We're Watching
The teams who were seen on Friday included Prattville, Lassiter, Ga., Jeffersonville, Ga.,
Kenton, Ohio, Shiloh Christian, Ark., Thomas Jefferson, Pa., Bob Jones, Spain Park, Dorman, S.C,, West Monroe, La., Columbia, Fla., Fairhope, Grady. Ga., Alpharetta, Ga., and Olive Branch, Miss.
Clemson Commitment Shines
Charone Peake, Scout.com five-star wide receiver from Dorman, S.C., demonstrated why he is so highly regarded during the morning pool play session Peake has a great initial burst off the line of scrimmage and really excelled running routes.
Five-Star Defensive Monsters
Friday was the first day to see Tim Jernigan, Scout.com five-star defensive tackle from Lake City-Columbia, Fla., and Jermauria Rasco, five-star defensive
end from Shreveport-Evangel Christian, La. Jernigan, who played at tight end, has a physical presence and runs really good for his size. He is a very athletic 6-foot-2, 280-pound prospect. Rasco looked natural playing the linebacker position and covers a lot of ground.
Both were very vocal leaders for their team.
Let's Get Physical
Several of the teams have been aggressive, but a few big licks have also been delivered. Jermauria Rasco made noise with his mouth and body. He was flagged a few times for completely leveling several of the backs coming out of the backfield. A few didn't want to get back up to face him again.
Quarterbacks Galore
Several gunslingers came to play and emerged with big arms to help lead their teams to victory. The ones who really showcased
included Nelson Hughes from Dorman, (S.C.), David Dee Duron from Shreveport-Evangel Christian, La., Maty Mauk from Kenton, Ohio, Justin Thomas from Prattville, Ala., Jeremy Johnson (2013) from Montgomery-Carver, Ala., Eddie Printz from Marrieta-Lassiter, Ga. Kiehl Frazier, four-star from Springdale-Shiloh Christian, Ark.
Hughes and Mauk seem to pick apart every defense they faced. Both did a great job spreading the ball around and finding the open receiver. Duron had a big arm and threw a lot of bombs throughout the day. Thomas is one of the top
athletes in Hoover this weekend and a very talented 2012 recruit. He threw a lot of quick slants and out routes and was precise. He has a very strong arm, but this is also an event where he can show off his speed. He clocked a 4.39-40 yard dash during the Nike Sparq drills.
Printz is a young talent, but has good mechanics and a strong arm. He also has good size and ability to make plays. Auburn commitment Kiehl Frazier didn't arrive until Friday due to flying in from the Elite 11 in California. Frazier looked really good during the morning session (only time seen). He has a very strong arm and very accurate. Several times he tried to thread the needle, but the receivers just couldn't make plays. As far as Jeremy Johnson is concerned (See below)
Two Locations
The afternoon session kicked off the first and second round of the tournament. Teams returned to both the Hoover practice fields and Regions Park soccer fields.
Top Two Seeds Go Down
Bob Jones and Hoover High School went undefeated in pool play with a perfect 7-0 record. The two teams won the first round games of the tournament, but were stunned in the second round. Hoover was defeated by Olive Branch (Miss.) in a close game while Bob Jones was caught sleeping at the wheel against
Carver-Montgomery. Both teams enter the losers bracket Saturday, but they have a chance for redemption if they can make it through the gauntlet and play the winner of the winners bracket in the championship game.
Lions Late Surge
The Prattville Lions are one of the nation's top football programs. They lost their final game of pool play to Dorman (S.C.). The game was dominated throughout by Dorman, but Prattville kept pluging away even though a loss was inevitable. They scored a touchdown on the last play of the game to show their fight.
Touchdown!
Kardeem Poole, wide receiver from Prattville, Ala., has been catching a lot of balls and finding the endzone often. Poole has 22 touchdowns in nine games for the Lions and is clearly the go-to receiver for 2012 quarterback Justin Thomas. He is 6-0, 175-pounds and has yet to collect any offers. He should have some next level options if he performs the same way this season.
Carver is on the Map
Carver High School was the No. 16 seed entering the tournament play Friday afternoon. They were able to get past Columbia in the first round setting up a match-up against Bob Jones. Jeremy Johnson, 2013 quarterback, was very determined and focused. This 6-foot-4, 185-pound prospect may have the best arm at this tournament. He does a great
job checking his reads and can get the ball downfield in a hurry. He needs to work on his accuracy and mechanics, but this player has a chance to become special. He could roll out to his right, set his feet and deliver a 40-yard strike down the left side of the field. He was very impressive and should continue to improve
with experience. He is a big reason why Carver made it to the winners bracket.
Remember the Name
Chris Humes, cornerback from Hoover-Spain Park, Ala., projects to rank as one of the state's top recruits in 2012. His performance should garner national attention. Spain Park lost their second round game to Dorman, and Humes had a great game matched up against five-star Charone Peake.
Friday's Top Performance
This award could go to several players, but we'll go with the player who led his team to a big upset win over Bob Jones- Carver QB---Jeremy Johnson.
Friday's Top 12 Overall
1. Jeremy Johnson (Carver-Montgomery, quarterback)
2. Charone Peake (Dorman, wide receiver)
3. Maty Mauk (Kenton, quarterback)
4. Justin Thomas (Prattville, quarterback)
5. Kardeem Poole (Prattville, wide receiver)
6. Max Morrison (Kenton, wide receiver)
7. Nelson Hughes (Dorman, quarterback)
8. Chris Humes (Spain Park, cornerback)
9. David Dee Duron (Evangel Christian, quarterback)
10. Collins Moore (Bob Jones, wide receiver)
11. Jermauria Rasco (Evangel Christian, linebacker)
12. Reggie Ragland (Bob Jones, linebacker/tight end)
The End is in Sight
The Hoover National Select 7-on-7 Tournament comes to an end Saturday with the losers bracket beginning at 8:00 a.m. followed by the winners bracket at 9:00 a.m.
Live Game Coverage
Check in for Live coverage and view other games from Thursday and Friday. [Click here].
Twitter
Join today for up-to-date reporting from Hoover [click here].
|