By Dave Krider
MaxPreps.com
Cory Whitsett continued to establish himself as one of the nation’s premier young golfers by winning the prestigious Western Junior Championship at St. Simons Island, Ga. A rising junior at Memorial High (Houston, Texas), Whitsett won by four shots with a 12-under-par score of 268. Whitsett, who won the 2007 U.S. Junior, is No. 2 in the current AJGA Polo rankings.
Tied for second at 272 were T.J. Vogel (Cooper City, Fla.) and Tyler McCumber (Ponte Vedra, Fla.). Tyler’s father, PGA tour player Mark McCumber, served as his caddy…Chinese native Zhong Yang (Sam) Fu, age 17, set a Seaside course record with a blazing 61 – which included eight birdies and one eagle – on his final round.
Brinson Paolini, a rising senior at Virginia Beach Cox, has made a commitment to Duke University. Paolini is the reigning Virginia State Junior and the 2006 Group AAA state champion. He also led Cox to the state team championship as a sophomore and junior.
Football Notes
* Last-minute replacement Nathan Nall sparked the West to a record-breaking 62-23 rout of the East in the annual Arkansas High School Coaches Association All-Star Game. Nall, who is headed for Henderson State, drew the starting quarterback role when Fayetteville’s Blake McDonald suffered a concussion during a scrimmage earlier in the week.
Nall earned MVP honors by completing 21-of-31 passes for 309 yards and six touchdowns – all records for a series that started in 1959. While at Siloam Springs, Nall had set school records by passing for over 3,400 yards and 41 touchdowns last fall. Fayetteville’s Gionni Harris snared six passes for 87 yards and three touchdowns.
* Oklahoma nipped Texas, 17-16, in the 71st annual Oil Bowl All-Star Game. Duncan’s Trent Wilkins paced the winners by running 11 times for 105 yards, scoring one touchdown (65 yards) and passing for one touchdown (18 yards) to earn offensive MVP honors. Oklahoma’s R.J. Bartley and Zack Wallace were named co-defensive MVPs. Bartley made a game-high eight tackles and forced a fumble, while Wallace made four tackles and recovered a fumble. Tress Way kicked a 50-yard field goal. For Texas, Nick Florence passed for 177 yards and scored a touchdown, but also threw two interceptions.
* Highly-ranked quarterback Kevin Newsome is going to play his senior year at Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.). Over the past two years, the 6-foot-3, 217-pounder passed for 2,156 yards, rushed for 798 yards and accounted for 39 touchdowns at Western Branch (Chesapeake, Va.).
Hargrave coach Robert Prunty, who plans to use Newsome on his post-graduate team, told the Virginian Pilot, “If he keeps developing, with the physical make-up he has, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him be one of the top-10 picks in the NFL draft some day. He has a LeBron James-type body for football. We are very excited to have him. Ecstatic.”
* Ohio State University has received recent commitments from Justin Green and Duron Carter. Green (5-11, 178) accounted for 2,000 all-purpose yards and 30 touchdowns as a junior at Male in Louisville, Ky. The 6-3, 180-pound Carter averaged 16.3 yards per catch as a junior at Florida powerhouse Fort Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas. He is the son of Chris Carter.
* The University of Kansas also has gained a pair of commitments, both coming from Bowie in Arlington, Texas. Quarterback Christian Matthews (6-2, 185) has excellent credentials, having passed for 2,786 yards and 25 touchdowns as a junior. Classmate Dexter Linton (5-11, 180) had 103 tackles and two interceptions as a safety.
* Timberland (Wentzville, Mo.) star Montee Ball will bring some highly impressive statistics to the University of Wisconsin. The 5-11, 210-pound workhorse carried 358 times for 3,077 yards (8.6 average) and 31 touchdowns as a junior. During his sophomore year, he ran 297 times for 1,845 yards (6.2 average) and 15 touchdowns.
* Telvion Clark, a rising senior linebacker at Granby (Norfolk, Va.), has pledged to Virginia Tech. The 6-1, 210-pounder, who runs 40 yards in a swift 4.47 seconds and bench presses 370 pounds, had 153 tackles and eight sacks last fall…Shane McCullen (6-3, 195) has pledged to Arizona State. McCullen, who also runs a 4.47 40, has rushed for over 3,500 yards and scored 32 touchdowns leading into his senior year at Apache Junction (Ariz.).
* Edward Wright-Baker has made a commitment to Indiana University. The 6-2, 205-pounder passed for 1,580 yards and 21 touchdowns while running for 1,200 yards and 19 touchdowns as a junior at Jeffersonville, Ind…The University of Kentucky has heard from versatile Jordan Aumiller, a 6-4, 199-pounder from Boyle County (Danville, Ky.). As a junior he passed for 1,055 yards and 14 touchdowns, caught 23 passes for 391 yards and four touchdowns and made 70 tackles.
Track Notes
* The 18th Nike Outdoor Nationals in Greensboro, N.C., long will be remembered for the national record of 8:34.40 in the two-mile set by German Fernandez, a recent graduate of Riverbank, Calif. Four runners broke nine minutes in the sensational race. The record of 8:36.3 by Jeff Nelson had stood for 29 years. Along the way Fernandez also was credited with a national record of 7:59.83 for 3,000 meters. That record had been 8:03.67 by Galen Rupp in 2004.
A second national record was set by the Warwick Valley (N.Y.) girls distance medley relay, which was clocked in 11:31.81. Another New York school, Bay Shore, held the record of 11:33.42, set in 2004…A third national record came in the girls shot put where Emily O’Brien of Cumberland, Maine, heaved the iron ball 52-1 ¾.
Double winners included North Carolina star Spencer Adams, who captured the 110-meter high hurdles in a meet-record 13.75 and the 400-meter hurdles in 50.99; and Newnan, Ga., rising senior Chalonda Goodman, who ran a meet-record 11.51 in the 100-meter dash and 23.22 in the 200-meter dash.
The outstanding Eleanor Roosevelt (Greenbelt, Md.) team won a pair of relays, but lost a coach, Desmond Dunham, who now is a volunteer assistant for the University of Maryland’s men’s track team. In five years, the 35-year-old Dunham helped Roosevelt to 12 girls state championships – three in cross country and nine in combined indoor and outdoor track…Brandon Pounds, a recent graduate of Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.), surprised New Jersey’s sensational freshman, Nick Vena, by winning the shot put with a personal-best toss of 68-11.25.
* During the same weekend of the Nike event, the USA Junior National Championships were being held at Ohio State University. Rising senior Marquise Goodwin (Rowlett, Texas) won the men’s long jump at an even 25 feet, while Georgia standout Christian Taylor placed second in the men’s triple jump with a 52-08 effort….Ohio’s Ryan Fleck (7-1 ½) and Erik Kynard (7-00.25) took 1-2 in the high jump.
* Rising senior Elijah Greer of Lake Oswego (Ore.) turned in a national junior-class record time of 1:47.68 (No. 1 in the country this spring) while winning the 800-meter run…Garner (N.C.) graduate Booker Nunley turned in a blazing 13.40 to win the 110-meter hurdles. It stands No. 8 in the all-time record book.
* Conor McCullough, a 6-5, 200-pound rising junior from Chaminade (West Hills, Calif.), placed second in the hammer throw with a 233-5 effort. First place went to national record holder Walter Henning, who has just finished his freshman year at LSU, with an American junior record of 242-4.
Basketball Notes
* Rising juniors Dakotah Euton (6-8) and Chad Jackson, who transferred this spring from Rose Hill (Ashland, Ky.), have been declared ineligible at Kentucky power Georgetown Scott County. The students have the right to appeal to the governing KHSAA…Malik Story, a 6-4 shooting guard, has signed with Indiana University. He averaged 14.7 points as a senior at Ribet Academy (Cerritos, Calif.) after transferring from Oak Hill Academy.
* Purdue University has received a commitment from 6-9 rising junior Travis Carroll, who averaged 21.5 points, 13.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists last year at Danville, Ind…Rising 6-8 senior Ben Averkamp, who averaged 16 points, 8.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocks last year at Germantown (Wis.), has made a commitment to Loyola University of Chicago. He has a 4.0 GPA and wants to be an orthopedic surgeon…St. Joseph University (Philadelphia) has received a pledge from 5-11 rising senior Justin Crosgile, who averaged 20 points, 6.0 rebounds and 6.0 assists last year for DePaul Catholic (Patterson, N.J.).
* Bullet-quick rising senior guard John Wall (6-3), who stars for Word of God (Raleigh, N.C.), was named MVP at the fifth annual Pangos All-American Camp on the University of Southern California campus. Michael Snaer, a 6-5 rising senior from Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley, Calif.), was named Top-25 All-Star Game MVP following a 24-point performance. He shot 11-for-17 and also pulled down nine rebounds.
* Four rising high school seniors were among the 12 chosen for the USA under-18 girls team which will play next month in Buenos Aires. The biggest surprise was 6-3 Joslyn Tinkle of Big Sky (Missoula, Mont.). Her father, Wayne, is the head coach at the University of Montana. The other preps are 5-8 Skylar Diggins (Washington, South Bend, Ind.), 6-5 Kelsey Bone (Dulles, Sugar Land, Texas) and 5-11 Kelly Faris (Heritage Christian, Indianapoilis, Ind.).
Volleyball Notes
* The Chicago-based Mizuno SPVB 18 Elite – which has a 76-0 record – defeated Asics Munciana (18-1) Samural by identical 25-20 scores to win the 18-and-under National AAU Open championship at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Six-foot-one Gatorade National Player of the Year Kelly Murphy, a recent graduate of Joliet Catholic Academy (Ill.) was named MVP…The 18 club champion was Asics KIVA 18 White, which defeated Top 10 18 Elite of Council Bluffs, Iowa, 25-14, 25-23. MVP honors went to 6-0 Abby Hall, a recent graduate of Mercy Academy (Louisville, Ky.).
The 17-and-under Open title went to the Illini 17 Elite Cardinal, which defeated Asics KIVA 17 Red of Louisville, Ky., 25-21, 25-23, with 6-0 Hannah Werth, a rising senior from Glenwood (Chatham, Ill.), taking home MVP honors…Winning the 17 club crown was The Vaqueras 17 of Puerto Rico, who defeated the Dayton (Ohio) Juniors 17 Mixed Nuts, 25-17, 16-25, 15-11. Five-foot-nine Elsie Rosario was the MVP.
The Mizuno Northern Lights 16-1 defeated Young Guns of Amarillo, Texas, 25-22, 25-19, to win the 16-and-under Open title. Ashley Wittman, a 6-1 rising junior from Shakopee, Minn., was named MVP…The 16 club title was taken by the Mizuno Northern Lights 16-2 with a 25-21, 27-25 victory over Mizuno SPVB 16 Soph. Elly Braaten, a 6-1 rising junior from Hastings, Minn., earned MVP honors.
* The second annual PrepVolleyball.com Classic produced an amazing marathon match in the Wisconsin Dells. Club Fusion 18 Black outlasted Minnesota Select 18-1, 25-27, 28-26, 27-25, to win the 18-and-under title. Combined, the two teams had 14 match points…The 17-and-under crown was taken by Texas Advantage 17 Asics, 25-19, 25-16, over F.a.R Out 17-1.
Baseball Notes
* Mychal Givens, a right-handed pitcher and shortstop from Plant (Tampa, Fla.) was ranked as the No. 1 prospect by evaluator David Rawnsley following the prestigious Perfect Game National Showcase at the Minnesota Twins’ Metrodome. Second-ranked in a field of 250 players was Matt Purke, a left-handed pitcher from Klein (Spring, Texas). Rawnsley noted that catchers and left-handed pitchers appear to be the deepest positions in the class of 2009.
* Dixie went unbeaten in five games to capture the gold medal during the 16th annual USA Baseball Tournament of Stars presented by Major League Baseball in Cary, N.C. The eight-team tournament served as a portion of the player selection process for the USA Under-18 team which will play in the World Junior Championships July 25-Aug. 3 in Edmonton, Canada.
* Texas whipped Georgia, 12-7, to win the championship of the 32nd annual Sunbelt Classic in Norman, Okla. Home Run Derby champion Adam Smith, who has signed with Texas A&M, paced Texas with a pair of two-run triples. Georgia’s Jakob Dalfonso was named MVP after setting Sunbelt records with 18 hits and four triples.
Lacrosse Notes
* The Duxbury boys nipped Billerica, 14-13, in overtime to win their record fifth consecutive Massachusetts Division I state title. They are undefeated in their last 90 outings against in-state competition…New Hampshire rallied to defeat Vermont, 14-9, during the annual Twin State Boys All-Star Game in Hanover, N.H. Steven Gallerani of Bow led New Hampshire with three goals, while Middlebury’s Lance Robinson had two goals and three assists for Vermont.
* California’s NorCal defeated Blackwolf Select of Washington, D.C., 11-9, to win the 17-and-under Vail (Colorado) Shootout. Youthful Greene Turtle of Maryland nipped Icon of Colorado, 13-12, to take third place… Girls lacrosse coach Jim Segar has retired at U-32 (Montpelier, Vt.) after coaching five state championship teams in three sports during his 31-year career.
Tennis Notes
* Devin Britton (Jackson, Miss.) defeated Ryan Lipman (Nashville, Tenn.), 6-3, 7-6, to win the International Grass Court boys title at the Philadelphia, Pa., Cricket Club. Canadian Gabriela Dabrowski defeated Beatrice Capra (Ellicott City, Md.), 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, to capture the girls title. Capra then teamed with Brooke Bolender (Delray Beach, Fla.) to capture the girls doubles crown with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Kate Fuller and Nicolle Stracar. Jordan Cox (Duluth, Ga.) teamed with Raymond Sarmiento (Fontana, Calif.) to take the boys doubles title with a 7-6, 6-4 triumph over Lipman and Ryan Noble.
* Shannon Mathews has been named Miss Tennis in Michigan. The Notre Dame recruit compiled an 88-1 record and helped Cranbrook-Kingswood (Bloomfield Hills) capture a pair of Division 3 state championships. Mathews, who had a 3.8 GPA, is one of just three girls to win four consecutive No. 1 singles state titles. Her coach, Keith Cullen, told the Detroit Free Press, “In 30 years she’s the best girls high school player I’ve ever seen.”
Softball Note
* Tori Collins of Class 4A state champion Lafayette McCutcheon has been named Indiana’s Miss Softball. The talented left-hander, who has signed with the University of Louisville, compiled a 22-3 record this year with a 0.66 ERA. She struck out 245 in 181 2/3 innings. She also batted .336 and drove in 27 runs for the 31-5 Mavericks. During seven post-season games, she struck out 67 and allowed just five runs.
