Feb 7, 2011 FLASH bryan@prepcasts.com
The biggest story this week isn't the games on the court or mat but the "signings" for college scholarships. Offering scholarships is an inexact science- to a point. Generally, college coaches (who's livelyhood depends upon good players) look for the best athletes. This isn't always the best high school players.
So many times, I've had parents tell me that their son/daughter deserved a college scholarship for their high school career. Each time a player steps up a level, be it from Jr high to the Freshman team, to the JV team, then to the Varsity and the huge step to the collegiate plateau, the game changes.
The Speed, decision making, strength required at the next level demands that players play faster, smarter, stronger. You've seen it many times, your home town heroes lose to a ranked team in a big way due to multiple mistakes. I hear stuff like, "Well, if we'd only played our best". The cause of those mistakes is often the speed dictated by the superior team. Your heroes were playing at their best! Most athletes "top out" at a level of speed that they can perform well. Our TV watching dulls our senses to the speed of the game because ALL the athletes are very fast, strong and can make quick decisions.
College coaches evaluate the possible "upside" to each player, how they'd fit into their system, their academic performance, and many other factors. However, the crucial factor is: Can they play at our faster speed ?
All of that being said, our congratulations to ALL of the high school athletes who will have all or part of their education taken care of by an athletic scholarship. Most local communities have listed all of the scholarship signings.
We'd like to list here just some that you may see at a major college level. Our list isn't totally complete. Nevertheless, it's fun to follow these youngsters on Saturdays. We aren't claiming to be listing by priority in skill these players. We aren't equipped, or interested, in trying to do that type of thing.
Mizzou signed Brandon Hannah(Chaminade) from St. Louis. Hannah typlifies the type of athlete that I was describing. He suffered through an injury prone career but Mizzou saw him when he was healthy and they think (despite scanty high school stats) that he can play at the next level. Corbin Berkstresser (Lee Summit - 6-3, 218) will join Mizzou as a QB. HOpefully, for Tiger fans, on the receiving end of those throws will be WR Wesley Leftwich from Hickman - in the shadows of Faurot Field. The biggest splash, in more ways than one, is huge Sheldon Richardson who prepped at Gateway Tech. After a 2 year JUCO stint, and a couple changes of heart, Richardson is headed back to Mizzou.
Kansas signed two super runnings backs- one from each side of the State. Darrian Miller(Blue Springs) & Anthony Pierson (E.St Louis-well, it's practically St. Louis!) will be Jayhawks next year.
Another running back, Rob Standard-Chaminade(who set the all-time rushing record) signed with Iowa State. Standard cited that the two-back offense suited his skills better than spread offenses.
Chaminade had a third D-1 signing (quite a class, heh ?) when QB Christian Suntrup inked with Boston College.
Tony Madison of McCluer North, completed his JUCO play and
now signs with Kansas State as a wide reciver. Rimmon
McNeese of Grandview HS joins Madison as a Wildcat. He's the
24th ranked TE by rivals.com. Noah Strozier (Rockhurst)
was signed to K-State as a Defensvie back. He was rated 24th
in all d-backs.
Malcolm Agnew(DeSmet) will be headed to the far west as he
signed with Oregon State.
Donnell Alexander (Blue Springs South) signed with Colorado State as a running back. He's 5-11, 200 pounds.
There are probably plenty more...but this should wet your appetite.
Now to the hard wood...let's jump back to some basketball...
Checking out the weekly STATE rankings, let's focus on Class 3 this week. In the #2 position, the O'Hara Celtics are toughening themselves by playing several talented, large schools. A 15-5 record may not jump out at you but the Celts, under Coach Tod Magwire have lost to Class 5 Nixa (#6), Raytown South(#7), Rockhurst, and Kickapoo for four of their 5 losses! Most Classs 3 teams don't have that type of exposure.
Moving up the rankings to the #6 spot on the Boys side are the Blair Oaks Falcons. Brandon Moore recently became the all-time leading scorer on a night when the Falcons blasted Hallsville 79-57 as 6-5 Daniel McCarty dropped in 31 ! It's that type of 1-2 punch that teams need for long playoff runs.
Lost in the big city shuffle at #9, Class 3 are the Bayless Broncoes. Edin Mehmedovic leads the 14-4 Broncoes as they sit atop the South Central AA Conference at 5-0. Bayless averages 64 ppg for the season. They won the South Side Classic to open the season and have been flying high ever since. However, two games against a talented Maplewood Richmond-Hts loom on the near horizon. Maplewood R-H has taken on all challengers- all classification and are looking to get ranked.
On the Girls side, St James (14-2) holds the #1 position. Ranked all year, the Tigers have leaped up to #1 under coach Brad Conway. After competing in the Prepcasts Shootout and dropping a tough game to a very good Hazelwood Central team (class 5), the Tigers have caught fire. Brittany Harris-Conway leads this very well coached team with a 14.1 ppg. Running through a great year isn't anything new for St. James. For the last three years, they've finished 25-6, 27-2 and 21-6. In the last two seasons, the Lady Tigers were dumped from the STATE tournament by Webb City(final four team each year).
15-0 but ranked #3 in class 3, Hamilton just won their own tournament. They were led by Tourney MVP, Lindsay Vollmer who's touting a 19.1ppg average.
The defending Class 3 Champions are found at the #4 spot this week. Coach Doug Hepler has his team at 12-4 this year. Again, check out the losses- Stockton twice(#2, Class 3 team) by 35-44 and 51-61 scores, Marian Illinois and #1 ranked class 5 team-Webb City 51-57. These champs won't go down easily.
At the class 4 Boys level, Smithville (#8 team) recently won the Cameron tournament by beating the host school 38-36 to garner a bit more attention.
Here's the unbeaten list for 2010-11- at this time of the year, it really starts to have some meaning.
BOYS TEAMS
Chaminade (Class 5, #1 team) 19-0
Sikeston (Class 4, #1 team) 19-0
Dadeville (Class 1 #2 ranked) 17-0
LaPlata ( Class 1 #3 ranked) 14-0
** OK...if these two teams are unbeaten and not #1....Scott County Central's machine continues to roll and they are deserving as the defending champion
GIRLS TEAMS
Ladue (Class 5, #6 team) 18-0
St Dominic (Class 4, #1 team) 18-0
Hamilton (Class 3, #3 team) 13-0
Montrose (Class 1, #1 team) 14-0
Marion County (Class 1, #4) 14-0
How far will these teams make it ?
