Tuesday, August 18, 2009

N.C. is absolutely loaded with junior prospects

This hasn’t been a great year for senior football talent in the state of North Carolina. The Class of 2010 has some spectacular players like DE Gabe King and OT Robert Crisp, but the depth simply isn’t there.

Just wait.

The Class of 2011 is jam-packed with kids who can play.

An example is Durham Hillside High, where coach Antonio King is licking his lips in anticipation as he watches his juniors run around in practice.

He starts with QB Vad Lee, of course, a junior who is already high on colleges’ recruiting boards. But he goes on from there—and on.

“We have literally 15 kids in our junior class who will be recruited by Division I schools if everything goes well for them,” King said. “It is amazing. I have never heard of a high school program having that many recruitable kids in one class before.”

Compare that with Hillside’s current seniors. King says three are drawing significant recruiting attention.

So next year should be interesting at Hillside, but it should be interesting across the state.

Ask Waxhaw Marvin Ridge High coach Scott Chadwick about his seniors who are attracting attention, and he names one. He follows that up with six juniors, although that could change over the course of the season, as it could at any school.

Simply put, though, if the state of North Carolina’s 2010 targets are a bit limited, just give it a year. Because 2011 is right around the corner.

--Stan Olson

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is why the Heels are looking out of state this year, which is a tougher task. Next year the Heels will own the Top 15 again, just like last year.

Anonymous said...

"Looking out of state?" Right - that is why they offered all of the top talent in-state and got beat in the recruiting wars by NCSU & Duke. Stick to posting about basketball.

Anonymous said...

We'll dominate the state again, State isn't shit. Stick to talking about basket...oh wait, footba...oh wait...bass fishing. Clowns. Nobody has even heard of Cow College outside of North Carolina.

Anonymous said...

Stephone Anthony is a beast for Anson at OLB. He had 71 tackles and 7 picks last year. He has 14 picks total in two years.

Stan Olson said...

Right now, Anthony is one of our top ten juniors in the state...

Unknown said...

Who are your top ten juniors Stan?

Stan Olson said...

Tyler, I'll post them for you when I get a chance. Put the list in for both Carolinas in the Aug. 9 paper...

Stan Olson said...

My bad; the juniors were in the July 12 paper. But I'll publish the list on the blog this afternoon...