Thursday, January 17, 2013

Booker, Campbell, Matta, and Cora

      Last Saturday night I caught the Columbus Marion Franklin basketball game against Akron St Vincent - St Mary. Although I enjoy watching high school basketball, I was really there to watch St V's, Parris Campbell and Dante Booker. Also had a chance to watch St Vincent-St Mary's Newman Williams, Tyrece Speaight, and Markus Hurd.
      OLB Dante Booker (2014) runs very well. Listed at 6'3-215, but will get much bigger. Good hips. Like his burst. Watched him drop the ball into the basket. Really like his attitude. Tough competitor. Really believe that he has the total package. Next fall, I need to seee him "light-up" an RB. Hopefully, he can put his hand down on the edge and also play in space. One of the top five defenders in the Ohio Class of 2014.
      Parris Campbell (2014) really impressed me last fall, both as a ball carrier and a DB. Listed 6'1-180. Track speed. Thin hips and changes direction well. Like the way he backpedals. Also like his toughness and his competitive attitude both on the turf and on the court. Really young for his class. Could legally be a high school freshman. Will be one of the top three CB's in the Ohio Class of 2014.
      FB Newman Williams (2014)  is a football player playing basketball. Natural FB. Listed 6'0-220. Like his balance. Liked the way he ran the court. Height may hurt him, but recruiters need to turn on the State Championship game last December. He is a bull type runner.
      There are two Akron St V's freshmen to remember going into their sophomore year. DB Tyrece Speaight started the State Championship game last fall and played very well. Fast and quick. Also showed his quickness and burst on the basketball court. Tremendous competitor. Barring injury, he will be one of the very top DB's in the Ohio Class of 2016. Already almost 5'10-165, he has the toughness and the physical tools to be a highly rated prospect. Freshman teammate, Markus Hurd, listed 5'9-165, could eventually one of the better RB's to play at St Vincent -St Mary. Like his quickness and burst on the court. Watched just alittle last fall. Watch for another freshman at St V's. OL Zach Corrigall has the bloodlines to be sure. Already 6'3-220 and can run the court.
      As I was watching the junior varsity game, I saw two of my favorite Marion Franklin underclassmen football players. Neither play basketball, but both are really good football players. Shemar Moss (2015) has a chance to be one of top LB prospects in the Ohio Class of 2015. Played hard and ran well last fall. OL Martesse Patterson (2014), if keeps his weight down, could be one of the better OL guys in the Ohio Class of 2014. Really athletic for a big man. Like his toughness. Really enjoyable talking with them. As usual I learned more about their make-up.
      Two Ohio State football coaches were in attendance. With their wives, of course. Talked with them for a few minutes. Hope that they were impressed with the same prospects that I was impressed with. Of course, I hope that they are as impressed with their wives as I am.
      Also in the house, was Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta. What a class act! No swagger. No arrogance. Just a down to earth attitude. Kind of refreshing for a high profile college coach. The best I could guess was that he was watching Marion Franklin's 6'8 sophomore Tony Anderson. From what I saw, he can play play hoops.  Coach Matta has always impressed me, but I did not bother him.
      Watching and evaluating high profile football recruits is always fun. But the highlight of my 60 minute trip to C-bus was visiting my two month old grand daughter, Cora. My first grand baby. Now that time is at good as it gets.



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