JEFF RAPP

Ohio’s elite performers show their wares in final leg of season sually high school player rankings are about as liquid as the bottom of a cooler in the summertime. Some prospects rise while others tumble, causing those who try to follow it all like yours truly at Ohio High to sort it all out. This season, however, either we nailed the list with better precision than ever before or most everyone decided to play to their reputation as there was very little movement from midseason to now. Certainly, there was no reason to make any alterations at the top. Kenton’s Garrick Sherman did everything necessary to remain the premier senior in the state in our minds. In fact, Sherman would be considered the top big man in Ohio if were not for the presence of Columbus Northland post man Jared Sullinger, who played this season while trumpeted by many services as the top player nationally in the class of 2010 – and still lived up to the billing. Appropriately, Sullinger, who earlier in the week was named Ohio’s “Mr. Basketball” by The Associated Press, made the final, triumphant play of the season. He drew a foul in the waning seconds of the Division I state final and made 2 of 3 free throws to provide the Vikings with a 60-58 win over Cincinnati Princeton in a Saturday night doozy March 28 at Value City Arena in Columbus. While star players like Sullinger, Juwan Staten of Dayton Thurgood Marshall and Jordan Sibert of Cincinnati Princeton stayed in their lofty spots because of their ability to maintain excellence through the end of the campaign, great postseason showings lifted some players like Orlando Williams of Cincinnati Princeton, Desmar Jackson of Warren Harding and J.D. Weatherspoon of Columbus Northland. And all of those players are upperclassmen. Ohio also is blessed with a very promising class of 2011 – players who just completed their sophomore seasons – and we now can identify 10 freshmen who are beginning to make an impact of their own. Our resident expert, Chris Johnson, the Ohio editor of HoopScoopOnline.com, maintains his contention that the 2009 class of seniors is relatively weak compared to the couple classes that preceded it and follow. Likewise, the 2012 group, while featuring some very intriguing prospects at the top, doesn’t appear to have great depth like the ones before it, but that certainly could change. “The freshman class doesn’t appear to have national star power like many of the recent class-

JJ H u d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

es,” Johnson said. “There’s still time, obviously, for some names to emerge but right now it appears to be just an average year after very strong 2010 and ’11 classes.” The following list contains pertinent recruiting and signing information for key in-state players and our updated rankings for each class, including the most recent national class rankings by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. (ESPN) and HoopScoopOnline.com (HS) where applicable:

Seniors (Class of 2009)

1. Garrick Sherman, 6-10, center, Kenton (ESPN 99th, HS 129th) – Call him Mr. Consistency. Sherman had a breakout junior season in which he averaged 23.6 points per game and committed to Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, choosing the Spartans over other Big Ten schools such as Purdue, Iowa and Penn State. He signed with MSU, and in the process put his name in the hat for “Mr. Basketball” candidacy. Still, some skeptics may have wondered if Sherman would be able to follow up such an outstanding junior campaign. He did. As a senior, he averaged an eerily similar 23.4 ppg and shared Division II state player of the year honors with St. Paris Graham’s Josh Schuler. Along with being first-team all-state, Sherman also was named Northwest District Player of the Year in Division II. “He had a very solid senior year and led Kenton to one of their best-ever runs in the postseason,” Johnson said. “He’s the perfect recruit for the style that Michigan State likes to play under Tom Izzo.” 2. Jon Smith, 6-7, power forward, Grove City (HS 186th) – Smith holds steady in the No. 2 position after finishing up strong for the Greyhounds and leading them all the way to a regional final four before losing to mighty Columbus Northland. In the postseason, he displayed hustle all over the court, made clutch baskets, swatted shots and even provided some difficulty for Sullinger. Even as an outgoing player it appears his best basketball is ahead of him. “Smith has the most upside of any player in this class,” Johnson said. Smith signed with St. Louis University and put up 18.8 ppg and nearly 11 rebounds per contest. He earned appointment on the All-Ohio second team and also was named first-team all-Central District in Division I. 3. Carl “Tay” Jones, 5-10, point guard, Garfield Heights (HS 153rd) – A prolific scorer for one of the state’s most dynamic teams, Jones doesn’t mind being in the glare of the spotlight. In fact, he thrives on it. He approached last season’s scoring average of 25.7 ppg by producing 25.0 ppg as a senior.

After drawing attention from major programs such as Michigan, Penn State and Dayton, Jones signed with St. Joe’s in the fall. With Jones at the controls, Heights was one of the power teams in Division I this season. He was named to the first team on the All-Ohio list as well as the Northeast Lakes District Player of the Year in Division I. 4. Robert Capobianco, 6-7, power forward, Loveland (ESPN 100th, HS 178th) – An inside force who averaged 19.5 ppg and 11.3 rpg last season, he is also highly skilled and shows excellent shooting range. Indiana scooped up Capobianco before others could get deeply involved and he signed with coach Tom Crean’s Hoosiers in November. He put up 17.3 ppg and was named to the Southwest District first team in Division I. Also special mention all-state. 5. Matt Kavanaugh, 6-10, center, Centerville (HS 193rd) – Big center continued to make strides even by following up a second-team all-state season with a terrific summer Averaged 20.3 ppg as a junior, 17.7 as a senior and now is ticketed to attend the University of Dayton. Solid on both ends of the floor and averaged right around nine boards per game. Kavanaugh was tabbed to the Southwest District first team in Division I and also received third-team all-state mention. 6. Desmar Jackson, 6-4, shooting guard, Warren Harding (HS 279th) – Once the No. 1 player in this class, the wiry Jackson tumbled down the list last year after transferring from nearby Warren JFK and not always asserting himself. Outstanding athlete who can take over games at times, but tried to be more of a distributor last season and averaged 14.1 ppg. Second team all-district last season to first-team all-state as a senior after producing 16.7 ppg and leading Harding all the way to the state tourney. Had a monster showing in the regionals and also was the leading scorer on the floor in Columbus in a semifinal loss to eventual champ Northland. First-team All-Northeast Inland District in Division I as well as all-state. Signed with Wyoming. Moved up two spots on our list due to the strong finish. 7. Orlando Williams, 6-3, point guard, Cincinnati Princeton – Another smooth performer who had a big senior season, led his team to the Division I state tournament and moved up on this list (formerly No 10). Played in one of the most talented backcourts in the state next to junior off-guard Jordan Sibert. With Williams running the point, Princeton was ranked second in the state poll most of the season and ended up there after the narrow loss to Northland. Averaged 13.3 ppg as a junior and jumped it up five points to 18.3 ppg as a senior. Southwest District Player of the Year in Division I and first-team all-state. Signed with Miami (Ohio). 8. Bill Edwards, 6-7, wing forward, Middletown (HS 218th) – The son of the former Wright State superstar with the same name, Edwards has been a consistent force for the Middies. He averaged 17.5 ppg last season and received All-Southwest District acclaim. As a senior he finished with an almost identical mark of 17.6 ppg. Repeated his showing on the Southwest District

J J H U D D L E . C O M 31

Boys Basketball Recruiting

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Canton GlenOak – One of the most prolific scorers in the state and a true rising star, McCollum, who is signed with Lehigh, jumps up five spots from No. 19 on this list after pouring the ball in the basket at an even higher rate as a senior. He produced 25.1 ppg as a junior and upped that mark to 28.9 this past season to go along with more eight rebounds per outing. “He’s one of the best shooters in the state and has probably seen his stock increase more than any other player in the state from the end of last season until now,” Johnson said. “He is an absolute steal for Lehigh.” The postseason awards poured in for McCollum – first-team All-Ohio, the Gatorade Player of the

Photo by Gary Housteau

first team in Division I and also named first-team All-Ohio. Edwards signed with Penn State on April 6. He choose the Nittany Lions over a wide range of schools including Miami (Ohio), Central Florida, Wright State and Oklahoma State. 9. Drew McGhee, 6-9, center, North Ridgeville (HS 168th) – A Miami (Ohio) signee who is looking like a nice get for the RedHawks. Very skilled big man who has range out to 18 feet. Averaged 18.0 ppg and led his team all the way to a Division I regional final yet was completely overlooked by all-state voters. Ended up thirdteam all-district (Northeast Lakes). North Ridgeville’s state tournament bid ended with a 5338 loss in the regional tournament to Warren Harding. 10. Reggie Keely, 6-8, power forward, Cleveland Heights (HS 240th) – A consistent performer with skills that should translate to the next level. Signed a letter-of-intent with Ohio University. Was averaging about 23 ppg at the halfway point of the season and finished up at 20.3 ppg. Keeley was named first-team all-district (Northeast Lakes) and second-team all-state following his outstanding senior campaign. 11. Danny McElroy, 6-7, power forward, Cincinnati LaSalle (HS 233rd) – McElroy’s prep career has had its share of peaks and valleys. His stock has dipped recently and he’s also changed his mind about his future school. After committing to the University of Cincinnati, he ended up signing in the fall with Bowling Green. However, he was nothing but highly reliable down the stretch of the season and helped power LaSalle all the way to the regional finals before losing at Cintas Center to Cincinnati Princeton in an epic battle. Athletic post man averaged 16.4 ppg and was awarded honorable mention All-Ohio. Also named second-team All-Southwest District in D-1. 12. Marquis Horne, 6-7, power forward, Cincinnati Princeton (HS 256th) – Another future Bobcat who has signed with Ohio U., Horne also considered offers from Kent State, Bowling Green and Tennessee State and also gave consideration to LSU. Athletic forward who can finish plays with power or touch. A powerful lefty who played some of the best basketball of his career as the Vikings moved through the postseason. Can run the pick-and-roll play and finish inside. Honorable mention all-district. 13. Robert Johnson, 6-6, wing forward, Bedford (HS 252nd) – Dominant three-man who moved up a couple pegs after a terrific senior season. Had a two-game stretch this season in which he racked up 65 points, 23 rebounds and 10 assists, earning honors as player of the week from the Cleveland Plain Dealer. Ended the season at 20.6 ppg and right on 10 boards per game. First-team All-Northeast Lakes District in Division I and also received special mention on the all-state list. Helped lead the King James Shooting Stars AAU squad to the final four of their own tournament in Akron in late April, which was allowable since he appears to be headed to a prep school or junior college to shore up his academics before joining Kent State. 14. C.J. McCollum, 6-2, shooting guard,

Princeton senior and Miami (Ohio) recruit Orlando Williams helped the Vikings reach the Division I state championship. Year in the state and “Mr. Basketball” runner-up. He also was named the Northeast Inland District POY. 15. Randal Holt, 5-11, point guard, Cleveland Glenville – Second-team all-district pick after averaging 20.4 ppg as a sophomore and was just under 21 ppg again as a junior, both seasons at Bedford. Holt transferred to Glenville, helping the uptempo Tarblooders become a top-10 team in the state. Averaged 24.8 ppg and was named special mention all-state in Division I. Also first-team AllNortheast Lakes District. Holt originally committed to Cleveland State but after receiving offers from most of the top teams in the MAC he opted to sign an LOI with Kent State. 16. Allen Roberts, 6-2, shooting guard, Middletown – Continues to improve and meshed well this season with Edwards. Capable of getting hot from the outside in a moment’s notice. Roberts is signed with Miami (Ohio). Averaged an even 16.0 ppg for one of the top

teams in the state. Second-team Southwest District in Division I and honorable mention allstate. 17. Luke Kraus, 6-0, point guard, Findlay – Kraus could be on his way to stardom at Bowling Green. He simply finds a way to get it done even against quicker and bigger opponents. Averaged 21.3 ppg as a junior and earned thirdteam All-Ohio honors. This past season, he upped his average to 24.5 ppg and jumped to the allstate first team. Also named the Northwest District Division I co-Player of the Year. 18. Andre Paulk, 6-3, shooting guard, Kent Roosevelt – Not as well known as just about every other senior in the top 20 but managed to put together a very solid senior season. Still unsigned. Averaged 23.9 ppg and made the first team of the All-Northeast Inland District in Division I. Also received special mention All-Ohio. Due to academics, he’ll attend a junior college, possibly the College of Southern Idaho, a JUCO powerhouse. 19. Darren Goodson, 6-4, wing forward, Cincinnati Aiken – Has dropped some in this rankings list but still among the better wings in the state. Plays for a balanced team that showcases Chane Behanan inside. Still a promising prospect with good size and a nose for the ball. He was an honorable mention All-Southwest District pick. 20. Mario Hines, 6-8, power forward, Garfield Heights – Outstanding athlete who returned to form after missing last season due to personal reasons. Provided the inside muscle for one of Ohio’s elite teams. Signed in the fall with Indiana/PurdueFort Wayne. He was an honorable mention all-district (Northeast Lakes) selection. Other Division I Signees – Phillip Beans, 6-8, center, Toledo Ottawa Hills (Holy Cross); Sheldon Brogdon, 5-11, shooting guard, Warren Harding (Youngstown State, verbal); Zach Brown, 6-1, point guard, Mason (Lipscomb); Darian Cartharn, 6-0, point guard, Canal Winchester (Wright State); Jamel Harris, 6-8, power forward, Euclid (Eastern Michigan); Lamar McKnight, 6-6, power forward, Bedford Chanel (Youngstown State); Ethan Michael, 6-5, wing forward, Toledo Christian (Air Force); Brad Piehl, 6-7, power forward, New Knoxville (Robert Morris); Devin Russell, 6-8, power forward, Toledo Start (Toledo); Josh Schuler, 6-3, shooting guard, St. Paris Graham (North Dakota); Anthony Wells, 6-1, point guard, Shaker Heights (Cleveland State); Sir Christian Williams, 6-2, shooting guard, Cleveland Heights (Rider); Will Felder, 6-5, wing forward, Cleveland Lutheran East (St. Francis-Pa.); Jordan Crawford, 5-6, point guard, Cincinnati LaSalle (Bowling Green); Daylen Harrison, 6-6, power forward, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (Wyoming). Best of the Rest – Jared Porrini, 6-4, shooting guard, Canton Timken; Cortez Howell, 5-11, point guard, Cincinnati Lockland; D.J. Cunningham, 6-9, center, Waterford; Aaron Robinson, 6-2, point guard, Trotwood-Madison (signed with Findlay); Justin Jamison, 6-9, center, Strongsville (signed with Ohio State for baseball); Ryan Siggins, 6-5, wing forward, Kettering Alter; Tony Harris, 5-10, point guard, Cincinnati Moeller; Erik Stenger, 6-6, power forward, Cincinnati St. Xavier; Andrew Pavloff, 6-8, power forward, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit.

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Boys Basketball Recruiting Juniors (Class of 2010)

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from the 10-hole to third on this list in midseason and is now considered a top-60 prospect nationally by virtually every reputable service. He also was a true star in the postseason, making key play after key play as the Vikings moved all the way to the Division I final. However, Sibert now is dealing with a harsh reality as he suffered a dual fracture in his lower left leg while following up a shot for All-Ohio Red in the Boo Williams Invitational on April 12. His summer not only appears over, there is concern as to whether or not he can get fully healed in time for his senior season. While Sibert mends there is much to celebrate about his junior season. He was named second-

Photo by Gary Housteau

1. Jared Sullinger, 6-9, power forward, Columbus Northland (ESPN 1st, HS 3rd) – Just go ahead and put 20 and 10 in the scorebook. Sullinger simply is the most reliable and consistent big man in the state and possibly the country. His soft hands are magnets for all entry passes and he uses his powerful, wide body to wall off defenders and score in the post. Shows an array of moves and a nice touch. Also adept at getting to the free-throw line and hitting a high percentage from there. Sullinger was held out of a postseason game last year due to academic concerns and the Vikings were dumped out of district play by Westerville South. It’s safe to say he came back with a vengeance as a junior, averaging 19.9 points, 14.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game while shooting a hearty 67.8 percent from the field. The Vikings did not have an undefeated regular season in 2008-09 – they lost at Canton Timken – but they earned the state’s No. 1 ranking, cruised to another City League title, got through the districts and took down very good Grove City and Dublin Scioto squads to advance to the Division I state final four. Behind Sullinger’s post presence and clutch play, Northland cut down the nets after wins over Warren Harding and Cincinnati Princeton to capture the school’s first-ever title in boys basketball. Sullinger is already committed to Ohio State and currently headlines a four-man class that is among the best in the country. He has lost just twice at the prep level. Ohio’s reigning “Mr. Basketball” and the Division I state player of the year has been invited to Amare Stoudemire’s Nike big man’s camp and the LeBron James U.S. Skills Academy as well as the NBPA Top 100 Camp in Virginia. “If he gets in better condition and tones his body, it’s lights-out for everyone else,” Johnson said. 2. Adreian Payne, 6-10, center, Dayton Jefferson (ESPN 28th, HS 25th) – A long-armed shot blocker with a developing game, Payne did not always look motivated this season while playing for D-IV Jefferson but he still managed to take ownership of the paint when necessary. He led the Broncos to the final four of the Dayton regional and averaged 12.3 ppg and a similar number of rebounds for the season. Dayton, Xavier, West Virginia and Ohio State are all still jockeying for position for the uncommitted center. Maryland and Kansas also are making a push. While playing with Sullinger on the AllOhio Red AAU team at a tournament in Akron, Payne said he plans to come up with a list of eight finalists soon. Was named second-team All-Ohio last season after averaging 15.4 ppg. First-team All-Northwest District in Division IV and special mention all-state. With more passion and production, Payne could rise well above that recognition next season. “Adreian has the most upside of any player in this class,” Johnson said. “With some added weight and a lot more consistency he will make a lot of money playing in the NBA some day.” 3. Jordan Sibert, 6-4, wing forward, Cincinnati Princeton (ESPN 42nd, HS 42nd) – Sibert blossomed to the point where he shot up

Northland junior J.D. Weatherspoon reopened his recruiting after former Xavier coach Sean Miller left for Arizona. team All-Southwest Disitrict in Division I and also received honorable mention All-Ohio. He averaged 15.1 ppg. An Ohio State commitment, he teamed up with Sullinger, Payne and several others over the summer for the dominating All-Ohio Red AAU squad. Confident player who can drive the ball and is not afraid to take big shots. 4. Juwan Staten, 5-11, point guard, Oak Hill (Va.) Academy (ESPN 55th, HS 64th) – Super quick and able to blast all the way to the bucket for points, Staten scored 23.8 ppg last season for Dayton Thurgood Marshall and was back at it as a junior, finishing at 20.4 ppg. Staten announced his decision to transfer to Oak Hill on April 6 (see page 28 for story). He commited to nearby Dayton in the fall and is considered the best PG in Ohio and also may be the most talented player at the Division II level. Also plays in the All-Ohio Red program. May have been the most impressive player of the entire postseason and nearly carried Marshall

to a state title before coming up just short in the Division II finals against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary. LeBron James consoling a teary-eyed Staten at the buzzer of that final may become the most enduring portrait of the 2009 season. First-team Southwest District in Division II as well as second-team All-Ohio. Staten has been invited to several prestigious summer showcases including the NBPA Top 100 camp and James’ event in Akron. 5. J.D. “Air Spoon” Weatherspoon, 6-6, wing forward, Columbus Northland (HS 116th) – High-flying, energetic wing who lights up the gym when he is finishing off one of his patented twohanded dunks. Shot an area-best 69.0 percent from the field. Became a more reliable rebounder and defender this season and really came on in tournament play, which is why he moved up a peg on this list. Averaged an even 15.0 ppg and named thirdteam All-Central District in Division I. Weatherspoon originally committed to Xavier but pulled out of that agreement when XU coach Sean Miller was hired away to fill the vacancy at Arizona. He now has a wide-ranging list that includes Xavier, Missouri, Maryland, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Dayton and Penn State. Ohio State offered him in early May. 6. Aaron Craft, 6-2, point guard, Findlay Liberty-Benton (HS 133rd) – Plays the game at a frenetic pace and also has the toughness and savvy to run the point and play through contact and changing defenses. Outstanding outside shooter but just as happy to set up teammates. Also the quarterback on the football team but is committed to playing hoops at Tennessee for Bruce Pearl. Yet another All-Ohio Red standout. Craft seemed to turn up his play after committing to UT and the sport of basketball. He averaged 19.1 ppg and made even more plays on both ends of the court. “He’s a coach’s dream because of all the little things he does to help you win,” Johnson said. “He might be as good a defender as there is in the state of Ohio.” Northwest District Division III Player of the Year as well as first-team all-state. Craft is expected to play in the NBPA Top 100 Camp. 7. Geron Johnson, 6-3, shooting guard, Dayton Dunbar (HS 154th) – Like Weatherspoon and Craft above him, Johnson moved up one spot on this list after a very productive junior season. He put up 18.1 ppg and was named second-team All-Southwest Distrcit in Division II and honorable mention all-state. The Wolverines always seem to have athleticism and scoring and Johnson fits right into the program tradition. Was ineligible last season but came on strong during the regular season. Missed postseason tournament due to legal issues If he can overcome that difficulty he appears set for a big senior year. However, because of the question marks, Johnson is not being heavily recruited as yet. Dayton and Kentucky were showing the most interest, although there is no indication that new UK coach John Calipari is in pursuit. 8. Cameron Wright, 6-5, shooting guard, Cleveland Benedictine (HS 124th) – It’s been a tough off-season so far for Wright, who finally

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Boys Basketball Recruiting

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Ohio area leaders at right around 19 points per contest. Just recently committed to Dayton, picking the Flyers over several MAC schools. Honorable mention All-Central District in Division I. Moved up one spot on this list and has potential to climb more with a big senior campaign. 14. Anton Hutchins, 6-3, shooting guard, Lima Senior (HS 241st) – Athletic scoring wing who brings it every night. Looks natural on the move and can dish it to others. Recently joined All-Ohio Red, making the rich even richer in 17-and-under competition. Put up 19.6 ppg for Spartans, which led to an appointment on the all-district first team in Division I. Also third-team all-state.

Photo by Gary Housteau

decided to re-open his commitment after he surmised that Ohio State’s staff wasn’t really keeping up on him. Also, Benedictine made a rather quick exit from the postseason, allowing others to pass Wright and knock him down three spots. However, he started off the spring with some strong AAU performances for the King James Shooting Stars 17-and-under team. Plus, his future is still very bright as a host of major programs figure to come courting very soon. And Wright turned in an outstanding junior season in which he averaged right around 20 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game. He and teammate Derek Jackson were named co-district players of the year. Wright also was named firstteam All-Ohio in Division II. Athletic and versatile performer who has come a long way with his jump shot. Also a willing defender and passer who likes to involve teammates. 9. Allen Payne, 6-6, wing forward, Cincinnati Winton Woods (HS 163rd) – Wiry performer who rebounded nicely last season from a knee injury and is now moving up the charts. Playing well on a regular basis against top competition in the Cincy area. Honorable mention All-Southwest District in Division I. Virginia, Michigan, Xavier, Ball State, Miami (Ohio), Bowling Green, Toledo, Akron, Ohio U., and Wright State are all still in Payne’s college considerations. 10. Nick Kellogg, 6-2, point guard, Columbus DeSales (HS 180th) – Son of former Ohio State star Clark Kellogg who averaged 10.0 ppg as a frosh and then shot up to 22.1 ppg last season. Kellogg’s production was down a bit this season at 16.7 ppg, but he put the Stallions in legitimate Division II state title contention with his leadership, ball handling and scoring. Wise and feisty with the ball in his hands. First-team Division II All-Central District and second-team all-state. Among the schools believed to be in hot pursuit is Ohio University, where his brother Alex now resides after transferring from Providence. 11. Griffin McKenzie, 6-9 power forward, Cincinnati Moeller (HS 204th) – One of the state’s storied programs became stronger with the midseason return to the court from McKenzie. He resumed practice in early January but had not played prior to that due to a back injury. Since McKenzie missed a good chunk of the season he missed out on postseason honors, but Southwest Ohio followers and college scouts know what he can do. So far, mostly Mid-American Conference schools are showing interest. 12. Derek Jackson, 6-0, point guard, Cleveland Benedictine (HS 226th) – A lead guard who also gets out on the wings and hurts teams with his drives and jumpers. His strong bond with Wright is evident on the court and gives the Bengals one of the top backcourts in the state. Recently committed to Central Michigan. Jackson came through with a big season and averaged an even 19.0 ppg. Along with being named co-district POY with Wright he was secondteam All-Ohio in Division II. 13. Ralph Hill, 6-6, wing forward, Westerville North (HS 265th) – Had a breakout season for the Warriors and at last check was among the central

Northland sophomore Trey Burke has a long list fo school’s he likes, including Ohio State, Dayton and Xavier. His list of schools currently includes Penn State, Wisconsin, Dayton, West Virginia, Bowling Green and Toledo. 15. Kenny Knight, 6-7, power forward, Cincinnati Aiken (HS 276th) – Talented performer but has been out of the lineup due to off-the-court difficulties. Despite being ineligible all season and most of his high school career mainly due to several transfers, this athletic frontliner has committed to Kent State. Best Of The Rest – Quinten Rollins, 5-11, point guard, Wilmington; Craig Sealey, 6-7, power forward, Columbus Brookhaven; Mark Henniger, 6-8, power forward, Massillon Jackson; Josh Egner, 67, power forward, Massillon Jackson; Storm Stanley, 6-10, center, Toledo St. Francis; Nathan Tait, 5-11, point guard, Lyndhurst Brush; Ryan Bass, 5-9, point guard, Dayton ChaminadeJulienne; Eric Lefeld, 6-8, power forward, Coldwater; Rob Brandenberg, 6-3, shooting guard, Gahanna Lincoln; Aaron Ashley, 6-4, shooting guard, Cleveland Heights.

Sophomores (Class of 2011)

1. Chane Behanan, 6-7, power forward, Cincinnati Aiken (ESPN 23rd, HS 21st) – A bigtime recruiting commodity who has already selected the University of Cincinnati as his future school, Behanan has been at the head of the class almost from the moment he splashed onto the scene at Aiken last season. He averaged 20.2 points and eight rebounds per game as a frosh but didn’t keep up the torrid pace as a soph, sometimes because he floated out to the perimeter too much and sometimes because he struggled in the post against physical players. Behanan struggled to stay on the floor because of foul trouble in a highly anticipated January showdown with Sullinger and also was held to just two points and one rebound in a 78-65 loss to Cincinnati Princeton in a regional semifinal. His somewhat disappointing season netted him only honorable mention in the Southwest District in Division I. Clearly the gap is closing. “Behanan has been the No. 1 player in this class for a while but there are several players on his tail who could pass him up if he doesn’t become a more consistent performer,” Johnson said. 2. James “Zach” Price, 6-9, center, Lakewood St. Edward (HS 59th) – Left-handed big man who came into his own this season. Already an excellent shot blocker with advanced post skills for a player his age. Several major programs are charting and Ohio State already has made a scholarship offer. Other schools now after Price include Michigan, Wisconsin, Michigan State and Wake Forest. The inside anchor for a very young St. Ed’s team, Price has a chance to become an immovable force this upcoming season. Like most young players, he needs to become tougher mentally and avoid foul trouble. Averaged right around 11 points, eight rebounds and four blocked shots per game and helped the Eagles advance all the way to the regional tournament before the season ended with a loss to Warren Harding. 3. Jakarr Sampson, 6-8, power forward, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (HS 175th) – Long, athletic PF who played at Solon last year. One of several talented young players for the Fighting Irish. Very good ball handling skills for a post player and a versatile defender. Has a 6-11 wingspan yet is quick enough to guard out on the wing. An outstanding season and similar showing in the playoffs for a state title team bumped him up four spots from No. 7. With two senior post players leaving SVSM, Sampson should put up big numbers next year and has a chance to help the Irish return to the state championship. He produced right around eight points, six rebounds and two blocks per game while averaging 18 minutes as a soph. Those numbers could double in 2009-10. Sampson has West Virginia, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Akron and Wisconsin-Green Bay on his early list. 4. Anton Grady, 6-8, power forward, Cleveland Central Catholic (HS 135th) – Blessed with good size and frame to possibly get bigger. Athletic four-man that has elevated his play this

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his status as a top-10 performer among sophomores in Ohio. AAU tested, competitive and cat-quick. Akron, Ohio U., James Madison, Ball State, Dayton, Xavier, Ohio State, St. Joe’s, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida Atlantic comprise Taylor’s current list of schools. 9. Trey Lewis, 6-0, guard, Garfield Heights (267th) – A dangerous outside shooter on one of the state’s top teams. Averaged right around 16 ppg and adept at distributing the ball as well. Coach Sonny Johnson said he already has received offers for Lewis from Ohio U., Kent State,

Teays Valley (344th) 15. Ricky Johnson, 5-9, point guard, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary (327th) Best Of The Rest – Brandon Neel, 6-4, wing forward, Cincinnati LaSalle; Jehvon Clarke, 6-0, point guard, Canton Timken; Jared Bryant, 6-8, center, Cincinnati Roger Bacon; Aaron White, 6-6, wing forward, Strongsville; Cheatham Norrils, 5-11, point guard, Toledo St. John’s; Maurice Taylor, 6-4, wing forward, Toledo Libbey; Chester McFadden, 6-3, shooting guard, Holland Springfield; DaVonte Beard, 6-1, shooting guard, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary; Shonn Miller, 6-4, shooting guard, Cleveland St. Ignatius; Nyles Evans, 5-9, point guard, North Canton Hoover.

Freshmen (Class of 2012)

Photo by Gary Housteau

season and projects as a wing forward. In very similar fashion to Sampson, Grady improved his status and skills while helping his team win a state title. Popped for 11.6 ppg and was named third-team all-state in Division III. Was a basic unknown to most college recruiters because he did not play AAU ball last summer. Now he’s a state champ and clearly on the radar. Grady already lists Florida, West Virginia, Ohio State, Michigan State and Dayton among others. “He reminds me of Devin Ebanks of West Virginia,” Johnson said. “He has a chance to become the best player in this class before he’s done.” 5. Paul Honigford, 6-8, power forward, Sugarcreek Garaway (HS 117th) – Led Garaway all the way to the 2008 state title game in Division III and turned in another fine season, scoring 13.9 ppg. Able to score facing the basket and an improving rebounder. Very skilled PF who has the ability to step back and stroke shots from behind the arc. Has been a top-five player in this class from day one. First-team All-Eastern District in Division III and received special mention all-state. Michigan State, Ohio State, Xavier and West Virginia are his top four schools. 6. Markus Crider, 6-5, wing forward, Huber Heights Wayne (105th) – Exciting athlete who is beginning to draw interest from major programs. Attended the Ohio State-Michigan State game in Columbus on Jan. 25 and could become a Big Ten-caliber recruit. Crider dipped a bit after sitting at No. 3 in our previous rankings. He has all the tools to become a big-time player but has to become more consistent and productive. 7. Trey Burke, 5-11, point guard, Columbus Northland (HS 224th) – Burke is moving on up – he was No. 9 last time out – which is to be expected for the starting point guard of the Division I state champs. He stepped in for the departed Devon Moore and is now one of the area’s top assist men. Also effective off the ball as a driver or shooter and has the toughness to draw fouls and hit big free throws. “He really came into his own as his team moved through the playoffs and you could see him getting more and more comfortable quarterbacking the Vikings,” Johnson said. “He gets overshadowed sometimes but he does a good job of coming through in the clutch.” Honorable mention All-Central District. Higher acclaim surely is ahead. He put his name even higher on the recruiting radar at the Boo Williams Invitational with several huge games for All-Ohio Red’s 16-and-under team, including a 40-point outburst in one contest. Burke currently has a long list of schools: Baylor, Ohio State, Notre Dame, Penn State, Xavier, Dayton, Cleveland State, Butler, Ohio University, Miami (Ohio), Toledo and Bowling Green. 8. Stevie Taylor, 5-9, point guard, Gahanna Lincoln (HS 46th) – Started off hot by scoring right around 17 ppg but is also a true lead guard who likes to run plays and dole out assists. Finished the campaign at 16.0 ppg as well as 5.0 assists and 3.0 steals per contest and maintained

Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary sophomore Jakaar Sampson helped the Irish win the Division II state title this season. Akron, Miami (Ohio), Cleveland State and St. Joe’s. Even more schools could come calling soon. Lewis will assume some of the scoring and ball handling load from Jones, which should enhance his production. 10. Kirby Wright, 6-8, power forward, Middletown (190th) – Newcomer via transfer who plays on one of best Division I teams in the state. Already well known on the AAU circuit. Wright could be option No. 1 next year for the Middies with Roberts and Edwards departed. The schools he lists most consistently are Akron, Kentucky, Cincinnati, Dayton and Miami (Ohio). 11. Aaron Thomas, 6-4, wing forward, Cincinnati Aiken (HS 200th) 12. Traevon Jackson, 6-2, combo guard, Westerville South (314th) 13. Travis Trice, 6-0, point guard, Huber Heights Wayne (HS 110th) 14. Nate Anderson, 6-9, center, Ashville

1. Elijah Macon, 6-7, power forward, Columbus Marion Franklin – This youngster already has a very bright future and soon could make M-F the team to beat in the City League South, which could put the Red Devils on a collision course with Columbus Northland at the end of the season. Macon will follow in the footsteps at a school noted for its history of quality big men including Herb Williams and Wiley Cross. Another year of positive development will open up all kinds of doors for him. 2. Adolphus Washington, 6-5, power forward, Cincinnati Roger Bacon – While even the most promising freshman usually come off the bench and don’t assert themselves right away statistically, Washington turned in a debut season in which he averaged 12.7 ppg and was named first-team All-Southwest District in Division II. It’s scary to think of the steps he could take from here. A powerfully built young player who can take over inside with his strength. Physically mature and still learning the game. 3. Dylan Kaufman, 6-3, wing, Berlin Hiland – Kaufman fit right in at one of the most underrated programs in the entire state. Not only is he an outstanding outside shooter, which is a Hiland staple, he has tremendous court sense, is very athletic and can finish at the rim. Thanks in part to Kaufman’s heroics as a frosh, the Hawks advanced all the way to the regional tournament. He’s not yet on the national radar, but considering his upside and natural ability he soon will be, causing college coaches to make a rare trip to Holmes County. 4. Kyle Molock, 6-1, point guard, Dublin Coffman 5. Jalen Robinson, 6-6, power forward, Columbus Northland 6. Malik London, 6-8, center, Chillicothe 7. Ke’Chaun Lewis, 6-3, wing forward, Columbus Northland 8. Lorenzo Cugini, 6-5, wing forward, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary 9. Jalean Lowe, 6-2, shooting guard, Cincinnati North College Hill 10. Jermaine Davis, 6-8, center, Garfield Heights For more updates on Ohio’s top prospects and those nationally, check out Chris Johnson’s work at hoopscooponline.com

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Girls Basketball Recruiting

Beavercreek’s Mikela Ruef takes a shot over Kettering Fairmont’s Cassie Sant. Ruef is headed to Stanford, while Sant recently verballed to Dayton.

nce again this year, college recruiters have camped out in the state of Ohio in search of top girls basketball talent. As many as five Ohio prospects are considered among the nation’s top 100 for the graduating class of 2009, according to the ESPN affiliate HoopGurlz.com. That same site lists as many as six Ohio products among its list of the nation’s top 60 prospects for 2010. Two Ohio players are ranked in the national top 50 by HoopGurlz.com. Those players are Beavercreek forward Mikaela Ruef and Shaker Heights forward Karisma Penn. The Stanford-bound Ruef is rated as the nation’s 16th-best prospect overall, while the Illinois-bound Penn is ranked 17th. That same site lists six Ohio prospects among its national top 60 list for the 2010 class. That group is led by a pair of players in the top five, including Dayton Chaminade-Julienne 6-1 small forward Samarie Walker (No. 2 overall) and Toledo Waite 6-3 small forward Natasha Howard (No. 5). Walker has already verbaled to Connecticut. Seniors in the Class of 2009 were able to sign letters-of-intent during the early signing period in November. They were also able to sign in the spring period beginning in April. Below is a look at the state’s top seniors, juniors and sophomores as rated by Tom Jenkins of the Ohio Girls Basketball Report. We also have several freshmen to keep an eye on.

Top 10 Seniors

Here are the top 10 seniors, listed alphabetically (national rankings from HoopGurlz.com listed in parentheses): Kari Daugherty, 6-2, small forward, Warsaw River View – Daugherty, a Dayton signee, was a first-team All-Ohio pick in Division II. Daugherty averaged 25.1 ppg for her team that reached the state final four. Kendall Hackney (55th overall nationally), 6-2, small forward, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame – Hackney, a USC signee, was the Ohio High state player of the year and Ms. Basketball award winner. She led Mount Notre Dame to the Division I state title, averaging 13.1 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Emilee Harmon (63), 6-2, power forward, Pickerington Central – Harmon, an Ohio State signee, earned first-team All-Ohio honors in Division I. She averaged 19.7 points per game as a senior. Dayeesha Hollins, 5-7, point guard, Cincinnati Winton Woods – Hollins, a Michigan signee, was a first-team All-Ohio pick in Division I. She averaged 15.8 ppg. Karisma Penn (17), 6-1, power forward, Shaker Heights – Penn, an Illinois signee, was a first-team All-Ohio honoree in Division I. She averaged 19.9 ppg. Alexis Rogers (82), 6-1, forward, West Chester Lakota West – Rogers, a Duke signee, averaged 15.4 ppg in leading Lakota West to the Division I state final four. She was a special mention All-Ohio pick. Mikaela Ruef (16), 6-3, forward, Beavercreek – Ruef, a Stanford signee, averaged 13.9 ppg as a senior. She was a second-team All-Big Ten pick in Division I.

36 J J H U D D L E . C O M

Photo by Nick Falzerano

JJ H u ddle ’s O h io Hi gh

STORY BY STEVE HELWAGEN Brianna Sanders, 5-11, shooting guard, Cincinnati Princeton – Sanders, an Ohio State signee, was averaging nearly 16 points per game when she suffered a season-ending knee injury five games into her senior year. Gabby Smith, 5-10, shooting guard, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame – Smith, a Vanderbilt signee, averaged 11.7 ppg for Mount Notre Dame’s state title team. She was a special mention All-Ohio pick. Asia Taylor, 6-1, power forward, Columbus Whetstone – Taylor, a Louisville signee, earned second-team All-Ohio honors in Division I. She averaged 27.0 ppg as a senior.

The Next 10 Seniors

Here are players ranked 11th to 20th, listed alphabetically: Jackie Cook, 5-10, small forward, South Euclid Regina – Cook, an Old Dominion signee, averaged 19.3 ppg for Regina’s Division III state championship team. She was a second-team All-Ohio pick. Andola Dortch, 5-6, point guard, Akron Kenmore – Dortch, a Toledo signee, averaged 22.0 ppg and was a special mention All-Ohio pick in Division I. Tessa Elkins, 5-7, point guard, West Chester Lakota West – Elkins, a Murray State signee, averaged 9.8 ppg as a senior. She helped lead Lakota West to the Division I state final four. Shene Fleming, 6-0, power forward, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne – Fleming is a St. Francis (Pa.) signee. Ashley Fowler, 5-6, point guard, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame – Fowler, an Ohio U. signee, averaged 7.0 ppg as a senior. Ashar Harris, 6-0, power forward, Columbus Africentric – Harris, a Morehead State signee, earned Division IV state player of the year honors after averaging 16.9 ppg. She helped Africentric win the D-IV state title with 14 points and 16 rebounds in the title game. Breanna Jones, 6-3, center, Toledo Central Catholic – Jones, an Illinois signee, averaged 17.6 ppg in earning special mention All-Ohio honors in Division I as a senior. Samantha McKay, 5-9, shooting guard, Dublin Coffman – McKay, a Dayton signee, averaged 13.2 ppg as a senior. She was a third-team AllOhio pick in Division I. Yolanda Richardson, 6-3, center, Toledo Start – Richardson, a Toledo signee, was a first-team All-Ohio pick in Division I. She averaged 13.8 ppg and helped lead Start to the state final four. Jessie Tamerlano, 5-11, small forward, North Royalton – Tamerlano, a Bowling Green signee, was a third-team All-Ohio pick in Division I. She averaged 19.7 ppg as a senior.

More Division I Signees

Here are more Ohio seniors who have signed with Ohio Division I schools: Katie Bubna, Bedford Chanel, Akron; Riley McCormick, South Euclid Regina, Toledo; Allison Papenfuss, Whitehouse Anthony Wayne, Bowling Green; Yolonda Richardson, Toledo Start, Toledo; Kaitlin Rohrs, Liberty Center, Youngstown State; Taylor Ruper, Garfield Heights Trinity, Akron; Rachel Tecca, Akron Hoban, Akron; Melissa Thompson, Solon, Youngstown State.

Top 10 Juniors

Here is a look at the state’s top 10 junior prospects for 2010, listed alphabetically (national rankings from HoopGurlz.com listed in parentheses): Shawnta` Dyer (16th overall nationally), 6-2, forward, Marion Harding – Dyer averaged 22.9 ppg as a junior and earned special mention All-Ohio honors in Division I. Natasha Howard (5), 6-3, small forward, Toledo Waite – Howard averaged 16.2 ppg in earning second-team All-Ohio honors in Division II. Tay'ler Mingo (46), 5-7, point guard, South Euclid Regina – Mingo averaged 13.8 ppg as a junior to earn first-team All-Ohio honors in Division III. She helped lead Regina to a state title. Darryce Moore, 6-2, center, Youngstown Boardman – Moore, who has verbaled to Ohio State, averaged 16.8 ppg as a junior and earned second-team All-Ohio honors in Division I. Cassie Sant (55), 6-2, power forward, Kettering Fairmont – Sant, a Dayton verbal, averaged 13.6 ppg as a junior. She was an honorable men-

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

Girls Basketball Recruiting tion All-Ohio pick in Division I. Amy Scullion (33), 6-0, small forward, Salem – Scullion, an Ohio State verbal, earned third-team All-Ohio honors in Division II after averaging 17.1 ppg as a junior. Latisha Walker, 6-2, power forward, Cleveland Heights Lutheran East – Walker averaged 18.0 ppg as a junior to earn first-team All-Ohio honors in Division IV. Samarie Walker (2), 6-1, small forward, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne – Walker, who has verbaled to defending national champion Connecticut, averaged 15.5 ppg as a junior to earn third-team All-Ohio honors in Division I. Ashley Wanninger, 5-10, shooting guard, Cincinnati Colerain – Wanninger averaged 17.3 ppg as a junior to earn honorable mention AllOhio honors. Mylan Woods, 5-10, shooting guard, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown – Woods, who has verbaled to Northwestern, was a first-team AllOhio pick in Division II. She averaged 16.0 ppg for Hathaway Brown’s state championship team.

More Junior Verbals

Here are more Ohio juniors who have made verbals to Division I schools: Erica Almady, Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown, Miami (Ohio); Phylesha Bullard, Cincinnati Walnut Hills, Syracuse; Kacie Cassell, Vandalia Butler, Akron; Jillian Halfhill, Canfield, Bowling Green; Jamonica Orton, Dayton Stebbins, Mississippi; Haley Robertson, New Albany, Miami (Ohio); Hannah Robertson, New Albany, Miami (Ohio); Monica Touvelle, Youngstown Boardman, Youngstown State; Noelle Yoder, Berlin Hiland, Bowling Green.

Top 10 Sophomores

Here is a look at the state’s top 10 sophomore prospects for 2011, listed alphabetically Kalpana Beach, 6-1, forward, Westlake – Beach averaged 16.0 ppg as a soph, earning honorable mention All-Ohio honors in Division I. Azia Bishop, 6-3, power forward/center, Toledo Start – Bishop averaged 9.0 ppg for Start’s Division I state final four team. Therany Dunnigan, 6-2, power forward/center, South Euclid Regina – Dunnigan averaged 8.3 ppg as a sophomore for Regina’s D-III state championship team. Raven Ferguson, 5-10, small forward, Columbus Africentric – Ferguson averaged 18.5 ppg as a sophomore. She was a special team AllOhio pick in D-IV in helping Africentric claim a state title. Brenae Harris, 5-9, guard, Marion Harding – Harris averaged 13.6 ppg as a sophomore for Harding. Sarah Hunter, 5-4, point guard, Mason – Hunter averaged 7.0 ppg as a sophomore for Mason. Maleeka Kynard, 5-6, point guard, Toledo Start – Kynard averaged 13.0 ppg for Start’s Division I state final four team. Allyson Malott, 6-2, small forward, Middletown Madison – Malott averaged 15.3 ppg as a sophomore and was a first-team All-Ohio pick in Division III. Kathyrn Reynolds, 5-7, guard, Cincinnati Mount Notre Dame – Reynolds averaged 9.4 ppg as a sophomore for MND’s state title team. Dominque Singletary, 5-7, guard, Hamilton – Singletary, who has verbaled to Xavier, averaged 12.6 ppg as a sophomore.

Freshmen To Watch

Here are five freshmen to keep an eye on: Ameryst Alston, 5-9, guard, Canton McKinley – Alston averaged 13.8 ppg as a freshman and was a third-team All-Ohio pick in Division I. She helped guide McKinley to the state final four. Malina Howard, 6-4, center, Twinsburg – Howard averaged 16.1 ppg as a freshman to earn first-team All-Ohio honors in Division I. Kayla Linkous, 6-1, forward, New Madison Tri-Village – Linkous averaged 21.2 ppg as a freshman. Kayla Prokopakis, 5-9, guard, Richmond Edison – Prokopakis averaged 14.9 ppg as a freshman. Lauren Walker, 5-9, guard, Wooster – Walker averaged 12.4 ppg as a freshman. — OH

J J H U D D L E . C O M 37

Ohio High Cup Standings Update

University School takes lead in Ohio High Cup Race

Preppers make move with hockey, swimming and wrestling performances

or the sixth year in a row, Ohio High will present the Ohio High Cup to the school that scores the most points in Ohio High School Athletic Association-sanctioned state championship events. This competition is patterned after the Directors’ Cup standings for colleges and universities. In the Ohio High Cup competition, schools accumulate points by finishing in the top four at OHSAAsanctioned state team championships. Schools that win a state title are awarded five points. Runner-up teams receive three points, third-place teams get two points and fourth-place teams get one point. In sports where state semifinal teams tie for third, they each receive 1-1/2 points. In this issue, we tabulate the second set of standings for the 200809 school year. These standings 2003-04 include points awarded for the winter season state championships in Versailles boys and girls basketball, girls gym2004-05 nastics, boys ice hockey, wrestling, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit boys and girls bowling and boys 2005-06 and girls swimming. With state championships in Cincinnati St. Xavier boys swimming and ice hockey as 2006-07 well as a third-place finish in Kettering Alter wrestling, Hunting Valley University School tallied 12 points in the win2007-08 ter season. That allowed the Lakewood St. Edward Preppers to vault into first place in the overall Ohio Cup competition with 17 points. A state title in girls basketball helped Shaker Heights Hathaway Brown move into second place with 13-1/2 points. Cleveland St. Ignatius, the leader after the fall season, gained one point with a fourth-place finish in wrestling. That left St. Ignatius in third place with 13 points. Besides University School, the next biggest gainer in the winter season was Oak Hill. That Jackson County school picked up eight points with a state title in boys basketball and a runner-up finish in girls basketball. Versailles captured the first Ohio High Cup in 2003-04. In 2004-05, Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit claimed the cup. In 2005-06, Cincinnati St. Xavier won the Ohio High Cup competition. In 2006-07, Kettering Alter won the cup. Last year, Lakewood St. Edward took the Ohio High Cup.

Previous Winners

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Ohio High Cup Standings Here is a look at the Ohio High Cup standings for the fall season: 1 7 - - H u n t i n g V a l l e y U n i v e r s i t y S c h o o l ( D- I I b o y s g o l f c h a m p i o n s , D - I I b o y s s w i m m i n g c h a m p i o n s , D I I w r e s t l i n g t h i r d, i c e h o c k e y c h a m p i o ns ) . 1 3 - 1 / 2 – S h a k e r H e i g h t s H a t h a w a y B r o w n ( D - I I g i rl s g ol f t h i r d , f i e l d h oc k e y c ha m p i on s , D - I I g i r l s s o c c e r s e m i f i na l i s t , D - I I g i rl s b a s k e t b a l l c h a m p i o ns ) . 1 3 – C l e ve l a n d S t . I g n a t i us ( D - I f o o t b a l l c h a m p i o ns , D - I b o ys g ol f t h i r d, D - I b o ys s o c c e r c h a m p i o n s , D - I w re s t l i ng f o ur t h ) . 1 2 - 1 / 2 – K e t t e r i n g A l t e r ( D - I V f o o t b a l l c h a m p i o n s , D - I I v o l l e y b a l l r u n n e r - u p , D -I I g i r l s c r o s s c o u n t r y r u n n e r - u p , D- I I g i r l s b a s k e t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t ) . 1 0 - - C i n c i n n a t i S t . X a v i e r ( D- I b o y s g o l f c h a m p i o n s , D - I b o y s s w i m m i n g c h a m p i o n s ) , C u y a h o g a V a l l e y C h ri s t i a n A c a d e m y ( D - I I g i rl s c r os s c ou n t r y c ha m p i on s , D - I I b oy s s o c c e r r u n ne r- u p , D - I I I w r e s t l i n g t h i r d ) , M a s on ( D - I b oy s c r o s s c o u nt r y c h a m p i o n s , D - I g i r l s g o l f c ha m p i on s ) . 8 - 1 /2 – B r e c k s v i l l e - B r o a d v i e w H e i g h t s ( D - I g i r l s v o l l e y b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I w r e s t l i n g t h i r d , g i r l s g y m n a s t i c s c h a m p i o n s ) , U p p e r A r l i n g t o n (D - I g i r l s c r o s s c o u n t r y f o u r t h , D -I g i r l s s o c c e r s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I g i r l s s w i m m i n g c ha m p i on s , D - I b o ys s w i m m i n g f o u rt h ) . 8 - - C i n c i n na t i M o u nt N o t r e D a m e ( D - I g i r l s v o l l e y b a l l s e m i f i na l i s t , f i e l d ho c k e y s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I g i r l s b a s k e t b a l l c h a m p i o n s ), O a k H i l l ( D - I V b o y s b a s k e t b a l l c h a m p i o n s , D - I I I g i r l s b a s k e t b a l l r u n n e r u p ) , Ro c k y Ri v e r M a g n i f i c a t ( D -I g i r l s c r o s s c o u n t r y c h a m p i o n s , g i r l s g y m n a s t i c s r u n n e r - u p ) . 6 - 1 / 2 – G a t e s M i l l s H a w k e n ( D - I I I b o ys s o c c e r s e m i f i na l i s t , D - I I g i r l s s w i m m i n g c ha m p i on s ) , L a k e w o od S t . E d w a r d ( D - I w re s t l i ng c h a m p i o ns , i c e h o c k e y s e m i f i n a l i s t ) , M a r i a S t e i n M a r i o n L oc a l ( D - V f o o t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I V g i r l s v o l l e y b a l l c h a m p i o n s ). 6 - - C i n c i n n a t i S t . U r s u l a A c a d e m y ( D -I g i r l s g o l f f o u r t h , D - I g i r l s s o c c e r c h a m p i o n s ) , C o l u m b u s A c a d e m y ( D - I I I f o ot b a l l r u nn e r - u p , f i e l d h o c k e y ru n ne r- u p ) , M i ns t e r ( D - I I I g i r l s c r o s s c o un t r y c h a m p i o ns , D - I I I b o y s g ol f f o u rt h) , P e n i n s u l a W o o d r i d g e ( D - I I b o y s c r os s c ou n t r y c ha m p i on s , D - I I g i r l s c r os s c o u n t r y f o u r t h) , S t . P a r i s G r a h a m ( D - I I g i rl s g o l f f o u rt h, D - I I w r e s t l i ng c h a m p i o ns ) , T i p p C i t y T i p p e c a n o e ( D - I I b o y s c r o s s c o u n t r y s e c o n d , D - I I g i r l s g o l f ru n n e r -u p ) . 5 - 1 / 2 - - C o l u m b u s W a t t e r s o n ( D -I g i r l s g o l f t i e d f o r s e c o n d , D - I g i r l s s w i m m i n g r u n n e r - u p ). 5 – A k r o n S t . V i n c e n t - S t . M a r y ( D - I I b o y s b a s k e t b a l l c h a m p i o n s ) , A l b a n y A l e x a n d e r ( D -I I I g i r l s v o l l e yb a l l c h a m p i o n s ) , A u ro r a ( D - I I I f oo t b a l l c h a m p i o n s ) , B e l l a i r e S t . Jo h n C e n t r a l ( D - I I I b oy s c r o s s c o u n t r y c h a m p i o n s ) , C e n t e r v i l l e ( D - I g i r l s s w i m m i n g t h i r d, D - I g i r l s b a s k e t b a l l s e m i f i na l i s t , i c e h o c k e y s e m i f i n a l i s t ) , C i n c i n n a t i W y o m i n g ( D - I I b o y s s w i m m i n g r u n n e r - u p , D - I I g i r l s s w i m m i n g t h i r d ), C l e v e l a n d C e n t r a l C a t h o l i c ( D -I I I b o y s b a s k e t b a l l c h a m p i o n s ) , C o l u m b u s A f r i c e n t r i c ( D - I V g i rl s b a s k e t b a l l c h a m p i o ns ) , C o l u m b us N o r t h l a n d ( D - I b o ys b a s k e t b a l l c ha m p i on s ) , D a y t on C a r r o l l ( D - I I b oy s s o c c e r c h a m p i o n s ) , D e l p h o s S t . J o h n ’s ( D - V I f o o t b a l l c h a m p i o n s ) , G a t e s M i l l s G i l m o u r A c a d e m y ( D I I I g i r l s v o l l e y b a l l r u n n e r - u p , D- I I I b o y s g o l f t h i r d ) , M i d d l e t o w n F e n w i c k ( D - I I g i r l s s o c c e r c h a m p i o n s ) , O l m s t e d F a l l s ( D -I g i r l s v o l l e y b a l l c h a m p i o n s ) , P a r m a P a d u a F ra n c i s c a n ( D - I I g i rl s v o l l e y b a l l c h a m p i o n s ) , P e m b e r v i l l e E a s t w o o d ( g i r l s b o w l i n g c h a m p i o n s ) , P o l a n d S e m i n a r y ( D- I I g i r l s g o l f c h a m p i on s ) , S ou t h E u c l i d Re g i na ( D - I I I g i rl s c h a m p i o ns ) , S p r i n g f i e l d K e n t o n R i d g e ( b oy s b o w l i n g c h a m p i o ns ) , S t r o ng s vi l l e ( D - I g i r l s s oc c e r r u nn e r - u p , g i rl s g ym n a s t i c s t h i r d ) , S u g a r c r e e k G a ra w a y ( D - I I I b o y s g o l f c h a m p i o n s ) , S y l v a n i a S o u t h v i e w ( D - I I f o o t b a l l c h a m p i o n s ) , T o l e d o O t t a w a H i l l s ( D -I I I b o y s s o c c e r c h a m p i o n s ) , T r o y C h r i s t i a n ( D -I I I w r e s t l i n g c h a m p i o n s ) , V e r s a i l l e s ( D - I I I g i rl s v o l l e y b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I I I g i r l s c r o s s c o u n t r y t h i r d , D - I I I g i r l s b a s k e t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t ) , Y o u n g s t o w n U r s u l i n e ( D- V f o o t b a l l c h a m p i o ns ) . 4 -1 / 2 – A k r o n H o b a n ( D - I I f o o t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I I g i r l s s o c c e r ru n n e r -u p ) , B e a v e r c r e e k ( D -I b o y s s o c c e r ru n ne r- u p , b o y s b o w l i n g s e m i f i n a l i s t ) , C o l um b u s D e S a l e s ( D - I I f o o t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I I b o ys s o c c e r s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I I b o y s b a s k e t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t ) , D u b l i n J e r o m e ( D -I b o y s g o l f r u n n e r - u p , D - I b o y s s o c c e r s e m i f i n a l i s t ) , F i n d l a y L i b e rt y - B e n t o n ( D -V f o o t b a l l r u n n e r - u p , D - I I I g i r l s b a s k e t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t ) , L i m a C e n t r a l C a t h o l i c ( D -I I I g i r l s v o l l e y b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I I I b o y s g o l f ru n n e r -u p ) , N o r t h C a n t o n H o ov e r ( D - I f oo t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t , D - I g i r l s c r o s s c o un t r y ru n ne r- u p ) , T o l e d o S t . J o hn ’ s ( i c e h o c k e y r u n n e r - u p , D -I b o y s b a s k e t b a l l s e m i f i n a l i s t ). 4 – N e w Al b a n y ( D - I I g i r l s s w i m m i n g r un n e r - up , D - I I b o y s s w i m m i n g f ou r t h ) . 3 - 1 / 2 - - C u y a h o g a F a l l s W a l s h J e s u i t ( D- I I b o y s c r o s s c o u n t r y f o u r t h , D - I g i r l s g o l f t i e d f o r s e c o n d ) , M e n t o r ( D -I b o y s c r o s s c o u n t r y t h i r d , g i r l s g y m n a s t i c s f o u r t h ) .

JJ Hu ddle’s O h io H igh

Indian Valley’s Kayla Caldwell

Two-time defending Division II state champion Kayla Caldwell is headed to Hillsdale College in Michigan. She’s only lost twice in high school competition. Photo by Nick Falzerano

40 J J H U D D L E . C O M

JJ H u ddle’ s O h io Hi gh

Indian Valley’s Kayla Caldwell

STORY BY JEFF WILLIAMS

hen recruiting Ohio’s top female pole vaulter, some colleges would strut out their top runners to impress a possible future collegiate star. Didn’t work. Maybe there was the overall size of the team with dozens of girls competing for the top spot on their own team in each event. Nah. Not for this girl. How about state-of-the art facilities that offer technology akin to things only seen on the Sci-Fi Channel? Nope. Not impressive. What about getting together to watch “Grey’s Anatomy”? That’s the ticket. The closeness of Hillsdale College’s track team was one of the contributing factors to the decision of Gnadenhutten Indian Valley senior Kayla Caldwell to attend the Division II school to continue her athletic career as a pole vaulter. The Division II state record holder at 12 feet, 9 inches, Caldwell comes from small-town Ohio in rural Tuscarawas County, just between Canton and Cambridge. She vaults to near-cloud level but finds a way to stay grounded when not competing. “I went to some Division I colleges and they were so big,” Caldwell said. “The team didn’t feel like a team. Everyone was out to get each other, to get a spot in the sprints or the relays, and then, when practice was over, they all just went their separate ways. I’m as competitive as anyone, but I didn’t want to be on a team where everyone just wanted to beat each other as individuals. I wanted to be a part of a team. “At Hillsdale, everyone was so open and nice to me. After practice me and a lot of the girls got together and we watched ‘Grey’s Anatomy’. That’s the closeness I was looking for.” And Caldwell was surely what Hillsdale was looking for. As a freshman, she was runner-up at the state meet in Division II at 11 feet, 6 inches. As a sophomore, she ruled the event with a state meet record of 12 feet, 4 inches. She repeated the height in winning the title last year as well. She also set a new indoor pole vault record of 12 feet, 5 inches in winning the event this year after setting the record of 12 feet, 4 inches in her champi-

JJ Hu d d l e ’ s O h i o H i g h

onship year as a sophomore. In her Ohio high school pole vaulting career, Caldwell has only been beaten twice: as a freshman at the state meet and as a junior at the indoor state meet when she was second at 12 feet even. “Winning all the time actually makes me more nervous because now I have to keep that up or people will be disappointed,” Caldwell said. “I’ve jumped so much higher than most of the people I compete against that if I only go 11 feet or I don’t break a record, people wonder what’s wrong with me. But I definitely don’t want to lose, either.” Caldwell’s pole vault coach, Dave Bell, said his protégé simply has what it takes to be a great

“I’ve jumped so much higher than most of the people I compete against that if I only go 11 feet or I don’t break a record, people wonder what’s wrong with me.”

Gnadenhutten Indian Valley senior Kayla Caldwell vaulter. His words are proven to be even more true when you find out that Caldwell only started vaulting as a freshman in high school. “I think a lot of it is she has her natural ability,” Bell said. “She has her sprint speed and she has the ability to jump off the ground so well. That’s what goes into being a great pole vaulter. You have to be a sprinter with a long jumper in you, too. “Plus, she’s what we call a ‘track head.’ She wants to be great and she works hard at it. She’s always thinking about track and she’s always talking about her vaulting.” But it wasn’t always the case as Caldwell was an excellent gymnast growing up as well. She had hopes of going to the Olympics and even planned on attending an elite training facility in Cincinnati. That was, before she realized that she could still make the Olympics, only, in the vault.

“I love gymnastics and I’ve done it ever since I was little,” Caldwell said. “Even in junior high, I wanted to be a gymnast but I still ran track and I had some speed so I knew I’d stick with track. When Coach Bell asked me if I wanted to try the pole vault I acted like a stupid freshman and said, ‘Yeah.’ Then I started to do well and I started to get national recognition and I realized that I had a chance to be pretty good. “There’s so many things that can happen with gymnastics with injuries, the number of girls who are competing against you and the fact that as a gymnast, you need to do it when you’re young because you can’t do it at Olympic level past a certain age. With pole vault, I can keep vaulting until I’m 30.” And her track career has only blossomed as the Indian Valley record books are filled with her name. Aside from the pole vault record that she owns at 12 feet, 9 inches, Caldwell rules the 100 (12.4), 200 (25.4), 4x200 relay (1:44.09), 4x100 relay (51.7) and 4x400 relay (3:58.76). In the Principals’ Athletic Conference, where her school moved to after several years in the East Central Ohio League, Caldwell regretfully knows that many schools do not have pole vault pits so she can try her hand at other events. She tipped the 300-meter hurdles recently in a new school record of 46.92 seconds. She also nearly broke her school’s long jump record in a relay meet at 17 feet, 2 ¾ inches. (The top mark is 17 feet, 3 inches.) “I’ll get that before the end of the season,” Caldwell said with a smile. In her career at the state meet, Caldwell hasn’t just placed in the pole vault. She has taken eighth in the 200 twice, eighth in the 4x400 twice and fifth in the 4x400 once. She also has placed eighth and third in the 4x200, respectively. “I really want to get top three in the 200 this year and my times coming out this year are really low compared to the past few seasons,” she said. “I love sprints and relays and I want to prove myself running on top of my vaulting.” “She’s very versatile and she just pushes herself at everything she does,” said Diane Bell, Dave’s wife and girls’ coach at Indian Valley. “If she wanted to run the 800, she’d push herself. She’ll do anything we ask. Even if she doesn’t normally do a certain event, she will come to us as coaches and tell us that she wants to step up and do what’s best to get the team points. She’s such a team player and that’s what has helped her become so successful.” Maybe she became a team player from the influence of her family, which is at every meet. There is a grassy hill just across the track from the pole vault pit at Indian Valley’s stadium and it’s not unheard of to see it filled at home meets with the Caldwell clan. “I couldn’t do it without my family,” said Caldwell. “It’s almost part of life now for my family. ‘Hey, let’s hop in the car and drive to North Carolina for a meet.’ My family doesn’t even blink when I say something like that.” And hopefully her career ends with one more title in Columbus that first weekend of June. “I think about the state meet all the time,” she said. “It’s great to be a two-time state champion but I want that third championship. I want it bad.” — OH

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Toledo Rogersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Erik Kynard

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Photo by David Gatwood

Kynard broke a 21-year-old state record when he cleared 7-2.75 in the high jump this spring.

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Toledo Rogers’ Erik Kynard

STORY BY DAVID GATWOOD

n an era in which every young athlete seems to be playing some form of travel sports the development of Toledo Rogers’ Erik Kynard is a truly remarkable story. Kynard never played on a travel team of any kind in any sport. In fact, until the eighth grade, Kynard had never really looked at himself as an athlete and his road to his present status as a world class high jumper began on a dare by his friend, Cheyron Watkins. It seems that Kynard had reluctantly decided to go out for his junior high track team at Deveaux Junior High in Toledo, but had no idea what events might interest him. His good friend, Watkins, dared him to attempt the high jump and Kynard, without any experience and without benefit of any instruction as to proper technique, jumped 5-8 on his very first attempt. With that jump a great high school track career began and, who knows, a possible Olympic career as well. Although Kynard’s competitive track career began in junior high it was in his freshmen year at Toledo Start High School that he began to open eyes. Clearing 6-6 as a freshmen, Kynard began gaining attention nationally and was encouraged to seek better coaching in order to develop his obvious talent. His current coach, Eric Browning, was the coach at cross-town Toledo Rogers and

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“We are very careful about not overdoing it. The outdoor season involves a lot of factors such as the weather, the condition of the track, the size of the take off area and my coaches limit my attempts. I will probably only jump one more time before districts.”

Toledo Rogers senior Erik Kynarrd Kynard, in consultation with his parents, determined that Browning was the one most able to help him succeed at the next level of competition. “It was all about coaching,” said Kynard. “I didn’t feel as though I was going to advance as far if I stayed at Start. It wasn’t anything personal. I just wanted to get the best coaching I could and thought that I would get it at Rogers. I think I

made the right decision.” Since arriving at Toledo Rogers, Kynard’s high jumping career has sky-rocketed. He has broken the school record, the Toledo City League record and, recently, the state record, but he confidently, and politely, states that he feels that he can do even more. Having already cleared 7-4 indoors, Kynard feels that he can do the same or more outside. “I jump as high as my competition takes me,” said Kynard. “First, I jump to win and then I jump to entertain.” As an example of his entertaining nature, Kynard had already won the Mehock Relays championship when his nearest competitor, Cleveland Heights’ Dwayne King, dropped out at 6-9. But Kynard decided that the conditions were right for an attempt at a state record. After failing twice at 7-2.75, Kynard prepared for his final jump. Creating some drama, he studied the bar intently, paused, and then jumped cleanly over the bar to the delight and excitement of those in attendance. In jumping 7-2.75 Kynard broke the old record that was established by Elyria’s Mark Cannon in 1987 by a full half inch. Interestingly, Kynard’s performance in the Mehock Relays was his first outdoor competition this year. “We are very careful about not overdoing it,” Kynard said. “The outdoor season involves a lot of factors such as the weather, the condition of the track, the size of the take off area and my coaches limit my attempts. I will probably only jump one more time before districts.” Despite his success on the track, Kynard, who is headed for Kansas State next year, is surprisingly very understated regarding his accomplishments. He does not talk about various championships, instead he focuses on his desire to keep improving and pushing himself to the next level. He quickly credits his parents, Brandynn Adams and Erick Kynard, Sr., for his success. “My father is always pushing me,” said Kynard. “He is always there to help me. He was a sprinter in high school and I have always tried to do better than him. He is my biggest supporter. “As for my mother, she is my backbone. She keeps me grounded and reminds me of who I am. She never lets things go to my head.” Where his athlete career might ultimately take him, Kynard is uncertain. What he is certain of is the fact that he wants to do well in school and keep improving his jumping technique. “I look at attending Kansas State as a great opportunity,” said Kynard. “I had lots of offers but I felt that Kansas State offered me the best combination of coaching and academics. Although I am uncertain as to what I ultimately want to do in my life, I am certain that Kansas State will provide me a chance to do it.” In the meantime, Kynard has several challenges ahead. There is a second state championship, the Junior National Championships and a possible return to the IAAF World Junior Championships. All present Kynard with potential notoriety but this is not his concern. “My only real concern is going to Kansas State and doing the best that I can in school,” Kynard said. “Everything else is just extra. My education is what really matters.” — OH

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Chillicothe’s Curt Smith Chillicothe’s Curt Smith owns the Division II state shot put record (63-4.5). He’s headed to Ohio State.

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Photo by Jim Rinaldi

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Chillicothe’s Curt Smith

STORY BY ERIC FRANTZ

he one-day, 244 mile round-trip bus ride from Chillicothe to Byesville for the Division II track and field regional meet was over, and now, an hour after he’d arrived home with the team at 6 p.m., Chillicothe track coach Dana Cousins’ phone was ringing. The vibration rippled like a shot put hitting the pit. It was Curt Smith. He wanted to throw. Earlier that day at Byesville, Smith had won the regional title with a stadium record heave of 59-7. The runner-up finished over 4-feet behind. Not good enough. “Work ethic,” Cousins said when asked what Smith’s secret is. “I explained this to him: It’s what you do during your off days, it’s not what you do during the week. We went to that regional meet (at Byesville) last year and he threw 58-59, which is good for most people but he called me up an hour after the meet and he wanted to throw more. He said he didn’t throw well. That’s work ethic. We throw every weekend. He watches continuous tapes. It’s those little things that make him as good as he is.” When Smith was a freshman at Paint Valley High School in rural Ross County, Cousins and the then-raw thrower made a friendly pact in passing that if Smith came to Chillicothe the coach would make him a state champion. The two are weeks away from attaining that goal. Now a senior at Chillicothe High, Smith is one of the state’s top throwers ever in the shot put ring. He was an indoor state champion last season and holds the Division II all-time state record with a mark of 63-4.5 set last year. The glaring omission from his resume, which also includes a scholarship from Ohio State, is an outdoor state title. Soon he’ll have the chance – and his last – at standing on top of the podium. As a junior, Smith set conference, district, regional and state records. He won every meet except one – the state meet. There, he finished second. “It’s going to boil down to when we peak,” Cousins said. “Last year we peaked maybe one or two weeks before the state finals, so this season I’ve been bringing him along a little slower. People may not think he’s throwing as far as he did last

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year but it’s a process. To me he’s right where he needs to be right now. “We’re back past that 60-barrier and I’m just trying to hold him back so he can peak at the state meet.” Despite the fact that he’s only been throwing for eight years, Smith already owns a career littered with peaks – and valleys.

Getting There

Thanks to God, Smith is a thrower – in a round about way. Attending the same church, Charleston Church of the Brethren, as longtime Chillicothe track coach Phil Bobo – for whom the high school track is named after – Smith was turned onto the sport by the coaching legend. “He said I had the right body-type for it,” chuckled Smith, who now stands 6-1, 280. Under Bobo’s guidance, Smith started throwing in seventh grade. He loved the discus. The shot

“It’s going to boil down to when we peak. Last year we peaked maybe one or two weeks before the state finals, so this season I’ve been bringing him along a little slower. People may not think he’s throwing as far as he did last year but it’s a process. To me he’s right where he needs to be right now. Chillicothe Track Coach Dana Cousins

was another story. “I hated shot put,” Smith said. “I’d always come to Chillicothe to meet Phil and I’d always bring a discus. I’d never bring a shot put because I hated it.

“He said ‘One day you’re going to like shot put more than you like discus,’ and I was like ‘Yeah, OK.’ I didn’t believe him but he turned out to be right.” That day came during Smith’s sophomore year at Paint Valley. As a freshman, Smith showed great promise, making the Division III state meet in both the discus and shot put and finishing 10th and 12th, respectively. His personal records were 150-7 in the discus and 50-2.5 in the shot. His sophomore year, Smith turned the corner. Consistently throwing in the 50s, Smith said he knew then where his future lied. He set school records in the shot (56-7) and weight (46-0), set three meet records in the shot and won a district championship in the discus (171-4). Smith was on his way to what he thought was a real shot at a state title before disaster struck. The week after winning districts, Smith lost his opportunity to compete at the regional tournament. The reason? “This is going to sound crazy to you,” Smith said. “The teacher started this game and the name of the game was ‘Paranoia.’ The object of the game was to eliminate the other players by either shooting them or bombing them (through phone calls and emails). I guess they were playing it at college campuses and someone brought it down here. It was stupid. “Nobody was supposed to be around when you did it, but I saw a person I was supposed to get next to a payphone so I was like ‘I’m going to get them.’ You couldn’t see the pay phone (from where I was) but I called it and a girl picked up. I was getting a guy out so I obviously knew it wasn’t him. I called back a few minutes later and somebody picked up and didn’t say anything. I said ‘If you’re playing the game Paranoia I’ve snipped you and you’re out of the game.’ Next thing I know I was getting called to the office.” When the dust settled, Smith was the only person related to the game who got punished for its existence. He was suspended for 10 days for what officials described as “making a threat to another student” and served a sentence imposed by the school board of 160 hours of community service. The process even involved a polygraph test.

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Chillicothe’s Curt Smith In addition to the regional meet, Smith missed state as well. “We were very upset,” Smith said. “I was real mad. A 57 ended up winning state that year because Adam Meyer (from Minster) fouled out. I was so mad.” After serving his suspension, Smith was allowed back at Paint Valley. He proceeded to transfer to Chillicothe and the family moved into the district. “I got kind of, how do I say it? Screwed-over,” Smith said. “I wanted to move and get out of there. I really felt comfortable coming to this school. And it’s been the best thing for me. (If I would have stayed at Paint Valley) I don’t think I’d be who I am today. You know Dana teaches me about throwing

back and defensive line for the Cavaliers, was voted team captain. Chillicothe made the state football playoffs and won just the second postseason game in history. “My mom and dad always push me and give me whatever I need,” Smith said. “I’m real lucky I’ve got people around me. I sometimes take it for granted. I love my parents, my coaches and my teammates.” Said Cousins: “He’s my leader. He impacts the other kids tremendously. He’s my son’s idol.”

Instant Impact

Bobo isn’t the only track figure of significance to have played a part in Smith’s ascent. There have been numerous others. Smith’s uncle Chad McAllister won a Division Freshman (at Paint Valley H.S.) I state title in the discus at Fourth place at the Ohio Indoor State Meet in Shot Put – Div lll Chillicothe in 1998. His father Mel Smith, a 1977 District Champion in Shot Put and Discus Bellbrook High School Went to D-III State Meet in Shot Put and Discus – placed 12th -10th graduate, held the BHS P.R. in Discus 150 feet 7 inches; in shot 50 feet- 2.5 inches school record in the shot Represented 5 state area in Baltimore for Junior Olympics when he graduated. Ended summer season ranked 11th in shot and 22nd in Discus Nationally More recently, Vandalia Butler High School and Division I state record Sophomore (at Paint Valley H.S.) holder Jimmie Pacifico Fourth Place at the Ohio Indoor State Meet (Div. II-III) “tutored” Smith during his Set School Shot Put record with throw of 56 feet 7 inches freshman and sophomore Set school weighted throw record with a toss of 46 feet -- inches years and still talks to Smith on the phone once District Champion with discus throw of 171feet 4 inches a week. Second at the USATF National Championship in Lyle, Illinois in shot put Pacifico owns the farBroke and set three meet records for shot put thest throw in state history at 71-6.25. Junior (at Chillicothe H.S.) “He’s really pushed me and I looked up to him a State Champion in the Shot Put at the Ohio Indoor State Meet (56-4.75) lot,” Smith said. “I always Won every outdoor meet in the shot put during regular season, including wanted to hang out with Jesse Owens at Ohio State him. His numbers (the Won every meet in the discus during the regular season except two meets 70s) are something that Southeast Ohio Athletic League champion in the shot and discus definitely push you. Whether or not I could Set SEOAL and Ohio Division II record with a toss of 63-4.5 in the shot put ever get there I don’t SE District Champion in Shot and Discus (Holds district records) know, but it pushes me.” Chillicothe High School’s MVP for the track team Pacifico provided Smith Regional Champion in Shot another reminder as well. Regional Runner up in discus During his sophomore season, Pacifico gave Division II State Runner-Up in Shot Smith a USA Track and Fourth place in discus at the State Meet Field shirt he had Finished season with PR’s of 63-4.5 in shot and 175-2 in the discus received from U.S. throwing star Adam Nelson. Nelson, a two-time Olympic silver medalist and world champion, gave but he also teaches me about life and it’s definitely Pacifico two USA jerseys and told him to keep one. been the best move I’ve made. (Dana) is with me The other? Pacifico was to give it to another throwevery day. He’s more like a best friend to me. I er he thought had the potential and talent to know he’s my coach, but he’s one of my best become an elite thrower as well. friends. I wish I would have just come here all my That jersey now hangs on Smith’s bedroom wall. life.” “I was kind of in shock (when Pacifico gave it to In a way, Smith has. me),” Smith said. “My freshman year he walked Growing up in the Unioto district before moving around like he was … we’ll like he was Jimmie and to Paint Valley, Smith has always had friends in he was. He just did whatever he wanted to do in Chillicothe. He used to play AAU basketball with the ring and I thought man I want to be like that fellow CHS senior and Air Force football recruit some day. We started to become friends at a Caleb Knights. This past fall, Smith, who plays full-

Smith’s Resume

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Cedarville University meet and we’ve been real good buds ever since.” Family in Centerville and Bellbrook have allowed Smith and Pacifico to hang with each other in Dayton on occasion. Although he’s not as close with Chillicothe throwing legend Garin Veris, Smith is just as driven by him. Although he owns the state record, Smith doesn’t own the Chillicothe High School record. That belongs to Veris (64-10.5) who is also the last CHS thrower to win a state title in the shot (1981). At a recent surprise birthday party for Bobo, Smith got the chance to talk to Veris, who went to Stanford and spent eight seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers. Veris is New England’s third all-time leader in sacks (36.5) and played on the 1985 Super Bowl team. “He just keeps telling me to break (the record),” Smith said. “He says it’s been up there too long.”

Happy Ending

Whether or not he leaves with his name atop the CHS record book, the Chillicothe community will remember Smith. Announcing his decision to attend Ohio State in December, Smith held a signing day/press conference in February to celebrate the announcement. Over 100 people attended the event in the CHS cafeteria and the mayor came and spoke. School officials said it was the largest event of its kind they can remember. “I’ve sent kids to college but not to an institution like (Ohio State) so it is a proud moment as a coach,” Cousins said. “To able to say you had a part in it is amazing. Our kids and myself are looking forward to watching him continue his career and it’s great just to have been a part of this.” Said Smith: “That’s where I’ve always wanted to go. My best friend Randy Rue went to Kent State and they came after me pretty hard. I was kind of leaning towards them. Then Ohio State came in and told me what they were going to give me. I visited both places and made my choice.” Smith plans to major in construction systems management. “(Ohio State) called at the right time because there were some other schools that almost got lucky,” Cousins said. “They were always around subtly, but they didn’t really come on strong until three weeks before he was ready to make a decision.” Coming on strong the next three weeks will be key for Smith in his attempt to win that elusive outdoor state title. History, however, is on his side. One state meet prophecy involving Smith has already become reality. Now it’s time for another. “When I was in seventh grade, (Coach Bobo) took me to the state meet and made a mark on the fence there with a key,” Smith said. “He said ‘We’re going to be here someday watching you.’ I never really believed him, but freshman year I went to state in both events and said ‘Well, I guess you were right.’ ” Now Smith hopes Cousins is, too. “He reminded me a couple weeks ago about what I said to him as a freshman and about coming to Chillicothe to become a state champion,” Cousins said. “He said, ‘Coach…here I am.’” — OH

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Walsh Jesuit Baseball

STORY BY MARTY GITLIN

Walsh celebrates its 2008 state title.

hris Kaczmar is keenly aware that what ultimately determines the fate of a high school baseball team is how well it pitches, hits and fields in the regular season and beyond. After all, his Walsh Jesuit players have performed those acts as well as any in Ohio over the last decade, as their four Division II state titles certainly attest. But Kaczmar has grown increasingly cognizant of another factor in that success. And that’s the importance of embracing the off-season program and the appreciation of playing at a baseball powerhouse such as Walsh Jesuit. “As the years have gone by, I’ve realized how important the strength of the community and the commitment of the players and their families has been to the program and their careers,” Kaczmar says. “It’s a tremendous luxury knowing that the players are committed to the off-season program. What we do allows each and every one of them to make themselves better for themselves and for the health of the program.” Yeah, the program is pretty healthy. The 2009 Warriors raced out to a 15-2 start, which is no surprise considering they have become a staple in various national rankings over the years and were ranked 33rd in a preseason high school poll by Baseball America. Through midseason, national newspaper USA Today had the Warriors ranked 17th in the country. They peaked in that poll at No. 6 in

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2006. Walsh has won four state championships in the last 10 years, including three of the last five (2004, 2006, 2008). Kaczmar has been justly rewarded, earning Midwest Coach of the Year in 1999, 2004 and 2006 (he was a National Coach of the Year final-

“We have level-headed kids. It’s nice to be recognized, but they don’t get engulfed in it. It doesn’t define who we are. All we concentrate on is how we play the game of baseball every day” Walsh Jesuit Head Coach Chris Kaczmar

ist in each of those years) and Ohio Division II Coach of the Year in 2007. Kaczmar understands that honors such as those could not have been earned without brilliant performances from his players. The same holds true this season. Among the Division I college talents are 6foot-6 right-handed junior pitcher and University of Virginia recruit Tyler Skulina and Ohio Universitybound pitcher/outfielder Matt Keller

Contributed Photo

Skulina has been virtually unhittable. The First Team Pre-Season Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball All-American won all eight decisions a year ago in leading the team to a 30-3 record. He is 5-0 this year and averaging nearly two strikeouts an inning. Pitching depth is critical in the postseason, but the Warriors should have no worries. Skulina is backed in the rotation by Greg Greve and Drew Danko, both of whom boasted ERAs of 1.50 or lower in their first three starts. Led by junior Johnny Fasola, who also serves as the closer, the Walsh offense is balanced and was averaging 10.6 runs through 15 games. Ryan Berry, Greve, Keller, John Mastronicolas, Joe Pawlowski, Matt Pollock, Anthony Pucci and James Toland are all key contributors. And though all those players are aware of the national recognition duly received by the Walsh program, Kaczmar doesn’t believe they are affected by it. At least he has seen no evidence of the lofty rankings getting in their heads. “We have very level-headed kids,” he says. “It’s nice to be recognized, but they don’t get engulfed in it. It doesn’t define who we are. All we concentrate on is how we play the game of baseball every day. Our guys are very intense and they have a philosophy that what they want to do is just get better every day. All the rankings and all the talk don’t win state championships.” And speaking of state championships, about all

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Horse Power

Strongsville Baseball

STORY BY MARTY GITLIN

Strongsville continues ride as one of state’s best baseball programs

he Strongsville baseball program had been fairly typical of many in suburban Cleveland. Pretty good team, but not title caliber. Enter Josh Sorge. The moment he began gracing the field as coach of the Mustangs, they started blossoming into a champion. They earned conference crowns in 2005, 2007 and 2008. And, quite ironically, the year they fell short (2006) they snagged the Division I state title. But if one suspects that Sorge would be looking in the rear view mirror for the reason Strongsville now boasts one of the premier baseball programs in Ohio, one would suspect wrong. He believes he simply helped maximize the potential that had been lurking in the shadows for many years. “I think it was important for our program for us to win the conference title in 2005 because we hadn’t won one in more than a decade,” Sorge explains. “I think that kind of set a blueprint that we could compete in our conference and in northeast Ohio and the next step was to win on the state level. “We always had some upside here. We’re a relatively big high school, so there’s been large numbers in our talent pool. Another factor is the quality of our community level baseball program. Our summer leagues have worked in concert with our program in terms of camps and clinics. They’ve done a great job preparing the younger kids from fourth grade through eighth grade so when they get here they’re ready. That’s been very important. “As far as the kids up here are concerned, they’ve worked hard and they’ve worked smart. I can’t imagine any program that spends more time on getting prepared for a season than ours. We’ve been able to take kids who are pretty athletic and make them stronger and faster and increase their skills and make them attractive to college recruiters.” Among the recipes for success has been a highly challenging schedule that prepares Strongsville players for the increasingly difficult run of opponents in the postseason. Sorge believes the importance of that factor can’t be underestimated, though it took time to bear fruit. “We stuck to the idea of committing to the plan of having a much tougher schedule,” he says. “When we first started to do that, we took our lumps. But the competition allowed us to compare ourselves with some of the better teams in the state. That’s what the better teams do. They go out and play good teams.” The result isn’t always a season-ending celebration or even playoff success. The Mustangs won the Northeast Ohio Conference yet again in 2008, but were shocked in the first round of sectionals by Lorain Admiral King. Sorge blames no one in particular for the stunning defeat, but he underthe Warriors haven’t achieved is winning them successively. Though Kaczmar admits that tiny deficiency has been discussed, he adds that he doesn’t consider it to be particularly motivating. What does motivate him is maximizing the potential of all his players, which, in turn, might lead to college scholarships or even professional careers. Kaczmar makes no apologies for publicizing his players. He believes, after all, that they have earned it. “We talk about that quite a bit,” he says. “We don’t ever shy away from our responsibility to promote our players. Our goal is to have a 100 percent success rate. I believe strongly that our job as a staff is a 12-

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stands that such upsets are more likely in high school baseball than they are in other sports simply because of all the variables involved. “We were really talented, but we just lost the wrong game,” he says. “We could have put 15 guys out there on defense and the balls (Admiral King) were hitting would have found holes. They just beat us. But a major drawback with a program like ours is that losses are so magnified.” Such disappointment has certainly proven to be the exception rather than the rule. Two events have shown that the program has emerged as one of the best in Ohio. One was the opening of the new baseball/softball facility at the school that showed a commitment to both teams. The other was the championship run in 2006 that proved that the plan was not only working, but it could culminate in the ultimate success. “I think winning the title showed not only the kids on the team but everyone that we were galvanized in a belief in what we were doing,” offers the coach. “And I think once the kids got that experience one time, they wanted to have that feeling again. There are very few things in sports as satisfying as that.” One can only speculate if the Mustangs are destined for another strong run at a Division I state title in 2009. But if they are to get there, it’s quite likely they will be led by 6-8 flame-throwing righthander Justin Jameson, whose fastball has been clocked at 94 miles an hour. The Cleveland Benedictine transfer, who is tabbed to be selected fairly high in the June major league draft, yielded just two earned runs in his first 19 innings pitched this season for a 0.73 ERA and struck out 19 along the way. Jameson will have until Aug. 15 to decide on whether he wants to turn pro immediately or take a college scholarship. But if he chooses to spurn a professional contract, he won’t be eligible again until after his junior year. “It’s a little early to tell what he’s going to do, but he’s on everybody’s radar,” Sorge explains. “There are between six and 15 pro scouts at every one of his games. They’re keeping real close tabs on him. “He gave up his first two runs of the season the other day. It was hit, hit, hit and not one of them left the infield. He forces hitters to hit the top half of the ball. He has great command of his breaking ball and his ability to throw strikes consistently has improved drastically. “I’d say about 90 percent of the time he’s going to get the out with his fastball and until a hitter shows he can catch up with his fastball, he’s going to keep throwing. With that kind of stuff, he has to rely on getting called strikes because a lot of kids are not even getting their bats off their shoulders against him.” Jameson is one of three Division I talents on the pitching staff. Right-hander Ryan Bores has already committed to Ohio University while Jason Pascuzzi will be headed to the University of Cincinnati. It’s on their gifted arms that the Mustangs are banking on an extended trip in the postseason. But the program is quite likely to thrive after they graduate. Sorge has a track record now, so you can be sure of it. — OH

month job and to guide our players in the process. The least we can do for the players that have helped us so much is to help them become better in every way we can.” He certainly hasn’t forgotten players he has coached in the past. Kaczmar believes Patrick O’Brien, who pitched for the Warriors in the late 1990s and whose fastball was clocked in the low 90s, played as big a role as anyone in putting the program on the map. O’Brien, who was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, dominated high school competition during his era. The same could be said for Chris Niro, an all-Ohio pitcher in both 2003 and 2004 before he took his

vast talents to Miami of Ohio Kaczmar is also appreciative of the players and coaches who served the program before he arrived. Both he and his brother Scott, who is currently Chris’ assistant coach, played for the Warriors in the late 1980s. “We had a tradition before I (became coach),” Kaczmar says. “But I was able to take the torch and run with it and take it to a new level.” That is, a championship level. Other coaches at other programs have achieved the same goal. But Kaczmar is one of the few that has kept his team at that championship level for a decade. — OH

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Canton Central Catholic Pitching Duo

STORY BY JEFF WILLIAMS

Senior Alex Meyers won 19 straight games before finally dropping a decision 5-4.

Contributed Photo

ne categorizes himself as fire while the other claims that he’s more like ice but the fact remains that Canton Central Catholic pitchers Taylore Baker and Alex Myers are both cool under pressure. Although he says that if he’s put into a large group of people he’ll freeze, Myers, who is 5-1 this year, has had very little trouble staying hot on the mound the past three years. Myers saw his schoolrecord and state-record book eligible 19-game win streak come to an end on April 18 in two innings of relief against Berlin Center Western Reserve and is now focused on finishing his senior season off with a new streak, which he started two days later with seven complete innings in a victory over Canton McKinley. “I was definitely mad about it,” said Myers of his first loss in more than two years. “It was fun while it lasted and it was pretty cool while it lasted but I wanted to keep it going. I would still like that pressure on me. I look at it like it could have been better, I could have won more games. “Now I’m more focused and I don’t want to lose ever again in high school. I think Taylore and I have what it takes to lead us far in the tournament.” Myers finished tied for eighth in the state record book for most consecutive wins. After breaking Sam Bourquin’s school record of 16, he ended tied with Cory Hough of Springboro, Neil Schmitz of St. Henry and former Ohio State quarterback Todd Boeckman of St. Henry. “I think it’s pretty cool actually,” said Myers, the self-proclaimed “control pitcher” of the two. “It’s a good thing I’m doing and I know there’s a lot of pressure on me but I have confidence in myself and in my teammates.” Myers went 9-0 last year and 6-0 as a sophomore. Until his latest loss, his last loss came as a freshman against North Canton Hoover. “I can still remember that game,” said Myers. “It was a cold, rainy day and we had a 45-minute

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delay. When we started back up, my arm just wasn’t there and they hit something like three home runs off me. I definitely never wanted to feel that way again.” Canton Central Catholic coach Doug Miller, who is in his 28th year with the Crusaders, said he felt for Myers after his loss. “My, what a streak,” said Miller. “I felt for him because he’s such a great kid and leader and for him to give up an unearned run and lose a 5-4 game like that – it was tough. But Alex is very confident and he’s got great makeup as a pitcher. He throws strikes, he makes great pitches and he’s real composed on the mound.” Baker, the fireballer, had a fantastic three games to end the Division III state tournament a year ago. After earning the win on the mound in the regional championship game, he came in and saved the Crusaders’ 5-4 win over Coldwater in the state semifinals, facing just three batters with one strikeout. He then went all seven innings in the state title game, shutting out Hamilton Badin 8-0. He struck out three, walked three and gave up just three hits while facing 26 batters. In that same game, he also led the team in hitting by going 2-for-3 with a home run, two runs scored and two RBIs. “I don’t like to take the credit for myself because the defense we had for that state championship game – you can’t beat that at any point of my life. I was able to throw some early strikes in the count and my defense just played a terrific game,” said Baker. “But I try not to think too much about last year. I don’t want to compare teams because we had some great leaders last year and we’re a different team this year. But we still think we can make a long run in the tournament this year with the guys we have back.” Last season, Baker went 58 innings, allowing 43 hits with 25 walks and 47 strikeouts while compiling a 7-2 record with a 1.68 ERA and two no-hitters to start his career against Akron Coventry and New

Philadelphia. He also crushed 28 RBIs at the plate. “Taylore is one of those kids who just loves the game,” said Miller. “He loves practice, he loves talking about baseball and he loves being on the field. “What amazed me last year was how Taylore came up as a sophomore with a senior-dominated team and fit right in. The team accepted him and he slid so easily into a starting role. He was our No. 5 in the batting order and what he did at the state tournament and the regional final was simply amazing.” This year, Baker and Myers lead a young team that features eight players who had never set foot on a varsity field. So far, they have not disappointed as the Crusaders are 11-5-1. Baker sits at 3-2 on the year with three complete games. He has seven appearances with 41 innings pitched, 30 hits and 21 runs allowed (14 earned). He has 18 walks, 41 strikeouts and five batters hit by pitch. He also has no wild pitches and has an ERA just near 3.00. At the plate, Baker is just as deft, where he’s 17 of 50 (.340) with three doubles, one stolen base, eight runs, 17 RBIs, a .450 on base percentage and a slugging percentage of .380. “Our focus with Taylore this year was to not let him put any pressure on himself,” said Miller. “We talked about how he threw two no-hitters to start his varsity career, how he won the regional and the state championship and saved the state semis. We talked about how he had a home run in the state finals. We talked about all of those things and how they’re in the past. We want to move forward and he has certainly done that this year.” Myers is 5-1 on the mound in nine appearances. He has pitched 38 innings with five complete games and one save. He has allowed eight runs (four earned) on 19 hits with just nine walks and 30 strikeouts. He’s only hit two batters and has had no wild pitches. He has an earned run average under 1.00. Last year he had a 2.97 ERA with seven complete games, 59 innings pitched, 74 hits allowed, 11 walks and 46 strikeouts. While he has a save to his credit this year, Myers hopes to save lives as his future as well. While he said he hasn’t ruled out playing collegiately, he has the dream of being a fireman and may attend Stark State University of Technology in Canton for its fire safety training. “Baseball has crossed my mind and I’d like to play again someday but being an EMT and a fireman really interests me,” said Myers. Miller has helped fuel that fire. “Alex had expressed an interest in being a fireman so one day after school I took him to Stark State to check things out and he really liked it,” said Miller. “He’s such a tremendous young man and I know he’ll be successful at whatever he does.” For now, Baker and Myers hope to send the Crusaders to a second-straight state appearance. “After last year we want to go back to the highest level and the highest platform,” said Baker. “We have so much confidence in ourselves and in each other and our coach has confidence in us as a team. I think that as the season progresses, we’re only going to get better and raise our level of play.” Myers agreed. “There’s no feeling like winning a state championship and I want to have that feeling again,” he said. “I know we have what it takes and I hope I can step up and help lead us in the tournament.” — OH

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COMING IN THE SPRING SPORTS STATE TOURNAMENT ISSUE... Baseball POY Softball POY Boys Track POY Boys Field Event POY Girls Track POY Girls Field Event POY Boys Tennis POY *(due out in June)