By Dean Backes
MaxPreps.com
Justin Britt always knew where he wanted to play college football. Unfortunately, the Missouri Tigers never showed the same interest in the 6-foot-5, 267-pound Lebanon High School senior-to-be.
That all changed last Thursday when the offensive lineman opened all eyes and jumped to the top of the board at the University of Missouri’s football team camp.
On Monday, Britt toured the Tiger facilities and was offered a scholarship from Tiger head coach Gary Pinkel. Britt never hesitated and accepted the offer on the spot.
“Out of all the linemen, I wasn’t even on the board, but after (the camp), they said I was their top one,” Britt told the Springfield News-Leader. “I was looking out of the corner of my eyes every time on every play. I put a lot of pressure on myself, but it worked.”
Britt, who has been timed in the 40-yard dash in 4.9 seconds, was the anchor on an offensive line that allowed the Yellow Jackets to average 320 yards rushing per game.
It was Britt’s body and athletic ability that drew the attention of Pinkel and the rest of the defending Big 12 North champion coaching staff. According to a story in the News-Leader, Yellow Jacket football coach Will Christian said Britt’s strength and footwork make him a capable fit in the Tiger spread offense.
Britt became the first Division I-A football recruit from Lebanon since Mike Wehner played for the University of Miami following a high school career that ended in 1993.
The Tigers, who reached No. 1 in the college football polls at one point a year ago, have made recruiting local talent a priority. So far, Pinkel has commitments from 10 Show Me State preps for the 2009 recruiting season.
Brayden Burnett, a defensive end from Southlake Carroll High School in Texas, is the only 2009 Tiger committee that has played his football outside of Missouri borders.
Other Missouri prep players to commit to the Tigers include: Adam Burton (Lee’s Summit West), Blaine Dalton (Blue Springs South), Darris Ford (Hazelwood East), Jack Meiners (Chaminade), T.J. Moe (Fort Zumwalt West), Sheldon Richardson (Gateway), Alex Sanders (Glendale), Kerwin Stricker (Washington) and Andrew Wilson (Raymore-Peculiar).
Basketball: Murray Reels in Van Horn Post
As far as Mickey Murray was concerned, he didn’t need to make a coaching change any time soon. After all, he had a great assistant coaching job under a great head coach in Waynesville’s Tom Bildner.
But when the head coaching position at Van Horn High School was placed before Murray, he knew he had to take the leap. Especially since he shared one common goal with most assistant coaches. He wanted some day to be a head coach.
Murray, who is originally from the Kansas City area, leaves Waynesville following a 17-5 campaign in 2007-08. He inherits a Falcon squad that returns little experience from a club that went 8-15 a season ago.
“It will be a fresh start for everyone,” Murray told the Independence Examiner. “I have no track record with anyone on the team. I’m excited. Anybody who has interest, I’m going to give it a try.”
Murray’s inaugural season with Van Horn comes during a transition season. The Falcons will be moving from the Kansas City School District to the Independence School District for next season’s action.
In addition to Murray, Sean Akridge (girls basketball), Chris Corrie (girls and boys soccer), Cristin Clark (volleyball), Julie Crowell (boys and girls cross country), Danny Marshall (boys and girls track and field), Jeff Tolbert (football) and Tim Wilson (baseball) are all new additions to Van Horn for the 2008-09 season.
Basketball: Area Boys and Girls Win All-Star Classic
Casey Garrison and Marc Neef led their respective teams to wins over a select team from Springfield at last weekend’s Lions All-Star Classic basketball games at Baptist Bible College in Springfield.
The games pit players from the Springfield area against the best talent from schools that reside from within the Springfield School District.
Garrison a former standout on Bolivar’s Class 4 state championship team led the girls area team to a 71-44 win over Springfield by scoring 21 points and grabbing four rebounds. Marshfield’s Lacey Boshe added 13 points and four caroms in helping the area team to the 27-point blitz.
Both players will be competing for Missouri State next season.
“It’s kind of weird going from high school to college back to high school,” Boshe, who had been working out with her future college teammates, told the Springfield News-Leader. “But it’s a lot of fun.”
Springfield Kickapoo’s Alicia Garoutte had the hot hand for the city team by scoring 10 points and pulling down four boards.
Spokane’s Neef helped secure the area team sweep by scoring 18 points for the boys team in a narrow 72-69 triumph. Matt Jordan, who played for Ozark, added 17 points and 10 rebounds.
The city team was led by Kickapoo standout Dusty Allen’s 18 points and eight rebounds. Four other city team players scored in double figures as well.
The area team rallied from a 12-point halftime deficit.
