National High 5: Evans Bound for Memphis

Compiled by Mitch Stephens

MaxPreps.com

1. New Rose? Some have already penciled in Tyreke Evans (American Christian Academy, Aston, Pa.) to replace Derrick Rose in the Memphis starting lineup. Can’t a kid just enjoy his college commitment for a day? On Wednesday, the McDonald’s All-American game MVP picked Memphis over other finalist Villanova and Texas. He said he finally picked the national-runner-ups only after coach John Calipari signed a contract extension. “I wouldn’t have gone to Memphis if Coach Cal wasn’t staying,” he said. Already on the chummy “Coach Cal” referring basis. Nice. If the sleek 6-6 Evans, who averaged 29 points per game last season, can in any way replicate Rose, a sure NBA lottery pick, then “Coach Cal” will probably let him call him anything. 

2. Peach of a Meet. Track and field fans throughout the country are still talking about the Arcadia Invitational, which featured 18 top national season marks according to www.dyestat.com. We’ve wanted to cover this prestigious meet for years and finally got the chance on Friday and Saturday. It lived up to all the hyperbole. See our updated account. Besides the remarkable distance performances, noteworthy was its national flavor with the nine of the 18 boys invitational events won by non-California athletes. Great setting, weather, times and fans. The spike-to-spike coverage by dyestat was also pretty amazing.

3. No Sour Grapes. It had to end some time so it might as well have taken a near-perfect performance to do it. Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.) ended the remarkable 80-game softball win streak of Cabrini (Allen Park) with a 2-0 victory on Tuesday. Katie Kowaleski pitched a one-hitter and Molly Coldren, a senior shortstop who led her school to a state volleyball crown, had three hits including a double and scored the eventual go-ahead run. Cabrini coach Debbie Norman told the Associated Press there was no shame in this loss. “There were no tears,” she said. “There was no complaining or finger pointing.” Cabrini, which hadn’t lost since 2005, shattered the previous state mark of 52 games.

4. Carrolling in Texas. They don’t just play football at Southlake Carroll in Texas. The girls soccer team, led by a pair of goals from defender Leslie Shurtleff, defeated Plano East 2-1 to take the Class 5A state title last week. Shurtleff, no relation to MaxPreps Director of Photographer Todd Shurtleff, was voted tournament MVP for the Dragons (24-4-4). It’s not all roses in the Dallas suburb, however. The baseball team recently had to forfeit 11 games for using an ineligible player.

5. Living Large. Never underestimate measure of one’s passion for sports. Especially at the high school level. Yet another inspirational case in point at Kent-Meridian (Kent, Wash.), where 4-foot-3 Brody Leach is a huge contributor to the baseball and golf teams. He even made the school’s freshman hoop team. Beautiful.