Prep notes: Plant's Ely honored at Elite 11 QB Camp

Phillip Ely didn't get the Golden Gun title he was aiming for, but the Plant quarterback didn't walk away from the Elite 11 QB Camp empty handed.

Following four days of grueling and competitive workouts with 11 of the top quarterbacks from across the country, college scouts and coaches named Ely the camp's Most Versatile, a quarterback able to adapt to any offensive system. Florida commitment Jeff Driskel, from Oviedo's Hagerty High, earned the camp's MVP honors.

The Golden Gun competition was a target drill held at the end of each day. Ely finished second by one point following Wednesday's workouts. In addition to the on-field drills, quarterbacks went through the rigors of breaking down film, including a session with former Bucs quarterback Rob Johnson.

It wasn't all work for Ely, though. He was able to get in some beach time, a first for him in the Pacific Ocean, and a couple of rounds of golf, shooting 80 in one at the Brentwood Country Club.

Next up for Ely is his college decision. With nearly 30 offers from Division I programs including South Florida, Arizona State, Clemson, LSU and Wake Forest, Ely is expected to make his announcement in the next couple of weeks.

Harrell transfers to Jesuit

Rising senior and Division I prospect Anthony Harrell has withdrawn from Freedom and enrolled at Jesuit, his father and Jesuit coach James Harrell told the Tribune on Thursday morning.

Harrell, a 6-foot-2, 220-pound linebacker, is one of the top prospects in Hillsborough County entering the 2010 season, having received offers from college programs such as South Florida, West Virginia, Illinois, Colorado State, Duke, Harvard and Alabama-Birmingham. As a junior, he was selected to the Tribune's All-Hillsborough County second-team defense.

"Anthony has met all the requirements and has been accepted into Jesuit," James Harrell said.

Jesuit's website states, "in general, junior and senior transfers are not accepted" but goes on to say "however, individual decisions are made for all applicants, with special preference given to students transferring from another Jesuit high school."

"We do accept some transfers on a case-by-case basis," admissions director Steve Matesich said.

Matesich said Anthony's grades, in addition to his father being a school employee, made him an attractive applicant.

"Every applicant goes through submitting an application, and what we look at in admissions is three years worth of grades," he said. "Anthony's a high honor student, he has a 4.37 weighted GPA. He obviously qualified for what we required academically."

Alonso's Chickillo gets Under Armour invite

Alonso defensive end Anthony Chickillo became the latest Hillsborough County football player to receive an invitation to a distinguished national event.

Chickillo was invited to participate in the annual Under Armour All-American Game in January at Tropicana Field. One of the top defensive players in the state, he likely will receive an invitation to the U.S. Army All-American Game and will have to choose between the two.

In addition to the invitation, Chickillo recently picked two more offers from Auburn and Ole Miss. He has listed his favorite as Alabama, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Nebraska, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Pittsburgh, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCLA, Southern Cal and Virginia Tech, but also said he liked the visits he had with the latest programs to offer.

Baseball

Jefferson shortstop Steven Negron has received an invitation to play in the Breakthrough Series, an event sponsored by USA Baseball aimed at giving exposure to rising junior and senior players from urban areas who have typically not participated in other travel and high-end tournaments.

In its third year, the Breakthrough Series will be held Monday through Thursday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex in Cary, N.C., and at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park, home to the Tampa Bay Rays' Triple-A affiliate in Durham, N.C.

Eighty players are selected to participate in the event, which will include skills instruction, a round-robin series and a championship game. Many college coaches are expected to attend.

Negron, a rising senior who verbally committed to USF before the start of his junior season, hit .317 with 11 RBIs and 24 runs for the district-champion Dragons in 2010.