1. Florida Frenzy
Can there be much more basketball news coming out of Florida? First, the McDonald’s All-American game and festivities were all played at the University of Miami March 28-April 1. The same week, Pine Crest (Fort Lauderdale) junior Brandon Knight was a surprise winner of the Gatorade National Player of the Year. The following week (April 7) Michael Jordan’s youngest son Marcus Jordan picked Central Florida in Orlando as his college of choice. And today, NBA Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas, by way of the New York Knicks, has picked of all places Florida International as his surprise destination to return to coaching. What next? Dwayne Wade for NBA MVP? Orlando Magic wins NBA title? Not big stretches by any means.
Pine Crest junior Brandon Knight was Gatorade 2008-09 National POY.
File photo by Lisa Yen
2. Arcadia Nation
Every year it never disappoints. But the 2009 version of the Arcadia Track and Field Invitational was off the charts as it produced 28 new national-leading marks, including a pair each by weights standouts, Shafter (Calif.) senior Anna Jelmini in the shot put (51 feet, ½ inch) and the discus (185-5) and Buena Vista (Colo.) senior Mason Finley (64-11, 221-0). Stars were abound but Claremont (Calif.) junior hurdler Kori Carter set national bests while winning the 100 hurdles (13.67) and 300 hurdles (41.09) and Holy Names (Oakland, Calif.) junior sprinter Ashton Purvis pulled off her second straight double in the 100 (11.78) and 200 (23.86). See story.
3. Details lead to Summit defeat
Free throw shooting and boxing out – the details vastly talented USA players will need to refine at the next level – led to a 97-89 defeat to a World Select squad Saturday in Portland (Ore.). The USA, with marvelous future NBA-talent like Xavier Henry (22 points), Avery Bradley (21 points), John Wall (13 points, 11 assists, five steals) and John Henson (10 points, nine rebounds), made just 7 of 16 free throws and was outrebounded 48-29. More than half those rebounds for the winners came on the offensive glass (25), which it turned into 27 points. See story.
4. Bryce Brown and Recruiting
Bryce Brown (East, Wichita, Kansas), the No. 2 football recruit in the MaxPreps Class of 2009, who was one of the last to actually sign his letter of intent, has received plenty of criticism how he handled his recruiting business. He had verbally committed to Miami, even wore a Miami cap to his greatly delayed press conference, then, like the kids like to do, switched his cap to Tennessee for “entertainment value.” Here’s a couple of interesting reads on the topic from Sports Illustrated, the New York Times and Miami Herald.
Bryce Brown has taken wayward route to Tennessee.
File photo by Walter Dixon
5. Northwest Baseball Inspirations
One of Washington state’s top outfielders Kyle Conwell (Tahoma) has had plenty of inspiration in his life. On the field, his uncle Ernie was an 11-year NFL standout. Off the field, his mother has taught Conwell to never give up. She’s in the midst of a five-year battle with breast cancer. See Seattle Times story by Sandy Ringer.
National High 5 is a regular feature highlighting the top high school sports news and features on the Net. Let us know if there are some interesting reads that we’ve missed. E-mail mstephens@maxpreps.com and/or sspiewak@maxpreps.com.
