MaxWire National Blog

Covering High School Sports in America

Category: Texas

Dec. 8^th
Heisman winner Johnny Manziel's high school coach talks to MaxPreps about former player

Photo by Jim Redman
Johnny Manziel's coach saw his talent early in his high school career.
Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, and his high school coach Mark Smith couldn't have been too surprised.

Smith appeared on last night's Friday Night Live with MaxPreps to discuss coaching the Texas A&M standout quarterback at Tivy High School (Kerrville, Texas).

"Everybody sees he's a great player, easy to coach. But he's a great leader also," said Smith. "It makes it easy to coach those kind of guys. You don't do much, you just point them in the right direction and they take care of things for you. It was a special time for us."

Manziel was a prolific performer in high school — Smith says he knew he had a special player in Manziel's first varsity game — but not many critics expected the 5-foot-11 quarterback to dominate the college ranks this soon.

Manziel became the first freshman to throw for more than 3,000 yards and rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season.

Watch clips of Manziel and listen to coach Smith discuss "Johnny Football" in the video below.

Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Staff ReportDec. 8^th, 2012, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
Categories
Football, Texas, Texas Football
Tags
Tivy, Region IV Football
Dec. 3^rd
MNF video rewind: Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins

Getty Images
Before he was just 'RG3' Griffin was a three-sport star at Copperas Cove.
With a simple three-character acronym every football fan, and most human beings, immediately know you're talking about one of the most exciting players ever to don and NFL uniform.

After taking the NCAA by storm at Baylor and winning the 2011 Heisman Trophy, Robert Griffin III was drafted by the Washington Redskins, who traded away considerable assets to move up to the No.2 spot in order to select him.

So far, the gamble seems to be paying off.

Griffin has exceeded even the loftiest expectations in his rookie season with his running and throwing ability, and has the Redskins in position for an outside shot at the playoffs.

That shot, however, largely depends on how Griffin and his team fare against Eli Manning and the division-leading New York Giants this evening on Monday Night Football.

But before RG3 was a household name who inspired his own social media frenzy , the multi-talented athlete was a three-sport star at Copperas Cove High School (Texas). While he excelled in basketball and track, Griffin's ability on the football field was clearly one-of-a-kind.

In his senior season he amassed 1,285 rushing yards with 24 touchdowns, and passed for 1,356 yards and 16 touchdowns while leading his team to the Class 4A Division I state championship game.

Take a look at some high school footage of RG3 in the video below.

Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Colin Ward-HenningerDec. 3^rd, 2012, 04:30 P1 Comment
Categories
Football, Texas, Texas Football
Tags
Copperas Cove, Region I Football
Nov. 30^th
Harrisons, No. 2 Travis escape at Hoopfest

Photo by Wayne Litmer
Aaron Harrison
Star twins Aaron and Andrew Harrison combined for 46 points Friday night as national No. 2 Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, Texas) escaped with a 78-76 win over Ballard (Louisville) at the annual Marshall County Hoopfest in Benton, Ky.

The event is held at Marshall County High School's Reed Conder Gymnasium, a storied venue with a seating capacity of over 6,000.

Aaron led Travis with 28 points against Ballard on a night that featured several nationally-ranked teams and high-profile players:

* Top-ranked 2013 prospect Andrew Wiggins finished with 29 points as Huntington Prep (W.Va.) – ranked No. 1 in MaxPreps.com's Academy Top 10 – rolled to a 76-59 win over Memphis East (Tenn.).

* Academy Top 10 No. 4 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) stormed past Curie (Chicago) 72-39 despite the best efforts of 6-9 junior sensation Cliff Alexander, who put up 26 points.

Travis returns to action Saturday at the Hoopfest against Madison Central (Richmond, Ky.). Oak Hill meets No. 9 Southwind (Memphis, Tenn.) and Wiggins and Huntington Prep face Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.).
Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Jason HickmanNov. 30^th, 2012, 11:00 P3 Comments
Categories
Basketball, Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Illinois Basketball, Kentucky Basketball, Texas Basketball, Virginia Basketball, West Virginia Basketball
Tags
Andrew Wiggins, Aaron Harrison, Andrew Harrison, Cliff Alexander, Memphis East, Madison Central, Southwind, Fort Bend Travis, Curie, Ballard
Nov. 26^th
Top hoops recruit Julius Randle out for season

Julius Randle, the nation's top power forward prospect, is expected to miss the remainder of his senior season after breaking a bone in his foot Saturday.

Jason Jordan of USA Today broke the news Monday and Texas Titans club coach Scott Pospichal confirmed the development when reached by phone.

Photo by Jim Redman
Julius Randle
"He fractured a bone on the top of his foot and will have a screw put in tomorrow," Pospichal said. "You are looking at (being out) three months minimum."

The Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) star is ranked No. 4 in the MaxPreps Class of 2013 Top 100 and helped the Lions go 27-4 with a TAPPS 5A state title as a junior.

With Randle leading the way as tournament MVP, the program also captured the prestigious City of Palms Classic last season and has a rigorous schedule lined up for 2012-13 that includes events in Florida, Missouri and Massachusetts.

"It's an irritation to him and unfortunate because he has worked so hard," Pospichal said.

Randle hasn't made a decision about his collegiate future. Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Oklahoma and Texas are the finalists in his highly-publicized recruitment. It's unlikely that the injury will slow down pursuit of the talented teen.

Prestonwood Christian super sophomore Mickey Mitchell – a surefire five-star 2015 prospect – also suffered a season-ending injury while quarterbacking the school's football team.
Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Jason HickmanNov. 26^th, 2012, 02:00 P3 Comments
Categories
Basketball, Texas, Texas Basketball
Tags
Julius Randle, Mickey Mitchell, Prestonwood Christian, TAPPS Basketball
Nov. 24^th
Bowie's future in Texas playoffs in doubt

A question regarding a transfer student's eligibility could threaten the playoff future for 11-1 Bowie (Arlington, Texas).

File photo by Dan Wozniak
Bowie's playoff run in jeopardy.
The University Interscholastic League will rule Monday if Bowie stays or will be replaced by Franklin (El Paso) in the Class 5A Division I Region I semifinal against DeSoto.

Bowie defeated Franklin 31-14 Friday in Midland.

Franklin has received word from the UIL that it should continue as if it won the game.

At issue is a "Parent Residence Waiver'' required for a student not in compliance with residency rules because he or she is living with a parent who is separated.

According to the Dallas Morning News' Corbett Smith, Arlington ISD athletic director O.J. Kemp was contacted by the league on Tuesday regarding the matter.

If the UIL allows Bowie to have a waiver approved retroactively, no action would need to be taken.

The unidentified student in question, a midseason transfer, played sparingly for Bowie as a reserve.
Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Randy JenningsNov. 24^th, 2012, 07:00 P1 Comment
Categories
Football, Texas, Texas Football
Tags
Bowie, DeSoto, Franklin, Region I Football
Nov. 24^th
No. 3 Prestonwood falls as Julius Randle leaves with injury

Fresh off a major tournament win at the McDonald's Texas Invitational, Duncanville knocked off No. 3 Prestonwood Christian (Plano) 58-48 in the featured Saturday game at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest.

But Duncanville's hot start wasn't the story of the night as prized recruit Julius Randle of Prestonwood Christian limped off the floor late in the first half and did not return. Reports from Sandra Meadows Arena indicated it appeared to be a foot injury.

File photo by Jim Redman
Julius Randle
Reached by text late Saturday night, Prestonwood Christian head coach Chris Mayberry declined to comment on Randle's status.

Randle is a 6-foot-8, 235-pound power forward ranked No. 4 in the MaxPreps Class of 2013 Top 100. He led the program to a 27-4 record as a junior, the TAPPS (Texas private schools) 5A state title and the prestigious City of Palms Classic title.

The Lions have already been hit with a major injury this season as super sophomore Mickey Mitchell, a 6-foot-7 point-forward, suffered a torn ACL while playing quarterback for the PCA football team. He is expected to miss the entire 2012-13 hoops campaign.

For Duncanville, the victory over Prestonwood Christian was affirmation that the one-time national power is back under first-year head coach Danny Henderson, who led Marcus (Flower Mound) to repeat Class 5A state titles in 2010 and 2011.

Other nationally-ranked teams in action

* No. 9 Southwind (Memphis, Tenn.) knocked off Jonesboro (Ark.) 60-46 on Saturday night in the final of the Rumble on the Ridge in Forrest City, Ark., winning that event for the second year in a row. The Jaguars improved to 4-0 on the season.

* Joel Berry, Florida's reigning player of the year, poured in 39 points as No. 17 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando) topped Dr. Phillips (Orlando) 64-52 at the Hoops Exchange Thanks for Hoops showcase.

* No. 19 DeSoto (Texas) bounced back from its loss to Duncanville last week by handing Jarell Martin and Madison Prep Academy (Baton Rouge, La.) a 63-59 as part of the Thanksgiving Hoopfest.

* No. 23 Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) is learning how to play with a target on its back, escaping with a 50-48 win over Gulfport at the Capital City Hoops Challenge. The Chargers dropped their opener earlier this month and have had a fight in three subsequent wins leading up to Saturday's nail-biter. Elite sophomore prospect Malik Newman led the way against Gulfport with 21 points.
Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Jason HickmanNov. 24^th, 2012, 12:00 A1 Comment
Categories
Basketball, Texas, Texas Basketball
Tags
Julius Randle, Joel Berry, Jarell Martin, Malik Newman, Mickey Mitchell, Lake Highland Prep, DeSoto, Jonesboro, Dr. Phillips, Southwind
Nov. 24^th
Big Game Friday: Tyler Jones goes for 581 yards, 8 TDs

File photo by Kyle Dantzler
Tyler Jones, Stephenville
Tyler Jones just missed a major state record Friday night while passing Stephenville (Texas) to a 56-24 football victory over Kennedale during the Class 3A Division I regional semifinals.

The 6-foot-2, 195-pound senior quarterback connected on a career-high eight touchdown passes - one short of the state record set last year by Wesley Harris of Fort Worth Southwest - while completing 22 of 29 for 469 yards. He also rushed for 112 yards. He now has passed for 2,913 yards and 34 touchdowns this year with just four interceptions.

Senior wide receiver Brice Gunter (6-3, 185) had a career-high 10 catches for 223 yards and four touchdowns. That boosted his 2012 totals to 66 catches for 1,023 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Both Gunter and Jones have committed to Texas State, according to the Stephenville Empire-Tribune.

* Wylie East (Wylie, Texas) nipped Whitehouse 63-56 during the Class 4A Division II area playoffs as Jabari Anderson ran 49 times for 385 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Garrett McCain completed 14 of 29 passes for 228 yards and three touchdowns, while Marcell Ateman snared 11 passes for 192 yards and all three touchdowns.

Still, the Raiders needed reserve Kevon Mack to produce the winning touchdown on a five-yard run with just 41 seconds remaining.

Whitehouse received an outstanding effort from quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who completed 21 of 36 passes for 441 yards and five touchdowns.

* Junior star Jalen Hurd ran 30 times for 394 yards and four touchdowns as Beech (Hendersonville, Tenn.) handed Jackson North Side its first loss 64-31 during the Class 5A state semifinals. North Side held a 24-14 halftime lead before the unbeaten Buccaneers broke loos for 50 points after the intermission.

Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Dave KriderNov. 24^th, 2012, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
Categories
Football, Tennessee, Texas, Tennessee Football, Texas Football
Tags
Travis Smith, Patrick Mahomes, Garrett McCain, Jalen Hurd, Marcell Ateman, Jabari Anderson, Tyler Jones, Logan Hessbrook, Brice Gunter, Kevon Mack
Nov. 20^th
Get 2 The Game powered by American Family Insurance: Jake Raulerson

Senior Jake Raulerson of Celina High School (Texas) is one of the top offensive linemen in his class. The 6-foot-5, 260-pound Texas commit is ranked by MaxPreps as the No. 5 offensive tackle in his class, and the No. 54 recruit overall.

Photo by Keith Owens
Jake Raulerson, Celina
Raulerson's calling card is his work ethic and tenacity, pledging to never allow an opposing player to out-work him.

"Jake Raulerson is probably one of the greatest young men I've ever coached," said Celina head coach Bill Elliott. "He's a guy that's so easy to motivate. His motor's always running wide open."

While Raulerson would love to win championships at the high school and college level and then have a career in the NFL, his strongest wish is to help those around him.

Raulerson credits his success to his ever-supportive parents, Jay and Jolene.

"My dream for Jake is for him to achieve his goals," said Jay Raulerson. "To be able to know that at the end of the whole process he left it all out there."

To see more Get 2 The Game vignettes powered by American Family Insurance, click here.

Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Staff ReportNov. 20^th, 2012, 02:41 PAdd a Comment
Categories
Texas, Texas Football
Tags
Jake Raulerson, Celina, Region II Football
Nov. 18^th
Sue Cannon wins 1,000th game as girls basketball coach

Photo courtesy of Sue Cannon
Sue Cannon, Trinity
Sue Cannon became only the seventh coach in history to win 1,000 games in girls basketball over the weekend when she guided Trinity (Euless, Texas) to a 76-36 rout of Kimball (Dallas, Texas) in the Flower Mound Tournament.

Now in her 41st year of coaching, the last 27 at Trinity, Cannon has a 1,001-315 record. The national record is 1,379 victories by Leta Andrews, who still is coaching at Granbury (Texas).

Cannon, who also is boys and girls athletic coordinator, told MaxPreps, "That's awesome. I had no idea. I knew I'd never reach Leta Andrews."

Asked about her greatest thrill, Cannon replied, "To me, it's been the players. At one point I had 11 players playing college basketball. That's more important to me than wins and losses. That and players coming back to me with their kids and thanking me. Making them successful in life - so many have gone on to be great adults."

The 65-year-old marvel noted that she cut her coaching teeth attending practices conducted by University of North Carolina legend Dean Smith while coaching at Durham Academy in Chapel Hill, N.C. She had 10 great years at West Orange-Stark (Orange, Texas).

When she was hired at Trinity, she inherited a team which had lost all 30 games the previous year.

"The principal gave me five years to turn the program around," she recalled. "I told him if I don't do it in three years I'll be gone because I don't take losing well. We were 15-15 the first year and they were happy. I thought it was terrible."

Trinity is building a new facility and will be doing some renovations, too. Cannon, who is a member of the Texas Basketball Hall of Fame, said that when these projects are finished, she plans to retire.
Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Dave KriderNov. 18^th, 2012, 12:00 AAdd a Comment
Categories
Girls Basketball, Texas, Texas Girls Basketball
Tags
Trinity, Granbury, Region I Girls Basketball
Nov. 13^th
Get 2 The Game powered by American Family Insurance: Kameron Miles

File photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Kameron Miles, West Mesquite
Senior Kameron Miles of West Mesquite (Mesquite, Texas) is one of the top safeties in his class. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound athlete has committed to play football at Tennessee next year.

Miles puts in hard work on the field and in the classroom, with the hope of becoming an engineer once his NFL career is over.

"Kam is a great kid," said West Mesquite coach Mike Overton. "Very competitive. Fun to be around. A guy that's relentless with his work ethic."

Miles says his greatest influence is his parents, who have supported him tirelessly throughout his life.

"My dream for Kameron is to go to school, get a good education," said Miles' mother, Kidada Franklin. "Engineering, NFL...whichever makes Kameron happy, I'm happy."

To see more Get 2 The Game vignettes powered by American Family Insurance, click here.

Add Comment »
Tweet

Post Info
By Staff ReportNov. 13^th, 2012, 01:00 PAdd a Comment
Categories
Texas, Texas Football
Tags
Kameron Miles, West Mesquite, Region II Football