Maryland has Northwest athlete Marcus Whitfield pegged for linebacker in College Park, but the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder stood out on offense in his team’s 49-27 loss to Churchill on Friday night.

Looking Good in a Loss: Northwest wide receiver Marcus Whitfield finished with five catches for 93 yards and two touchdowns.

• Maryland running back commitment D.J. Adams found the end zone early and often in Norcross’ shutout of Northview (Ga.).

D.J. Adams rushed for 148 yards and four touchdowns, Charles King passed for 219 yards and one score and Norcross defeated Northview 45-0 on Friday.

Adams had another TD run, this one a 69-yarder later in the first quarter.

• Quarterback C.J. Brown put up big numbers, but Seneca Valley (Pa.) fell to 3-4 on the season with a 35-32 loss to Shaler.

C.J. Brown completed 20 of 33 passes for 254 yards and three touchdowns for Seneca Valley (3-4, 0-3). The Raiders have given up 143 points over the past three games.

Click here for a feature on Brown that ran in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Friday.

• UM defensive end/linebacker pledge Isaiah Ross helped lead the Eleanor Roosevelt defense in the Raiders’ 21-2 win over Suitland.

The Raiders allowed the Rams to advance inside the Roosevelt 20-yard line just twice and held Suitland's offense scoreless. Roosevelt linebacker Isaiah Ross got two of the four Raiders' sacks on the afternoon.

• Terps running back recruit Caleb Porzel rushed for more than 100 yards and a score in Good Counsel’s 41-14 win over O’Connell.

Caleb Porzel rushed for nearly 150 yards and one touchdown, Jelani Jenkins scored three touchdowns while freshman Stefon Diggs caught a touchdown pass and returned a kick for anther score.

• Tight end Dave Stinebaugh found the end zone once in Perry Hall’s 45-41 loss to Franklin.

Stinebaugh, who has clocked a 4.5-second 40-yard dash, did manage to break loose for a 20-yard scoring reception from Devonte Farrell, stretching the Gators' lead to 20-10 in the second quarter.

• UM safety commitment Eric Franklin helped Archbishop Curley on offense in the Friars’ 49-6 rout of St. Vincent Pallotti.

Seven different players scored Curley's seven touchdowns with quarterback Mark Venable leading the way with a 53 yard scoring pass to Eric Franklin, in the second quarter, and a 28 yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

• Quarterback Danny O’Brien and his East Forsyth (N.C.) squad moved to 6-1 with an 18-16 win over Northwest Guilford.

"Good teams have got to win ugly," said O'Brien, who went 13-of-20 for 153 yards. "We did tonight."

• Nick Ferrara accounted for seven points in St. Anthony’s 37-28 win over St. Joseph by the Sea (N.Y.).

A 26-yard Nick Ferrara field goal gave St. Anthony’s a 16-14 third quarter lead. But it was short-lived. Electric running back Lyle McCombs countered with a 59-yard touchdown run.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

D.J. Adams committed to Maryland in July, but according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Norcross, Ga., running back is still hearing from several other schools.

Still, other schools continue to contact Adams, who has rushed for nearly 600 yards and seven touchdowns in five games this season. LSU, Kentucky, Rutgers and others call, e-mail or send letters to the 5-10, 212-pounder.

“It doesn’t bother me,” Adams said. “I really don’t respond. It’s just kind of one of those things. I am definitely firm on Maryland.”

• UM quarterback recruit C.J. Brown's big senior season has piqued the interest of Colorado, Penn State and Pittsburgh, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

"A couple of schools have said, 'Hey, if Maryland is not it for you, we're here,'" Brown said. "They're being mature and respectful about it. They're not all over me. They just want to put it out there in case anything would happen."

"I'm pretty happy with my decision," he said. "Right now, I'm going to Maryland."

• The Winston-Salem (N.C.) Chronicle's Anthony Hill ranked the top 10 high school players in the Winston-Salem area this week, and Terps quarterback commitment Danny O’Brien checked in at No. 3 on the list.

Number three goes to the best quarterback in the city, Danny O’Brien. You can’t knock O’Brien. He’s got every tool that you want in a quarterback. That’s why Maryland signed him. I mean, O’Brien can beat you with his great speed and deadly arm. Most nights he does just that. The only thing that can stop O’Brien during most games is heavy rain. He’s on point when the weather is dry.

• Hoboken, N.J., defensive tackle Isaac Holmes told Rivals.com earlier this week that three schools lead the pack in his recruitment.

“To tell you the truth there are a few schools that stand out the most,” he said. “Three stand out, they would probably have to be Maryland, Pittsburgh and Florida.

“They are great programs. I’ve felt comfortable with those coaching staffs and the players. Maryland is a place I could see myself at. I like the staff at Pittsburgh too. They have shown me the most interest since recruiting has started and Florida I really enjoyed my visit.”

• Quince Orchard standouts and Maryland targets Jason Ankrah and Travis Hawkins spent last weekend in Ann Arbor, Mich., where academics were a primary topic of discussion.

The official visit to Michigan was the first of the recruiting process for both Hawkins and Ankrah, though both unofficially attended a game at Penn State the week prior. One element of the Michigan visit that caught their attention was the level of support offered by academic adviser Shari Acho and her team.

"Academically, I feel like there is great opportunity at the school after football,” Hawkins added. “Ms. Shari did a great job explaining what she's been doing with the players since she's been there. That was probably the best part of the visit.”

• Maryland made the final five for Chesapeake, Va., linebacker Jerod Askew, but the four-star prospect committed to Tennessee earlier this week.

Askew said he was impressed with every facet of his visit to Knoxville.

Before committing to UT, Askew also considered Alabama, Clemson, Maryland and West Virginia. Those considerations are complete - as are his official visits.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 7:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Maryland’s top remaining target for the 2009 recruiting class is drawing closer to a decision.

Torrington, Conn., power forward Jordan Williams has made official visits to Maryland and St. John’s, and the 6-foot-10, 245-pounder will decide between the two schools soon.

“He’s been at St. John’s and he was also at Maryland,” [Torrington coach Tony] Turina said. “Both visits were great. He’s got a difficult choice. He came away impressed with both schools. I would say they’re both neck-and-neck. He’s narrowed his choices down to those two schools. Within the next week to 10 days, he should be making a commitment one way or the other.”

Williams has opted not visit any other schools, even though UMass and Providence were in the mix. Turina said Arizona, Cal, Siena and Marquette also called to express interest.

• Patterson (N.C.) School small forward Arsalan Kazemi wants to visit Maryland for Midnight Madness on Oct. 17, but might not have his SAT score back in time to make the trip. According to Zags Blog, Kazemi needs his test score before he can take visits.

“If (the SAT people) tell us we’re going to get it on the 18th, then Maryland would go first and Seton Hall goes second and Rice goes third,” [Kazemi’s advisor Anthony] Ibrahim said.

“If we don’t get it on the 18th, then we’re going to miss Midnight Madness. Then we’re going to go Seton Hall first on the 25th. Then the weekend after that, Nov 2., to Rice. Then Maryland after that Nov. 9.”

• Albany (N.Y.) City Rocks AAU coach Jim Hart told Zags Blog this week that Maryland continues to heavily recruit 2010 shooting guard Taran Buie, while New Jersey point guard Isaiah Epps has also been talking up the Terps to Buie.

Hart said Notre Dame, Maryland and Georgia Tech have been “working the hardest on Buie.” Syracuse is also involved, but with Brandon Triche and Dion Waiters coming in, the Orange may be on the backburner.

“Isaiah Epps keeps telling him, ‘Hey, we could go to Maryland a be a great backcourt together,’” Hart said.

• Buie spoke to TurtleSportsReport.com this week about the possibility of ending up in College Park along with some of his AAU teammates.

The Terps not only are recruiting Epps and Buie, but also are one of many schools chasing 6-10 forward Tobias Harris and well as post player Will Regan, both Buie's teammates with the Albany City Rocks AAU program.

“I know they're recruiting Tobias Harris and Will Regan too and I think they have a good chance. If I wound up there with Isiah and Tobias went there, I think there's a good chance we could compete for the ACC championship and the national championship."

• Torrel Harris, the father of junior power forward Tobias Harris, updated NBE Basketball Report on which schools are recruiting his son the hardest.

“Tobias’ favorites are not necessarily excluding any other schools from his selection, but it is important to Tobias to be a part of a program that is truly interested in him,” was what Mr. Harris indicated to us at summer’s end, so seeing other schools re-enter the picture strongly has not been a surprise.

When pressed to see which of the 16 had been putting in the extra effort, nine schools were mentioned by Mr. Harris, “West Virginia, Louisville, Rutgers, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Tennessee, Maryland, Connecticut (and) Virginia.”

• Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy forward Chris Braswell committed to Charlotte this week, picking the 49ers over offers from Indiana, Maryland, Virginia Tech and Xavier.

"Chris felt there was a good opportunity at Charlotte to build a good relationship with the coaching staff. Secondly, he liked the way Charlotte allows its power forwards to utilize their versatility," [Braswell’s AAU coach Keith] Stevens said.

"His mom and grandmother were also impressed after meeting with members of the administration in learning of all the resources available to help him be successful academically."

Programming note: I’ll post a football recruiting roundup tomorrow.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

John Carroll guard Erick Smith committed to Bryant University late last week, becoming the first verbal pledge of head coach Tim O’Shea’s tenure at the Smithfield, R.I., school.

Smith, 6’3, committed during an in-home visit with O’Shea. The new coach will lead Bryant this year in its first season as a Division I program.

“It was very appealing [for Erick to be a part of something new],” John Carroll head coach Tony Martin said. “Erick has a lot of upside as a player. ... He’s part of the growth at John Carroll and Coach O’Shea thinks he’ll be a significant part of their growth. [O’Shea’s] first recruit at Boston College as an assistant was [former NBA guard] Troy Bell, and we know how that worked out. So there are a lot of good things that Erick’s excited about.”

O’Shea, who spent seven seasons as head coach at Ohio University, was hired by Bryant in June. He’ll guide the team in its four-year transition period that will culminate with the school joining the Northeast Conference.

Smith, who was also recruited by Boston University, didn’t play for an AAU program this summer, choosing instead to spend time in the gym working on fundamentals and improving his game, Martin said.

“I think Erick’s kind of flown under the radar,” Martin said. “There’s no denying his athletic ability. He’s 6’3, jumps out of the gym and has a nose for scoring. When he gets to college and puts on 20 or so pounds of muscle on his frame, he’s going to become a real star at that level.”

Martin said Smith will likely contribute early for the Bulldogs.

“I think [O’Shea] expects Erick’s going to be on the floor as a freshman,” Martin said. “He will utilize Erick and that freshman class. ... I think Erick has a chance, because of the kind of person he is, to possibly be a captain. I think in the NEC you’re going to see the potential for an all-league player by the time he’s a junior.”

King headed to Annapolis

St. John’s Catholic Prep forward Troy King ended his recruitment earlier this week when he pledged to the Naval Academy.

King, 6’7, picked the Midshipmen over offers from Radford and St. Francis (Pa.).

“[At one time I felt] like I wanted to wait it out longer, but the more I found out about the Naval Academy, I just felt it would be the right offer no matter what,” King said. “Even if I got other offers, I would still pick the Naval Academy.”

King said he never envisioned himself at a service academy, but Navy coach Billy Lange and his staff won him over with their personality and persistence.

“Well the Naval Academy staff -- they were the first school that offered, they were the most consistent, always calling when they were allowed to. I felt support from them early. We had the strongest relationship from the start, so I feel like I know the coaches well.”

King, who averaged approximately 18 points and six rebounds as a junior, said he feels his game is the perfect fit for Navy’s style of play. He’s also excited to join a squad that’s already a contender in the Patriot League.

“I never would’ve thought that I’d be going where I’m going, but it just ended up that way and I’m excited,” King said. “[Committing to Navy] just makes everything so much easier.”

UMBC picks up Conn. forward

According to New England Recruiting Report, UMBC landed a commitment last month from Adrian Satchell, a 6-foot-5 forward from Windsor, Conn. Click here for more on Satchell’s decision.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Pat Kennedy and the Towson staff went south for their latest verbal commitment.

Nick Diatta, a power forward from Montverde (Fla.) Academy, pledged to the Tigers late last week. Diatta joins Philadelphia shooting guard Will Adams as part of TU’s 2009 recruiting class.

Diatta, 6 feet 8, picked the Tigers over offers from Tennessee Tech, South Carolina Aiken and Newberry (S.C.) College, according to Montverde head coach Kevin Sutton.

“There were a lot of other schools that are mid-Division I that were going to start to recruit him. But he chose Towson and is very happy,” Sutton said. “They were on him the longest and did the best job. Once Nick took the visit [to Towson last month], it was just a formality after that. ... He was very excited that he had the opportunity. He liked everything that he saw from academic support. He obviously hung out with the players and coaches. It was a very good thing for him.”

Diatta was born and raised in Senegal, but came to Montverde -- an international boarding school -- for his sophomore year. As a junior, Diatta averaged six points and five rebounds per game on a team that sent four seniors to DI schools -- Femi Akinpetide (UMKC), Marcus Capers (Washington State), Dash Harris (Texas A&M), Steve Tchiengang (Vanderbilt).

This year’s Montverde squad will feature Diatta, Auburn-bound forward Robert Chubb, 7-footer Ruslan Pateev (who’s being recruited by Florida State, Central Florida, Marquette, Arizona State and several others) and junior shooting guard James Bell, who’s committed to Villanova. Sutton expects Diatta’s role to increase this season.

“It will expand. Nick will continue to be part of the energy team,” Sutton said. “He’ll give us major production. We play 12 players and we’re expecting a lot from him. ... [His offensive game is] evolving. But he can finish around the basket. He’ll continue to run the floor and finish in transition and be a very good contributing factor.”

Sutton called Diatta “a quality person” who takes academics seriously and has an interest in community service. He organized a shoe drive at Montverde last season, sending more than 400 pairs of shoes to his hometown of Ziguinchor, Senegal. Sutton thinks Diatta’s hard work in classroom and on the court will make him a hit at TU.

“First and foremost, he plays incredibly hard,” Sutton said. “Nick is a young man who has dedicated himself to getting better. He’s a hard-working player, very chiseled, and has worked very hard in the weight room. ... They can expect a player that plays extremely hard. He’s going to be a great teammate and help continue what Towson is building right now.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Before Bill Bayno was hired as Loyola Marymount’s head coach in April, the Los Angeles university was a complete unknown to Terrell Vinson.

Vinson, who transferred to St. Frances from Montrose Christian for his senior year, was weighing scholarship offers from Maryland, Georgetown, Villanova and several others when Bayno took the job and began recruiting the 6-foot-6 small forward.

“When they first started recruiting me, I didn’t really know about the school,” Vinson said. “Over time, [Bayno] was just calling me and talking to me, telling me things I needed to work on. He was straight-up with me. He went with a humble approach.”

That approach paid off for Bayno last week when Vinson, a four-star prospect and Rivals.com's No. 81 player in the country, committed to LMU.

While Vinson didn’t know much about the Lions last spring, that began to change throughout the summer, culminating with a visit to LMU’s elite camp in August. Vinson was immediately impressed with Bayno’s coaching style.

“He showed me a lot and I got better,” Vinson said. “[There were] little things like hitting somebody with your shoulder, using your left hand more, improving your foot speed and handle. ... He’s very active in his coaching. He’s not the type of coach that’s just going to sit on the sidelines. He’s out on the floor directing and he has a lot of energy when he coaches.”

Loyola Marymount finished 5-26 last year. The Lions haven’t finished with a record above .500 since the 2003-04 season. But LMU’s recent struggles weren’t a concern for Vinson, who said he’s excited to be a part of a new beginning, and is confident Bayno’s experience as an NBA assistant and college head coach will make an immediate difference in the program’s fortunes.

“I mean he has coached in the past for the Portland Trailblazers and UNLV and UMass,” Vinson said. “He was successful with his past players and successful developing players to the pros. ... Zach Randolph and Brandon Roy all got better when they were at Portland.”

Vinson said he’s excited to be back home in Baltimore for his senior season. But he’ll also be ready to make the 2,700-mile journey to Los Angeles next year.

“I’m looking forward to it,“ Vinson said. “It’s definitely a challenge to go all the way across the country away from home. And it’s a challenge I’m willing to take on.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Maryland quarterback commitment C.J. Brown put up solid numbers for Seneca Valley (Pa.) on Friday night, but the Raiders dropped a 52-21 game to North Hills.

The Raiders' C.J. Brown is a Maryland recruit who led the WPIAL in passing coming into the game with 1,286 yards and nine touchdowns. He threw for 256 yards and a touchdown and rushed for another score -- but had two interceptions to double his season total.

"C.J. Brown was hit a lot and had to scramble, but he made some plays," [North Hills coach Jack] McCurry said. "Our defense played well enough to win."

• Terps safety commitment Eric Franklin made an impact on offense during Archbishop Curley’s 34-6 win over Riverdale Baptist.

Eric Franklin also caught a 52-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Mark Venable in the win.

• Avery Graham, a UM safety pledge, found the end zone early in Clarksburg’s 55-0 rout of Poolesville.

On the ensuing kickoff, Poolesville, which suffered its fourth shutout in five games, fumbled the kick at the Falcon 12 and Clarksburg got the ball back. Two plays later, Avery Graham scored on a 1-yard plunge with 9:41 to go in the quarter, Isaacs made his kick and it was a 14-0 game.

• Maryland linebacker recruit Bradley Johnson rushed for a one-yard score in Dinwiddie’s 52-15 win against Colonial Heights (Va.).

Bradley Johnson and Chad Hall contributed rushing TDs for the Generals, who improved to 2-0 in the district and 4-1 overall, while senior Chad Jones drilled a 42-yard field goal.

• Tight end Dave Stinebaugh found the end zone once in Perry Hall’s 42-0 drubbing of Dulaney.

Gator quarterback Davonta Farrell rushed for a 15-yard touchdown and threw a 10-yard scoring pass to University of Maryland-bound tight end David Stinebaugh.

• Linebacker/defensive end David Mackall led the Red Storm defense in Edmondson’s 20-0 blanking of Mervo.

Defensively, Anthony Rice made eight tackles, recorded a sack and recovered a fumble, David Mackall had nine tackles and D'Andre Green had six tackles as the Red Storm built a 14-0 halftime lead on the way to improving to 3-2 overall, and 2-1 in the league's Division I.

• Nick Ferrara converted all four of his extra point attempts and kicked two field goals in St. Anthony’s 41-27 win over Farrell (N.Y.).

Posted by Matt Bracken at 9:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Playing in front of more than 4,500 fans and a national television audience, Terps running back commitment Caleb Porzel rushed for 124 yards and three touchdowns on 16 carries, leading Good Counsel to a 42-21 win over DeMatha last night.

Porzel has committed to play for Maryland, and Terrapins Coach Ralph Friedgen and most of his staff were in attendance last night to see their recruit sparkle. Although Porzel missed most of the past week of practice after spraining his left ankle on his first carry in last week's 42-0 victory over Paul VI Catholic, he said he never doubted his ability to play last night, even though he spent one day on crutches and two more days in a walking boot.

• The Washington Post profiled Good Counsel linebacker Jelani Jenkins on Thursday, going into detail how his mother, stepfather, brother and father have assisted in managing his recruitment.

And then there's Jelani's father, Maurice Jenkins, the finely dressed entrepreneur whose background as both an artist and architect best qualifies him to manage the whole process. He leaned against the fence surrounding Good Counsel's field 20 minutes before kickoff against Paul VI and watched his son run through pregame drills.

Minutes earlier, he had met with coaches from Notre Dame and Maryland who had come to watch Jelani. Hours earlier, he had spoken to UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel on the phone. Days earlier, he had chatted with a coach from Michigan, one of a handful of recruiters he said he's in touch with about once a week.

• Quince Orchard teammates and Maryland targets Travis Hawkins and Jason Ankrah spent last weekend at Penn State and will travel this weekend to Michigan. Ankrah, a defensive end, told Rivals.com that he was able to clear up some confusion with the PSU staff.

“At first I thought they were slow on recruiting me, now I know they were just making sure on my grades and make sure school is first before football. I’d say right now Penn State is back at the top. Maybe when I go somewhere else I’ll fit in. I feel comfortable at Penn State. The people there make you feel like it’s at home. I like the coaches, they are cool.”

Hawkins, a cornerback, told Rivals.com that the Nittany Lions are still very much in the running for his services.

“When it’s time for me to pick a school I’ll know that Penn State fits me very well. I haven’t put together a list of favorites or anything, but if I had a top three or something Penn State would be in that.”

Hawkins has an official visit scheduled to Michigan this coming weekend for the Wolverines’ game against Illinois. The following week he will take an official visit to Oregon.

• After taking an official visit to West Virginia last weekend, Chesapeake, Va., linebacker Jerod Askew spoke with Rivals.com‘s Mike Farrell and reiterated that Maryland is still in the running.

While Askew has no favorites he has basically narrowed his focus to West Virginia, Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson and Maryland.

“This coming weekend I’m going on an official visit to Tennessee and on (October) 18, I’m going to Maryland. Before this I had just been to Maryland’s junior day.

Basketball recruiting

• St. Frances small forward Terrell Vinson, a 2009 prospect who recently transferred from Montrose Christian, has made his college choice. According to this premium article from Scout.com, Vinson committed to Loyola Marymount yesterday. He picked the West Coast Conference school over offers from Maryland, Georgetown and Villanova.

• Anthony Ibrahim, the adviser to Terps target and Patterson (N.C.) School forward Arsalan Kazemi, told Zags Blog that they’re in the process of scheduling a visit to Maryland.

Ibrahim said Seton Hall wanted Kazemi to visit Oct. 12, but now it may happen Oct. 25. Officials to Maryland and Rice are still pending.

Ibrahim said Kazemi hoped to decide by November but was open to options.

• According to Zags Blog, Torrington, Conn., power forward Jordan Williams, who visited Maryland last weekend, is making an official trip to St. John’s this weekend, while New York power forward Tobias Harris, a 2010 recruit, will be back in College Park later this month.

The 6-foot-8 junior combo forward from Long Island Lutheran will visit West Virginia this weekend. After that he goes to Maryland for Midnight Madness Oct. 17, Georgetown (Oct. 18), Marquette for Midnight Madness (Oct 24 & 25), Georgia Tech (Nov. 1) and Georgia (Nov. 2).

Harris is the No. 9 power forward in the Class of 2010 and has numerous scholarship offers. Rutgers has made him a prime target for the Class of 2010.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
                    

Baltimore’s already-loaded 2010 basketball class got a little more highly touted this offseason.

According to Baltimore Stars official Troy Franklin, brothers Will Barton and Antonio Barton, both juniors, have transferred to Lake Clifton after spending their sophomore seasons at National Christian Academy in Fort Washington.

“We’re glad to see them home,” Franklin said.

The Barton brothers, who are 11 months apart in age (Will is older), spent their first two years of high school at City College. They reclassified to the class of 2010 at NCA last year. Franklin said the Bartons will spend this year focusing on their core academic classes and providing a “great one-two punch for Lake Clifton,” the defending Baltimore City champions.

Will Barton, a 6-6 shooting guard, has McDonald’s All-American potential, according to Franklin. He sports offers from Central Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Miami, Pittsburgh, South Florida, Temple, Tennessee, Towson, Villanova, Virginia Tech, Virginia and several others.

“He’s long and he can do everything,” Franklin said. “He can handle, he can shoot it, he can finish around the basket, he’s a great passer. He can play the 1 if he’s pressed to it. ... His basketball IQ is off the charts. He can stroke it from deep and make an entry pass in the post. In the open floor he makes the right pass, the right decision. And he can defend. When you pump a jump shot in his face, he’s going to block it. He’s an exciting player.

Antonio Barton, a 6-3 point guard, has offers from Central Florida, Miami, South Florida, Temple and Villanova, according to Franklin.

“Antonio is faster [than Will]. He’s a scorer,” Franklin said. “He can really take over the game. ... He can finish and he can shoot it. He’s going to be a 1 and he’s still growing.”

Other Baltimore Stars notes

• Small forward Terrell Vinson, a 2009 prospect and four-star player, transferred to St. Frances from Montrose Christian in Rockville this offseason. Vinson has already taken an official visit to Loyola Marymount, while Maryland, Georgetown and Villanova are also under consideration.

• City College forward C.J. Fair, a 2010 player, was sidelined this summer by a torn ACL suffered near the end of the school year. “He’s going to be fine,” Franklin said. “It’ll be a full recovery. The surgery’s done, he’s walking and stretching and everybody’s excited about his recovery.” Louisville, Kentucky, Maryland and many others are involved in Fair’s recruitment thus far, according to Franklin.

• Two underrated 2009 prospects, according to Franklin, are Centennial point guard Tanardo “Nardi” Bogues and City College guard Quinton Goodwin. Bogues is the nephew of former Dunbar star and retired NBA guard Muggsy Bogues. Goodwin’s older brother, Dejuan Goodwin, starred at Mount St. Joseph’s before moving on to Marist. Franklin also predicts big things for Digital Harbor guard Justin Jackson, a 2010 player. “He’s going to really blow up and he’s right there with Antonio Barton,” Franklin said. “He’s a super.”

• Ending on a sad note, Leslie “Tar” Dennis, a longtime fixture in Baltimore’s AAU basketball and parks and recreation scene, lost his bout with cancer on Monday. Dennis, 58, volunteered countless hours of his time coaching and mentoring young, local basketball players. Listed below are the funeral arrangements for Dennis:

Viewing: Friday, Oct. 3. 1 p.m. – 8 p.m. -- Phillips Funeral Home, 727 North Monroe St., Baltimore.

Funeral: Saturday, Oct. 4. 10:30 a.m. -- Greater Harvest Baptist Church, 1617 West Saratoga St., Baltimore.

Repass: Saturday, Oct. 4. 3 p.m. – 8 p.m. -- John E. Howard Recreation Center, 2011 Linden Ave., Baltimore. 410-396-7849

Click here for a tribute to Dennis by I.W. Asir.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
                    

In a city known for its point guards, James Padgett has always stood out.

Dwayne "Tiny" Morton, head coach of Lincoln High School in Brooklyn, N.Y., couldn’t help but notice the athletic, 6-foot-8, 210-pounder on the playgrounds of New York City, running the floor and flying to the hoop.

When Padgett, who verbally committed to Maryland late last week, was looking to leave Xaverian High School in Brooklyn after his sophomore year, Morton recalled that playground prowess and extended an invitation for Padgett to join Lincoln’s squad.

“He’s rare in New York City; a big guy that can score down low,” Morton said.

While Morton was excited to add a post player to his program, his initial expectations for Padgett were tempered by his lack of actual production and experience up until that point in his basketball-playing career.

“[For James, it was] more or less [about] getting more experience on the basketball court,” Morton said. “When I watched him the first two years of high school, he wasn’t playing much so I was surprised about that. The thing that impressed me most was when he got on the court, he was able to compete right away.”

Padgett averaged a double-double as a junior (“probably 11 and 10,” Morton said), helping Lincoln to the New York State Class AA Federation Championship. He stood out on a guard-oriented offense (led by five-star shooting guard Lance Stephenson), giving the Railsplitters a much-needed presence in the middle.

His role, Morton said, was to rebound, contribute put-backs and play tough defense. That unselfish play as a junior, and during the summer on Morton’s AAU team, the Juice All-Stars, convinced Morton that Padgett had a bright future. Morton said Maryland’s a good place for him to realize his potential and continue his development.

“Well, he’s a straight power forward. He plays with his back to the basket,” Morton said. “I think for Maryland, he’ll play a very disciplined post game, because of the past players [Gary Williams has] had over there. I think he’s similar but a little more fluid down low.

“I think he’s got a couple of post moves down low that some of the players down there had; [Lonny] Baxter, [Chris] Wilcox. Those guys are powerful. I think James has a couple of moves down there. I just hope he goes down there and gets strong. He’s already athletic. Add strength to that and he’ll have a good career there.”

Padgett chose the Terps over offers from Pittsburgh, Seton Hall, St. John’s, Providence and several others. Morton said Padgett immediately clicked with his future teammates when he made an official visit to College Park last month. His connection with the players and the available playing time presented an ideal situation, according to Morton.

“I think the situation at Maryland was perfect,” Morton said. “The fact that they’re in the ACC, have a history of winning and a chance for him to compete to play right away [were all major factors in his choice]. Some of these schools, their spots are already set. In reality, those guys already got their plans for the ’09, ‘10 seasons. I think Maryland had an open post spot there.”

Morton expects bigger things from Padgett as a senior. He’s hoping for “Kevin Garnett numbers” from his big man and another state title. After Padgett’s done at Lincoln, Morton thinks he’ll continue to impress in College Park.

“They’re going to get a great kid down there that’s going to play hard,” Morton said. “A no-nonsense kid, just like most of the kids Maryland gets.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:52 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)