|
| Upon first glance, some may be quick
to overlook the sophomore from Lewisville (N.C.) Forsyth Country Day, who stands just under 5-foot-11 (up two inches in the
last year) and 155 pounds. In other words, if you're going to size Lewis up in pregame layup lines, he's unlikely
to immediately grab your eye. The diminutive build and young features don't usually foreshadow a standout player, and you
won't immediately see lightening speed or exceptional athleticism. However, once the game begins, the preconceived
notions fade and his abilities emerge. The impact he had in his two games at the holiday tournament could be measured in several
ways. His court command is immediately apparent. He's a floor general -- showcasing an elite understanding of the game
-- running the offense and setting up teammates. "My goal is to get a double-double in points and assists,"
Lewis said. "You've got to get everyone involved if you're a point guard." His playmaking ability, including
crafty scoring drives and assists, quickly won over a crowd of which most didn't know who he was when they entered the gym.
His fearless attack of United Faith 7-footer Peter Jurkin for a three-point play brought the crowd to its feet. "He
sets the tone," said Forsyth Country Day head coach Craig Dawson, a former Wake Forest sharpshooter. "One thing
he's done this year that a lot of people probably haven't noticed is that he's stepped up his defense quite a bit. He's a
lot more vocal and he makes this team go. He brings toughness and a sense of urgency." And his impact was evident
in the statistics, despite facing superior opposing teams. Lewis posted 27 points and eight assists against West Charlotte
- a showing that undoubtedly locked up his spot on the All-Tournament Team. But perhaps the best evidence of his impact
came from an opposing coach. West Charlotte's Baronton Terry had to center his team's entire defensive approach on Lewis,
opting for physical, hands-on, double- and triple-teams. "Initially we were going to play man, but ... the game
plan became 'Keep the ball away from Tyler Lewis,'" Terry said. "He's remarkable - he got the ball despite two or
three people guarding him. His passing was unreal. You've got to keep the ball out of his hands or at least work him. He was
scoring, he was everywhere." Such a customized defensive focus is apparently the norm this season for Lewis. "Most
of the teams this year play me box-and-one every game," Lewis said.  Opposing high schools aren't the only ones taking notice. Colleges have already caught on. Lewis has offers thus far
from Virginia Tech, Auburn, Charlotte, VCU and Richmond. He camped at both NC State and Duke over the summer, and has received
consistent interest from Wake Forest. UNC assistant coach Jerod Haase was on-hand to watch Lewis' performance against
West Charlotte. "I noticed it," Lewis said of Haase's courtside presence. "It's a big opportunity to
play in front of him ... Coming to see me play is a big honor. I hope they put me on the radar - I'd love to play there."
He's on UNC's radar to a certain extent already. The Tar Heel coaching staff invited Lewis to visit for this Sunday's
game against Virginia Tech, so he'll be in attendance at the Smith Center. The UNC coaches will continue to track Lewis's
development to see how much he'll continue to elevate his game -- whether he'll reach the point of being capable of running
the show at the highest level of college hoops. "I think he's definitely a high major player," Dawson said.
"Whatever system fits him best is what he'll choose, but there's no question in my mind that he can play high Division
I basketball." Tyler Lewis Profile |
January 6, 2010 Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst Uncommitted
four-star prospect Justin Coleman of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep is working feverishly to make up ground academically to qualify, but that hasn't kept a number
of top high-major programs from pursuing him. One Big East school in particular is making a strong push to land the 6-foot-4,
215-pound small forward.
 |  | | | Coleman is one of the top athletes in the 2010 class. |
Coleman recently took a trip to Louisville and came away impressed. "The visit went well,"
Huntington coach Rob Fulford said. "The things Louisville is doing with their facilities are impressive. Justin had a
chance to speak with Coach [Rick] Pitino a couple times. He showed him what they are doing with the facilities and broke down how Justin would be utilized. He came
away impressed." Pitino will return the favor on Friday when he will hit the road and watch Coleman in action
against national power Findlay Prep. Despite the questionable prospects of Coleman academically qualifying, Louisville
isn't the only school that has offered Coleman. Arkansas and Marquette have also offered, and Kentucky, South Florida and
West Virginia are showing interest, Fulford said. Averaging 18 points, 6.5 rebounds and four assists per game,
Coleman is primarily known for his explosive athleticism. "Justin is a freak athlete," Fulford said.
"It just comes down to him learning to play hard for 32 minutes. If his desire to play matches his athletic ability,
he has just so much potential. If he plays hard, he is an All-American caliber player." Scheduled to take
the SAT on Jan. 23, Coleman will then be set to take some official visits. His academic status won't be settled until after
attending summer school, and he is in no rush to decide on a school.
* Forsyth Country Day point guard Tyler Lewis looks more “Revenge of the Nerds” and less “He
Got Game,” but he’s one of the most talented guards at the tournament. He reminds me of former Florida point guard
Brett Nelson when he was in high school (Brett was a McDonald’s All-American): Very smart with the
ball, tough, good shooter, great vision, good speed and tight handles.
Lewis gave West Charlotte, who has a bunch of
athletic, quick guards, a fit. They locked him up in the third quarter, but he adjusted and scored eight points in the fourth.
He ended up with 27 points, 10 assists and six rebounds. He’s only a sophomore and based off of his skill at this point,
it’s easy to understand why Virginia Tech, Auburn, VCU, High Point, Richmond, Appalachian State and Charlotte have all
offered, and South Carolina, Wake Forest, Florida and Virginia are all interested. With a strong summer this AAU season, Lewis
could hold even more impressive offers. Our guess is that he blows up.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/2009312310016 picture below ran in paper last week. More
offers for Simmons Appalachian State, Elon, USC Upstate and Wofford
have all joined Western Carolina in offering a basketball scholarship to Smoky Mountain power forward Jackson Simmons. The 6-foot-9 junior scored
a career-high 34 points Tuesday in a 65-62 loss to North Buncombe. The Mustangs (8-1) face Erwin tonight at 7 p.m. on the second day of
the West Henderson holiday tournament.
|
| Andrew Rowsey shines at the Camp |
TOP RANKED # 8 CENTER @ JR ADIDAS PHENOM CAMP, SAN DIEGO, CAPublished by The HOOP SCOOP, Inc., P.O. Box 37122, Louisville, KY 40233
Email Address: hoopscooponline@msn.com Phone (502) 500-4667 Fax (502) 254-2646
Editor &
Publisher Clark Francis All rights reserved - Copyright 2009
TOP CENTERS IN THE 7TH GRADE DIVISION
Rank Player Height Class Position Hometown,
State AAU Team
1. DaShawn Baines-Smith
6'0 2015 C Long Beach, CA Home Court, Edge
2. Harrison Hackney 5'10 2015 C Austin, TX Capital City Tigers
3. Brennan Bryant 6'0 2015 C Lancaster, CA ARC
4. Julian Herbert 5'7
2015 C Austell, GA Georgia Fastbreak
5. Parirsh Carter 5'7 2015 C Sauk Village, IL
Richton Park-Fire Hawks
6. Sumeet Khara 5'8 2015 C Gilbert, AZ Joe Ward's Stars
7. Sean Schmidt 5'10 2015 C San Diego, CA
Heroes
8. Felix Culmer 5'7 2015 C Hopewell, VA
Petersburg Elite
ESPN Reviews
StatusUndeclared Scouts Grade84 Considering:South Carolina, Appalachian State, Radford,
VMI, Coastal Carolina, Nevada, JMU, Elon, Hampton, more. EvaluationJuly,
2009: Maxwell is a long-armed defender at this stage. He blocks or alters shots on the defensive end very well, he
comes over from the weak-side often when a teammate has been beaten to the basket. His defense is way ahead of his offense
at this stage, though he does run the floor hard and gets garbage points around the rim with tip-ins and dump off passes.
As he continues to work on his skill level, he will improve from outside of 10 feet and in, where he is most comfortable now.
He plays with great enthusiasm and passion. He works hard in the post and is developing his moves around the goal. He needs
to work on developing a short jump shot to keep the defense honest. NotesTravel Team: Petersburg Elite... StatusUndeclared Scouts Grade87 Considering:William and Mary, UNC Wilmington, Western Carolina,
Elon, Richmond, JMU, Radford, VMI, more. EvaluationJuly, 2009: Brandon
does an excellent job of running a team. He can handle the basketball, break pressure and knows how to get the ball to teammates
in positions where they can do something with it. He is a good shooter with a slow release when he has time and his feet are
set. He does not force the issue to get his shot off. He can score the basketball around the rim with contact because he has
good body control and toughness. He is always in attack mode. On defense, he uses his quick hands to get steals to start the
break where he makes good decisions. January, 2009:Britt is a combination guard that flat out got
it going from three point range. He is tough and competes on both ends. He runs the lane in transition and can push the ball
with great pace when he is at the point. From the wing he spots up in the corners for deep three%u2019s. His shot has a low
release but is right on target when the ball leaves his hands. Britt made open three%u2019s when his feet where set all game
long. He has a nice tight handle and penetrates into the lane where he delivers the ball teammates Steven Pledger and Andre
Dawkins on a regular basis. Britt also does a great job running the offense and breaking pressure. He lacks strength which
causes him to have trouble finishing at times when he gets deep into the lane. On defense he applies good ball pressure and
has quick hands. Britt had a coming out party in Richmond going 10-14 from three and finishing the game with 35 points. NotesTravel
Team: Petersburg Elite... StatusUndeclared Scouts Grade92 Considering: Baylor, Arkansas, UNC Charlotte, Providence, Mississippi
State, Indiana, Xavier, Marquette, Maryland, Virginia Tech, more.EvaluationMay,
2009: Coleman is an aggressive wing that can score in bunches. He is an above the rim finisher in transition and
can hit the open three with regularity. He has a smooth stroke and shoots with great confidence. Threes off the catch or dribble
is not a problem for Coleman, he does a great job of spotting up on the side of the floor where dribble penetration is occurring
and he sprints off screens locked and loaded. The one or two dribble mid range pull up is also in the scoring package. Coleman
has great size and strength to get to the rim as well. He is a good enough ball handler to beat his defender off the dribble
with spin moves and he is strong enough to attack the lane and score through contact or draw the foul. At times Coleman decision
making is questionable. He will take fully contested shots and can be charge prone because when he makes up his mind to score
he is determined to get the ball on the rim. Coleman should work on his passing on the move and look to kick out to open teammates
when he draws a second or third defender. Defensively he needs to play in a stance more often because he has the strength
and athletic ability to be an excellent wing defender when motivated. Overall a terrific offensive talent. At times he reminds
me of Lance Stephenson.
C.C. RiderBY COURT WILLS
SPORTS WRITERPublished: Friday, July 10, 2009 4:12 AM EDT PETERSBURG
When Chris Evans came to Petersburg last summer, it was going to be a two-way street.
He committed to do
his part and head coach Bill Lawson III and assistant coach Tytrail White will do theirs.
“Before I even
started AAU, me and coach Lawson and coach White had a long meeting,” Evans said. “When I come here I have to
do my part in that do well in school and accept my role on the basketball team, if I did that they said they would do everything
in their power to get me to college.”That
meeting, that pact, that two-way street has now come full circle.
Evans verbally committed to play Division I college
basketball at Coastal Carolina University on Wednesday. The Chanticleers, coached by veteran coach Cliff Ellis, are part of
the Big South Conference.
For Evans, this is a day he thought would never come.
“It’s been
a very, very, very long process, but I’m so happy it’s over,” Evans said. “I am truly blessed and
go to school for free and play basketball.”
When the 6-6, 200 pounder transferred from Deep Creek to Petersburg,
it caused quite a stir of whether or not he belonged.
But when Evans took the court, he belonged.
“He
put us on another level. From the type of player he is and with his athleticism, he could everything but he accepted his role
out on the court,” Lawson said. “It’s good for him because he has so much potential. I just wished he had
been in this situation earlier.”
From his spectacular and jaw-dropping dunks, to his unselfish assists to
his easy jumpers, Evans made every portion of his role count.
“It’s been amazing because it was a huge
step coming here leaving my family. But coach Lawson and coach White took me under their wing,” Evans said. “Petersburg
is one big family, not just basketball but a family. I love Petersburg and I will never forget what it did for me.”
In just one season with the Crimson Wave, Evans averaged 15.3 points per game, 2.4 assists per game, 8.4 rebounds
per game, 2.1 steals per game and made nine 3-pointers.
However, with all of the accolades to Evans none of this
would have been possible without the leadership of White.
“He was actually the first person I called. He
was so excited for me,” Evans said. “He’s been there for me the entire way. He’s just a good, good
person that really cares about the kids and wants you to succeed.”
White, an assistant coach for the Crimson
Wave, has been the founder and head coach of the 17-year-old group of the Petersburg Elite AAU program. It is a program that
not only teaches the game of basketball but also teaches the values of life and the importance of education.
“When
I called him, he just immediately told me that he was proud and that I overcame a lot of obstacles and did the right things
here at Petersburg,” Evans said.
Similar to Petersburg, one of the main reasons Evans chose Coastal Carolina
was because of its head coach.
“When I spoke to coach Ellis, he told me that I’m going to push you
to your fullest potential both as a player and young man. He said he wanted me to be successful both on and off the court
and to playing on at the next level,” Evans said. “He was the first person that made me feel comfortable and wanted,
that I would have a role.”
Ellis, who in his second season with Coastal Carolina, has amassed quite a resume
with a 547-352 Division I record and a 625-364 overall record as a coach. He is a graduate of Florida State University and
has coached at Clemson and Auburn. He is now tied 12th for the winningest active Division I coaches by victories.
“I’m just so thankful for this opportunity. It’s been long but I’m glad I’ve found a home,”
Evans said.
And similar to when Evans arrived to Petersburg, Lawson gave him the same words, “work hard and
don’t lose focus.”
• Court Wills can be reached at cwills@progress-index.com
Breakout
Box
Evans File
Position: Forward/guard
Points per game: 15.3
Assists per game:
2.4
Rebounds per game: 8.4
Steals per game: 2.1
3-pointers: 9
College: Coastal
Carolina University
Mascot: Chanticleers
Taken from Coastal Carolina official school’s Web site
a Chanticleer is from the Nun’s Priest Tale of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The Chanticleer is a proud and fierce
rooster who dominates the barnyard.
With that comes a great quote.
“For crowing there was not
his equal in all the land. His voice was merrier than the merry organ that plays in church, and his crowing from his resting
place was more trustworthy than a clock. His comb was redder than fine coral and turreted like a castle wall, his bill was
black and shone like a jet, and his legs and toes were like azure. His nails were whiter than the lily and his feathers were
like burnished gold.”
To those become and are Chanticleers, they are ones that use great wit, knowledge that
can come out on top every time. He or she will be feared and mightily respected by all.
For Evans, he will become
quite the pair as he takes not just his athleticism but his desire to be better physically and mentally
There is MooreBY COURT WILLS
SPORTS WRITERPublished: Thursday, July 2, 2009 4:13 AM EDT PETERSBURG
Since Chris Moore was young, the starting guard for Petersburg always had the defensive edge.
“My
mom would make me play defense, that’s the only way I would get the ball from her,” said Moore.
From
that time, Moore would spend hours upon hours at the YMCA watching other people play basketball.
“I just wanted to do what they were
doing so I would go home and practice everything I’d see. I had to work on my dribble on my walkway because I wasn’t
the best at it and I would do it all the way down the walkway,” Moore said.
During that time Moore and Petersburg
head coach Bill Lawson III came to know one another and hence the great relationship began.
“I’ve actually
known Chris the longest. I remember when his godfather Mr. Bland would bring him to his games because he was a referee,”
Lawson said. “From that he was just around all the time and so he started playing.”
Since that time,
Moore and Lawson have developed a strong bond.
“He’s always been on me for these five years, but he’s
not a coach that will go off on you. He’ll talk to you and give you a chance to always make up for it,” Moore
said. “What I’ll take away from Lawson is that don’t take plays off and work hard. It feels good to have
someone like that in your corner because during basketball season your coach is the only one you see. He is there for us and
I will miss him.”
One of the best compliments that Moore has received from Lawson is being known as the “General.”
Meaning you are the general on the floor at all the times.
As the top defensive specialist on the Crimson
Wave, to Moore that name means everything.
“It just shows that you have as much authority on the court as
he does. You have to take care of anything that goes on,” Moore said.
Meaning when some of the top offensive
guards come to play, you have to step up.
Meaning when the game gets tight within six points, you have to take
control.
Meaning when you need a steal or need to make a statment, it’s on your shoulders.
“I
just wanted to win. When we started playing these teams with great offensive weapons, I knew we needed someone to step up,”
Moore said. “I had to rise to the occasion and play good defense.”
And while Moore made it look easy
on the court, it wasn’t always that way.
“I had to work for my spots. From my junior to senior year,
it was about being in shape, being able to run faster and lifting weights so that I could get stronger,” Moore said.
With those strong work ethics, Moore learned so much more visually than physically.
“When I played
defense, I would try to visualize what they were going to do before they would do it. So if something did happen I wouldn’t
panic,” Moore said.
For Lawson, having Moore be that dominant on the court only made the ones around him.
“I don’t think that many people knew how valuable Chris was because we had Cadarian, Drejon, Chris and
so on. But I think that changed when he couldn’t play in the last game of the season,” Lawson said. “Chris
doesn’t like to lose. He accepted his role and he knew that he was going to be one of our leaders out on the court.”
As being one of the top leaders, Moore took control of the challenges the team faced during the season.
“What
a lot of people don’t know is that our defense brings our offense and Chris played a huge role in that,” Lawson
said. “He stepped up to the challenge in some of our biggest games against Booker T. Washington, Bethel, Hopewell and
Highland Springs.”
With these experiences, Lawson knows that Moore will become a valuable asset to Virginia
Wesleyan College as it became official on June 25.
“I am escatic for Chris, he deserves it. Education of
course comes first but I am so happy that he’s going on to play at the college level,” Lawson said. “I know
that they expect a lot out of him because they don’t quite have a point guard established for him and that will mean
a lot of playing time for him. I talked to the coach on Saturday and he said that he couldn’t wait for Chris to come.”
So is Moore.
“I’m just so happy the process is finally over. I’ve been there four times
and each time I’ve had a comfortable feeling,” Moore said. “I feel like I’m wanted and welcome.”
When Moore received the letter, he couldn’t wait to tell his mother first.
“We are very close,
she’s always been there for me. So when I got the letter and I called her she was yelling because she was so happy,”Moore
said. “It’s just a relief. I know she’s going to come to a lot of games.”
Virgina Wesleyan
College, located in Norfolk, Va. is part of the Old Dominion Athletic Conference (ODAC) and is a Division III school. Head
coach David Macedo has been with the program for nine seasons and has a record of 175-57 record overall and conference record
of 118-35.
“It’s a great school and I can’t wait to go,” Moore said NBA Camp: Coleman Emerges
 | by Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Analyst It isn't often that a drastic revelation
occurs at a high-level camp like the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp, but athletic wing Justin Coleman was such a revelation
during the first session of the camp [details]
 VaPreps Hoops Invitational
Top prospect listings
Tickets VaPreps Hoops Invitational
|
June 18, 2009 Jerry Meyer
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting MORE: Rivals.com summer event coverageCHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - It isn't often that a drastic revelation occurs at a high-level camp like
the NBA Players Association Top 100 Camp, but athletic wing Justin Coleman was such a revelation during the first session of the camp.  | | | | Coleman's stock is on the rise. |
Justin Coleman (2010 small forward) - Whether he was dunking, finishing difficult layups or nailing jumpers from well behind
the arc, Coleman was constantly on the attack offensively. He is a high-level athlete with a impressive motor who has a skill
game that will continue to develop. Mark him down as a four-star when the rankings are reshuffled before the July evaluation
period.
Justin Coleman, SG, Petersburg Elite: Just when the day was beginning to drag, Coleman unloaded a barrage of 25 first half points against
Team Fla. It began with an alley-oop dunk and then a three off a curl. Coleman’s team had only eight players so it quickly
ran out of gas but not before his point was proven. This young man is one of the biggest high-major sleepers in the country,
period. His jumper is consistently there, he’s looks down from the rim and if he works on his ball handling he could
make a serious rankings rise. Conservatively we’ll call him Top 50. Southern Slam Fest: Day One & Two Rundown  | 
Justin Coleman | National Recruiting Director
Posted May 10, 2009 | |
HAMPTON, Va. – Justin Coleman, a 2010
small forward out of Virginia, is a new name to learn. The momentum built Friday night and reached a crescendo Saturday afternoon
at the Southern Jam Fest.
|
Justin Coleman, SF, Petersburg Elite: This is a bad, bad boy. He can hoop. He’s close to 6-foot-5 and plays above the rim. Not sure
what was more impressive: his stroking 3s or the two-handed block at the rim. Coleman’s seemingly all over the court
and in many situations he simply took over the game. Eventually, Elite lost a backyard brawl to Boo but respect was paid to
him after the game. This is a sleeper national Top 100 recruit and the most impressive performer of the day. Reggie Bullock, SG, CP3: We should all be so calm and cool. Bullock’s game is unique. He’s the rare star that doesn’t
feel the need to prove his individual worth each time out and truly understands “team” and what it means to be
a good teammate. Against the N.C. Stars, he hit the accelerator when he needed and help salt away the win with a few jumpers.
However, his biggest contribution was recognizing Detrique Baker was hot and having the fortitude to keep getting him the ball. Baker scored 10 straight points and Bullock (and others) empowered
him with confidence. Davante Gardner, C, Petersburg Elite: We’ve liked him both
days. He’s in the neighborhood of 300 pounds. Our rule is if you’re that big, know how to use your body and he’s
quite sure what to do. Against Carolina Flight he hung 21 points and fought the entire time. He’s got good hands and
is quick to his scoring move. Think Dexter Pittman in terms of overall size and what could happen if his conditioning improves. Tyreek Duren, PG, Team Final: It’s been a great spring run for him. This young man’s strength is his feel for the game and
balanced approach. It’s a gift to be able to play at different speeds and always keep your balance. Atlantic 10 levels
will (and most have) push all in with him. 
C.J. Barksdale, PF, Squires: He’s added 15 pounds since we’ve last seen him. Hard playing guy who boards with a passion, has
developed a sweeping move to the cup. He’s still managing to operate below the radar (maybe because he’s 6-7)
but he could be a summer mover. Quincy Miller, PF, D-One: He’s settling into a power forward role that is comfortable for him. He’s able to face and attack
but is surprisingly diverse with his post offense. Gaining confidence in his role and a high-major talent. Trevor Cooney, SG, Team Final: This kid is out on the circuit working on his game. A noted shooter (and he’s big time), Cooney isn’t
settling for the long jumpers. He’s mixing in attempts to get to the rim and mid-range jumpers. His game going to the
basket is something folks wanted to see and he’s sprinkling in enough runs to the rim to let you know he’s been
working on it. Bishop Daniels, SG, D-One 16s: We saw him erupt in the first half of a game. On Friday night he went for 32 and scoring is easy for him,
its what he does best. He’s got a natural feel for putting it in the net and against his peers in the 16 and under division,
his athleticism and burst shine the spotlight his way. 
T.J. Warren, SF, Garner Roads: This is a name you are definitely going to hear in the coming months. At least 6-4,
Warren is smooth. Finishes effortlessly and his size and overall game are impressive. This is a player who is already tracking
as one of the top kids in his class in North Carolina. Montrell Harrell, C/PF, NC Gaters 15: A quick look revealed
a long, athletic looking prospect who should have a chance to get to 6-8 or better. He’s joined inside by a skilled
power forward named Adam Coble. Patrick Holloway, PG, Hoop Booth: Baby faced guards are “in” these days
(see the Currys). Made his threes, came off the bench and voiced himself as a leader. Good looking young guard prospect. 
The Carolina Flight has a pair of good wings in the form of Jeremy Jeffers and Anthony Thomas. They both fared well in the first half of the game we saw. … Deuce Bello of D-One is an elite athlete in every sense of the word. Because he’s such a leaper (think James White) he is a super
helpside shot blocker. … When its time to raise his game, Reggie Bullock simply drops the hammer, does what’s
needed and moves on. … D-One’s Chris Wilson, a sophomore, competes, talks and leads. Mix in his strength and you’ve got a powerful lead guard. ... D.C.
Assault wasn’t challenged at all on Saturday until the evening against Team N.J. Like Bullock in his playoff game, Hairston
put together a mini-run that sealed the deal. … Markus Kennedy has the body and game to impact Villanova significantly. Outside of his confidence, his touch has been the biggest improvement this spring. … Youth Interlock
boasts Maurice Nelson (2011) who is Jameer’s younger brother. It also features mid-level post Daniel Stewart. … Maxie Esho’s frame is getting stronger. The UMass pledge has added good weight and is a strong fit
for the Minutemen. … Freshman Tyler Lewis’ name is always bantered about in the gym. No matter the setting, he gets it done and people realize his talent. …
Davante Gardner hears from North Carolina State, Western Carolina, Radford and Virginia Wesleyan. … Jay Canty is getting touches from Boston College, Xavier, Marquette, Elon, VCU, Providence, Buffalo and High Point. … Quincy Miller said South Carolina, Southern Cal, Memphis, Kentucky, Wake Forest and Duke are interested. … Brennan Wyatt scored 30 for Mid-State. Harvard, Richmond, Cornell and Bucknell are looking. … C.J. Barksdale indicated Virginia Tech, Wake Forest and Florida are on him the hardest. … Shooter David Robinson has interest from VCU, Richmond, Davidson and Navy. The previous Liberty regime had offered. … Tyreek Duren owns offers from LaSalle, Buffalo, Massachusetts and Houston. Miami, Providence, Virginia Tech and Temple are looking. … Justin Coleman has interest from Maryland, Florida, VCU and Virginia Tech. … Daniel Stewart likes Houston, Delaware, Siena, Rutgers and Mount St. Mary’s. … |
Scout.com Final Ranking for the Class of 2009 Cadarian Raines is Ranked 60th Overall Player in the Nation.  | Ht: 6-8
Wt: 210 PPG: 14.8
| AAU
Team: | Petersburg Elite |
|
|
| 2009 Scout.com HS Basketball Rankings (full list): | | Pos:
C | Pos
Rank: #9 | Pos Rating:  |
| Scout.com Player Evaluation: | | STRENGTHS |  Defensive Presence | | Passing | | Shot-Blocker |
| | AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT |  Go-To-Move | | Low Block Scorer |
|
| | Late bloomer with tremendous
physical attributes. Quick jumper, boards his area and hunts shot blocks. Defense is ahead of offense BUT he's making
strides. Shot fakes, likes to power to the goal. What he does really well is pass from the post and shows patience inside.
Top 100 level prospect. |
Scott decides
SPORTS WRITERPublished: Wednesday,
March 18, 2009 4:12 AM EDT PETERSBURG — For Petersburg senior Drejon
Scott, he has tried to live up two standards while playing basketball — the will of hard work and the will to win.
Come next fall, those two valued standards will come in handy when he becomes a student-athlete at New Jersey’s
Science and Technology University (NJIT).
Scott is the second player of the Crimson Wave basketball team to move
onto to play collegiate basketball at the Division I level. Senior center Cadarian Raines, his teammate, will play basketball
at Virginia Tech in the ACC.
“I’m super excited. It just shows all the hard work has paid off to play
basketball and to get to go to school for free,” Scott said. “I think my family is more excited than me though
because it’s something that I love to do and the process is finally over.
Scott is the first of his family to go to college which is
another huge accomplishment.
“Coach and my dad have always told me to stay humble but hungry and this will
be a place that I can keep up the hard work and improve,” Scott said. “It means for my family because they have
always supported me. Whether I’ve had a good game or its been a tough night, they’ve always been my comfort zone
and I couldn’t have done it without them.”
NJIT is a Division I school part of the Great West Conference
located in Newark, N. J. Last season, the Highlanders were 1-30, but Scott says that did not detour him from because he feels
that through the recruiting process that he will be able to make a difference.
Through the time, the scoring guard,
has learned a thing or two about winning and the values of hard work.
“Coach [Mike] Spitso has spent a lot
of time talking to me and he understands that I’ve been a good point guard and that due to my size that I can be a general
of the team,” Scott said. “They are looking to play me as a scoring guard and to play right away.”
During his three years on the varsity squad at Petersburg, Scott has scored 1,000 points, 425 points which came this season,
86 3-pointers, 53 2-pointers and has made 61 free throws.
“I know they are changing a few things around there
which I am really excited about. I know that if I play with that same competitive edge that I’ve shown here, that I
will be ok,” Scott said.
But while playing college basketball will be a great opportunity for Scott, it is
the free education that has the senior overjoyed. During this season at the inaugural William Lawson Jr. Tournament, Scott
received a scholarship for college because of his strong academics at Petersburg.
“When I received that award,
it showed that a lot of people now look up to you and how being a student-athlete is so important. You now serve as a symbol
for others,” Scott said. “To be a student-athlete is so valuable because it is a way out. You can use your academics
as a tool to get a degree.”
However, without the help and leadership of head coach Bill Lawson III and assistant
coach Tytrail White, Scott says none of this would be possible.
“Coach Lawson was big on tradtion. He always
tries to steer us in the right direction. What is good is that he is a student of the game which has made me a student of
the game as well,” Scott said. “He sticks to the script and he’s taken that will to win and put that on
us. I think he might have gotten four hours of sleep from november to march this season and still he is always there.
For Lawson though, seeing his players not only succeed on the basketball court but in the classroom is quite amazing.
“Drejon is a good student and he sets the tone which puts himself in a good position both on the court and the
classroom,” Lawson said. “So I’m real happy for Drejon because it’s a great thing to continue on to
play basketball and get a free education.”
One of the things that Scott has done for the team is lead through
example, put in that extra hour of work.
“It definitely helps when you have him helping out the guards, he
sees things that put those around him into good situations,” Lawson said. “He has good foot quickness where he
can get to the basket and get his shot off and his defense therefore puts him into good situations.”
But
another thing that will be valuable to the Highlandes is Scott’s confidence. For the three games that came before the
state semifinal game, the senior guard had been in a slump, his famous on-target, no-glass 3-pointers were not clicking. Earlier
in the season, Scott had a stellar night against Prince George where he hit 10 of 11 3-pointers.
For Scott though,
he wasn’t worried, just keep on shooting he kept telling himself.
Against King’s Fork, that motto paid
off as Scott drilled 5 3-pointers one of which clinched his 1,000th point as a Crimson Wave player.
“It was
kind of a bittersweet moment because we didn’t win, but it is a rare, rare for one to reach its 1,000th point and be
the second one on your team to do it,” Scott said. “But it shows how much time and hard work I’ve put into
these three years.”
Raines clinched his 1,000th point earlier in the season against Matoca.
“He’s
actually is the third player I’ve had to reach 1,000 points which just shows how much time he’s dedicated and
improved,” Lawson said.
Scott says he plans on majoring in Business focusing on computers and technology.
January 2, 2009 Petersburg Elite Star Darnell Turner Dan
Painter The Terps are obviously on the prowl for 'bigs,'
and have been down to the Blue Ridge School, near Charlottesville, VA, to watch Darnell Turner, 6-8, a junior BF/C with promise.
Blue Ridge Coach Bill Ramsey recently
talked to TT about his star big man.
"Darnell
is progressing nicely," said Ramsey. "When he got here last year, he was not in great condition to be honest with
you. He weighed about 260 lbs. As a sophomore, he only played about 10 minutes per game, and we told him he needed to get
in better shape to get more minutes.
"Well, he obviously saw the light, because now he is around 245 lbs, and in
the best condition of his life. I would say 235-240 is probably his ideal weight, and I suspect he will be there before too
long.
"But he has claimed the starting center job here, and we have some very talented D-1 guys on our team. Darnell realized it would take
hard work to be THE guy, and he has done the work. He is averaging 19 ppg, and 9 rpg through our first four games and is playing
great."
Ramsey gave TT a complete scouting report of Turner.
"I would not call Darnell 'bouncy', but the thing is, he moves well, and has extremely long arms. His
wing span is tremendous, so even though he is 6-8, he plays bigger than that.
"He has solid post moves, works hard
on the boards, and is an excellent shotblocker. He has very good timing and is a defensive presence, despite not being a skywalker.
He has a big body, but I would not call him a wide-body. Darnell moves well, and gets up and down the court , especially now with the weight loss,"
said Ramsey.
Ramsey went on to discuss Turner's
recruitment.
"A number of schools have been down here to watch Darnell workout. Virginia Tech and Maryland (Chuck Driesell) were
here, as were Notre Dame and Pitt. We have other players here being recruited, but those four, especially Tech and Maryland,
were specifically here to watch Turner,"
said Ramsey.
"Maryland likes him a lot, and have followed up that visit with several phone calls. They tried to
get him up there for Maryland Madness, but he couldn't make it. As the schedule allows, we will try to get him up there
to make an unofficial visit."
"Darnell
is going to be a very good player," said Ramsey. "He's right on the cusp of being a high major player, though
he has a number of mid majors looking at him too. As he continues to develop and lose more weight, I think more high majors
will recruit him.
"He has been on the AAU circuit, he's played in Vegas, and he is not in awe of the big name
players out there. He played some with the Richmond Squires, and then went to play for Petersburg Elite. He will not
shy away from competition."
Ramsey had good things to say about Turner off the court.
"Darnell came from a public school background, and wanted to come
here and improve his academics and to play against better high school competition. He was not a bad student at his previous
school, and he is doing well here (2.7 GPA). He just felt like he would get tested here against other good players, and that
would hasten his development.
"Darnell
is a very coachable kid, and really nice young man. If he continues on this path, he is going to be a very good college player.
He is not the type player who is going to come into the ACC and tear it up as a freshman. It would take him a year or two
to adjust, but in time, he will produce.
"Obviously, if Maryland continues to recruit him, it's safe to say
Darnell would be very receptive
to that. Most kids around here are going to want to play in the ACC."
TT hopes to be able to scout Turner this season, and will provide our insights at that time. Turner is a native of Goochland,
VA, near Richmond. He, along with Will Regan and Hippolyte Tsafack, comprise the current list of 2010 insiders the Terps are
monitoring.
February 7, 2009 WILLIAMS ON THE RADAR Will
Garlick
VirginiaPreps.com Senior Writer Christchurch guard Coron Williams may be the best player in the state that most fans know nothing about. While an American Express card would help
increase his fanbase, Coron is clearly on the radar scope of college coaches. Coron
a returning First Team All Virginia Prep League and First Team All State Selection. He averaged 23 ppg for Christchurch last
season. In the state Private semi-finals game against Benedictine, Williams finished with 27 points on the big stage. He also
played for the Petersburg Elite AAU team--one of the top AAU teams last summer. In
a recent game against, St Anne's Belfield, Coron produced a boxscore that read 31 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, and
six steals. With numbers like that, it had be among the best games he's ever played right? "It was thinking about that and it probably ranks 2nd of 3rd among my best games," Williams said. "I've
played better." Williams has a quick release and he runs off screens well.
"He is undoubtedly one of the top shooters in our state," Christchurch head coach Glen Taylor said. "He's
a big time scorer with a sweet stroke." While Williams is on the radar on
some schools, he has not decided what college he wants to attend next year. "I got offers from Robert Morris, VMI, Quinnipiac,
Longwood, and Army," Coron told me. "Northeastern, James Madison, and Fairfield are interested."
Huge Elite Shout Out to Tim Thaniel Henrico
Holiday Tournament 1st Game Hermitage 19pts 2nd
Game JR Tucker 23pts 3rd Game Lee Davis 32pts Christchurch 66 Virginia Episcopal 47  Sometimes you live by the three or die by the three. For Christchurch, the three point shot was alive and well as half of
their 23 made field goals came from behind the arc. The Seahorses finished with 11 three-pointers as they rolled over Virginia
Episcopal School 66-47 at Kaplan Hall in the campus of William & Mary. Senior Coron Williams [pictured]
tallied 31 points including 12 in the first quarter to lead all scores. Williams added five rebounds and five assist.
The Seahorses came out on fire on a cold Williamsburg night. Four different Seahorses made 3-pointers in the first quarter
as Christchurch jumped out to a 21-13 lead. They extended the lead to 38-25 at halftime.
VES never challenged
and they encountered double-digit deficits for most of the night. Christchurch, playing without Michael Gbinije,
torched the nets for five more treys in the second half. Two bombs from Williams and a three from the top of the key by James
Ford made the score 49-33 with 3:20 remaining in the third.
HUGE ELITE SHOUT OUT TO FRESHMAN D'VONTE DERRICOTT FOR SCORING 20 POINTS AND GRABBING 14 REBOUNDS VS ATLEE WED,
DEC. 17, 2008.
Bulldogs fend off WildcatsELITE BOYS HOLDING DOWN THE "757" By Andrew Giermak (Contact) | Suffolk News-Herald Published Saturday, December 13, 2008  Photo by Andrew Giermak Derek Wright had 14 points
and five assists on Friday as King’s Fork defeated Great Bridge 69-55 to go to 5-0 overall. The Bulldogs go to Hickory
on Tuesday evening. King’s Fork’s boys basketball team proved its depth and its head coach, Joshua
Worrell, hopes his team learned a couple lessons Friday night even as the result on the scoreboard was still a 14-point, 69-55,
district victory over visiting Great Bridge. Concerning the Bulldogs’ depth, which few around the region would
doubt anyway, one of King’s Fork’s top scorers, Jamar Wertz, was held to three points. Nevertheless, 6-foot-6
junior Jay Copeland led four Bulldogs in double-figure scoring with 16 points. Great Bridge remained in the game
until the last couple minutes thanks largely to a 20-9 turnover advantage. The Wildcats led through most of the first 10 minutes
of play, trailed 36-29 at the half and were still within 59-50 with 2:38 left against King’s Fork (5-0, 4-0). When
the Bulldogs held onto the ball well enough to get shot attempts, they were solid, shooting 24-for-47 (51.1 percent) from
the floor and 16-for-21 (76.2 percent) at the foul line. Worrell was not pleased with much of the evening however. “Any
team in this region, if they outwork us and outhustle us, they can beat us. That’s mainly what happened tonight,”
said Worrell. Hustle all over the court from Great Bridge guard Breonte Webber troubled the Bulldogs the most early
in the game. Webber scored nine points in the first 6:30 and the Wildcats led 15-12 at the end of the first period. Led
by Copeland’s presence in the lane on the defensive end, the Bulldogs turned the score around in the second period.
The combination of Copeland and 6-foot-8 Davante Gardner totaled nine blocked shots and many
more altered and missed shots from the Wildcats as any shot coming from within 12 feet of the hoop was in danger of finding
the two Bulldog big men. A pair of free throws by Copeland put KF up 20-19 with 5:39 left in the half and Derek Wright’s
second three-pointer of the period made it 23-21 KF with 4:45 to go. A couple minutes later, Copeland scored in the low post,
then after a swat by Copeland to stop a Great Bridge possession, Copeland converted an offensive board into a three-point
play to make it 32-25 with 2:06 to go. KF led 36-29 at the half. Copeland led the Bulldogs with 14 points and five blocks.
Webber had 13 points, six rebounds and four steals for the Wildcats. Copeland did most of his damage in the first half
and Gardner picked up the slack in the second half. Gardner scored the first four points of the second half and wound up with
10 of KF’s 16 third-quarter points. An alley-oop from Jaquon Parker to Copeland gave KF a 52-38 lead late in the
period, and signaled a chance for the Bulldogs to pour it on, but the Wildcats answered with the last four points of the quarter. The
Wildcats remained in reach and Webber, who wound up with 17 points, had two open looks at three-pointers which would’ve
cut KF’s lead to six as the clock neared three minutes to play. Neither one went down, then a tip-in basket by Chris
Hearn, followed by a fast-break lay-in by Wright, gave KF a 63-50 lead with 1:40 left. Wright had 14 points and five
assists. Gardner had 14 points, five rebounds and four blocks. Parker had 11 points, six rebounds
and five assists. Despite not having his usual game scoring, Wertz led KF on the boards with nine. “We can’t
take any team for granted. That’s what we did tonight. We were lackluster, hopefully experience is our best teacher,”
said Wright. “I just took the shots my team needed me to take. I’m not going to force shots. If I need to
get assists, rebounds, anything to help my team win, that’s what I’m going to do,” said Wright. King’s
Fork, which has won its five contests by an average of 24.8 points, goes to Hickory on Tuesday evening.
Josh Brinkley
By Staff Reports
Published: December 12, 2008 What he did: Earned the MVP award in the Rebel Invitational
won by No. 4 Douglas Freeman. He averaged 16.6 points in victories over St. Christopher's, Benedictine and Highland Springs.
He collected 17 rebounds against Benedictine and 13 against Highland Springs and added 10 blocks in the tournament. Brinkley,
6-5, has signed with the University of Delaware. Age: 17 Three words your friends would use to describe you: "Fun, friend,
hard worker." Strengths: "Rebounding; dominance down low; I can step out [for the jumper], too; leader." Toughest
opponent other than yourself: "Cadarian Raines [Petersburg]. We play AAU ball together. He's a monster, but I like
playing against him because he makes me better." I'm working to improve: "My ballhandling, my shot and my perimeter
game." Favorite food: "My mom's eggs." Favorite candy: Starburst Best sports memory: "This summer,
playing in the Las Vegas tournament." His team finished in the top 16 nationally. Biggest challenge: "Working on
my perimeter game [where he'll play in college] but still playing inside for my team where they need me." If he had
one wish: "Win a state championship." Possession you can't do without: "My basketball." What's
on your iPod: "Lil Wayne, 50 Cent." Facebook or MySpace: Facebook. One thing about you most people don't know:
"I'm a Seventh Day Adventist and go to church on Saturday." Sports person you admire the most: "LeBron
James." - Arthur Utley What he did: Earned the MVP award in the Rebel
Invitational won by No. 4 Douglas Freeman. He averaged 16.6 points in victories over St. Christopher's, Benedictine and
Highland Springs. He collected 17 rebounds against Benedictine and 13 against Highland Springs and added 10 blocks in the
tournament. Brinkley, 6-5, has signed with the University of Delaware. Age: 17 Three words your friends would use to describe
you: "Fun, friend, hard worker." Strengths: "Rebounding; dominance down low; I can step out [for the jumper],
too; leader." Toughest opponent other than yourself: "Cadarian Raines [Petersburg]. We play AAU ball together. He's
a monster, but I like playing against him because he makes me better." I'm working to improve: "My ballhandling,
my shot and my perimeter game." Favorite food: "My mom's eggs." Favorite candy: Starburst Best sports memory:
"This summer, playing in the Las Vegas tournament." His team finished in the top 16 nationally. Biggest challenge:
"Working on my perimeter game [where he'll play in college] but still playing inside for my team where they need
me." If he had one wish: "Win a state championship." Possession you can't do without: "My basketball."
What's on your iPod: "Lil Wayne, 50 Cent." Facebook or MySpace: Facebook. One thing about you most people don't
know: "I'm a Seventh Day Adventist and go to church on Saturday." Sports person you admire the most: "LeBron
James." - Arthur Utley
Cadets turning to BrothersBy Fred Jeter
Published: December 4, 2008 Darien Brothers will play next year at the University of Richmond. Fortunately
for Benedictine High School basketball, Darien Brothers has broad shoulders. For much is riding on them this winter. The
6-3, 200-pound senior has graduated from role player to leading man for the Cadets' defending Virginia Independent Schools
champions. "The focus is on Darien now," Benedictine coach Sean McAloon said. "That's fine. He welcomes
the challenge." The Cadets popped the top on their season last night in the Rebel Invitational at Douglas FreeMan
with a 76-60 win over Varina. They also play tomorrow and Saturday in the annual event. Vacancy sign: The Freeman tournament
signals the start of the "A.E." era" - After Ed - in Cadets hoops. Ed Davis, 6-9 and The Times-Dispatch
player of the year, now is playing at the University of North Carolina. Also missing from a 28-7 club are 6-5 Bradford
Burgess (VCU) and 6-8 Wayne Whiting (VMI). "I'll have to step it up and be a leader," said Brothers, who
signed in November with University of Richmond. Sometimes clinging to Davis' coattails, Brothers averaged 10 points,
three rebounds, three assists and two steals in his first go-round at Benedictine after transferring from Monacan. He
honed his guard skills this past spring and summer with the Petersburg Elite and East Coast Fusion travel outfits. Brothers
chose UR over a list of suitors including Northeastern, and New Hampshire. "Darien is a strong, athletic guard
who can shoot and pass," UR coach Chris Mooney said. Feeling frisky: Playing quarterback, Brothers frayed the meniscus
in his right knee in the football opener and underwent arthroscopic surgery. He returned to the hardwood, eager to jump
back into competition. "I'm stronger, more explosive than before the injury," Brothers said. McAloon said,
"In practice, we don't have anyone who can stop him." Green: That's the dominant color of Cadets'
uniforms and also indicative of the inexperience. Complicating matters, senior forward Brandan Connor suffered a broken
arm and is out until January. Taking over Davis' slot in the low post will be 6-5 junior Robert Thurston, up from
the JV team. "We'll be 10 times faster," McAloon said. "The problem will be depth and rebounding." The
Cadets' other returning regular is sophomore guard Erik Moody, who also played football. Formations: Benedictine
is a Catholic and military school. The adjustment was not an issue for Brothers, who is from a military family. His
mother, Shelley, is retired military and his dad, Wade Turner, is an E-8 stationed at Fort Meade, Md. Brothers has risen
to First Lieutenant in the school's military structure. The only snag in transferring, Brothers said, is inheriting
a degree of pressure that goes with a storied program. "Yeah, you do feel pressure here because of all the history
of winning," he said. D'Vonte
Derricott Patrick Henry Outlook: The Patriots'
three returning starters, Carroll, Morris and Overstreet, were last year's leading scorers. Depth and quickness are other
strengths. Overstreet is the lone tall player. Freshman D'vonte Derricott, a 6-2 forward is expected
to start. The Patriots need to make the pluses translate into more victories.
Area star signs with Delaware Joshua Brinkley, below, a basketball standout at Douglas
Freeman High School, will suit up next year for the University of Delaware. The
six-foot-six senior center at the Henrico County school committed to play for the Blue
Hens on Nov. 17 after rejecting offers from seven other schools, including Hampton University. Brinkley will receive a full scholarship to play for Delaware , a member of the Colonial Athletic Conference t h a t i n - cludes Virginia Commonwealth University. Ranked among the Richmond area’s top 100 college prospects,
Brinkley was heavily courted after improving on the court and in the classroom, said
Freeman coach Larry Parpart. As a player, Brinkley averaged 15.8 points, seven rebounds
and three assists a game in his junior season in helping to lead the Freeman Rebels
to a 17-8 record. “Josh is a hard worker and he has versatility,” Coach
Parpart said. “He can go inside and he can face the basket and go outside.”
THE NEWEST VA TECH HOKIE-CADARIAN RAINES
| Fantastic
freshman already a name on the national scene | Reply |
Frank Mason is
a 5-foot-8, 150 pound freshman at Petersburg High School, Petersburg, Va. He is a dynamic scoring point guard, with great
ball handling and passing skills. This past summer Mason arrived on the national scene and early recruiters lists with great
performances in regional and national events.
Mason led the Petersburg Elite 14U team to a final four appearance
in the 15 and under division at the Southern Invitational, held on the UVA campus. He averaged 19 points and 8 assist and
made the all-tournament team.
Mason participated in the prestigious Jr. All- American Camp held in Fairfax, Va.
Mason ended the camp with a rousing performance in the Top 40 all-star game. Only an injury kept him off of the all star team
at the Generation Next National Championships, in Greensboro, NC.
Mason ended his summer with an exceptional performance
in the AAU National tournament in Orlando, Fl. He averaged 15 points, 9 assist, and clearly cemented a national reputation
as one of best pure point guards in the 2012 class.
Mason will be battling for the starting varsity point guard
position at Petersburg High this fall. He hopes to be a vital piece of state contending team, led by Virginia Tech signee
Cadarian "Dot" Raines.
 | by Special to VirginiaPreps.com Petersburg senior standout Cadarian
Raines tops a deep group of Central Region basketball prospects. The 6-foot-8 Raines is a VT commit and considered
one of the state's top prospects. Check out what may be one of our most ambitious player rankings ever - the Central
Region's Top 100! [ details] |
| *** Exclusive: Central Region's Top 100 Basketball Prospects! | Reply |
Hoops recruit coming to UDBrinkley also eyed Hampton, Robert Morris and QuinnipiacBy KEVIN TRESOLINI • The News Journal • October 1, 2008 He
started played basketball when he was 12, and began taking it seriously when he was a high school sophomore. Then Josh Brinkley realized something. Brinkley knew he was talented enough to earn a college
scholarship. "So before my 11th-grade year, I started lifting weights and working harder on my all-around game,"
he said. The University of Delaware is poised to benefit from that diligence, as Brinkley said Tuesday he had informed
UD coaches he had accepted their scholarship offer. Brinkley is a 6-foot-6 senior power forward from Douglas Freeman
High in Richmond, Va., the heart of Colonial Athletic Association country. Brinkley had verbally committed to the Blue
Hens in July, then, in discussions with his family, decided he needed more time. He took a closer look at some other
schools, particularly Hampton, as well as Robert Morris and Quinnipiac, before settling on Delaware again. "I'm
sure this time," he said. "I just needed to get a feel for different colleges." Brinkley is the third
high school senior to commit to Delaware recently, joining Devon Saddler, a 6-2 combination guard from Aberdeen (Md.) and
6-6 swingman Malcolm Hawkins of Norview (Virginia Beach, Va.). They may sign letters of intent later this fall. Delaware
still has two more scholarships available, though it may carry one over to the 2010 high school class. The UD staff is also
recruiting Keion Palmer, a 6-9 center at South Miami (Fla.) who is also considering Tulsa, Tulane and High Point. Brinkley
took an unofficial (self-paid) visit to UD in the summer, and came back for an official (university-paid) visit last weekend. "It
was a great environment, and they've got the best coaching staff," Brinkley said. "When I took my official visit,
I just felt welcomed." On court, Brinkley enjoys the tussles commonplace around the basket, and knows he will encounter
plenty in CAA play. "I can step out, but I do most of my work on the inside," said Brinkley, who had 16 points
and seven rebounds per game and plenty of blocked shots for Douglas Freeman last season. "It's going to be a lot
of competition, but I'll be ready for it." William Massenburg
VirginiaPreps.com Staff Quinton Spain is just 16 years old and is already gaining attention from some of the top programs in the country. The Central District
has another good offensive lineman on there hands. Morgan Moses has made national headlines as the best in the country and Quentin Spain is looking to keep that title within the central
Virginia area. Spain is only 16 years old, he stands 6-foot-6 and weights 345 pounds. He benches in the mid upper 300's.
Spain has also made a decent showing at defensive tackle. West Virginia on a routine stop by Petersburg High School had the
opportunity to see the impressive Spain. Sources say the Mountaineers are at the top of his list right now. Central Virginia is really picking up ground on Hampton
Roads in the recruiting game. The 757 region has made Virginia a powerhouse in prep sports. But Petersburg has produced several
NFL draft picks overall the last few years. Most recent was third round draft pick Kendall Langford who is expected to start
as a rookie for the Dolphins this season. Petersburg may have another
future pro in Quentin Spain. Spain is also expected to be a starter on the Petersburg basketball team this winter. Keep a
look out for Spain as he climbs the Rivals.com rankings and builds a following. August 15, 2008 Tom LacockGoldandGreenNews.com Publisher Douglas Freeman High School in Richmond, VA will feature three NCAA Division I basketball prospects this year
including 6'7" forward Josh Brinkley who holds several offers from east coast schools as well as Colorado State. Last season Brinkley averaged 15.8 points, seven rebounds and three assists for Freeman, where he was joined by Larry
Giles and Jay Eastman, who also hold multiple scholarship offers. Last year the trio led Freeman to a 17-6 mark and a first
round loss in the Regional Tournament.  | | | Tom Lacock | | | Brinkley averaged 15.8 ppg for Freeman last year. |
Over the past season, Brinkley has played mostly inside, but has enjoyed playing the
wing as a member of the Petersburg Elite AAU team. The results have also been impressive for the Petersburg squad as they
posted a tournament win in Myrtle Beach and a top-16 finish in another tourney in Las Vegas. "Actually, I
like it (playing the three) better than playing the four. I feel like I can do more with my game than just lay-ups and rebounding,"
Brinkley said. This summer Brinkley's stock has risen as he now holds scholarship offers from Delaware, Mount
Saint Mary's, Robert Morris, Hampton, Quinnipac, Charleston Southern, South Carolina State and CSU. "I'm
looking for somewhere I can fit in," Brinkley said. "I would like to play the three in college. I like to get up-and-down
the court and push the ball and drive." Brinkley added he would also like to major in Physical Education. This week Brinkley is visiting Hampton University and will visit Quinnipac the first week in September. Right now,
Brinkley is looking for other schools to take official visits. Colorado State is sticking out to Brinkley currently who lists
his top three as Delaware, Hampton and CSU. While Colorado is the only school off the eastern seaboard to offer a scholarship
thus far, Brinkley said distance from home won't be a deciding factor for his college choice. "I talked
to Coach Slocum. I don't know too much about the school but it sounds interesting and somewhere I might want to go,"
Brinkley said. Justin Young
Rivals.com Basketball Recruiting Virginia guard Darien Brothers was one of the nice surprises in Las Vegas at the Reebok Summer Championships. One Atlantic 10 school saw enough to make
the 6-foot-3, 180-pound combo guard from Richmond a priority. On Wednesday, Brothers ended his recruitment.  | | | | After a nice showing in Las Vegas, Darien Brotehrs ended his recruitment
on Wednesday. |
Brothers gave a verbal commitment to Richmond. "I've known them for a long time and they've been following me for two years. I enjoy the coaches and
the players," Brothers, who plays at nearby Benedictine in Richmond, said. "It's great [staying close to home]
because my parents can come and watch me play at all of the home games. My friends can come and see me. It all worked out." He played well for the Petersburg Elite, scoring 25 points against the Worldwide Renegades in Las Vegas. A full Richmond
staff was on hand for the performance and stayed strong for Brothers. Brothers is the first player to commit to
Richmond in the class of 2009. "They don't really have a style. They just play ball," Brothers said.
"They find open teammates and when they can run, they run. When the play better teams, they'll slow it down a little
bit. I think I fit in well because they like to drive and find the guys for open shots. My strength is getting to the basket
and shooting as well as finding the open man. I think I'll fit in nicely." Brothers said he also considered
Northeastern, East Carolina and Gardner-Webb.
|  | | | Cadarian Raines is proving to be a steal for Virginia Tech. |
HI,
MY NAME IS…Virginia Tech landed big man Cadarian Raines last week and the commitment is looking like a good one. The 6-foot-8 post player scored 20 points against a big I-Can All-Stars
squad and his defensive presence was outstanding. Raines blocked a half dozen shots and owned the boards. He's
not afraid to toss his body around and make players earn their points when he's manning the middle. The Hokies needed
a good anchor in their 2008 recruiting class and Raines should provide that in Blacksburg. Keep an eye on the
name Davonte Elliott out of California. The class of 2009 forward from California's I-Can All-Stars may
have only scored nine poi nts but he showed enough to know that he's far from his best basketball. Elliott is a pure prospect
all the way. Elliott banged home two three-pointers and got to the foul line eight times. He's still very
weak physically but he's very much a prospect and one to watch. Elliott said Gonzaga, Arizona State, Michigan and UC-Irvine
are all looking at him. Team Jones guard E.J. Singler had a great teacher in versatility. The Oregon native is the younger brother of Duke sophomore forward Kyle Singler. Like
big bro, E.J. does so many things on the hardwood. Singler was the best passer in the games we saw on Thursday.
He was his team's top scorer and was probably one of the top three rebounders on the squad. It's easy to see why most
of the Pac-10 has circled the wagons around him. Chances are that if a quality mid-major scho ol started the month
with the idea of evaluating Jamal Franklin as a guy that can be a program player for four years, then an offer could be coming
soon. The 6-foot-6 wing has enjoyed a very productive month of basketball and the more he plays, the more things
he gets done. Franklin said he has offers from UC-Riverside, San Diego and San Diego State. Iowa State, Marquette,
Oregon State and Penn State have also reached out and shown interest this month, he said. Franklin also said he'd
like to hear from Oregon. The Ducks earned a "dream school" description from the rising senior. Darian
Brothers scored 16 points for his Petersburg Elite team and helped his squad advance to see another day in Las Vegas. The
6-foot-2 combo guard is a fine student and a good-looking mid-level prospect. Brothers said he's holding offers from Richmond
and Gardner-Webb while Bucknell, James Madison, George Mason, East Carolina and Michigan are also looking.
Led by Cadarian Raines, Virginia-based AAU squad looks for big month July The Petersburg
Elite Stars Basketball Club might not be a name too familiar to many on the east coast when it comes to the AAU circuit. Playing
in the shadow of some of the biggest names on the AAU scene in the loaded Mid-Atlantic region, the Petersburg (VA) outfit
is carving out their place in the AAU scene as a program on the rise. We recently caught up with founder/coach Ty White to
learn more about the program and their star player, 6’8 Cadarian Raines.
The
basis behind the formation of AAU programs had always been as an educational experience for the children that participated
in the programs. Petersburg Elite seems to be a throwback to the day when an AAU program was much more than just a traveling
basketball team. With the slogan that ‘The Elite Experience Goes Beyond Basketball’ very evident at their
website (www.petersburgelite.com/) Ty White and the rest of his organization definitely sees through on that promise. The
organization works hard to address issues of the day surrounding youths such as teen pregnancy, alcohol, tobacco and drug
abuse while working to find solutions for school-drop out rates and the lack of positive role models for today’s youth
in their everyday lives. Mixing education and addressing today’s issues with basketball is the aim of AAU programs
from the beginning, it is refreshing to be reminded that that it is still being done when you encounter the Petersburg Elite
program. Make no mistake, they can also play some basketball! Led by (rising) senior Cadarian Raines,
a 6-foot-8+, 210 lb center, the team has been one to watch for college coaches in the spring evaluation period and will be
once again in July as they prepare to head to Myrtle Beach this coming week for the Big Shots tournament and later this month
for the Reebok event in Vegas. Earlier in the spring Brian Crownover was able to catch up with
Petersburg Elite at the Southern Jam Fest and in his Southern Jam Fest Player Evaluations (NBE Basketball Report) he wrote how impressed he was with the play of Cadarian Raines and his teammates who made it into
the playoff rounds before being ousted by the NJ Playaz. Performances like the Southern Jam Fest has raised the recruiting
profile of Raines and lifted the profile of the program as a whole. Raines participated in the Virginia Elite camp and stayed
right there in Charlottesville for the NBA Top 100 camp. In Ron Bailey’s NBA Top 100 Camp Thursday Player Reviews (NBE Basketball Report) he touched on Raines’ impressive performance. From Virginia it was on to Virginia Tech for
the Hokies’ elite camp and to VCU for an unofficial visit. Ty White informed us that Raines holds offers from
local schools such as Virginia Tech, Maryland, VCU and George Mason while schools outside the area, including Big East programs
such as South Florida and Providence, as well as South Carolina, UNC-C, East Carolina, North Carolina State, Florida, Clemson, Oklahoma and others have expressed
interest several times in his interior force. “Right now, (his) ability to block shots and control the paint,”
White told us when asked of Cadarian’s strengths. “(Cadarian is a) great rebounder, great rebounder.” While
Cadarian still offers evidence that his offense is a bit on the raw side, that is not unlike many young big men. White explains
his offensive abilities at his size are still catching up to his defensive abilities, which are impressive as he is very active
on the glass and at blocking shots. Offensively, he is working on using both hands and improving his jump shooting out to
the three-point arc. “Cadarian is working hard, really working,” White said as he was getting ready to go
work out with Cadarian this morning. Raines is not the only one getting noticed by college coaches, although he definitely
has the highest level of interest. Also battling inside at a forward position is 6-foot-6 Josh Brinkley of
Douglas Freeman High School. Schools like Delaware, Quinnipiac, Robert Morris and Hampton have offered Brinkley scholarships.
Setting up the show for Petersburg Elite is their point guard Coron Williams who has been offered by Holy
Cross and has seen UNC-C interested in him. Chris Evans is an athletic wing that Brian Crownover was impressed
with in the Southern Jam Fest with Petersburg Elite.
While many of the top players in the class of 2009 are at the big
name camps such as the Lebron James Skills Academy, the Reebok All-American camp and the Hoop Group Elite Eastern Invitational,
the players of the Petersburg Elite are working out together preparing for their July on the AAU circuit. With an impressive
group of players, expect the college coaches to begin searching out the Petersburg Elite beginning later this week at the
Big Shots in Myrtle Beach. We want to thank Mr. Ty White for taking the time to give us a perspective on his program
and for more information you can visit their website here: Petersburg Elite.
Congratulations to Cadarian "Dot" Raines for being
selected to the NBA's TOP 100 Camp June 17-21, 2008 at the University of Virginia.
Frank
Mason and Willie Magnum,
You're invited to attend the prestigious invitation-only Jr All-American
Camp, the nation's No. 1 elite youth basketball event, June 12-15, 2008 in Chantilly, Virginia near
Washington, DC! You should be proud to be considered among the very best middle
school basketball players in the United States! Colleges now are identifying top young talent earlier and earlier,
even offering scholarships before you enroll in high school! The Jr All-American Camp is the ONLY national camp where
NCAA Division 1 coaches actually work th e camp, and are on our staff!!! Don't miss your opportunity to be seen
by some of the top college coaches in America!
| |
| Petersburg Elite Trio Much Coveted |
| Thursday, 15 May 2008 | by Brian Crownover
durunner@caainsider.com
 Cadarian Raines
Petersburg Elite brought what might have been the top frontcourt
in the entire event. Cadarian Raines (6-8) is a player that has really started to make a name for himself. Two other forwards, Chris Evans (6-7) and Josh Brinkley (6-6) had a strong showings and were among the surprise players of the event. Cadarian Raines had
an exceptional tournament. The talented post player performed very well with his back to the basket. He'll often uses
spin moves to get by defenders in the paint. He is quite athletic and displayed that on several dunks. He has good hands
and seals off well. Cadarian will kick it back out and repost if necessary. Not only did he show a nice back to the basket
game, but he proved he can hit the face up mid range jumper as well. Cadarian also pulled down a number of rebounds and blocked
a few shots too. Chris Evans is a forward who is most comfortable attacking from the wing. He has good
size and handles the ball well. He gets into the lane with ease and can score over smaller defenders. The lanky forward also
displayed strong athletic ability on several dunks and blocks. Josh Brinkley showed the abilitly to play
with his back to the basket in the post as well. He has good size and can put the ball on the floor. He scored inside several
times and crashed the boards often. Perhaps the most impressive trait from this trio was their unselfish
play. None of the three took too many shots. They were all willing to share the ball and worked well together. Their strong
play hasn't gone unnoticed. Numerous programs up and down the east coast have been tracking this Petersburg
Elite trio. Cadarian Raines has drawn the most interest thus far. His coach, Ty White, tells us that he has already picked
up offers from Maryland, Hampton, Virginia Commonwealth, Robert Morris, Tulane, Delaware, James Madison and Radford. Among
the other schools that are taking a close look are Virginia, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, St. Joe's, George Mason, La
Salle, UNC Charlotte, Mt. St. Mary's, Oklahoma and Penn State. Even with that long list, Cadarian is still probably being
under recruited. Chris Evans and Josh Brinkley certainly haven't gone unnoticed though either. Chris
told CAA Insider during the event that he is hearing from George Mason, La Salle, Old Dominion, Virginia Tech and High Point.
Josh has already picked up offers from Robert Morris, Hampton and Delaware. He also has drawn the interest of Virginia Commonwealth. This past weekend was a strong event for all three of the Petersburg Elite front court players. They already
have a solid list of schools tracking them. More strong play throughout the summer will have them hearing from even more programs.
Look for big things out of them as the AAU season continues. | | Last
Updated ( Thursday, 15 May 2008 ) |
|
| Southern Invitational (Day
1 Part 1) |
| Sunday, 11 May 2008 | by Brian Crownover
durunner@caainsider.com
 Chris Evans
Petersburg Elite Chris Evans (2009 6-7 SF/PF)
Chris put together two fabulous games. He has good size and actually prefers to use it to
attack from the perimeter. He handles the ball well and can get into the lane. He'll use crossover moves at times. Chris
is very explosive and athletic, and made several plays above the rim after driving. Among those plays was an alley oop. He
also loves to score by using his size in the lane to convert on runners. He banked home one runner and threw down a couple
dunks. Chris has good hands and does a decent job on the boards. He didn't show much of a perimeter shot and if he wants
to continue to play on the wing, he'll need more of that. Chris was outstanding regardless of that and an added dimension
would take his game up another notch. Josh Brinkley (2009, 6-6 PF)
Josh is a talented post player. He hit on a short bank shot and used a nice spin move to free
himself on the inside. He has good size and quickness in the low post. Josh can put the ball on the floor too. He was a bit
inconsistent finishing. He does possess good hands though. Josh also missed a jumper. He rebounded well throughout both games
we saw. Josh sure is talented. Cadarian Raines (2009, 6-8 PF/C)
Cadarian was one of the best players of the day. He showed just about everything. The athletic
post had several thunderous dunks. He's comfortable with his back to the basket and loves to spin in either direction
and finish. He has great hands and possesses soft touch inside. Cadarian seals off well and is often comfortable passing the
ball back out and reposting. He doesn't force shots. He is comfortable finishing off the glass and has a good sense in
the post. At times, Cadarian would face up too much after a post spin move and not use his body well enough to shield the
defender. That is really getting picky on our end though as there are only little things in his post game that need tweaking.
Cadarian has a solid build and he rebounded very well throughout. He became a defensive presence the second time we saw him.
He blocked shot after shot in that one. Cadarian is already well polished and he played well throughout the day. Karron Williams (2009, 6-1 PG/SG)
Karron is a quick handling guard. He really loves to use the pull up jumper and he's
quite effective at it. He did a solid job of getting the ball to his talented front court. |
Congratulations to John Holleman for signing with WALTERS STATE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE
Dolphins select Kendall Langford with 66th pickWithin the first 20 minutes of the NFL Draft's second day, the Dolphins were already active enough to snag another
sixth-round pick while also continuing to bolster their defensive line with a big-bodied athlete. Miami first moved
down two spots, trading away its opening-round pick in a deal with Detroit that gave the Dolphins the 176th overall selection.
Then, with their new 64th pick, the Dolphins continued to bolster their defensive line by picking Kendall Langford. Langford
fits the mold of the players typically desired by vice president of football operations Bill Parcells and general manager
Jeff Ireland. At 6-6, 295 pounds, he could be a good fit as a defensive end if the team goes with a 3-4 defensive scheme. In
three seasons at Hampton, Langford was known for a very aggressive style, a mean player with an impressive initial burst.
He'll take a good deal of development before he's a consistent impact player.
April 4, 2008 Will Garlick
VirginiaPreps.com Senior Writer Not all the top Virginia AAU boys' basketball teams will play in the
prestigious Boo Williams AAU 17-under tournament that starts next week at the Boo Williams Sportsplex. The Petersburg Elite didn't get the call to make hotel arrangements in Hampton, but instead of sitting home feeling sorry for themselves,
the Elite decided to host their own AAU tournament.  The 5th annual Elite Stars classic kicks off April 11-13 with some of the games being held at the Siegel center on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth. Elite
head coach and tournament co-ordinator Tytrail White said he expects some great competition.
"We're looking forward to going out there and competing against the best talent in the nation," White
said. "This is the best team we have put together--no question. We have some guys we feel can play with anybody." No doubt the Elite would have made some noise in the 17-under tournament with a frontline featuring
four great shot-blockers. 6-foot-8 Cadarian Raines of Petersburg, 6-foot-6 Chris Evans of Deep Creek, and 6-foot-5 Du'Vuaghn Washington from Hopewell all have hops and they create a no-fly zone in the middle. Raines
led the Wave to the state semi-finals before losing to the eventual state champions T.C Williams. He averaged 14 points, 10
boards, and four blocks. Wow! Evans averaged 16 ppg and was a 2nd Team all-district selection at Deep Creek. He has the ability
to play the 3 position and he is a great shot blocker. Washington did not play last year, but he impressed me during the pre-season
in a scrimmage against Menchville. "Our big guys are our strength,"
said White who's entering his fourth season with the program. "When everybody's playing well together it's
a beautiful thing." A sleeper on the team is Josh Brinkley,
a 6-foot-7 junior who lead Douglas Freeman in points, rebounds, and block shots while earning All-District honors. The Elite's
backcourt features All-State point guard Coron Williams from Christchurch and Drejon Scott, a confident shooting guard from Petersburg High School, who can light
it up from the outside. Jasper Holloman, who averaged 14 points
with Matoaca, and Gabriel McNeil, a 6-2 combo guard from Hermitage, fills out the backcourt. White says about half the guys played on the 16-under team that competed in theAAU nationals last
year. His program have grown every year. "Our goal is for each kid in every age group to get a free college education.
I think we are ready to blow up." DC Metro Showcase Final Results
17 and under
Prymetime (MD)
52 Petersburg Elite (VA) 48 It was not a surprise that these two teams met in the 17 and under final; on this
weekend, both were the strongest teams in their age classification. Their championship battle didn’t disappoint, as
Prymtime used a team-centric approach to defeat a rugged, deep Petersburg crew. “It was a total team effort”
said Rodney Gould, Prymetime’s coach of his squad’s performance, one in which senior 6’0” combo guard
Justin Bess dropped 17 points, and junior swingman Collin Beatty, a 6’5” player, provided 10.
Prymetime's Gould (right) feels this victory validates
his squad. Their play in many ways was made possible by 6’1” left handed junior point guard, Francis
Ashe, who frequently broke Petersburg’s pressure and found open teammates for scores, while also scoring 4
points. His coach was impressed. “He controlled the game very well. He as a quarterback on the floor” said
Gould of Ashe. “He took over the game”. Petersburg was led by 6’8” junior post player Cadarian
Raines (11 points) and 6’6” junior forward Joshua Brinkley (10 points). Though he only
provided two points, senior point guard Jasper Holleman played tough defense and found open teammates in
positions to score. “For our Prymtime organization, it’s huge” opined Gould of not only beating a
very formidable Petersburg Elite team, but winning the DC Metro Showcase. “They (his players) don’t get the respect
they deserve”.
Thanks William Lawson III
To the Editor: I, too, would like to say
a special thanks to Coach Lawson. My thanking him is not for the winning season. My thank you is not for bringing pride to
the city. My thank you is not for winning the championship of the regular season or for the Central District Tournament Championship.
My thank you to Coach Lawson is for all of the good things he taught our children away from the O’s and X’s. I
saw a great number of high school basketball games this year. At almost every game there was one team that did not behave
on the court the way we should expect our children to behave. These teams had players who would curse the other team players
as they passed their bench or try to scare the other team players. To make a long story short, those teams did nothing to
bring pride to their cities or themselves. Now Petersburg was a completely different team. They played hard but
with pride. They never tried to show the other team up and they never did act in a manner that someone could call them thugs.
Petersburg High went about the business of trying to win as many games as possible while still keeping their sight on the
real goal – preparing themselves for life after basketball. Coach Lawson would not let his team act in the manner that
some of the other coaches allowed. This says a great deal about not only Coach Lawson III but also about Coach Lawson Jr.
Talking with other fans, the one thing everyone says is that Coach Lawson is a real gentleman. That is the same
thing they say about his father. Both Coach Lawson III and Coach Lawson Jr. made a mark on young men who came out for basketball
teams at Petersburg High. If you did not or would not listen, you do not play. If you wanted to break the laws of the city,
you did not play. When I recommended and then demanded the Petersburg High School Gym be named after Coach Lawson Jr. I did
so as much for his building of men as I did for his building winning teams. I can see the same type of action
or behavior in Lawson III. Like his father, he is more concerned about the lives of his players after the lights are off than
he is about winning a game at all costs. We need more coaches like Coach Lawson III. We need more role models
like him who would rather lose a game if it means doing something wrong. Thanks Coach for a great season, but most of all,
thanks for teaching our young men the game of life. I know that Mrs. Lawson Jr. is very proud of her son and that Coach Lawson
Jr. is smiling down on him. Coach, the only thing that I ask of you is that you not change your coaching or teaching
style. We need more gentlemen like you, and maybe, just maybe, if we had more, we would not need all of these correctional
centers being built. Samuel L. Batts Petersburg, VA
Elite 2007-2008 Accomplishments Drejon Scott-MVP of the Fort Lee Holiday Classic, Honorable Mention All District
Jasper
Holleman- Second Team All-District
Chris Evans- Second Team All District
Joshua Brinkley-
Second Team All District
Jacob Hagee- Second Team All District
Dimitri Ross -Honorable
Mention All District
Coron Williams-1st Team All State
Tyler Johnson- 1st Team All District,(Football)
Cadarian Raines- District Player of the Year, 1st Team All District, 1st Team All Region, All Metro Team, Top
Ten Digital Sports
William Lawson III- Central District Coach of the Year, Central Region Coach of the Year
Cadarian Raines Digital Sports Interview
Manchester
Middle has perfect hoops runManchester Middle School's Majestic Lions surged to the brink of boys basketball perfection
last year -- then fell just shy. This time, they closed the deal. Coach Ryan Marable's squad punctuated an unscathed
season with a 53-28 win over Bailey Bridge in the Chesterfield's Middle School League tournament final. Manchester
finished 13-0 (10-0 regular season, 3-0 in tournament). A year ago, it won 12 straight before bowing to Swift Creek. "The
key to success was how unselfish the boys played," said Marable, with a coaching record of 25-1 the past two years. "Everyone
learned their role and played their role." An all-eighth grade lineup of Tim Thaniel,
Joel Caleb, JaQuante Saunders, Tim Crossin and Ben Hauck, plus super sub Robert Johnson, helped
the team average 55 points while allowing just 34. Thaniel averaged 14 points (scoring 20 in the
final) and Caleb 13.
February 19, 2008
Antwyne
Frazier
Special to VirginiaPreps.com Cadarian Raines is a relative neophyte to high school basketball but with college coaches looking under every rock for the
next impact post prospect, his time to shine may be rapidly approaching.
 | | | photo provided by the Petersburg Progress Index | | | Cadarian Raines |
The 6-foot-8, 205-pound junior front court prospect from Petersburg,
Va. averaged 14.5 points, 10 rebounds and an eye-opening 6.4 blocks during the regular season, earning Co-Player Of The Year
in the Central District in Richmond.
"We were the first team to go undefeated in the District since 1993,"
Raines told HokieHaven.com. "My biggest improvement was my offensive moves in the post, rebounding and blocking shots.
"I have always been taught that you play defense first then the offense will come, so I take pride in blocking
shots and playing defense. Don't get me wrong, I love to score but I want to help my team first."
Raines'
game has improved as he has gained m ore experience and playing time.
"I really didn't start taking basketball
seriously until after the ninth grade when I was going into the tenth (grade)," said Raines. "I want to work on
my upper body strength and legs. I want to get more comfortable on the floor because I play better when I play against players
my own size. My game seems to come out when that happens so I know I need to just work on my confidence."
Raines
is finding that his recruitment is in the embryonic stages, but there are already a couple of prominent in-state programs
who are starting to track his progress.
"VCU, UVa, Virginia Tech, Hampton, James Madison and Wake Forest are
interested in me and Clemson and St Joe's were supposed to come in recently to watch me but weren't able to,"
Raines declared, noting that Clemson, the Cavaliers, Rams and Hokies are his favorite schools currently. "Hampton and
James Madison have offered me. Virginia says that they like me a lot and one of their assistants has been to practice."
The Hokies are keeping things simmering with Raines as well.
"Both Coach (Seth) Greenberg and Coach
(Assistant James) Johnson have already been to one of my games and Coach Johnson has watched me practice," Raines continued,
adding that he has unofficially visited Virginia, VCU and Hampton, in addition to Blacksburg. "Virginia Tech is very
interested in me and I am trying to schedule soon going to a game before my season is over. I went up there in the fall to
a football game and had a lot of fun with the players. The coaches and everyone treated me real good."
DAVID MILLER/STAFF PHOTO Petersburg’s Cadarian Raines works inside againts Thomas Dale’s
Michael Goad. Raines finished a game-high 27 points as the Crimson Wave outlasted the Knights 74-69.
By FRED JETER TIMES-DISPATCH
STAFF WRITER Towering and intimidating, Petersburg's Cadarian Raines is the Mount Everest
of the Central District. Climbers beware. When it Raines, it pours. The high-altitude (6-8, 210 pounds) junior
and his gifted Crimson Wave teammates have left their foes buried in a winter-long avalanche. "Cadarian is drawing
a lot of attention," Petersburg coach William Lawson III said. That attention includes doubleand triple-teams on
the block and college scouts converging from all directions. There's much to like about this tall tale -- starting
with the Wave's 19-2 record heading into tonight's regular-season final with Prince George. Raines represents
the possibility of a triple-double each night. With the wingspan of a F-22 jet fighter plane, he has three outings with double
digit points, boards and rejections. The 17-year-old averages 13 points, 11 rebounds and 6 blocks. His name is
pronounced "Sa-Dare-Ree-Un," according to the 75-page Petersburg media guide. Stepfather Paul Pritchard said:
"We spell it with a "C" rather than an "S" because an aunt thought "Sadarian" looked like
a girls name." Raines' biological father is former Wave athlete Mendell Harris. Raines wears his number
on his chest, on his back . . . and on his head. He has "44" shaved into the rear of his noggin by a barber at Illusions. Here's
a Q&A with Cadarian: What do you enjoy most about hoops? "Defense -- blocking shots . . . if you play
good D, offense comes easy." Ever play football? "I was a defensive end until ninth grade. Then, I got
too tall for football." Any nickname? "C-Dot." Who's recruiting you? "Clemson,
Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, Virginia, VCU, George Mason . . . " Goals? "Win states." What
of a possible rematch with Highland Springs? "We'll have to play hard; they're big and aggressive." . . . Interest in Raines escalated after his matchup with 6-8 junior Deshawn Painter
of Booker T. Washington. Though Petersburg fell 60-58, Raines dazzled with 21 points, 12 boards and 6 blocks. The Wave's
other loss was to state No. 1 ranked Highland Springs. If form holds, the Wave-Springers rematch would be in the Central Region
semifinals. Raines began dribbling in the Petersburg recreation association at age 7 but chose not to try out at Peabody
Middle. He played JV hoops as a freshman but also practiced with the varsity. "Really, he's just starting to
blossom," Lawson said. "It was between his freshman and sophomore seasons that his game took off. Raines said,
"I lived in the gym the whole summer." Petersburg's man mountain is determined to maximize his sky-high
potential. On his cell phone voice mail he says: "If I'm not playing basketball, I'm sleeping."
Hermitage aide has 'been
there' knowledge
By ARTHUR UTLEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER During
his four years of playing professional basketball in Europe, Chris McNeal missed his children. He also gained an appreciation
for how well European players were taught the game. These days, McNeal is using the skills he acquired in Europe to
coach his high school-aged sons and their teammates at Hermitage High. McNeal is an assistant on Joe Coulter's varsity
staff. Oldest son, Gabe, is a two-year starter at guard for the Panthers, and Chris Jr. is a sophomore guard for the junior
varsity. Guard was not McNeal the elder's position. He was a 6-5 center at Hermitage before transferring to Oak
Hill Academy his senior year. He grew to 6-8 and went on to play at the University of Pittsburgh. Highland Springs coach
George Lancaster called McNeal "a fantastic player with great, great talent . . . one of the finest ever to come out
of this area," in a December 1987 story in The Richmond News Leader. The comment came after McNeal scored 37 points and
grabbed a school record 24 rebounds in a 102-98 loss to the Springers. McNeal, 37, still looks like a basketball player.
He has no trouble stepping into the action with the Hermitage players. "He is able to separate the father and coach
aspects well," Coulter said. After McNeal returned to the U.S. in 1997, he was an assistant at Hermitage, then
Huguenot and Henrico, in addition to starting home improvements and sports apparel businesses. "Gabe was 7 when
I came back from overseas. I knew [teaching the game] was one thing I wanted to get into, and I couldn't wait to back
to work with my kids," McNeal said. "I'm a father first. Basketball is easy. Being a father is hard." When
Gabe had academic problems at Hermitage as a freshman, McNeal sent him to Evangel Christian with the intention of having him
finish high school there. Gabe did so well academically, he was given the chance to return to Hermitage. "He had
grown up so much as a person and student," Coulter said. "I knew my point guard problem was solved." Gabe,
a slender 6-3, had a solid junior season and is the Panthers' second leading scorer (10.9 ppg) as the point guard and
shooting guard this season. "His assist to turnover ratio is unbelievable," Coulter said. The Panthers,
a preseason top 10 entry, have struggled (3-8, 8-10) for a variety of reasons. "We know we're a good team,
we're just not coming out good," Gabe said. "We're definitely going to pull it together at the end." He
reminds the freshmen about the importance of good grades. He encourages his teammates. He enjoys playing for his father. "He
just loves the game. He has a passion for it," Gabe said. "He's the guy who gets us going." McNeal,
meanwhile, hasn't expected his sons to follow in his footsteps. "Not everybody's going to be 6-8,"
McNeal said. "I would like for them to maximize as athletes. Enjoy it and have fun. If they get an opportunity to go
to school, that would be awesome. I do know they have their books in order, and that's the most important thing."
Contact Arthur Utley at (804) 649-6559 or autley@timesdispatch.com
Williams Named Big South Player of the Week
Williams averaged
30.5 points and 15.5 rebounds in two Conference games last week, and also averaged 5.0 assists, .585 percent from the floor
(24-of-41) and .714 percent from the charity stripe (10-of-14). He scored a game-high 38 points along with his 12 rebounds
in a 107-100 win at Coastal Carolina, VMI’s first in Kimbel Arena. Williams accounted for 23 points over the final eight
minutes as the Keydets rallied from a 17-point deficit. In a three-point overtime loss against League-leading UNC Asheville,
Williams scored 23 points and grabbed a career-high 19 rebounds. He was 9-of-14 from the field and also had four assists,
one block and one steal.
Williams has posted double-doubles over his last five games and has 27 for his career.
He currently ranks third in the nation in scoring with a 27.3 PPG average.
The announcement marked the second
time this season that Williams has won the award. He was named BSC Player of the Week December 17.
A basketball
Brinkley, too Freeman post player gives team strong inside presence
By ARTHUR UTLEY TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER In the
world of Douglas Freeman High athletics, the name Brinkley has been synonymous with sports other than basketball. Bob
Brinkley has been the Rebels' football coach since 1989. Oldest son, Kevin, a 2006 graduate, played football, wrestled
and became a standout pole vaulter. Youngest son, Robbie, a senior, played football and wrestles. "Brinkley"
started showing up in the boys varsity basketball box scores this season, and people wondered if the family had branched out. Nope.
Josh Brinkley isn't related and is going about making a name for himself in a fine way. A 6-5 junior center, Brinkley
is up from last year's junior varsity. His impact on the Rebels, ranked No. 9 in The Times-Dispatch Top 10 Poll, has been
noticeable. "You never know how someone will react [moving up from JV]," veteran Douglas Freeman coach Larry
Parpart said. "He's done a really good job inside, and he is still learning his way." Brinkley pairs inside
with 6-5 senior Omari Vaughan-Nelson to give the Rebels a formidable presence on both ends of the floor. "He's
a great help to the team. He goes hard in practice, listens to the coaches and doesn't complain about a thing," Vaughan-Nelson
said. "He has something like a 7-foot wing span, and I've had to learn how to shoot over him." While Vaughan-Nelson
will drift to the wing and put up a 3-pointer or two a game, Brinkley prefers the low block. "On JV, I did my thing.
Posting up, putting the ball in the basket, rebounding," Brinkley said. He's still doing his thing while giving
the Rebels a third scorer. As the result of layups, stickbacks and dunks, Brinkley leads the Rebels in scoring with 14.9 points
per game. Vaughan-Nelson averages 12.9. Guard/forward Jake Eastman, one the region's top perimeter shooters, is averaging
14.4 points and has assisted on a number of buckets by the two big men after beating the defense off the dribble. Brinkley
has scored in double figures in 13 of 16 games. His highest output, 27 points, came against Dinwiddie in the Times-Dispatch
Invitational Tournament, in which he was the top point producer. He is shooting 65 percent from the floor, averaging more
than seven rebounds a game and has more than 30 blocks. | Junior Cadarian Raines Looking Strong | 
| National Recruiting Director
Posted Jan 30, 2008 | |
Petersburg High junior big man Cadarian Raines
is a young man deserving of pub. The 6-foot-8 standout is a prospect worth tracking.
Ht: 6-8 Wt: 210 PPG: 14.8
| AAU
Team: | Petersburg Elite |
|
Recruiters who normally breeze through the Petersburg I-95 corridor en route to prospect-rich
D.C. or North Carolina, may want to add a stop to their trip. Petersburg (Va.) High is home to 6-foot-8 center Cadarian Raines. Raines, who boasts offers from Hampton and James Madison, is one of the hidden gems in his state. Why? “He really
didn’t play a whole lot of middle school basketball,” Petersburg coach Bill Lawson told Scout.com. “When
we got him in 9th grade he was real raw. This is his second year on the varsity.” This season Raines has made
strong strides. The big man owns two triple-doubles since the start of the year. He scores 12.5 points a game. “He’s
been getting double-teamed a lot and he’s not able to get ball as much as you’d like.” In a prime
time matchup with Deshawn Painter and B.T. Washington, Raines shined. “He had 21, 12 rebounds and 6 blocks that night,” Lawson said. “He
lived up to it (that night),” Lawson said. According to Lawson, VCU is a regular in his gym. JMU, George Mason,
Clemson, UNC-W, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest have shown interest. |
Holloman lifts Warriors in OT
FROM STAFF REPORTS
01/26/2008
In
OT, Matoaca senior Jasper Holloman hit a trey with three seconds left to seal the game giving the Warriors the 74-72 Central
District win over the Generals. Check out the Elite Boys in action
Big Josh with his ELITE SWAG before the big game. Brinkley leads Rebels in blowout Junior scores 20
for No. 8 Freeman
Teammate and 6-foot-6 junior forward Chris Evans was quite a factor, too, finishing a
block shy of a triple-double as he posted 14 points, 12 rebounds and nine blocks. He had five points, five
boards, two assists and a pair of steals in the first quarter alone to help the Hornets build a 21-10 lead after one period.
"We're a tough team on any given night,"
said Evans. "I strive on helping my team get better as the season progresses, making my teammates
better and getting them more involved."
Chrisco showing that ELITE SWAG!!!
VMI's Williams sets Big South record Ex-Prince George star becomes career leader in scoring LEXINGTON - Reggie Williams
had 43 points and became the Big South Conference's career scoring leader, helping high-scoring VMI to a victory over
Southern Virginia yesterday. Williams, a former Prince George High School standout, was 19 of 22 from the field, including
4 of 6 from beyond the arc, giving him 2,234 points and surpassing Liberty's Larry Blair for the top spot on the conference
scoring list. The 19 field goals broke his own school record by one.
Tyler Johnson is all over
the court as Royals end skid
By ARTHUR UTLEY TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF
WRITER PRINCE GEORGE - When basketball coaches talk about blue-collar players, Tyler Johnson of Prince George is one of those guys. Johnson, a 6-3, 230-pound tight end in
football, does the dirty work on the basketball court grabbing rebounds on the weak side, boxing out, going to the floor for
the ball and picking up garbage points. In last night's Central District home game against Matoaca, Johnson did
his usual and also scored nine points, his second best output of the season, in the Royals' 62-40 victory. "I
felt more involved in the game than I have been," Johnson, a junior, said. Prince George coach Bill Russell and
Matoaca coach Charles Payton noticed him, too. "I thought Tyler was all over the floor. He had one of his best
games and gave us contributions offensively that he doesn't usually give," Russell said. Aggressive on offense,
Johnson scored seven points in the first quarter. The Royals took an 11-9 lead on one of Johnson's buckets and never relinquished
it again. Prince George used a 3-2 zone, and dominated the inside because of Johnson, 6-6 Andre Williamson and Treon
Claiborne. Williamson grabbed 13 rebounds, and Johnson and Claiborne had five each.
AC’s Lee signs with Towson Sophomore hopes to make immediate impact with Tigers next
year Steve LuseCumberland Times-NewsCUMBERLAND —
Deciding to sign early with the school that has shown the most interest, Allegany College of Maryland center Calvin Lee will
be continuing his career next season at Towson University.
The 6-foot-7, 200-pound sophomore from Etrick, Va. has
signed an NCAA Letter-of-intent to play for the Tigers, who compete as a Division I school in the Colonial Athletic Conference.
Lee joins 5-10 point guard Troy Franklin from Our Lady of Mount Carmel High School in Baltimore as early signees for
Towson coach Pat Kennedy.
“We are very pleased to announce the signing of Troy Franklin and Calvin Lee,”
said Kennedy. “Both players are very talented and will fit into our program and style of play right away. These two
young men will add a significant presence to our 2008-09 team.”
Lee entered his second season at Allegany
as a third-team NJCAA Pre-season All-American after earning first-team all-Region XX honors last year when he helped lead
the Trojans to a 24-9 record and a third straight Region XX title. He averaged 14.9 points and led the team in rebounding
with a 9.6 average.
“Calvin is an excellent athlete who has great offensive skills to go along with his ability
as a strong rebounder,” said Kennedy. “He comes from a junior college program that has a rich tradition and has
prepared him well for the CAA. He is multi-talented and will fit in very well with our front-court players.”
Lee chose Towson over offers from several other Division I schools.
“I thought Towson was the best place
for me to go for my basketball future,” said Lee. “They have been on me for awhile and showed me the most interest.
I really like the school.”
The sophomore center also thinks Towson will be a place where he can contribute
right away.
“I think it will be the right fit,” said Lee. “They have good coaches and in my visit
I got along with the players well.”
Allegany coach Mike Baker is pleased that Lee made Towson his choice.
“I believe it will be a great fit for both,” said Baker. “Calvin is an athletic player who can go
inside or move out and hit the jumper. Calvin has not yet reached his potential and with Towson on the rise both will benefit.
The Towson coaching staff needs to be commended on the professional manner in which Calvin was recruited.”
Having already signed, Lee said he can now stay more focused on helping Allegany (4-8) turn things around in the second
half of the season.
“I’m working harder this season and trying to play hard every game,” said
Lee. “I still see a lot of upside on this team. We played nationally-ranked teams and were close but just didn’t
finish. I think we are going to keep getting better and we want to peak at the right time and get to the national tournament.
Last year we had an opportunity and came one game short.”
After the first 12 games, Lee was second on the
team in scoring with a 15.4 average and was leading in rebounds with 9.9 per game.
Lee was a three-year starter
at Matoaca High School and was a two-time Virginia Class AAA Central District Player of the Year along with receiving second-team
Richmond All-Metro and All-Region honors as a senior. He averaged 20 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks a game his senior
year and finished with 1,019 career points.
ATHLETES OF THE WEEK: Drejon Scott, Petersburg
What he did: The Crimson Wave's 5-9 junior guard showed big in the scoring column
by ringing up 25 points in a Central District victory over Meadowbrook and by scoring 22, 24 and 12 points in three Fort Lee
Invitational games. Petersburg successfully defended its title, and Scott was named most valuable player. He also contributed
13 assists and seven steals. Age: 16 Three words that describe you best: "Hard-working, loving, passionate."
Strengths: "Energy, offense, passion." I'm working on: "My defense." Favorite
food: Macaroni and cheese. Favorite candy: Snickers Best sports memory: "Being the most valuable player."
If he had one wish: "Win the state championship." What bugs him the most: "I don't like loud
talkers." MySpace or Facebook: MySpace. Favorite Christmas present: "A new cell phone." One
thing about you most people don't know: "I still watch cartoons." Toughest opponent: "My peers.
They pressure me." - Arthur Utley
Wave guard Drejon Scott started the game with a 3-pointer and Raines dunked on his first touch as Petersburg led
by as many as 15 points in the first quarter.
CADARIAN RAINES SCORES 21 PTS AND GRABS 14 REBOUNDS VS nationally ranked
Deshawn Painter who only recorded 15 pts and 6 rebounds.
If Painter is ranked 22nd in the 2009 class Cadarian Raines
is in the Top 21.
#15 Chris "The General" Moore creates for the Wave.
Drejon Scott scores two over the Hopewell defenders.
Avis Wyatt overseas doing his thing the ELITE way!!!
Many Compete, But Few are the ELITE!!!!
The Elite Boys after being chosen for the ALL-Star Game at the Southern
Exposure.
| | | support@prepstars.com
1-800-447-7667 |  | Emerging big man brings RainesBy Rob Harrington
robharrington@prepstars.com
July
18, 2007 Not too many folks are familiar with the name Cadarian Raines. And why would they be? The 6-8 BF at Petersburg
(VA) High has been a rare figure on the travel circuit and at national camps, but just a member of the Class of 2009, he has
plenty of time to draw widespread interest. Raines already has attracted a few followers. Thanks to a slender frame
with above-average athleticism and a workable turnaround jump shot, Raines was among the more intriguing prospects at last
weekend's Big Shots tournament in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and some high-major schools already have jumped into contention
for the Petersburg Elite Stars big man. "I don't have any offers yet, but I've heard from Wake Forest,
N.C. State, VCU and ODU, and I guess Wake was the most recent," Raines said. "I'm just watching them all come
in right now." Chances are, they'll keep coming in. While our initial impression of Raines was that he needs
to become more consistent as a rebounder and defender, as well as expand his skill set, he has the natural size for the college
post and enjoys good mobility as well. For sure, any new name on the 2009 frontcourt landscape is worth monitoring for later.
One source connected to Raines said that the big man has yet to receive the truly serious inquiries that lead to early
scholarship offers, but that he also has improved a great deal and has battled some touted senior big men to earn more extensive
attention.
www.prepstars.com |
August 3, 2007
Starting in September of 2007, I'll be reporting
again on high school football prospects in Virginia.Then when basketball season begins, I'll be scouting high school basketball
prospects in VA as usual. According to the most recent copy of "The Sports Journal"on
July 31, 2007, four juniors to watch in The Commonwealth are Marshawn Powell,
6-7 power forward for Newport News, VA Menchville High School; Deshawn
Painter, 6-8 combination forward for Norfolk, VA Booker T. Washington High School;
Cadarian Raines, 6-8 forward at Petersburg, VA High School;
and Donte Hill, 6-4 forward-guard playing for Norfolk,
VA Collegiate School. |
|---|
Cadarian Raines (top 200 in 2009), 6-8 junior BF, Petersburg (VA) High: Wake Forest, N.C. State, Virginia
Commonwealth, Old Dominion, James Madison, Virginia Tech, Hampton, St. Joeseph and others.
Enter subhead content here
|
![[design element]](../images/spacer.gif){kind=small}
