Neville football's Hodge commits to Arkansas

Hodge chooses Razorbacks, Thibodaux's Robinson eyes LSU, Auburn; Bastrop's Brooks signs with UL Monroe.

Neville senior defensive lineman Demarcus Hodge ended widespread speculation by committing to Arkansas for the 2011 football season.

The 6-foot-1, 304-pound Hodge picked the Razorbacks of the Southeastern Conference over Mississippi State and Texas Christian.

"I feel like I'll be more happy there," he said of Arkansas. "I felt more comfortable being there when I stepped onto the campus. All three places were great places, but I felt more at home at Arkansas."

Hodge said he wanted to reach a decision quickly, which meant making one ahead of the Bayou Jamb on Aug. 29 and the season opener against Ouachita Parish on Sept. 3.

"I want to have a fun, stress-free senior year," Hodge said. "And it wouldn't be fair to my teammates if all I did was focus on myself."

Hodge, who scored a 23 on his ACT, said he was impressed with Arkansas' strength program and facilities.

Robinson drawing attention
Thibodaux senior offensive lineman Greg Robinson may have narrowed his list of college choices to LSU and Auburn, but don't think that Robinson wouldn't entertain offers from others.

"For me, I will give every school a chance," Robinson said. "If a school comes to recruit me, I'll look at them, but I did narrow my choices."

Thibodaux offensive lineman Greg Robinson.

Photo by Tom Lemming

Fully qualified academically, Robinson said he has received 19 scholarship offers and may have received more if he hadn't "narrowed my list." The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Robinson said he won't officially commit until "I am 100 percent sure that is the place I want to go."

He said the school he will attend "is about family and where I feel comfortable. Those two schools (LSU and Auburn) really fit in the family category, and that is why I narrowed my list."

Robinson said he also is considering visits to Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas A&M. "I wanted to visit Florida," he said, "but they didn't offer me."

Thibodaux coach Dennis Lorio said Robinson's talent is similar to that of Arizona Cardinals guard Alan Faneca, who was an LSU redshirt freshman when Lorio was a graduate assistant coach at the school.

A defensive lineman through his sophomore year at Thibodaux, Robinson burst onto the national scene last season with his move across the line of scrimmage. His stock grew even more with his performance at the U.S. Army Combine Camp.

"He had never played on offense, and we didn't even know if he had the desire to play this game or if his ability would translate," Lorio said. "He went from a total unknown to the coaches at Thibodaux to a starter and people began noticing him. Now he is a national recruit. That doesn't happen often, and it happened in front of our eyes last year."

St. Augustine, Holy Cross lead polls
St. Augustine tops the Times-Picayune of New Orleans preseason prep football poll for area large schools (Classes 5A-4A), while Holy Cross ranks first in the small schools (Classes 3A-1A) Top 10.

The Times-Picayune deemed St. Augustine to be "loaded with skill, linemen." The Purple Knights are seeking their first state title since 1979.

McDonogh 35 was picked second behind St. Augustine with Higgins coming in at third. Salmen is rated fourth ahead of St. Paul and its stellar defensive tackle Mickey Johnson.

Running back Lawrence Breaud is a major reason why Archbishop Shaw stands sixth. Seventh belongs to Hahnville and quarterback Brian Ensminger. East St. John, with wide receiver Dhaquille Williams, is eighth. Karr and Brother Martin are ninth and 10th, respectively.

Holy Cross hasn’t won a state title since 1963, but the Times-Picayune puts it first in the small-schools preseason poll because the defending District 10-3A champions "are deep (and) talented."

Following in order are perennial Class 2A powers Curtis, Riverside, South Plaquemines, Newman, St. Charles Catholic, Northlake Christian, McDonogh, West St. John, and St. Martin's Episcopal.

Benton dismisses Fleming
Standout defensive back and wide receiver T.K. Fleming, 18, was dismissed from the Benton football team after his fourth arrest in sixth months. According to the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office, Fleming was arrested for theft and sent to the Bossier Maximum Security Facility in Bossier City with bond set at $5,000.

"He's no longer a member of Benton football," Benton coach Caleb Guidry said after the first day of practice. "People usually get three strikes. He got four. I'm in the business to try to help kids, but they have to try to help themselves, too."

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Fleming had drawn the attention of numerous colleges, including LSU, Arkansas, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Oklahoma State and Nebraska. UCLA coaches visited Benton last spring and spoke with Guidry and Fleming.

Fleming was first arrested on Feb. 28 on five counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. He was charged with second-degree battery in May and driving under the influence in July after an accident in Bossier City. He faces a Sept. 16 court date in Caddo Parish for his assault charges.

"He was great player with great potential," Guidry said, "but potential is just that."

Girls basketball: Brooks commits to ULM
Bastrop senior Sharnice Brooks committed to the University of Louisiana at Monroe after averaging 16 points and 10 rebounds per game last season.

The 6-foot-1 Brooks earned second-team all-state honors in helping Bastrop reach the Class 4A semifinals before losing to eventual state champion Vandebilt Catholic. Bastrop finished 26-4 overall, including 9-1 in District 3-4A. Brooks plans to major in criminal justice at ULM.