Sixteen down, two to go.

That’s the status of the high school seasons of Maryland’s 18 football commitments for the class of 2008. Sixteen seasons have been completed, but two future Terps are still in the running for state championships.

Cody Blue and the Wilde Lake Wildecats (10-2) are up first, squaring off against Damascus (11-1) tonight in the Class 3A semifinals. The Washington Post previews the matchup, and gives Blue some credit for Wilde Lake’s improved running game.

[Wilde Lake junior Ashton] Hayes was averaging 87 yards per game through 14th-ranked Wilde Lake's first 11 contests. But behind an offensive line led by hefty seniors Dave Klotz (6 feet 3, 245 pounds), Ryan Smith (6-2, 295) and Cody Blue (6-5, 280), Hayes tripled that number and reached the end zone four times -- on runs of 75, 53, 32 and 3 yards.

On Saturday, Kerry Boykins and the Oscar Smith Tigers (13-0) will have their turn when they take on Westfield in a Virginia Division 6 semifinal. The Post previews the contest and gives special mention to Boykins and his wideout teammates.

The Tigers, with a big-play offense and attacking defense, boast three Division I receivers -- Todd Harrelson (North Carolina), Kerry Boykins (Maryland) and Jamal Wilson (Marshall or Northern Illinois, his coach said).

That receiving quartet also makes up the secondary and returns kicks.

For further Oscar Smith reading (and an additional Boykins quote), check out this profile/column from The Virginian-Pilot on Tigers head coach Richard Morgan.

• One future Terp who came up short in his state championship quest was running back Davin Meggett, whose Surrattsville squad fell to Dunbar and 2009 Terp target Tavon Austin. While the Hornets fell short of their ultimate goal, Meggett gets major credit for the best season in Surrattsville history in this Post article.

Meggett finished with 81 yards on 16 carries. For the season, Meggett finished with 1,784 yards rushing (148.6 per game), currently third best in the Washington area.

"He made some tough runs," Green said. "Hopefully he'll use this as motivation when he goes to college and uses this to play even harder."

• If Terps fan are hoping to add another defensive lineman to the mix for 2008, they need look no further than Paterson, N.J., where Jarel Lowery resides. It remains to be seen how serious the mutual interest between the two parties is, but according to the Herald News, the interest is there on Lowery’s end.

At Paterson Catholic, the top two recruits are defensive tackle Jarel Lowery, who has received offers from Maryland and Wake Forest and lists Maryland as his leader, and defensive end Doug Alston, a strong candidate for Herald News Defensive Player of the Year, who recently garnered his first offers from Wofford (S.C.) College and Winston-Salem (N.C.) State.

• Columbus, Ohio running back/defensive back Isaiah Pead is like most Ohioans these days -- he’s a Buckeye fanatic. But according to Scout.com, Maryland’s got a shot if they want to take it – so long as OSU doesn't come through with an offer.

Pead says the Buckeyes lead solidly over West Virginia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Pittsburgh. The Illini also have not offered.

"I've gone to almost all of Ohio State's home games this year," Pead said. "I love the coaches there and I hang out with the players a lot. They are only like 15 minutes from here, so everybody follows the Buckeyes. It's like a dream to be able to play for them. I've always wanted to go there.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 9:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

A quick scan of the Penn State women’s lacrosse roster reveals that almost half of its players hail from the Baltimore area.

Come 2009, the Nittany Lions will add another four local players to the mix.

Dana Cahill from Mercy, Brittany Chamberlain from Westminster, Colleen Shea from Seton Keough and Theresa Zichelli from Severna Park are all committed to the Penn State women’s lacrosse program, where they’ll be freshmen next fall.

Each local girl is headed from Baltimore to State College, but each took an interesting path to get there.

The goalie

In any given year, a high-major women’s lacrosse program will feature two or three goalies on its roster. Penn State’s current team sports two, a senior and a sophomore. When it comes to recruiting, a program will generally take one scholarship goalie ... or none at all.

Dana Cahill, a 5-foot-7 goalie, knew the tough reality with goaltenders and scholarships. It’s “either me or somebody else,” she said. So when high school games and club tournaments finished, and the time for Penn State’s summer camp came, Cahill knew if she wanted to be a Nittany Lion, she’d have to step up.

“I definitely knew the camp was something that was probably going to seal the deal,” Cahill said. “That was my last impression before they would probably make an offer to me because there were no more tournaments. I knew I had to play my best and show them what I could do and what I had to offer.”

Cahill’s best at camp turned out to be plenty good for the PSU staff. On the last day of the camp during lunch, the coaches offered her a scholarship. So there was much discussion on the post-camp car ride home on whether or not she should commit.

“It was the topic we talked about basically the whole time,” Cahill said. “My parents later told me after I did commit that that’s where they saw me playing. They never told me ahead of time because they didn’t want to influence my decision. They said, ‘Dana, we think this is the place you should be.’ And I did agree. I think this is the place I can win a national championship and make a name for myself.”

So when Penn State head coach Suzanne Isidor called the Cahill home the following day, Dana made her commitment.

Cahill came into the camp with an offer from Loyola, serious interest from Notre Dame, and a number of other college visits under her belt, so she knew what other options were out there. But the coaching staff, players on the team, and especially the widespread, almost overwhelming Penn State pride was what won Cahill over.

“I’ve met alumni who’ve gone there and they still love Penn State,” Cahill said. “The pride and tradition is one of the most amazing things there. Everyone who goes there is absolutely in love with it and I hope that’ll be the same for me.”

The not-so-real package deal

Before recruiting even got started, Brittany Chamberlain knew Cahill pretty well. The girls were teammates on the club lacrosse program Rome.

So when recruiting picked up for both players, it was a bit of a surprise when they got together to discuss potential schools.

“It’s weird because before the recruiting process, I said, ‘Dana, you pick a school and I’ll go wherever you go,’” Chamberlain said jokingly. “We hadn’t seen each other since fall and then we got together for summer tournaments. [We talked recruiting] and she said Notre Dame and Penn State were her top schools.”

Interestingly enough, ND and PSU just so happened to be Chamberlain’s top schools at the time as well. In July, Chamberlain -- independently of Cahill – decided Penn State was the right choice for her. Much to her surprise, the joke between friends became a reality.

“We’re not really a package deal,” Chamberlain said. “It was more of a joke, like ‘I’m going where you go.’ But then all of a sudden we both decided to go there. I told [coach] Suzanne [Isidor] I wanted to commit there. And she said, ‘Have you talked to Dana yet?’

“I called [Dana] the next day and told her I committed and we were excited to play together in college.”

Chamberlain, a 5-foot-3 defender, felt a great level of comfort with the coaching staff, and also appreciated the proximity of her home to State College versus South Bend, Ind. But ultimately – much like her future Baltimore-area teammates – it was the school spirit that sealed the deal.

“Just when you go there and talk about going to Penn State, everyone’s so excited. We are Penn State,” said Chamberlain, reciting the famous Nittany Lion slogan. “Even if you went there 20 years ago, you still love the school and I love that.”

Little sister – part I

Of the four Baltimore-to-Penn State girls, Colleen Shea was probably the most well-versed on all things State College. In fact, Shea estimates she visits Penn State once or twice a month.

The reason for her semimonthly State College jaunts? Older sisters Linsey and Kerry are upperclassmen on the PSU lacrosse squad.

Shea has made so many trips to see her sisters that she can’t even remember the first. One visit in particular does stick out in her mind, though.

“I knew that I visited it a lot, but the very distinct memory I had was my sister Kerry’s official [visit] which was my freshman year,” Shea said. “Going through the process, I remembered that visit. I remember telling [assistant coach Tara Hohenshelt], ‘I want to go here.’”

Not discounting Shea’s freshman-year proclamation, the 5-foot-4 defender let the recruiting process play out, giving heavy consideration to Notre Dame and Yale.

The elder Sheas didn’t even pressure their little sister, instead letting those frequent campus visits do the recruiting for them.

“I actually like the football and the school sprit,” Shea said. “Everyone who goes there tells you how much they love the school. There’s so much enthusiasm. The town, everything centers around the college and I just love that.”

Finally in late September, Shea came to the realization that Penn State was where she wanted to go ‘the whole time,’ which, if nothing else, will make Shea family gatherings all the more pleasant.

“I’ve got to keep it in the family,” Shea said with a laugh.

Little sister – part II

Starting in 2005, Bob and Jenny Zichelli started logging frequent car trips to State College. They’d often load up the family car (first a Suburban, now an Odyssey) with Theresa, younger sister Mary, older brothers Bobby and Kevin, and younger twin brothers Mike and Steven. The reason for the State College trips? To see another Zichelli brother, Tommy, who was starting his Nittany Lion career with the men’s lacrosse team in ‘05.

With Theresa’s commitment, the younger Zichelli siblings can undoubtedly look forward to more family car rides to State College.

The fact that Zichelli’s brother Tommy -- who was named team captain in September – was a happy Nittany Lion was something her future teammates repeatedly reminded her of on every recruiting visit she made.

“The girls on the team were like, ‘oh, your brother’s on the team and he loves it so you’ll love it, too.’ When I went up for a visit, people were already calling me ‘Tommy’s sister,’ so it was fun.”

Zichelli, a 5-foot-7 midfielder, also gave serious consideration to Johns Hopkins and Virginia. But by the time spring rolled around, she had tired of recruiting. Fortunately for her, she also had a clear indication of where she wanted to end up.

“I knew I wanted to commit early because I could be done and there was a lot of stress,” Zichelli said. “By April I had already visited Penn State five or six times, so I was comfortable. I felt stupid just delaying the process when I already knew that was where I wanted to go.”

While following her brother to Penn State is a definite plus, Zichelli’s affinity for the school and lacrosse program eventually would have won out regardless of family ties. The school spirit, camaraderie and team passion were the decisive selling points for Zichelli.

“I love how everyone is so into Penn State,” Zichelli said. “Everyone I talked to just loves it there. I’ve never met anyone who hated it there.

“I really liked the coaches and all the girls on the team. Everyone’s just like me, nice and easygoing. But when it comes to lacrosse, everyone’s intense.”

Next year

With club teams and high school games, there’s already been quite a bit of overlap between Cahill, Chamberlain, Shea and Zichelli.

But when the quartet suits up for Penn State next year – likely in front of a crowd packed with parents, siblings and friends from the area – Baltimore girls lacrosse in State College will, once again, be well represented.

“I think we’re all in different positions for the most part and come from different schools,” Cahill said, “but I hope we do represent our schools and [make people] realize girls from Baltimore are really good at lacrosse and even through they’re from different schools, they can unite and play as a team.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Yesterday The News Journal in Wilmington reported that Dara Taylor, a 5-foot-6 point guard from Caravel Academy in Bear, Del., committed to the Terps.

Taylor said her college choice quickly came down to Maryland and Penn State. She chose Maryland after seeing an exuberant coach Brenda Frese during a recently televised game.

Click here for a more in-depth story from The News Journal on Taylor’s choice.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 3:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Statistics don’t always present an accurate portrayal of a player’s talents, but in the case of 2008 Maryland cornerback commit Cameron Chism, the stats probably don’t lie.

During Bishop McNamara’s 6-5 season, Chism registered 81 tackles, five interceptions and returned one fumble recovery for a touchdown. Offensively, the 6-foot-1, 180-pounder caught 41 passes for 750 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 157 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries.

“He played very solid,” said Bishop McNamara head coach Bryce Bevill. “He stepped up in big games, against Gonzaga particularly. He blocked an extra point, scored on a 61-yard touchdown reception, had a pick that set up another score. As a DI player, you look at his stats, and I firmly believe he should be an All-Met (D.C.) guy. He scored touchdowns receiving, rushing and on a recovered fumble.”

In college, Chism is pegged for cornerback (although Bevill believes he’s a DI-caliber receiver, as well). But the two-way versatility Chism showcased during his junior and senior seasons, plus his special teams experience, could translate to early contributions for the Terps.

“I think he has a chance as a freshman to go in and play on the defensive side of the ball and I think that’s what he’s mostly excited about,” Bevill said. “You can use him as a kick returner, punt returner. The unique thing about him is that he’s long snapped for us the past two years. He understands the importance of special teams and that’s the quickest way to get on the field in college.”

Bevill played, and later coached, at DeMatha before taking the Bishop McNamara post in 2004. One notable DeMatha standout that Bevill tutored was former Maryland and current Seattle Seahawks cornerback Josh Wilson.

According to Bevill, there are some definite similarities between Wilson and Chism.

“Honestly, they’re very, very similar,” Bevill said. “[Josh] was a very physical player with great speed. He wasn’t as tall or big as Cameron. ... Josh was also a very quality receiver in high school. They have great speed. The difference between them is the size difference.

“One thing Josh did exceptionally well was he improved every year as a corner at the University of Maryland. I know Cam has that work ethic. ... He’s got what a lot of people are looking for, he has size and speed. He’s a rangy guy with great ball skills.”

Bevill thought Chism met the high expectations set for him during his senior year -- both offensively and defensively. In this case, the statistics back up Chism’s talents.

“He was balanced and consistent in everything he did,” Bevill said. “I’ve always said he could go to the next level and play on either side of the ball, but he has a liking to defense. It was pleasure to coach him for three years. I look forward to seeing him do good things on Saturdays as a Maryland Terrapin.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

It’s no secret that 2008 Terps linebacker commit Demetrius Hartsfield possesses the physical talents required of a DI linebacker prospect. His performance at Maryland’s summer camp proved as much.

But according to Daniel Finn, the head coach at Southeast Raleigh (N.C.) High School, Hartsfield’s senior year showed him to be more than just a physical specimen.

“He knows how to make the adjustments out there,” Finn said. “He gets everybody lined up. It’s basically like having another coach out there. He spent a lot of time learning the signals. He’s very football smart.”

That football intelligence paid off for Hartsfield from a statistical standpoint. During Southeast Raleigh’s 8-4 season, Hartsfield recorded 124 tackles, 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries from the inside linebacker position. At tight end, Hartsfield hauled in four passes, including one touchdown.

Finn wasn’t surprised that Hartsfield had such great success as a senior. But his senior year went beyond the numbers, according to Finn.

“[His performance was] exactly what I expected,” Finn said. “He was a good leader for us. He kind of led our whole team. He played hard and basically shut down the middle of the offense. He forced everything outside. We weren’t worried about people running inside on us. He did really well this year.”

Hartsfield’s individual achievements can be attributed to the labor put in throughout the summer, and really since the end of his junior year. Finn and the SRHS coaching staff worked Hartsfield hard, and he responded in a big way.

“We worked on his speed and flexibility,” Finn said. “We didn’t think we moved very well in space so we concentrated on that. We got his 40 time down to about a 4.67, it used to be 4.8 or 4.9. He got his weight up. He was 205, now he’s weighing about 225. He really put time in the weight room and got physically ready to play.”

Hartsfield plans to enroll at College Park for the winter semester, joining the Terps in time for spring practice. Finn thinks the head start will benefit Hartsfield in learning the defensive system.

“I expect once he learns the system and the terminology that he’ll fit in pretty well,” Finn said. “Our defensive coordinator played college football and he helped [Demetrius] learn his terminology. I think once he starts feeling comfortable with the terminology, he’ll be fine. I think mentally and physically he can handle it.”

Hartsfield committed to the Terps in June, really before his recruiting process took off. In Finn’s opinion, the early commitment was a great move, and ultimately the perfect fit for his star linebacker.

“I know Maryland’s sending linebackers to the NFL and that’s one of the things Demetrius was looking at,” Finn said. “He’s got family up there and I think that’ll help him being away from his mom. It’s not that far a drive from Raleigh. I think Maryland’s getting ready to come back on the upswing. I think they’re going to be really, really good these next couple of years.

“I really think he’s ready to go. I think he’s going to fit right in up there. Once he learns everything he’s going to be fine. He’s got good support from his family. I think he’s going to jump right in and have a heck of a career.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Here’s your weekly recap of all Maryland football commitments’ high school games.

Kerry Boykins -- 6-foot-1, 200-pound wide receiver from Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar F. Smith

Oscar Smith (13-0) won its first region title with a 17-9 victory over Salem. The Tigers play in the Virginia Group AAA semifinal on Saturday.

Boykins led Oscar Smith in receiving with six catches for 108 yards and one touchdown.

Boykins, who missed the first four games of the year with a knee sprain, has tallied 37 catches for 640 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.

Cody Blue -- 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive tackle from Wilde Lake

Wilde Lake (10-2) defeated North Harford 26-6 in the Class 3A East regional final. The Wildecats advance to the Class 3A state semifinals.

Blue contributed five tackles and two quarterback pressures in the win.

For the season, Blue has 36 tackles and three sacks.

Davin Meggett -- 5-foot-8, 190-pound running back from Surrattsville

Surrattsville (10-2) dropped a 28-6 game to a Tavon Austin-led Dunbar squad in the Class 1A South regional final.

Meggett rushed for 76 yards and one touchdown on 14 carries.

Meggett finished the season with 1,784 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns on 169 carries. He also caught nine passes for 410 yards and six touchdowns.

Gary Douglas -- 6-foot, 178-pound running back from Durham (N.C.) Hillside

Hillside fell to Wilmington Hoggard 29-14 in the North Carolina 4A quarterfinals. Hillside finished 11-3.

Douglas rushed for 103 yards on 25 carries.

Douglas finished the season with 2,078 yards rushing and 22 touchdowns on 233 carries. He also caught 10 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns.

R.J. Dill -- 6-foot-8, 280-pound offensive tackle from Camp Hill (Pa.) Trinity

Trinity (12-1) fell to Delone Catholic 25-0 in the Pennsylvania District 3-AA championship.

Tavon Wilson -- 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback from H.D. Woodson (D.C.)

Woodson lost to Dunbar, 20-9 in the 38th Annual DCIAA Turkey Bowl. The Warriors finished 8-4.

Masengo Kabongo -- 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle from Fairfield (Conn.) Prep.

Fairfield Prep beat West Haven, 35-12. Despite the win the Jesuits missed the playoffs, ending their season at 8-2.

Demetrius Hartsfield -- 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker from Southeast Raleigh (N.C.)

Hartsfield recorded 124 tackles, 10 sacks and two fumble recoveries on the season. He also caught four passes, including one touchdown, from the tight end position. Southeast Raleigh finished 8-4.

Cameron Chism -- 6-foot-2, 180-pound cornerback from Bishop McNamara

Chism registered 81 tackles, five interceptions and one fumble recovery returned for a touchdown from the cornerback position. At wide receiver, Chism caught 41 passes for 750 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed for 157 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. Bishop McNamara finished 6-5.

Tyler Urban -- 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end from North Huntingdon (Pa.) Norwin

Urban made 61 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six quarterback pressures, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery from the inside linebacker position. As Norwin’s starting fullback, Urban carried 80 times for 510 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 38 yards and one touchdown. Norwin finished 7-4.

Kevin Dorsey -- 6-foot-2, 175-pound wide receiver from Forestville

Dorsey finished his senior year with 50 catches for 902 yards and 11 touchdowns in addition to 168 yards rushing and three touchdowns on seven carries. Forestville was 5-5.

A.J. Francis -- 6-foot-4, 314-pound defensive lineman from Gonzaga (D.C.) College

Francis notched 20 solo tackles, nine assists and two sacks on the year. Gonzaga finished its season at 4-5.

Justin Lewis -- 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive guard from Johnsonville (S.C.)

Lewis contributed 36 tackles, one sack, five tackles for loss, nine quarterback pressures and one recovered fumble. Lewis graded out at over 80 percent of his blocks on offense. Johnsonville finished 4-6.

Teddy Dargan -- 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle from Milford Mill

Milford Mill finished 5-5.

Justin Gilbert -- 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle from Richmond (Va.) Monacan

Monacan finished 6-5.

Matt Furstenburg -- 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end from The Hun School in Princeton, N.J.

The Hun School went 9-0 this season.

Devonte Campbell -- 6-foot-2, 230-pound tight end from Hargrave Military Academy

Zach Brown -- 6-foot-1, 212-pound linebacker from Hargrave Military Academy

Hargrave went 4-3-1 this season.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:12 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Just a few quick links while I sulk in the wake of yet another disappointing (albeit unsurprising) Thanksgiving loss for my beloved Detroit Lions ...

• Tavon Wilson and his H.D. Woodson team hoped to bring home a D.C. Turkey Bowl championship yesterday, and they were in decent position to do so. According to The Washington Post, the turning point for Woodson was when Dunbar defensive back Jharron Armstrong correctly predicted that Wilson -- who had six catches -- was the target on a slant pass late in the game.

"I had a feeling they'd go to their big-time player," Armstrong said. "I thought they'd try something inside. I sat there and waited for it."

As Wilson approached, so did the ball. Armstrong stepped in front of Wilson, picked off the pass and raced untouched 41 yards for the clinching touchdown as Dunbar won the 38th Turkey Bowl, 20-9, yesterday before an estimated 6,000 at Eastern High School.

• River Hill running back/defensive back Michael Campanaro could emerge as a major Terps target in 2009. The Sun and the Post both offer profiles of Campanaro this week. The Post notes that Campanaro's stats rank him just behind a 2008 UM commit.

Campanaro, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound junior who plays tailback, defensive back and occasionally lines up at quarterback, has scored 28 touchdowns in 11 games this season via the run, pass and punt return. His 28 scores rank second in the Washington area (Surrattsville senior Davin Meggett has 32), and he has rushed for 1,438 yards as the Hawks have dismantled the opposition, 474-14.

The Sun's Glenn Graham takes a closer look at Campanaro's recruiting picture.

Campanaro, who has a 3.0 grade point average, has received scholarship offers from Wake Forest, North Carolina, Northwestern and Akron. Other schools showing interest include Maryland, Boston College, Connecticut, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh.

• Quince Orchard defensive tackle Zach Kerr is among a handful of 2008 Maryland targets still on the board. Penn State has long been thought to be Maryland’s biggest competition, but The Pocono Record says the Nittany Lions and Terps have company at the top.

Another player still interested in Penn State is Gaithersburg, Md., three-star defensive tackle Zach Kerr. Kerr lists Penn State, Illinois, Minnesota, Maryland and Rutgers as possible destinations.

Two basketball links

• 2009 small forward commitment Jin Soo Kim was on display for scouts this week at the National Prep Showcase in Lowell, Mass. Count the guys at DraftExpress.com -- who offer an extensive scouting report of Kim here -- among those impressed with the future Terp.

Since we last saw Kim at this same event last year, he has clearly transformed to American culture both on and off of the court. Last November, we saw a timid (but talented) youngster who was afraid to shoot the ball and seemed completely uncomfortable out on the court with his peers. Fast forward one year later and you have a player leading his team in scoring, demanding the ball offensively and telling opponents “block that sh*t” after rejecting their shots out of bounds.

• USA Today presents its Super 25 prep basketball poll, and numerous Maryland targets make appearances, including Greg Echenique’s St. Benedict’s (N.J) team at No. 6, and Isaiah Armwood, Tristan Spurlock and Terrell Vinson’s Montrose Christian squad at No. 7.

Outlook: Stu Vetter says it may be his most talented team. Junior 6-6 F Terrell Vinson (14.5, 11.0) has been starting since he was a freshman and teams with two other juniors, 6-7 F Tristan Spurlock (14.1 ppg) and 6-7 F Isaiah Armwood (14.3 ppg).

Posted by Matt Bracken at 10:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Today marks the last day of the Fall Signing Period for NCAA basketball, and few are better equipped to assess Maryland’s two-man haul than Dave Telep, the National Recruiting Director for Scout.com.

Here’s Telep’s bio:

Helped launch PrepStars.com in 1997 and worked for The Recruiters Handbook; named director of basketball recruiting for Rivals.com in 1999; hired to be the director of basketball scouting for TheInsiders.com (now Scout.com) in 2001; has written for CNNSI, ACC Basketball Handbook, The Sporting News, USA Today, Yahoo!. Studio analyst Fox Sports "Countdown To Signing Day."

Telep weighed in on the Terps’ class and other Maryland-related recruiting items (via e-mail) in this week’s edition of ‘Five questions.’

1. What are your thoughts on Maryland's class of St. Frances shooting guard Sean Mosley and Progressive Christian Academy big man Gus Gilchrist? How does the Terps’ 2008 class stack up with the rest of the ACC?

It's a fine two-man collection. We've got it tabbed Top 20 nationally, which is what happens when you pair two Top 50-style recruits. These guys, in my opinion, should be a pair of ACC-caliber starters in time and there's great value in that.

2. What type of impacts do you expect Mosley and Gilchrist (assuming he redshirts this year) to have as freshmen?

I simply can't hide my affection for Sean Mosley. He's a kid I think you can safely assume crosses the 1,000-point mark over his four-year career. He's simply a solid college basketball player. I've often referred to his game as "old school," and I think that's a compliment in regards to his approach and overall impact. Mosley loves to play, finds ways to score and he's wired up to be successful.

Gilchrist has a bigger ceiling than Mosley, but may need a touch more time to get there. I think right out of the gates he shows his value as a shot blocker, and since I haven't seen him in a few months I don't know where his offense is. He's got loads of potential at both ends.

3. There was some talk that Australian/Sudanese power forward Ater Majok would sign with the Terps during the fall, but now it appears he’ll wait until spring. Will Maryland continue to go after him? What’s the latest on Majok’s recruitment?

He's actually in the States right now touring with a team called the Heat of Virginia. They'll play this week at the Bull City Classic in Durham, N.C.; ironically on Friday morning he'll play at Hillside High School -- the home of former Maryland great John Lucas.

There's a chance he makes a few more visits and I know a ton of programs are calling in on him. The Terps are strongly in the mix, but this young man will wait until spring for sure. He simply isn't ready to decide.

4. What are your impressions of 2009 Terps small forward commitment Jin Soo Kim? What are his strengths and weaknesses? Where does he rank?

JSK is a shooter by trade. He's approaching 6-8 and his stroke is legit. His body will need to fill out to handle the rigors of high-major basketball. Right now he's got a high-level skill set and body that needs attention.

5. Is St. Benedict (N.J.) Prep big man Greg Echenique Maryland’s prime target in 2009? Do the Terps have a chance?

Greg is going to make an academic-based decision. The presence of Penn on his list is significant and you can't discount him from shunning the big boys in favor of an Ivy League program.

As far as 2009 potentials go, here's a link to some early possibilities. However, I really believe this list will expand and that there's an effort to find targets by the staff as we speak.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 4:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
                    

This is old news to all the Terps message boarders, but former Wilde Lake standout and current Hargrave Military Academy linebacker Zach Brown has committed to Maryland -- for real this time.

According to Wilde Lake head coach Doug DuVall, Brown -- who is now qualified academically -- committed to the Terps over the weekend.

“He had wanted to go to Maryland all along,” DuVall said. “He’s an exceptional player. ... He got offered by Tennessee and a number of other schools. He’s an impact player.”

Brown is the 18th known member of Maryland’s 2008 recruiting class.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 8:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Terps defensive end commitment Tyler Urban had two years of starting experience under his belt when he entered his senior season at Norwin High School in North Huntingdon, Pa.

Urban had already performed at a high level, but throughout his final year, the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder stepped his game up a notch.

“We knew he had some potential as a sophomore,” said Norwin head coach Dan Conwell. “He showed bits and pieces. Last year as a junior, he made a name for himself. This year he was the most consistent player on the team. It was the culmination of three years. I can’t say enough about the young man. I think Maryland’s getting a heck of a football player and a great young man.”

During his senior season, Urban registered 61 tackles, 5.5 sacks, six quarterback pressures, three pass breakups, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery from the inside linebacker position.

As Norwin’s starting fullback, Urban carried 80 times for 510 yards and 7 touchdowns. He also caught three passes for 38 yards and one touchdown.

“Well, he was without a doubt the cornerstone of not only our defense, but our offense,” Conwell said. “He was our MVP and I mean that in all phases of our team. He never came off the field. He started as our punter, all special teams and he kicked off. He was really the driving force behind the season we had.”

Norwin finished 7-4, ending its season with an overtime loss to McKeesport Nov. 9 in the WPIAL Class AAAA semifinals.

According to Conwell, Urban’s play stood out in the ultra-competitive Pittsburgh-area high school football scene.

“I think that Tyler can hold his own against anybody in this area,” Conwell said. “We are sorely going to miss him next year. He’s definitely one of the top prospects to come out of this area. He will be a tremendous asset to Maryland.”

Conwell thinks Urban has the potential to contribute immediately in College Park, but if he doesn’t make an impact right away, it’ll just be a matter of time before he does.

“I’m not exactly sure what coach [Ralph Friedgen] has returning,” Conwell said. “I think he may have an opportunity to see the field on special teams with the size he has, but I think he’ll be an impact player. I’m not exactly sure when that will occur, but I think you’ll be hearing about Tyler Urban for many years to come.”

Posted by Matt Bracken at 11:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Here’s your weekly recap of all Maryland football commitments’ high school games.

Kerry Boykins -- 6-foot-1, 200-pound wide receiver from Chesapeake (Va.) Oscar F. Smith

Oscar Smith (12-0) blasted Bethel, 39-3, in the Virginia Eastern Region Division 6 semifinals. The Tigers face Salem on Friday night.

Boykins reeled in six passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns.

Boykins, who missed the first four games of the year with a knee sprain, has tallied 31 catches for 532 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.

Davin Meggett -- 5-foot-8, 190-pound running back from Surrattsville

Surrattsville (10-1) blanked Digital Harbor, 44-0.

Meggett rushed for 101 yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. He also caught a 29-yard pass.

Meggett has rushed for 1,703 yards and 25 touchdowns on 153 carries this season. He has also caught nine passes for 410 yards and six touchdowns.

Gary Douglas -- 6-foot, 178-pound running back from Durham (N.C.) Hillside

Hillside (11-2) bested Greenville Rose, 42-30 in the second round of the NCHSAA 4-A playoffs. The Hornets face Hoggard on Friday.

Douglas rushed for 142 yards and one touchdown on 24 carries.

For the season, Douglas has rushed for 1,973 yards and 22 touchdowns on 310 carries. He has also caught 10 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns.

Kevin Dorsey -- 6-foot-2, 175-pound wide receiver from Forestville

Forestville (5-5) lost to Dunbar, 66-29, in the Class 1A South semifinals.

Dorsey caught seven passes for 143 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed for an 80-yard score.

According to washingtonpost.com Dorsey finished his senior year with 50 catches for 902 yards and 11 touchdowns in addition to 168 yards rushing and three touchdowns on seven carries.

Cody Blue -- 6-foot-5, 280-pound defensive tackle from Wilde Lake

Wilde Lake (9-2) shut out Howard, 17-0. The Wildecats will face North Harford this weekend.

Blue contributed four tackles and 1.5 sacks.

For the season, Blue has 31 tackles and three sacks.

Tavon Wilson -- 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback from H.D. Woodson (D.C.)

H.D. Woodson (8-3) defeated Coolidge, 34-13. They’ll face Dunbar (D.C.) in the DCIAA Turkey Bowl on Thursday.

According to DCSportsFan.com, Wilson caught two passes for 15 yards and was excellent in coverage throughout the game.

“In addition to catching a 12-yard touchdown pass from Ricardo Young, Wilson intercepted a pass and did a great job covering Coolidge wide receiver Josh Brooks, who is as talented as they come. Wilson is one of two extremely gifted cornerbacks for the Warriors.”

R.J. Dill -- 6-foot-8, 280-pound offensive tackle from Camp Hill (Pa.) Trinity

Trinity (12-0) defeated Milton Hershey, 31-12, propelling the Shamrocks to the District 3-AA championship on Friday. Trinity rushed for 297 yards in the win.

Justin Gilbert -- 6-foot-6, 280-pound offensive tackle from Richmond (Va.) Monacan

Monacan (6-5) fell to Hanover, 30-0, in the VHSL Group AAA, Division 5, Central Region semifinal.

Masengo Kabongo -- 6-foot-2, 280-pound defensive tackle from Fairfield (Conn.) Prep.

Fairfield Prep (7-2) had a bye. They face West Haven on Thanksgiving morning.

A.J. Francis -- 6-foot-4, 314-pound defensive lineman from Gonzaga (D.C.) College

Gonzaga finished its season at 4-5. Francis earned first-team all-conference honors on defense, recording 20 solo tackles, nine assists and two sacks on the year.

Justin Lewis -- 6-foot-4, 285-pound offensive guard from Johnsonville (S.C.)

During Johnsonville’s 4-6 season, Lewis contributed 36 tackles, one sack, five tackles for loss, nine quarterback pressures and one recovered fumble. Lewis graded out at over 80 percent of his blocks on offense.

Tyler Urban -- 6-foot-4, 240-pound defensive end from North Huntingdon (Pa.) Norwin

Norwin finished 7-4.

Teddy Dargan -- 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive tackle from Milford Mill

Milford Mill finished 5-5.

Demetrius Hartsfield -- 6-foot-1, 210-pound linebacker from Southeast Raleigh (N.C.)

Southeast Raleigh finished 8-4.

Cameron Chism -- 6-foot-2, 180-pound cornerback from Bishop McNamara

Bishop McNamara finished 6-5.

Matt Furstenburg -- 6-foot-4, 220-pound tight end from The Hun School in Princeton, N.J.

Unavailable

Devonte Campbell -- 6-foot-2, 230-pound tight end from Hargrave Military Academy

Unavailable

Posted by Matt Bracken at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)
                    

Maryland wide receiver commitment Kevin Dorsey got some welcome, albeit surprising news this week.

Back on Oct. 6, Gwynn Park recorded a 27-6 win over Dorsey’s Forestville squad.

But according to The Washington Post, Gwynn Park used an ineligible player during that and other games throughout the season – meaning Forestville’s Oct. 6 loss turned into a win. That was enough to push Dorsey and the Knights into playoffs.

Not only did Urbana qualify for the playoffs -- knocking out Frederick -- the Hawks earned the second seed in the Maryland 3A West Region and will host a postseason game Saturday against Seneca Valley. The forfeits also allowed Forestville to qualify for the Maryland 1A South Region postseason instead of Glenelg.

For a much more thorough, clearer explanation, click here for the complete Post story.

• Dorsey and Forestville’s reward for making the 1A South region semifinals is a Saturday date with 10-0 Dunbar, which is led by 2009 Terps running back target Tavon Austin.

• Dorsey got another good piece of news this week when RiseMag.com named him the U.S. Marines Leader of the Month.

Kevin Dorsey has been a leader on the Forestville (Forestville, Md.) football team ever since his sophomore year, when after the last game of the season he asked all the non-seniors to meet him in the weight room the next day to start preparation for the following season. Now a senior himself, Dorsey is the ultimate role model.

• If you’re regular reader of this blog, you’re familiar with the mind-boggling statistics 2008 Terps running back commit Davin Meggett has compiled this year. The success of Meggett and his Surrattsville team was a fairly significant surprise to D.C.-area high school football watchers.

According to this excellent story from the Post, Meggett and the Hornets have been fueled by the naysayers throughout their 9-1 season.

"I don't think anybody expected me to do anything," Meggett said. "In past years, coaches said that I wouldn't play up to my potential in big games. I knew I would have to have a breakout season to prove to everyone that I am a good player."

Click here for a preview of the playoff matchups for Surrattsville and Forestville.

• The Virginian-Pilot previews tonight’s playoff game between Kerry Boykins' undefeated Oscar Smith team and 10-1 Bethel. The Pilot also named Boykins, who missed the first four games of the season with a knee sprain, to its All-Southeastern District team.

Two quick basketball links

• St. Benedict (N.J.) Prep power forward Greg Echenique is arguably Maryland’s top remaining target for the class of 2009. Adam Zagoria of the Herald News spoke with St. Benedict’s assistant Scott Smith earlier this week, and according to Smith, the Terps are in great shape with Echenique.

"Penn is very strong," Smith said. "Rutgers is very strong. Villanova is very strong. Maryland is very, very strong. And Syracuse. They are his top ones (along with Duke)."

• Shameless plug -- For those who missed it, here’s a link to a Sean Mosley feature I wrote earlier this week.

Posted by Matt Bracken at 10:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
                    

Seven years ago, Alex Frederick won the Golden Arm award at Cooperstown Dreams Park during a Little League tournament and summer camp, which earned him a trophy and extensive mention in an article in The Sun.

At 10 years old, Frederick was armed with an astonishing amount of success for someone that age, and a quiet confidence that his Cooperstown experience was just the beginning of his baseball accomplishments.

“I knew baseball could take me far if I stuck with it and it has,” Frederick said.

Yesterday, Frederick’s premonition of later baseball success came true when the Dulaney shortstop signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the University of North Carolina at Greensboro next year.

As a junior for Dulaney, Frederick batted .403 with 19 RBI, while committing just one error in 88 opportunities.

But despite his impressive statistical campaign for the Lions, Frederick’s recruitment was surprisingly slow heading into last summer.

All that changed in July when he made the Mid-Atlantic Red Sox travel baseball team. The Red Sox, comprised of players from five different states, traveled up and down the East Coast between mid-August and October playing in weekend showcases. Teams would show up and play double-headers on Saturday and Sunday with an audience of college coaches looking to fill their rosters.

“Basically you go to a whole bunch of different colleges,” Frederick said. “We went to James Madison, Mount Saint Mary’s, UNC-Charlotte, UVa., East Carolina. A whole bunch of coaches from the surrounding sites will go to that showcase. It’s an easy way to see a lot of players at one time.”

The first set of coaches to see Frederick and be impressed enough to start heavily recruiting him were from Radford University. That was in late August. Later that fall, High Point got involved, and significantly piqued Frederick’s interest.

At a showcase in September at UNC-Charlotte, the High Point coaches were on hand for arguably Frederick’s best performance of the season.

“That particular showcase I was 5-for-7 with three or four doubles and I think seven RBIs on the first day,” Frederick said. “I had a big second day. I got the save against the North Carolina Dirtbags and we beat them again in the second game.”

His hitting and standout defense caught the eyes of the UNCG assistant coach Chris Roberts, who made it a point to seek out Frederick’s parents in the stands and invite the family to visit the Greensboro campus. The High Point coaches extended the same invitation.

That day, the family took brief tours of both campuses in what Frederick called “a preview before the real visits.”

One Friday in mid-October, the family again flew down to North Carolina and visited both campuses.

Frederick started at Greensboro, attending a business class with some baseball players, then going on a tour of the school with an assistant coach and watching the team practice. He followed that up with a visit to High Point. He enjoyed both, as did his parents, but if they had a preference between the two schools, Frederick couldn’t tell.

“Those schools are actually really, really different,” Frederick said. “High Point has like 3,000 [students] and UNC-Greensboro has like 15,000. They are really, really different schools and it comes down to the kind of person you are. I couldn’t really tell what [my family] liked better, but in the end it was all up to me.”

With the decision in his hands, Frederick went with UNCG, the school with the bigger student body, impressive baseball facilities, a winning tradit