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Friday's News And Notes

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 18, 2008

Twenty four area high school football players were named Thursday to the Florida Sports Writers Association Class 4A all-state team.

Plant junior QB Aaron Murray, Plant senior WR Derek Winter, Northeast senior RB Jeff Brinson, Armwood senior OL Matt Patchan, Armwood junior DL Ryne Giddins and Hillsborough senior LB Marc Thomas each were named first-team all-state selections.

Seven more players garnered second-team honors: Ridgewood senior RB Byronnell Arline, Plant senior OL Rhonne Sanderson, Jefferson senior DL Max Holloway, Ridgewood senior LB Ben Perry, Plant junior DB Hunter Baldwin, Armwood junior DB Angelo Hadley and Boca Ciega senior QB Orhian Johnson (utility).

Five players — Armwood senior RB Eric Smith, Plant senior WR Cornelius Gallon, Armwood senior OL Juan Gorostiaga, Armwood junior LB Petey Smith and Jefferson senior LB Gorby Loreus — earned third-team honors.

Middleton senior RB Carlton Jones, Armwood junior OL Justin Cabbagestalk, Armwood senior DL Zachori Beasley, Hillsborough senior DL Moses McCray, Hillsborough senior DB Chuck Grace and Leto senior DL James Guyton were honorable mention selections.

JONES COMMITS: Middleton running back Carlton Jones has committed to Toledo, Middleton coach Harry Hubbard said on Thursday.

Jones was selected to The Tampa Tribune All-Hillsborough County second-team after rushing for 1,228 yards and 16 touchdowns. On Thursday, he was also named a Class 4A All-State Honorable Mention.

"They know they got a steal," Hubbard said. "They're happier than a baby in a candy store. If you look at him on film, he does things you can't teach."

Jones visited Toledo this past weekend. He also had interest from Troy.

"He told me 'Coach, it's not too big and I like the players,'" Hubbard said. "He said it's a good fit for him."

ANOTHER MILESTONE: Ridgewood boys basketball coach Gary Anders will attempt to win his 500th game tonight when the Rams (15-3) travel to Land O' Lakes. Last week, Tampa Prep coach Joe Fenlon won his 500th game during the Headmasters Challenge against Berkeley Prep.

PANTHERS GET BIG INVITE: Plant volleyball coach Leanna Taylor said Thursday the Panthers have been invited to compete in the Nike Challenge national volleyball tournament in Chicago in the fall. Taylor said 12 teams from Illinois will participate as well as 12 out of state teams, and she's hoping her team will gain approval to make the trip.

"We just have to get FHSAA approval," Taylor said. "If we get approved, we're going. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity for the girls."

BIG-LEAGUE HELP: Seffner Christian baseball coach Jim Self said Thursday the Crusaders will be getting some preseason pointers from a pair of former local standouts who went on to professional baseball — Eric Beattie and Tommy Phelps.

Beattie was a former standout at both Riverview and the University of Tampa, and was a second round draft pick by the Detroit Tigers in 2004. He is now in the Boston Red Sox farm system.

Phelps was a former standout at Robinson in the early 1990s and played professional baseball for more than a decade, spending parts of three seasons in the majors and winning a World Championship with the Florida Marlins in 2003.

SURPRISE VISITOR: Wharton twin sisters Katrina and Kathia Skinner had a surprise visitor Thursday morning at the county's fall sports awards ceremony at the county's school district building in downtown. Their mother, Margaret, had flown in from New York to surprise the two as they were named co-recipients of the Ben Walker Outstanding Female Cross Country Runner Award.

Margaret resides in New York because of her job, while the Skinner twins live in the family's Tampa home with their grandparents, Katrina said. Katrina added she and her sister usually see their mother every few weeks, and that their mother usually does her best to get to all of their award presentations, but added they had no idea Margaret was going to be in town Thursday.

"It was great," Katrina said.

FOOTBALL RECRUITING: The offers continue to roll in for Plant's Murray.

The latest? Army, which offered the Panthers junior quarterback Thursday morning, moments after he watched two of his teammates — Winter (Guy Toph) and Sanderson (Jimbo Kynes) — receive an award at the fall sports awards banquet at the county school district building downtown.

The puts Murray's scholarship offer total to "18 or 19," he and Coach Robert Weiner said.

Murray isn't the only junior in town commanding a lot of college attention.

Alonso defensive lineman Demonte McAllister received his first scholarship offer earlier in the week from FSU. On Thursday, McAllister received a visit from Florida's Urban Meyer, who also extended an offer. Tennessee made it three and Auburn could make it four when Coach Tommy Tuberville visits next week.

"Now is his time," Alonso coach Mike Heldt said of the interest in McAllister, who was second on the team last season with eight sacks. "I expect a lot more to come."

The offers are pouring in, but Heldt said the focus right now is on McAllister's academics.

"We're working on his academics to get them up," Heldt said. "We'll get those in order."

Other Alonso players are garnering interest. Senior WR Joe Clarke will visit Miami (Ohio) and senior DL Jamal Crook will visit Murray State this weekend. Crook, the team leader in sacks last season with 1561/27 also has a visit scheduled to Georgia Southern on Jan. 25.

Plant's Sanderson will visit Michigan State this weekend, while Winter is headed to Auburn for an official visit. Also, Plant OL/DL Tyler Evans will visit Murray State.

Jesuit OL Phil Smith still plans to visit Georgia Tech this weekend despite getting a scholarship offer from Penn State.

Smith received the offer Thursday afternoon from the Penn State offensive line coach. Georgia Tech extended an offer earlier in the week, so Smith will visit their campus first. He plans on visiting Penn State next week.

Katherine Smith, Adam Adkins, Cristina Ledra, Nick Williams

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